Marja-Leena Rathje
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autumnal reds


FallColours2011.jpg

FallColours2011_2.jpg

My current passion for the colour red in my latest printworks is also jumping out at me with its abundance amongst the fall colours of many trees around here right now, especially the maples.

Added November 13th... this quote struck me as deeply evocative and timely:

The Universe story is the quintessence of reality. We perceive the story. We put it in our language, the birds put it in theirs, and the trees put it in theirs. We can read the story of the Universe in the trees. Everything tells the story of the Universe. The winds tell the story, literally, not just imaginatively. The story has its imprint everywhere, and that is why it is so important to know the story. If you do not know the story, in a sense you do not know yourself; you do not know anything. - Thomas Berry

with thanks to Whiskey River

Marja-Leena | 12/11/2011 | 10 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Canada and BC


10 comments

Pleased to have arrived back as your reds developing and look forward to where they will take you. So much intensity in the leaves...before leaving.

Nature might say this autumn "Oh it's the fashion!"

Blessed be the maples, and all their works and glories.

Naomi, pleased to see you here. The reds are really exceptional this fall but sadly will soon fall.

Joe, it's quite the fashion show too!

Zhoen, yes, and how timely are your words along with the Thomas Berry quote which I found just as you commented.

At my last appointment, the kind nurse explained to me that my veins are like a tree. I told her about fractals and recommended the NOVA program (it airs on PBS here in the US). The trees here today are whipping in the wind and the colours are streaking around on the ground.

R, yes, veins are like trees, also like their roots, as we saw at an amazing exhibition of Body Worlds some years ago. Nova is a great program, as is the PBS station, one of only a few good stations out there that we now miss since we quit paying for TV cable service in protest of their ever increasing rates. On Friday there was a huge windstorm just to the west of us as well as snowstorms to the east and north, all moved down from that terrible storm in Alaska. We merely had a heavy breeze with rain and a couple of thunderclaps for a short while.

I watch NOVA on hulu.com on my computer. Most of the recent episodes are available for no additional cost. I'm happy to hear that your area didn't suffer any wind damage, Marja-Leena!

We had another strong storm come through a few days ago taking more leaves than last time but the ones left are still glowing mostly gold against the clear blue skies. That's a very beautiful Chinese maple you have there and a tree I miss seeing here on the east coast.

The quote is a good one reminding me of a Murakami line: If I have to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand anyway.

R, thanks, I will check that out. I haven't yet got into looking at much programming on the net, just a bit on CBC. We've been enjoying a collection of DVDs lately - a story for another time, maybe.

(Later: R, hulu is only available in the US.)

Susan, November is the month of storms, usually heavy rains and wind here on the wetcoast as you know. I remember that Murakami quote, it is a good one.

Oh, bummer about Hulu (as the young ones say here). I am looking forward to hearing all about your DVD adventure!