I was in St. Louis in March and ended up at a park one warm, and sunny, Sunday morning. I did a few photos of various things that may come in handy later. But, I took a few that I thought would be fun for the blog.
Meet Daniel and his girl friend.
Before anyone asks...YES, I did ask them BEFORE taking the photo! I noticed them sitting quietly on a park bench. They were very involved in the conversation.
I apologized for the interruption. Told them about the blog and asked whether I could take a photo of them together from behind! I took two images. The first was a bit over exposed and washed out with the woman's white shirt. This was the better of the two.
I sent it to Daniel for them to share as they wished. And, I emailed them when I knew the posting date.
Daniel, my sincere thanks for letting me interrupt the both of you. I thinnk it is a wonderful image.
Meet Daniel and his girl friend.
Before anyone asks...YES, I did ask them BEFORE taking the photo! I noticed them sitting quietly on a park bench. They were very involved in the conversation.
I apologized for the interruption. Told them about the blog and asked whether I could take a photo of them together from behind! I took two images. The first was a bit over exposed and washed out with the woman's white shirt. This was the better of the two.
I sent it to Daniel for them to share as they wished. And, I emailed them when I knew the posting date.
Daniel, my sincere thanks for letting me interrupt the both of you. I thinnk it is a wonderful image.
s |
| New Frames from l.a. Eyeworks |
I try to find a place to sit where I can see most of the people around me. I look for interesting subjects, people having fun, etc.
But this night, I was in a spot where I couldn't get a good view. The place was packed. After a while, I simply got up and walked to the back of the bar/restaurant to get a better view.
The woman below was sitting very near the front, right next to the band. While I was standing in the back, she got up and also moved to the back of the room.
Since we were standing near one another, I introduced myself and the blog. And, she graciously let me take her photograph.
Meet Michelle!
She is a vet and LOVES small animals.
Thanks Michelle!
But this night, I was in a spot where I couldn't get a good view. The place was packed. After a while, I simply got up and walked to the back of the bar/restaurant to get a better view.
The woman below was sitting very near the front, right next to the band. While I was standing in the back, she got up and also moved to the back of the room.
Since we were standing near one another, I introduced myself and the blog. And, she graciously let me take her photograph.
Meet Michelle!
She is a vet and LOVES small animals.
Thanks Michelle!
As I have said before, now and then, I head to a local restaurant where my guitar teacher is playing with a band. I have done photos of patrons there before.
And, it is time again!
Meet Brooke: She came for the Pad Thai (as I have, as well!).
And, meet Beth:
The are both runners! When I asked what I could say about them, they replied, "we are twins".
They were also delightful and charming.
And, it is time again!
Meet Brooke: She came for the Pad Thai (as I have, as well!).
And, meet Beth:
The are both runners! When I asked what I could say about them, they replied, "we are twins".
They were also delightful and charming.
After the Getty Villa, I stopped at a winery just off the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. The gentleman below was at a table with three other people. They were having a great time chatting and laughing. And, he was wearing a long sleeved t-shirt that had the print of a tuxedo on it.
Clearly this guy knows how to dress! I loved the look and how much fun everyone was having. So, I had to ask for the photo!
Meet George!
And, meet Christy!
I am not certain whether I got that they were married or just dating, etc. But, they were certainly enjoying the day with their friends. Christy was one of the people who helped break the Erin Brokovich story! She now is the public relations/media director for a company in California.
My sincere thanks to you both!
Clearly this guy knows how to dress! I loved the look and how much fun everyone was having. So, I had to ask for the photo!
Meet George!
And, meet Christy!
I am not certain whether I got that they were married or just dating, etc. But, they were certainly enjoying the day with their friends. Christy was one of the people who helped break the Erin Brokovich story! She now is the public relations/media director for a company in California.
My sincere thanks to you both!
Well, this is something like a portrait. So, this qualifies to be in my blog. It is my blog, after all.
First, this was hanging on a wall. And second, it was huge; perhaps 8' in diameter.
I found the tile work amazing.
This is a much more feminine Medusa with wild hair, rather than snakes. And, the circular pattern was useful for putting this type of image on shields to frighten an apponent.
All in all, the surrounding tile work was an amazing geometric pattern.
This display was in a smaller room. I am not certain why I liked it so much. Perhaps it was the chance to see so many busts and surviving fragments at one time.
But, this was the piece that caught my eye.
Rather than a solid block of marble, this was very thin. Almost a mask. I was actually amazed it survived to be found without being shattered.
But, this was the piece that caught my eye.
Apparently, mosaics often adorned the walls and ceilings of various buildings. This depicts athletes in training and was, if memory servers me correctly, probably from a gymnasium or arena. I actually have NO idea what the bull is doing there.
Here is a close up of the right foot. It is actually very impressive!
As I have been looking at mosaics over the last few posts, I remembered I actually created one once as part of an elementary school art project. Of course, that was 100 years ago.
No one could see what it obviously was. Crushed, I turned my life away from art forever. Dog's playing poker is a HARD thing to do in a mosaic! Now Elvis, ANYONE can do that!
Here is a close up of the right foot. It is actually very impressive!
As I have been looking at mosaics over the last few posts, I remembered I actually created one once as part of an elementary school art project. Of course, that was 100 years ago.
No one could see what it obviously was. Crushed, I turned my life away from art forever. Dog's playing poker is a HARD thing to do in a mosaic! Now Elvis, ANYONE can do that!
Click HERE and HERE.
This piece is the Venus Genetrix from 100-44 B.C.
According to the Getty placard, Venus was the focal point of a temple in Rome to Venus Genetrix (Venus the Mother). It was believed that Venus was an ancestor of Ceasar's family through Areneas, the ledendary founder of Rome. Ceasar did have a great marketing department!
If I could only get my boss to believe I had godly lineage, it would make my job a LOT easier.
And, I do have to say that is a pretty hot dress she's wearing.
According to the Getty placard, Venus was the focal point of a temple in Rome to Venus Genetrix (Venus the Mother). It was believed that Venus was an ancestor of Ceasar's family through Areneas, the ledendary founder of Rome. Ceasar did have a great marketing department!
If I could only get my boss to believe I had godly lineage, it would make my job a LOT easier.
And, I do have to say that is a pretty hot dress she's wearing.
It is hard to miss Zeus. This piece was done it Italy between A.D. 1-100. As king of the Olympian gods, Zeus is often shown with a full beard and seated. The Getty placard states that he originally had a scepter in his left hand and a thunderbolt in his right.
It is patterned after a huge sculpture by Pheidias made of gold and ivory (490-430 B.C.) for the god's temple at Olympia. That particular sculpture was once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. This was found in the late 1700's.
The piece below is also of Zeus. It was, however, found partially buried in the sand at the bottom of the Mediterranean. Those parts that were buried in the sand survived reasonably well. Those exposed to the sea water, had various mollusks attached.
You don't want to go through eternity with mollusks attached. In fact, I don't think I want them attached at any point in my life.
It is patterned after a huge sculpture by Pheidias made of gold and ivory (490-430 B.C.) for the god's temple at Olympia. That particular sculpture was once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. This was found in the late 1700's.
The piece below is also of Zeus. It was, however, found partially buried in the sand at the bottom of the Mediterranean. Those parts that were buried in the sand survived reasonably well. Those exposed to the sea water, had various mollusks attached.
You don't want to go through eternity with mollusks attached. In fact, I don't think I want them attached at any point in my life.
No respectible collection of antiquities would be complete without a statue of Venus. Actually, Aphrodite (Greek) and Venus (Romans) were the goddess of love.
This piece is from 175-200 A.D. It is modeled after the first full nude statue of Aphrodite by the Greek Sculptor Praxiteles around 350 B.C.
This full scale female nude was placed in a specially contructed temple that allowed it to be viewed from all sides. Pliny the Elder wrote, in his Natural History, that the statue had a powerful effect on viewers. There is a story that a man was overcome with love for the statue and hid inside the temple at night to embrace it.
Yeh...that will get you arrested.
This piece is from 175-200 A.D. It is modeled after the first full nude statue of Aphrodite by the Greek Sculptor Praxiteles around 350 B.C.
This full scale female nude was placed in a specially contructed temple that allowed it to be viewed from all sides. Pliny the Elder wrote, in his Natural History, that the statue had a powerful effect on viewers. There is a story that a man was overcome with love for the statue and hid inside the temple at night to embrace it.
Yeh...that will get you arrested.
Below is a piece from 200-250 AD depicting Hygieia, the daughter of Asklepios, the god of medicine. Think...Hygiene..and Hygieia. See how nicely that works!!
She is often portrayed feeding a coiled snake (around her left arm). If you recall, the coiled snake is still a symbol for modern medicine.
She was often merged with other deities, such as Aphrodite (the goddess of love). That could be the case with this piece because the slumbering little figure at her feet is Eros. And, a slumbering Eros is something to keep an eye on!
She is often portrayed feeding a coiled snake (around her left arm). If you recall, the coiled snake is still a symbol for modern medicine.
She was often merged with other deities, such as Aphrodite (the goddess of love). That could be the case with this piece because the slumbering little figure at her feet is Eros. And, a slumbering Eros is something to keep an eye on!
From AD 1-100. This piece shows a satyr pouring wine. Missing, of course, is the pitcher in his right hand and the cup that was in his left.
This piece is actually modelled after a famous piece by Praxiteles (375-340 BC).
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Satyr's were part human and part horse or goat. And, they were typically companions of Dionysos (the Greek God of Wine....note..that is WINE...not WHINE...political commentary should not be implied in that comment).
This sculpture was one of four identical figures that decorated the villa of Domitian (AD 81-96). This particular piece was missing its head when it was discovered in 1657. Another head was copied from one of the other statues. And, it was restored in the later 17th century.
I do recall being at a few parties where the wine flowed and I think I saw horses and goats.......and maybe a pink elephant or two.
One of the greatest of Greek heroes is Herackles. Even the Romans adopted him as one of their own. This statue, from 100-200 AD, shows Herackles in traditional form. He carries the skins of a Nemean lion and the club (what is paritally seen from what is his right arm). The wreath around his head declares him an athletic victor.
Statues like this were common around the Life Time Fitness centers of the day where athletes trained for the Olympic games.
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Below is another statue, called the Lansdowne Herackles.
This piece, created around 125 AD, was discovered in 1790 near the villa of the Roman emperor Hadrian. It was purchased in 1792 by an English collector, the Marquess of Landsowne. Once again you can see the trademark lion skin and club.
It is just like me in jeans and hat, except he has hair, and I have 129 extra pounds. And, of course, I don't carry around a lion skin and club much anymore, either.
This is one of the Getty's most prized pieces. It was amazing.
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Below is a relief from about 350 BC in the Thessaly region of Greece.
Very much like today, we tend to worship legendary heroes. A cult devoted to Achilles grew in the Thessaly region (where Achilles is said to have been born) of Greece. It is sort of like going to see Lincolns log cabin, I guess.
This shows members of a religious group called the Achilleides, who claimed to be descenants of Achilles. Sure, everyone wants to be associated with the hero's and gods. You do realize, about half of the US is related to European nobility, don't you?
It is most amazing to me that we haven't changed that much over 2500 years.
Above is a sarcophagus with a scene from the life of Achilles. In this scene, Achilles dons his armor with the help of Odysseus. Achilles is just mounting his chariot, (a chariot is just slightly better than an AMC Gremlin) and preparing to drag Hector's body around the city of Troy.
Very much like today, we tend to worship legendary heroes. A cult devoted to Achilles grew in the Thessaly region (where Achilles is said to have been born) of Greece. It is sort of like going to see Lincolns log cabin, I guess.
This shows members of a religious group called the Achilleides, who claimed to be descenants of Achilles. Sure, everyone wants to be associated with the hero's and gods. You do realize, about half of the US is related to European nobility, don't you?
It is most amazing to me that we haven't changed that much over 2500 years.
Above is a sarcophagus with a scene from the life of Achilles. In this scene, Achilles dons his armor with the help of Odysseus. Achilles is just mounting his chariot, (a chariot is just slightly better than an AMC Gremlin) and preparing to drag Hector's body around the city of Troy.
Carmen De Lavallade, 82, is one of the most gorgeous, gracious, and talented women I have had the privilege of photographing.
Below is a fragment of a mosaic referencing a scene in Homer's the Iliad. A larger image can be seen here.
Achilles is about to lose possession of the concubine Briseis to Agamemnon. This is just the antiquities version of Days of Our Lives.
Briseis was married to Mynes. During the Trojan war, Archilles stormed the city of Lyrnessus (where Briseis and her husband lived) and killed Mynes. Briseis was taken as a prisoner and became a concubine. If you didn't know, a concubine was a socially accepted position for a "lesser wife". One could be married and still have one or more concubines, as long as the relationship was stable. I am trying to think through whether this is a good thing or not. I see some potential dangers with this.
Well, Agamemnon (who names their kid Agamemnon, he's going to get his ass kicked in school, ya know), demanded Briseis from Achilles because he had been forced to give up his own female captive, Chryseis. I don't know why Agamemnon didn't just go find another female captive. I am sure there were plenty to be found at the local health club and juice bar.
It turns out that Agamomnon survived the Trojan war and returned to Troy, just to be murdered by the lover of his wife Clytemnestra.
See why this sounds like Days of Our Lives!!
ANYWAY, I found the mosaic work to be fascinating. This is from 100-200 AD.
Achilles is about to lose possession of the concubine Briseis to Agamemnon. This is just the antiquities version of Days of Our Lives.
Briseis was married to Mynes. During the Trojan war, Archilles stormed the city of Lyrnessus (where Briseis and her husband lived) and killed Mynes. Briseis was taken as a prisoner and became a concubine. If you didn't know, a concubine was a socially accepted position for a "lesser wife". One could be married and still have one or more concubines, as long as the relationship was stable. I am trying to think through whether this is a good thing or not. I see some potential dangers with this.
Well, Agamemnon (who names their kid Agamemnon, he's going to get his ass kicked in school, ya know), demanded Briseis from Achilles because he had been forced to give up his own female captive, Chryseis. I don't know why Agamemnon didn't just go find another female captive. I am sure there were plenty to be found at the local health club and juice bar.
It turns out that Agamomnon survived the Trojan war and returned to Troy, just to be murdered by the lover of his wife Clytemnestra.
See why this sounds like Days of Our Lives!!
ANYWAY, I found the mosaic work to be fascinating. This is from 100-200 AD.
I found the floor tiles interesting. This was internal between galleries.
The image below is outside in a courtyard. It reminded me of when our esteemed Governor at the time, Jesse the Body, went on the Tonight Show and said the streets of St. Paul were designed by drunk Irishmen.
Still, I LIKE this design!?
