Comments on: Rand and McNally Dreaming

By: Birgit Zipser

Birgit Zipser — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:08:52 +0000

Jay, Some shapes in the Peninsula closely resemble the shapes in David’s Babel. Peninsula is more 2-D than Babel where the tower and other shapes compete thereby making Babel more 3-D. The oolithic sandstone in Cotswold has a 3-D look like Turner’s Shore scene with waves. What I am musing about: Maps, 2-D; abstract art, often 2D; sketching my hand last night and plein air painting, 3D; David's Babel, 2D + 3D.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:20:52 +0000

David:

That’s a lot of beauty, depending upon the flight that you book. I happen to like the one from LAX to Houston, which takes one over the high desert. Then there’s the flight into SEATAC that allows a great view up and down the Cascade volcanoes.

By: David

David — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:24:28 +0000

Jay, my favorite image is the top one. In monochrome, and without symbols, it has the same sort of beauty you experience looking out of an airplane window.

Aerial views and maps are remind me of Aboriginal paintings, in that they are records of journeys, of human interaction with nature.

By: Tree Smith

Tree Smith — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:11:03 +0000

I’m not familiar with Ghibi films but I did see an animated feature recently that really impressed me. It’s called Persepolis and it’s based on a graphic novel that’s an autobiography of a young woman growing up in Iran and Europe during the revolution.

By: Steve Durbin

Steve Durbin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:40:07 +0000

I also enjoyed Hockney’s Yorkshire works, see some musings in a prior post. I especially value him for original approaches–as with his photograph composities exploring perspective–even if I’m not always overly taken with the results.

I love the detailed cityscapes in some Ghibli films. Very true to Japan while being delightfully decorative. Always brings on nostalgia.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:00:36 +0000

Tree:

I don’t like to persist in negative opinions and have been pleased to experience such a Hockney revision.

The ghost of Monet may be sensed peering knowingly at these Yorkshire paintings. For certain, Hockney aligns himself with a large and growing cadre of environmental artists – those who work for Pixar (if still in existence) and other animation houses. These people create stunning settings. Studio Ghibli makes movies in which the visual depictions are at least half the story.

By: Tree Smith

Tree Smith — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:55:53 +0000

I agree, Jay, he can be overrated, and I think some critics go overboard when praising even the Yorkshire series.
I saw the Yorkshire paintings at the Boston MFA years ago, before I really knew who he is, and I was impressed with their colors, at the very least, and I keep coming back to them over the years–keep postcards of them up in my living room. I think because he honors the place, if that makes sense.