Art work of the week - Man Reading by John Singer Sergeant
I subscribe to Daily Art on my phone, and it’s great because every day the app serves up a new painting with some notes. Today I found Man Reading by John Singer Sergeant waiting for me. It’s thought to be a portait of Nicola d’Inverno, Sergeant’s factotum (fancy name for man servant). He looks lost in the book he’s reading, which seems like it’s been through many previous readers judging by it’s tattered pages. Books are better than movies, right? Unlike movies, books require active imagination.
An article that made me think - Reframing the narrative - why art and creativity matter in a time of crisis
During times of crisis, like those faced by medieval Venice, art can play a vital role in fostering community resilience and political imagination. The Venetian government invested in public art projects to reassure citizens and navigate instability, blending sacred and secular themes. These artistic initiatives helped redefine leadership and civic responsibility, influencing modern concepts of governance. I thought this aricle by Stefania Gerevini was timely.
Something I learned this week - Football as metaphor for life’s struggles
Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that. - Bill Shankly
Watching Manchester United v Lyon last week, an extraordinary game, took me through the full range of emotions. From tentative hope (1-0 to United), to surprised confidence (2-0), back to anxiety (2-1) and on to depression (2-2), despair (2-3) and finally numbness (2-4). Then came a flicker of hope (3-4), rising belief (4-4) and then utter ecstacy (5-4). Reflecting on it later made me think of Christopher Hill’s brilliant book about the survival of radical ideas in the face of their seeming utter defeat in 17th Century England. Hill’s book is about the execution of Charles I and the brief decade long republic that ended with Charles II acending the throne. After the monarchy was restored, many radicals were rounded up and executed - total defeat. For those that were left as they tried to keep their ideas alive, one of the points Hill makes is the importance of hope. John Milton’s poetry (especially Paradise Regained was important to them). An injection of hope is what happened when the score went from 2-4 to 3-4. You could hear how it sparked in the crowd. Hope gave the players renewed belief, and from that point they became unstoppable. You can watch the highlights of the game here.
Something happy - My daughter’s on a solo trip to Peru
My daughter set off on a trip to Peru, and will be doing two treks while there. I’m a bit anxious (I’m her dad!), but I could not be more proud of her. Both my kids are an on-going source of happiness to me. She is sending me more or less daily reports and pictures of her trip and each one is a little reservoir of happiness. The evidence for family bonds as a source of happiness across the stages of our lives is very strong.
Where I found hope this week - Swearing and honesty are related
I’m not a big swearer (curser) but I do find (in the right context) there is sometimes nothing better to be said. I was intrigued to find that it appears there is evidence of a link between profanity and honesty. The researchers concluded this was due to the fact swearing created a greater sense of authenticity. I think it’s likely that people who are authentically themselves are also happer people.
Something inspiring - Cherry Blossom
It’s the time of year when cherry blossom drapes flowers in the trees along our road. It reminded me of A.E. Housman’s book A Shropshire Lad and the lovliest of trees. I used to live in the blue remembred hills of Shropshire myself and I miss the gentle beauty of its landscape. Cherry blossom is one of life’s fleeting pleasures, here and gone. A reminder to open our eyes and see.
A poem to enjoy - Ode to a Yellow Onion by C. Dale Young
I love the way this poem begins:
And what if I had simply passed you by,
your false skins gathering light in a basket,
those skins of unpolished copper,
would you have lived more greatly?A question is a good way to start any poem. I think it’s because the poet sounds like they’re not completely sure, so they are going to begin with uncertainty. A poem that’s too sure of itself maybe something of a contradiction. A poem is by defintion trying to put something unsayable into words, and can communicate before it is understood.
A Substack to savour - Silly Games to Save the World by Glyn Maxwell
I’ve been a reader on Substack for a long time. It’s the best place I’ve found for thoughtful writing that speaks to me. My friend and mentor, the great poet Glyn Maxwell has a Substack called Silly Games to Save the World. He grapples with creativity, poetry and the uses of poetry with a dry wit. I always enjoy reading whatever he has to say.
Music I enoyed this week - Wild God by Nick Cave
I don’t seem to able to stop listening to this album Wild God by Nick Cave. I particularly love Cinnamon Horses - ‘The Cinnamon horses in the terprentine trees’ is such a beautiful image. It takes my mind into a strange, imaginary landscape. I see a stunted wood leading out to a cliff facing a blue sea, a stiff wind and the taste of ozone.
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