Noted Curiosities #001
Movements, Cups, Elbows, Autumn & Art
Around once a fortnight, I’ll post up a bunch of stuff that I originally posted up on my Substack Notes social. https://substack.com/@ongoingmartin
No particular order, just enjoyable thoughts, poems, and artworks.
Starting with a poem. A #tinyautumnpoem to be exact.
has a quarterly challenge to write a poem in 10 minutes, with no editing. Each day, Beth delivers a one-word prompt… and we write!Here’s one of those poems, Movement:
Writing with speed and without editing is useful for making any inner editor get out of the way, letting the wonderous words through instead.
I like to let collages through too. Instead of overthinking a situation, I find that running with an idea and letting it emerge is a great way to stay within my style, while also exploring what’s possible around the edges.
Today, I worked on a collage collection around a cup.
Instead of making changes for each piece, I used my original collage and post-processed to bring out different qualities around the same structure. The last piece, Cup 005, mirrors the left half to create what looks like a symmetrical face on the cup.
Parasols. It’s an umbrella term.
Ahem. Swiftly moving on…
My 8-year-old hit his elbow on a chair the other day.
He yelled, “Owwwwww!”
I said, “Did you hurt your funny bone?”
He gave me a funny look, pointed to his elbow, and said, “No! I hit it in my arm-cap.”
And that’s why I love language!
Okay, another poem!
This time, using prompts that
gives in the fantastic Poetry Pals. This one is around Autumn/Fall.Bracing & Pacing
Autumn broods as if it will live on forever,
Yet scarpers the first moment it gets to leave.
Mad dash, leaves and ash, festering, another turn—
And all I do is put the kettle on.
-
"Do I need a coat?" you ask at the hallway door.
"I haven't checked the weather," I call out.
Too stuffy for coats, too chilly without. We sigh
As I catch up and we both leave, bracing.
-
Once out in the wild of pavements and calm streetlights
We walk to the edge, to woods and good times.
Forgotten are kettle and coats and temperatures;
Remembered is why this is all worthwhile.
A couple of thoughts on art
There’s such an abundance of beautiful art being shared by people. It could feel overwhelming. All those styles and expressions to explore.
That said, I’ve found a particular direction and style that still has plenty of space to discover more from. It’s like I’ve found a magic area that’s currently open for lots of responsible adventure.
I don’t need to feel overwhelmed by extra choices. Instead, I can enjoy all the excellence elsewhere as a visitor.
I am a hard-working, enthusiastic resident in the area I choose to art my art in. And I am an inspired, observant, appreciative visitor to many other areas of artistic beauty.
Everyone has room to art their art where they choose to be a resident. The key, perhaps, is to visit far and wide for inspiration, whilst being resident in only a limited space.
Limiting the space doesn’t limit the possibility and the opportunity—it can actually give more room to be the most welcoming and wonderful resident for all to see.
You might just find yourself getting a lot more visitors, and you might also find yourself happily visiting more places than you’ve visited before.
Enjoy your residency, wherever you’ve pitched up. There’s a world of art. Explore it. And find your home in it.
Here are some of the collages I’ve created in recent days:
The thing about art is that it is (and always has been) an elusive beast.
What do you create is for? What do you enjoy it for?
Love, profit, escape, politics, fun?
Do you create art for yourself, or for others?
Does it cover all this ground, or is art something very specific to you?
There’s no particular answer, even though it’s important. In fact, despite the chaos faced around the world in both local and global proportions, art is crucial.
Art builds bridges, opens conversations, and considers the unknown.
We're all working on masterpieces, waiting to find them—and for them to find us. Whatever you feel art is for, keep going. Feed that elusive beast!
What has spoken to you from the above? The poetry, the artworks, my brilliant joke about parasols?
Maybe not the parasol thing… 😁
Your collages are superb! I particularly like the clouds one and the one with orange leaves and seagulls
Thank you a great article and aside from the parasol joke, which I did find funny, I enjoyed the whole piece. What resonated for me is who do we create art for and a question I've been considering lately, having just finished some recording for a music project, I've loved the whole process from writing to being in the studio, to designing the artwork, to creating all of this with my son as a creative partner. These aspects have nourished me the most, yet I do want to get the music into the world for others to hear, so I'm trying to take these creative thoughts into the promoting the record stage, holding onto what the art is for, the whole thing, the process and the sharing of my art, so they are more hand in hand rather than competing, if that makes sense?