This last weekend I went to Sweden with five friends. It was absoltely beautiful. The archetecture in Sweden was a close second to Spain for me. The colors were lovely. Because Stockholm is a town made up of tiny islands, I coudl stand on one island and see tall cathedrals and building standing atop the hill of another isle. Everything was really close together, which is like most of the European cities I have been to. I really get to enjoy God's beauty through architecture.
We went to the Stockholm Cathedral. I remember whispering to Zach, "this just doesn't get old." It's so true. You'd think I'd be over pretty cathedrals, but I just can't get over the beauty: the structure of the building, the paintings inside, the intricate detail, the minds behind it all. All of it takes me back to the Father. Even when we went to the Nobel Museums, I could not help but marvel at the artisitc train of thought all around me. I know these talents and isnpirations are divine.
Before coming to study abroad, I had a very narrown view of what constitutes as art. Now, I am learning to see it in almost everything. I don't know if that's theoretically correct, but it's the perspective I've come to take on since I have been here. I hope it doesn't change when I go back home. It is hard to think of the artistic beauty in Abilene Texas, but I know it is there. It is simply looking at things with a different perspective.
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
i want more-rockin art
I'm sticking with the trend of clever blog titles. In this one "more-rocking" can be subbed out for "Moroccan."
This past week I went to Morocco, Africa. It was absolutely beautiful- the people, the places- everything! It was a completely different world than any place I've traveled to before. The art there was everywhere. The pottery was beautifully painted with vibrant colors, all of which took on different sizes, shapes, and forms. The architecture was pretty simple in most parts and many of the houses and building were a bright white color which contrasted beautifully with the bright blue sky above.
I realized that there is a form of art, i had not previously classified as art: apparel. It become extrememly evident to me that these people designed and manufactured clothing, shoes, and accessories with such intricate detail and with much thought. I brought back an entire collection of this beautiful art. THis art is how they survive. You can see the pride in their eyes as they show off the handmade jewelry and the dress they had just sewn. It was a beautiful metaphor, to me, of how God must look at us; as his own, hand-knit, individually unique pieces of art.
Also, I got a hena tattoo with Jessalyn. It was crazy how this lady gave us the tattoos all over our hands in less than five minutes. All we had to do was pick out a desgin and she went to town. It was madness.
I loved getting to see and experience new forms of art in Africa this past week. I am starting to see things with different eyes. I am starting to realize how important it is to recognize and aknowledge GOd's art. The people he has created with so many different skin colors, hair colors, eye colors, body structures: they are all so beautiful and unique. I realize, just like any artist likes to be complimented on their work, God loves when I tell him how much I love the beauty he has created. I need to do this so much more than I do.
Thank you, Father, for the constant beauty all around me!
This past week I went to Morocco, Africa. It was absolutely beautiful- the people, the places- everything! It was a completely different world than any place I've traveled to before. The art there was everywhere. The pottery was beautifully painted with vibrant colors, all of which took on different sizes, shapes, and forms. The architecture was pretty simple in most parts and many of the houses and building were a bright white color which contrasted beautifully with the bright blue sky above.
I realized that there is a form of art, i had not previously classified as art: apparel. It become extrememly evident to me that these people designed and manufactured clothing, shoes, and accessories with such intricate detail and with much thought. I brought back an entire collection of this beautiful art. THis art is how they survive. You can see the pride in their eyes as they show off the handmade jewelry and the dress they had just sewn. It was a beautiful metaphor, to me, of how God must look at us; as his own, hand-knit, individually unique pieces of art.
Also, I got a hena tattoo with Jessalyn. It was crazy how this lady gave us the tattoos all over our hands in less than five minutes. All we had to do was pick out a desgin and she went to town. It was madness.
I loved getting to see and experience new forms of art in Africa this past week. I am starting to see things with different eyes. I am starting to realize how important it is to recognize and aknowledge GOd's art. The people he has created with so many different skin colors, hair colors, eye colors, body structures: they are all so beautiful and unique. I realize, just like any artist likes to be complimented on their work, God loves when I tell him how much I love the beauty he has created. I need to do this so much more than I do.
Thank you, Father, for the constant beauty all around me!
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
ash wednesday
Basically, the title of this blog has nothing to do with Ash Wednesday. I simply couldn't think of a title for what I wanted to write about this week. Every week we go to the Ashmolean on Wednesday, so I put two and two together and wrote "Ash Wednesday." I know...I'm clever.
This last week when I went to the Ashmolean I couldn't help but look at this painting by Giotto. It is a painting of Jesus' crucifixion. Underneath Jesus on the cross, lies Jesus body being mourned over by Mary and the disciples. This was one of the first times I was drawn to the expressions on the disciples' faces. It nearly brought me to tears because it made me think how Jesus's death affected them personally.
The discpiles had just lost their best friend, the man they had spent so much time with, the one man that made them feel more important than anyone else, the man they could coonect with more than anyone and that knew them better than they knew themselves. Sure, they knew he would raise again, but with that knowledge came the knowledge that they would not get to be with him like that until they were in eternity with them. Their humanity I could really relate to. I just realized how hard it must have been for them. It was also interesting to see the different personalities and how they handled grief; some weeping, others sad, and Peter looking frustrated.
I am learning to put myself into the art and it really beomces personal; well, at least when it is something that is important to me.
This last week when I went to the Ashmolean I couldn't help but look at this painting by Giotto. It is a painting of Jesus' crucifixion. Underneath Jesus on the cross, lies Jesus body being mourned over by Mary and the disciples. This was one of the first times I was drawn to the expressions on the disciples' faces. It nearly brought me to tears because it made me think how Jesus's death affected them personally.
The discpiles had just lost their best friend, the man they had spent so much time with, the one man that made them feel more important than anyone else, the man they could coonect with more than anyone and that knew them better than they knew themselves. Sure, they knew he would raise again, but with that knowledge came the knowledge that they would not get to be with him like that until they were in eternity with them. Their humanity I could really relate to. I just realized how hard it must have been for them. It was also interesting to see the different personalities and how they handled grief; some weeping, others sad, and Peter looking frustrated.
I am learning to put myself into the art and it really beomces personal; well, at least when it is something that is important to me.
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