The re-purposefulness of lending libraries make for a wonderful treasure trove of shared information and literacy for any public space. You can refer to an old post on Libros Schmibros I had written months ago to attest to the positive qualities of lending libraries. I found this hidden gem while walking around the Mission Hills neighborhood in San Diego over a week ago. The charming craftsman bird house style on a tall post was a homey aesthetic choice from the person who designed and built this particular library. Just a moment before approaching and taking a photo of this petite lending library, I noticed a young kid walking up to open and browse the selection of texts. His mom stashed a paperback in an open slot and the two walked off together. I found myself thankful for alternative libraries and those that had shared what was old for them but new for someone else. I also enjoyed the idea that you don't have to have a large room to rent to create a lending library, but that you can allocate a small space on the sidewalk to the public.
With the surge of ebook (or digital book) sales over the past couple of years I've wondered about the future of tangible texts and their literal shelf life. My memories and fondness of public libraries and mom and pop bookstores also tag the unspoken value of literacy. Physically turning a page of a book is like holding your breath in anticipation of the next part of a novel, or letting your mind reach a stopping point to quickly ponder and review new information read in a nonfiction catalog. This doesn't compare to the finger swipe on the screen of a mobile device. Plus, I don't bear as many headaches while reading through a book than say staring at a glaring computer screen with popup advertisements.
The re-purposefulness of lending libraries make for a wonderful treasure trove of shared information and literacy for any public space. You can refer to an old post on Libros Schmibros I had written months ago to attest to the positive qualities of lending libraries. I found this hidden gem while walking around the Mission Hills neighborhood in San Diego over a week ago. The charming craftsman bird house style on a tall post was a homey aesthetic choice from the person who designed and built this particular library. Just a moment before approaching and taking a photo of this petite lending library, I noticed a young kid walking up to open and browse the selection of texts. His mom stashed a paperback in an open slot and the two walked off together. I found myself thankful for alternative libraries and those that had shared what was old for them but new for someone else. I also enjoyed the idea that you don't have to have a large room to rent to create a lending library, but that you can allocate a small space on the sidewalk to the public.
0 Comments
It's not a bird, nor a plane. It's a... Giant Seafoam Goddess? Regardless, you don't see something like this everyday.
Above is a belated image that I took at the Without Walls Festival hosted by the La Jolla Playhouse. New York-based puppeteer Basil Twist recruited a group of local volunteers and delivered an awesome performance. If I could describe it properly, the Seafoam Goddess emerged from the whitewash of the sea, like magic. She gently nodded her head from side to side, ocean water dripping from her hair and face. Two giant hands appeared on each side of her body, moving slowly and gently with the undulating waves of the water. Her large eyes opened and closed with grace. In a moment, her face changed and turned green. Her mouth was large and open with sharp teeth exposed. It reminded me of what I might be like waking up on a Monday morning, but I digress. All of a sudden, she converted back to her goddess self and eventually lowered herself back into the water, disappearing. Goodbye, Seafoam Goddess. Thank you for sharing your beauty and greatness. A couple of weekends ago I was invited to a class field trip at the Watts Towers in South Central LA. I had the honor of co-teaching as a guest artist for Julianne Gavino's class from CSU Channel Islands. Following our group tour of the towers, we explored the Charles Dickson exhibit in the art center next door.
The biggest delight of the gallery experience was the discussion I had with the group of students. Visual engagement strategies such as addressing the use of the artist's materials, understanding the social history of the work at the time it was made, etc., were thrown at Ms. Gavino's students. I was impressed to hear their ideas and interpretation of Dickson's work. It is different than simply hearing, "I like it," and when that statement was expressed, it was even better to hear the reasoning behind it. It was an honor to talk with this thoughtful group. It's certainly not easy to talk about art, and I've been given the same "art is so subjective" excuse from past students in foundation courses I've taught. It's important to understand that not everyone will like the same artistic work, and that there may be art that might make you feel uncomfortable or even challenge your ideas of what you believe art is and should be. And that is OK. I prefer dialogue about a person's read on an art piece, rather than hearing, "I can do that," or "I do/don't like it." Our worldview is different and shaped from the way we were raised and what we were exposed to in life. Come on, talk about art with me. If you can shed more info about the visual details you see that make you think and feel a certain way, the more I can learn about you and what you understand in the world. |
Author
Van (rhymes with "fun") C. Tran Archives
September 2018
Categories
All
|