Of Roses and Lilies
Johannes Brahms lullaby (Wiegenlied) in the original German version speaks of roses and carnations covering the baby’s crib. For some reason the…
Urban Green Spaces
There are historic gardens, botanical gardens, productive gardens, gardens of the rich and famous, sculpture gardens, contemporary gardens – and then there…
Linnaeus’ Desire
Tulips Galore
A few years back I worked on a montage series called Linnaeus’ Desire. You can see some samples on my other website…
Parks and Poppies
How politics shape our environments
Don’t you love it when a book review leaves no doubt about what to read? For example, Andrea Wulf writes, “Here is…
Ballet in Bloom
Ballets have long been associated with flowery music, movements, pink tutus and impersonations of flowers. I picked three today, for our viewing pleasure;…
Chasing (away) the Blues
Master Gardeners
I have known a few passionate gardeners both here and in Europe, but only two of them really closely. My observations, then,…
Of Plants and Gardens
Buds start the Season
This week I will contemplate flowers and gardens. Given how the world around us has burst into bloom it seems a good…
The Psychology of Color
Rothko's Color Fields
Some years back I was invited by the Portland Art Museum to give a talk on the psychology of seeing in the…
Abstract Art and the Brain
“Abstract art does not stimulate the same brain regions as figurative art. Therefore it is not art.” That kind of statement by…
Feather Weight or Heavy Hitter?
The History of an Art Work Counts
Yesterday I wondered why the very fact that a child might paint like an adult (assuming that really is the case) might…