28.05.12

Summer is here. Going from a coat and hat to a t-shirt and shorts was quite a shock but I think I'm over the initial panic. I envision wearing the coat again in the next few days. 

I've been contemplating getting rid of the internet, at least my connection. It's fecking about with my time, creativity and motivation. Could the solution be to hire someone to check my gmail account every five minutes and condense the web for me in ten handy links? Perhaps if I get rid of my over-dependence on the net I could finish off Cloud Monkey #2, read actual books, write more poetry, and watch light filter through a tall green forest.

One thing I've not given up on is mail art. I love drawing and sending mail. It's a great way to correspond, and a great way to brighten up the post. I also send cards. You'll see the card here is of Doctor Who, and I imagined him being a cat. So the doctor is on the prowl. Of course I couldn't forget a pair of converse shoes.  Here's my art:

Happy National Drawing Day!

The weather shows no sign of letting up. It's damp, muggy, rainy, and grey. Days like these are perfect for staying indoors, lighting a fire and drinking lots of strong cups of tea.

When the days are miserable, and I'm free, I like to draw and write poetry. I'm a little burnt out with editing poetry so because it's National Drawing Day I thought a few sketches were in order.  Most of the main galleries and heritage centres throughout Ireland are taking part. It's a  fun day to encourage anyone and everyone to be creative and draw. A day that encourages creativity gets a thumbs up by me. Here are my sketches:

A Real Treat

I was in Cork today and made my usual visit to the Crawford Art Gallery. I got a wonderful surprise. I stumbled upon a collection of Harry Clarke's stained glass windows, designs for the Eve of St. Agnes Window, and illustrations for The Pit and the Pendulum. The surprise was that I had no clue that the gallery held such a collection. I walked into the room and got quite a shock.

While it wasn't a large exhibit it was a mighty fine one even though some of the gallery was in darkness due to faulty lights. I used to work in a gallery and I've experience in hanging and curating. I started to get down about some of the faults, however, the sheer colour and vibrancy of the glass and the sketches shone through. I wasn't going to let faulty lights and some of the stained glass windows not shown in its entirety ruin the experience.

I won't show it all, I'll just show you images of the stained glass, and a few sketches and illustrations that I'd the privilege to see.

The Godhead Enthroned 1911 Irish School Stained Glass 68.6 x 63.5cm

The Meeting of St. Brendan and the Unhappy Judas 1911 Irish School Stained Glass 66.7 x 51.4cm

The Consecration of St. Mel, Bishop of Longford, by St. Patrick 1910 Irish School Stained Glass 67.3 x 60.3cm

 The Pit And The Pendulum 1923Irish School Pen and ink on paper 27 x 20.3cm

The Key Turns (Design for the Eve of St. Agnes Window) 1924 Irish School Pencil and watercolour on paper 27 x 29 cm 

XLI

They glide, like phantoms, into the wide hall;
Like phantoms, to the iron porch, they glide;
Where lay the Porter, in uneasy sprawl,
With a huge empty flaggon by his side;
The wakeful bloodhound rose, and shook his hide,
But his sagacious eye an inmate owns:
By one, and one, the bolts full easy slide:—
The chains lie silent on the footworn stones;—
The key turns, and the door upon its hinges groan.

"The Eve of St. Agnes"
John Keats

The Fall of The House of Usher 1923 Irish School Pencil and watercolour on paper 40 x 29.8cm

 Long Ago, These Lovers Fled Away (Design for the Eve of St. Agnes Window)
1920 Irish School Pencil, watercolour on paper28 x 15cm

XLII

And they are gone: ay, ages long ago
These lovers fled away into the storm.
That night the Baron dreamt of many a woe,
And all his warrior-guests, with shade and form
Of witch, and demon, and large coffin-worm,
Were long be-nightmar´d. Angela the old
Died palsy-twitch´d, with meagre face deform;
The Beadsman, after thousand aves told,
For aye unsought for slept among his ashes cold.

"The Eve of St. Agnes"
John Keats

This stained glass sculpture by Maud Cotter (Straight as Lemons Meet Fish 1987 Irish School Stained Glass) was also in the exhibit and it gave a nice contemporary contrast to Clarke's work. 

The Yellow Rake and Bam - All Done!

Here's a pic of the excellent Yellow Rake #28 by Brian Polk, which I got in the post today and on the envelope was written a cryptic remark: "I worship the Cloud Monkey thanks to you and your pen." This of course refers to my zine but as Brian pointed out it was meant to confuse letter carriers on both sides of the Atlantic. I hope his plan succeeded. Brian also wrote me a nice letter, sent a sticker and a pin number for something. I haven't figured it out yet.

Now to finish off my poetry writing for this month. Whew! Thirty poems in a month great going to me!

29

Barry's Tea

There's magic in tea,

a cuppa creates golden memories,

tea reminds us of a moment.

Steaming pots of tea on a cold rainy winter’s night

brings two people together reminds them of the moment 

when they used to dance in raincoats and boots,

their image reflected in a moonlit puddle.

 30 
Tea Reminds Her of a Face

When Jane gets homesick she sups a cuppa and from her hotel window on a hot sticky night she watches people on their way home and imagines each face belonging to someone she loves.