Photo by: Derek Corneau

- Lemony Snicket

Photo by: Marija Mandic

Wilhelm Staehle

 Wilhelm Staehle's incredible hand-cut silhouettes are terribly clever.

"Smile O voluptuous cool-breath'd earth!  Earth of the slumbering and liquid trees! 
Earth of departed sunset - earth of the mountains misty-topt!  Earth of the vitreous pour of the full moon just tinged with blue!  Earth of shine and dark mottling the tide of the river!  Earth of the limpid gray of clouds brighter and clearer for my sake!  Far-swooping elbow'd earth - rich apple-blossom'd earth! 
Smile, for your lover comes."

-Walt Whitman

Photo courtesy of Daniel Roth

Colin Hay

A tribute:

"With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?"

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I read The Picture of Dorian Gray in seventh grade and have been in love with Oscar Wilde ever since. In all of the books and poetry I have read, songs that I have listened to, or people that I have met, I have never met anyone who compares to Oscar Wilde when it comes to blatant expressions of love. Though I never knew him personally, I feel that he was a genuine man and I respect that.

"Never love anyone who treats you like you're ordinary."

Oscar Wilde

"Heart, we will forget him.

You and I, tonight!

You will forget the warmth he gave,

I will forget the light."

Emily Dickinson

      

"Our eyes

are glued to the

screen, but our thoughts are glued

to the spot where our elbows are

touching."

Sonya Sones

                

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Marina Abramovic

Marina Abramovic

Marina Abramovic is a Yugoslavian artist who is best known for her nude, artistic performances. 

These experimental performances are complex. Her artistic approach pushes the viewer's comfort zone and is meant to leave an impression that exists long after the viewer takes his eyes off of them.

In "Imponderabilia", she and another human body stood nude in a narrow museum entrance, only a foot apart from each other. This made it to where museum visitors had to choose to squeeze through the two, very naked bodies, or leave. 

http://www.moma.org/explore/multimedia/audios/190/1974

In another installation, she used a razor blade to carve a star in her stomach, whipped herself, and then lay on a cross made from ice--bleeding and exhausted. Unable to watch her suffer any longer, the audience intervened and the piece ended.

In 1976, she and a German photographer walked the entire length of the Great Wall of China, but not side-by-side. Instead, each started at opposite ends until they met in the middle, where they cut off all relationships with each other and went their separate ways.

I was moved by this one:

This piece featured Abramovic sitting in a chair for an entire day at the museum. Visitors were allowed and encouraged to sit across from her for as long as they wanted; becoming participants in the piece. In silence, Abramovic would sit across from them as an "emotional mirror" in a way--often inducing heartbreaking reactions. 

The pictures are click-through links.

"Job" can be marked off of my wish list!

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Certain nights of the week, you'll be able to find me at a quaint restaurant in downtown Tuscaloosa. This restaurant relies on local and regional farms for all of their food needs and only serves meat that is free of antibiotics and hormones.  Needless to say, I'm excited to work here. 

So, if you need me... I'll be the one with bangs and a tie. 

I'll probably be strolling to and fro, serving happy animals and fresh veggies to the relaxed customers with a smile constantly plastered across my face--pretty easy to spot.