USA, Roadtrip

 

A few images from my grandson's road trip across the USA. Just finished. He shared these photos:

Martin Parr, West Bay. Seaside Photographs. Think of England.

The influential photographs of Martin Parr.

"West Bay was shot in the small Dorset seaside town, in the Summer of 1996. The series marks Martin Parr's first use of his now characteristic combination of ring flash and macro lens. The photographs focus on small details and strange nuances in this typically British seaside resort. The Rocket Press published West Bay in 1997 – Parr's first limited edition artists’ book in which the photographs were accompanied by specially commissioned contemporary poetry. Photographs from this series comprised Parr’s first commercial gallery show in London at Rocket Gallery",

http://www.martinparr.co.uk/west.htm

"Think of England is a mosaic of English clichés. From Socks and sandals to telephone boxes; top-hats to bacon sandwiches, Think of England asks, in an overwhelming display of saturated colour and kitsch, what it means to be English. The photographs in this series originate from throughout the 1990s when Martin Parr made countless trips to provincial towns and seaside resorts".

http://www.martinparr.co.uk/think.htm

Martin Parr publications:

http://www.martinparr.co.uk/publications.htm

.

St. George, Portland, Dorset. "Primitive Georgian". Gabriel Max.

 

Returning from Portland Bill yesterday, I decided to kook inside the redundant church of St. George.

I was intrigued by this print, hanging close to the altar.

It is the work "Jesus Christus" by the Prague-born Gabriel Max (1874), later ennobled as Gabriel Cornelius Ritter von Max (1840-1915). The original painting is known as 

"Le Voile de Veronique", The Veil of Veronica.

It was sold at Christie's for 47,000 Euros:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6186359

Related work by other artists:

https://www.google.com/search?source=univ&tbm=isch&q=The+Veil+of+Veronica,+Christies&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiMrOGCjbjyAhV3QkEAHSetAWoQjJkEegQIGhAC&biw=1093&bih=500

Paul Nash, documentary film, Landscape from a Dream

 

Watch:

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-landscape-from-a-dream-1978-online

A film profile of Paul Nash, who was fascinated by the atmosphere of places and the surreal aspects of landscape.

The film focuses on his fascination with landscape and the 'genius loci', the spirit of the place which he aims to capture in his paintings.

Preston Hall

 

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/266599.13

Wincanton, Somerset, Town Hall

 A special day. An anniversary visit to Wincanton, Somerset,  followed by a traditional pub meal near Dorchester, Dorset.

A successful day, even if it was Friday the 13th.

John Pouncy, Dorchester Photographer and Innovator, 1818-1894

 

https://www.opcdorset.org/fordingtondorset/Files2/JohnPouncy1818-1894.html

https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/literland/hardy/dorchester/027zzz001789a27u00001000.

Rilke: Das Karussell (The Merry-Go-Round)

Das Karussell

 

Mit einem Dach und seinem Schatten dreht
sich eine kleine Weile der Bestand
von bunten Pferden, alle aus dem Land,
das lange zögert, eh es untergeht.
Zwar manche sind an Wagen angespannt,
doch alle haben Mut in ihren Mienen;
ein böser roter Löwe geht mit ihnen
und dann und wann ein weißer Elefant.

Sogar ein Hirsch ist da, ganz wie im Wald,
nur dass er einen Sattel trägt und drüber
ein kleines blaues Mädchen aufgeschnallt.

Und auf dem Löwen reitet weiß ein Junge
und hält sich mit der kleinen heißen Hand
dieweil der Löwe Zähne zeigt und Zunge.

Und dann und wann ein weißer Elefant.

Und auf den Pferden kommen sie vorüber,
auch Mädchen, helle, diesem Pferdesprunge
fast schon entwachsen; mitten in dem Schwunge
schauen sie auf, irgendwohin, herüber –.

Und dann und wann ein weißer Elefant.

Und das geht hin und eilt sich, dass es endet,
und kreist und dreht sich nur und hat kein Ziel.
Ein Rot, ein Grün, ein Grau vorbeigesendet,
ein kleines kaum begonnenes Profil –.
Und manchesmal ein Lächeln, hergewendet,
ein seliges, das blendet und verschwendet
an dieses atemlose blinde Spiel.

Weymouth Saturday Night: Funfair and MacDonald's

 

Cecil Day-Lewis (C.Day Lewis) and Dorset

My article on the former Poet Laureate, in the Dorset Echo today. On his links to Dorset and on aspects of his poetry, translations, novels and politics:

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/leisure/19488429.cecil-day-lewis-deeply-felt-love-dorset/

Haiku written at his grave-side, Stinsford, Dorset:

Thirteen steps from Hardy's heart.

Half a life away -

Those class-warfare days.

The shorter print article: