New Years Eve

Boggle in Winthrop, just before midnight, Olivia, Shiah, Julia.

Mr. Big Shot Says: DANGER in the Sticks

What many people don’t understand about life in rural America is how dangerous it is for kid’s growing up. As a young teenager you are thrust into the working life of adults either because of the need for manpower or because you are available. There are many times when you are sent to work as a kid and the danger of that work has not been completely thought through. And then there are your relatives who are trying to make a man out of you. . . .

Fridamania’s Other Half Gets His Due

The New York Times says....Mexico City Celebrates Diego!

Tina

Tina --I'm sorry . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6msBslZHahc

Biography from YouTube posting (thanks!):

Tina Modotti (1896 -- 1942) was an Italian photographer, model, silent film actress, and leftist who once playfully described her profession as "men".She acted in several silent movies in the early 1920s and later became a model for prominent photographers and artists of the time.

By 1926, Modotti was an accomplished photographer in her own right, often publishing her work in left wing and Communist papers.Modotti immigrated to the United States in 1913. There she met the photographer Edward Weston and his assistant Margrethe Mather. By 1921, Modotti was Weston's favorite model and, by October of that year, his lover.

Modotti's husband seems to have responded to this by moving to Mexico in 1921. Following him to Mexico City, Modotti arrived two days after his. In 1923, Modotti returned to Mexico City with Weston and one of his four sons, leaving behind Weston's wife and remaining children.Modotti and Weston quickly gravitated toward the capital's bohemian scene, and used their connections to create an expanding portrait business.

It was also during this time that Modotti met several political radicals and Communists, including three Mexican Communist Party officials who would all eventually become romantically linked with Modotti.

Modotti is thought to have been introduced to photography as a young girl in Italy, where her uncle, Pietro Modotti, maintained a photography studio. Years later in the U.S., her father opened a similar studio in San Francisco, where her interest undoubtedly developed further. However, it was her relationship with Edward Weston that was to allow her to gravitate upward to become a world class photographer.

Exiled from her adopted home in Mexico, Modotti moved around Europe for a while, finally settling in Moscow where, by most accounts, she joined a branch of the Soviet secret police. During the next few years she engaged in various secretive missions on behalf of the Russians (though probably for "World Revolution" in her mind) in France and Eastern Europe. When the Spanish Civil War erupted in 1936, Vidali (then known as "Comandante Carlos") and Modotti (using the pseudonym "Maria") left Moscow for Spain, where they stayed and worked until 1939. In April 1939, following the collapse of the Republican movement in Spain, Modotti left Spain with Vidali and returned to Mexico under a pseudonym.

Modotti died in Mexico City in 1942 under what was viewed by some as suspicious circumstances.

Poet Pablo Neruda composed Tina Modotti's epitaph, part of which can also be found on her tombstone http://www.odebate.com.br/downloads/tina/Figuras/Ti_tumba.jpg

Pure your gentle name, pure your fragile life, bees, shadows, fire, snow, silence and foam, combined with steel and wire and pollen to make up your firm and delicate being

In 1926 Diego Rivera's wife Lupe Marín asserted that her separation from her husband was caused by his affair with Tina, a byproduct of Tina's nude modeling for him for the murals as "the Abundant Earth" at the National Agricultural School in Chapingo, near Texcoco [1926-27]. Their affair lasted for about a year and he painted her five times in the Chapingo murals, including as "The Earth Enslaved", "Germination" and "Virgin Earth"• "In the Arsenal", Secretaría de Educación Pública Building, Mexico City, 1928This painting was part of the break between Modotti and Rivera caused by his expulsion from the Communist Party.

Slavko Says: Sun and Octopus

I remembered yesterday all of you sun worshipers, it was shining like in the best time of season.

Yawning with the cats against the Fjaka wall...

Just now I'm packing to go across channel (((for the holiday...eating octopus))), but before I go will be one last squid fishing with Zoran, it is a bit cold today, will need couple of layers of clothing.

More Light!

A poem which has haunted me for 30 years . . . .something to do with being human ...kinda like the shower scene from Psycho . . .read it at the risk of your sanity . . . More Light! More Light!

For Heinrich Blucher and Hannah Arendt Composed in the Tower before his execution These moving verses, and being brought at that time Painfully to the stake, submitted, declaring thus: "I implore my God to witness that I have made no crime." Nor was he forsaken of courage, but the death was horrible, The sack of gunpowder failing to ignite. His legs were blistered sticks on which the black sap Bubbled and burst as he howled for the Kindly Light. And that was but one, and by no means one of he worst; Permitted at least his pitiful dignity; And such as were by made prayers in the name of Christ, That shall judge all men, for his soul's tranquility. We move now to outside a German wood. Three men are there commanded to dig a hole In which the two Jews are ordered to lie down And be buried alive by the third, who is a Pole. Not light from the shrine at Weimar beyond the hill Nor light from heaven appeared. But he did refuse. A Luger settled back deeply in its glove. He was ordered to change places with the Jews. Much casual death had drained away their souls. The thick dirt mounted toward the quivering chin. When only the head was exposed the order came To dig him out again and to get back in. No light, no light in the blue Polish eye. When he finished a riding boot packed down the earth. The Luger hovered lightly in its glove. He was shot in the belly and in three hours bled to death. No prayers or incense rose up in those hours Which grew to be years, and every day came mute Ghosts from the ovens, sifting through crisp air, And settled upon his eyes in a black soot. Anthony Hecht

Opportunity

This coming Sunday and Monday, Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Mercury, the Sun and the Galactic Center will all be lined up! There will also be a full moon and an unusual Pluto-Sun conjunction on the Solstice.

(from geekdad)

Lakota Sioux Indians Declare Sovereign Nation Status

Washington D.C. – Lakota Sioux Indian representatives declared sovereign nation status today in Washington D.C. following Monday’s withdrawal from all previously signed treaties with the United States Government. The withdrawal, hand delivered to Daniel Turner, Deputy Director of Public Liaison at the State Department, immediately and irrevocably ends all agreements between the Lakota Sioux Nation of Indians and the United States Government outlined in the 1851 and 1868 Treaties at Fort Laramie Wyoming. (Press release)

(((It's so great that these people from Wounded Knee 1973 are still in there kicking. Godspeed.)))

Solstice 2007

Grab the shotgun, Maw! the solstice is a' coming'!

Mr. Big Shot Remembers: "My Father's Son"

My Dad was loveable, tough, independent, no-nonsense and a very busy man. He graduated from High School in 1930 and everything he had learned about life was swept away by the overwhelming tide of the Depression. His plans for the future were now plans for survival. He and a brother traveled by riding the rails out to the Northwest from Iowa to find employment in a lumber mill working the night shift. He was about 20. Eventually his entire family made it to the mill town of Raymond, Washington but my grandfather whom both my father and I are named after was dieing. He was in so much pain he ground his teeth down the winter before he died. My father went on to marry my mother, another independent character, join the Army and find himself captured by the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge. He then spent six months in a prisoner of war camp with only rice water for food and the coldest winter in the 20th century . . . (c0ntinued)

Slavko Says: Snow!

Snow in the
moun-
tains of
Bosnia.

The bura
blows in
Milna.

B-r-r-r-r-

Evil Girl Lives

Love the work by Serbian artist Ana Nedeljkovic. Check it out. Spread the word: Evil Girl Lives.

They Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore!!!!

Tuff Luk Film Disaster

Check out the featured films and the critics reviews.....
Courtesy of Spencer.....
(Is there a little file corruption here, Spence?????)

My Lovely New Studio Doors

Well, you can't see much in this picture....but am I proud, or what? Just before hanging the Bull's Horns over the entry.

Oh, the Irony of it all!

So, I'm dreaming of being in the sun in L.A. and in L.A. they are dreaming of being up here:

http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-methow9dec09?page=1

And what places do they recommend for your stay? You guessed it: http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-methowbox9dec09

Now if they just would have mentioned our cabin.....(Congrats Olivia!)

And what about this: Old Times

Pyramid

by HURD, JOHN
$12.00

• Bookseller: Jeff Maser - Bookseller, ABAA (US)
• Seller Inventory #: 11660
• Book condition: Near fine in wraps. 1/200 copies
• Binding: Paperback
• Publisher: Seattle, WA:Jawbone Press,
• Date published: 1977

Wait a minute! . . .International Casafundada

Found On http://www.eskimo.com/~recall/cats/periodical.htm

134463 PERIODICAL. LE JARDIN DU MONDE: The Journal of International Casafundada.
Seattle: Casafundada, 1977. 61 pages. Trade paperback. Illustrated. Very Good+. $14.95.
Casa fun dada indeed.

<<<Those were the days, my friends/ those were the days! !>>>

Mr. Big Shot Reflects on the Great American West

In the summer of 1972 I met Tammy and Carolyn while sunbathing on the campus of Western near the library. It was in college that I really began to belong to the cult of the sun worshipers. Throughout the ages civilized man has worshiped the sun as a god and sun bathers have gathered together in a communal oneness to celebrate our natural humanity. One of my great teachers in this endeavor was a fellow student in my Ancient Egyptian class who dropped out school and spent the next 3 months lying on the roof of his house in Bellingham during which time he turned a toasted brown. (continued)

Happy, happy Day

Birthdays and anniversaries

Slavko Says: The Prosek

Stopped by Zore and he said the prosek looks fine so far. It takes a few months for prošek to be ready.
. . . I've bought another piece of land in Solin right next to what I allready own in the mountains.
Leaving for Split tomorrow for a weekend, maybe go to Zagreb car market on Sunday with brother, he need some used car for work.

My Studio in the First Snow of Autumn

Joel Brock paintings

ANACORTES — The Scott Milo Gallery, 420 Commercial Ave., will exhibit the pastels and acrylics of Joel Brock, opening with an artist’s reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, and continuing through Jan. 2. Gallery hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. http://www.scottmilo.com or 360-293-6938.

Intimidation of the Artist

The rare, full version of "Intimidation of the Artist" is available for the first time online at: http://ia360639.us.archive.org/0/items/IntimidationOfTheArtist/Intimidation.mov

See Picasso haunt a Seattle artist from beyond the grave.

((Please be patient while the video loads...))

EVENING OF SEVDAH

Saturday night Julia had a large display of photographs at the First Annual 'Evening of Sevdah' in Seattle. This 'stecak' was one of them.

A review said: "What was readily apparent was the affection and commitment to this music from the excellent singers and instrumentalists . . ." (Click here for review)

And here's an example of Sevdah.

Old News: But Crazy, Crazy, Crazy Art

. . .the 'Temples of Damanhur' are not the great legacy of some long-lost civilisation, they are the work of a 57-year-old former insurance broker from northern Italy who, inspired by a childhood vision, began digging into the rock.

(continued)

Mr. Big Shot Remembers "Middle School"

Somewhere between childhood and driving your parent’s car is where you find yourself in middle school. After school one day in the sixth grade I remember 3 girls pantomiming the words to “My Boy Friend’s Back” swaying in unison each girl with their hair done and pretty dresses on and me thinking that they were way ahead of me on the sexual awareness chart. . . (continued)

Blue Spencer

Help a blue Spencer get out of the hole and find his true love. (Click on one of the 3 objects in front of him.)
A Spencer animation from 2006.

The Church

Julia and Lori check out the church for wedding photographs. This is going to be a big deal!

Spencer's Graphic Design

Spencer's Portal from last year is still up. Check it out before it's gone!

http://myweb.students.wwu.edu/hurds/portal.html

Catherines 60th Birthday

Bellingham Friday

Viet Namese noodle soup with Spencer and Olivia. Allied Arts opening with live music. Warm milk in a coffee house on a cold, wet night.

Lynne Says: Beautiful day in PA

Torrents of rain washing down the trunks turning them black and causing the fall foliage to blaze in burgundy, russets, oranges, chartreuses.
In the forties, baking cranberry, flax, orange, walnut muffins and putting a stew into the oven for a long lazy bake.
Changing the sheets and putting the fluffy comforters above and below. Chasing the dust bunnies and warming the rooms with soft lights.
AHH, the change of seasons at home. . .

Dinner with the Knox

Down to Mercer Island tonight for a great pasta dinner at Tom and Denise's. Coffee and Bosnian pastry for dessert. Since we are all getting along as it were, for party games afterwards we took turns taking our blood pressure. Julia lost.

Mr. Big Shot is RED HOT

Mr. Big Shot continues his roll with "Culture and Lifestyle Choices Among the Okanogians." This guy is ret hot! Is there no stopping him?
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------

I grew up in the car culture of the west coast of the United States. Not the car culture of suburban sprawl and cul de sacs and drive through food and commuting and waiting in traffic jams and drive through churches and bedroom communities and drink holders.

No, I grew up in the Hot Rod culture and mindset of 1960’s west coast Americana. Cars with really big engines and candy apple red paint jobs and bucket seats and big tires and chrome wheels and big overhead cam engines and getting rubber left on the road and girls hot girls in tank tops and short shorts smiling when you drove by and wanting to ride in your car because your car was so hot and fun and hot and you could be a real man if your car was a great machine with a lot of speed and maybe some fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror. . . (continued)

WIND! WIND! WIND!

Four or five days straight of high wind.

The days are dim gray,

almost like a deep twilight.

Great cedars shake themselves

into a frenzy.

Forty year old alder sway in frantic arcs

across the sky.

Now and then, there's a sudden crack

as a branch or treetop

gives way.

Routines

We have finally worked out our daily routine: Julia gets up at 2 a.m. and works through the night, I go to bed at 2 a.m. after watching late night movies and youtube videos. It's working so far.

I am becoming quite a fan of YouTube. I think Slavko turned me on to this when he showed me Croatian videos there. Now I find it astounding what a simple search will turn up. I just finished watching a 3 part documentary on Dada, a voodoo healing ceremony, and home movies of Frida and Diego.

Mr. Big Shot Says: When the Carnival Came to Town

As I remember it. The Christmas of 1962 Santa brought me a red Schwinn 2 speed bicycle. It was a remarkable present as I had not asked for the bike and was not expecting anything as spectacular as this gift. On Christmas day I was out front of our house trying desperately to learn how to ride such a wonderful bike. I was falling into the hedge and the roses and my father would alternately yell at me for falling into the bushes and wrecking his plants and pulling me out of the thickets and putting me back on the bike and pushing me for another start. After an hour or so of scratches and bruises and pain I was able to get around the neighborhood and visit my friends close by. This two-speed bike was a marvel for a kid in Omak. Everyone else had a one-speed bike and they had to huff and puff up hills with the same gear. I, on the other hand, had a second gear I could shift into by touching my pedals backwards and engaging the second gear. It was like getting the wind blowing behind your back. I felt like a prince . . .

(continued)

Slavko Says: Auntie Liza

This is Aunt Liza, from Medjimurje region, singing their traditional songs with a heavy dialect that I have a problem to understand.

Friend stopped by and asked which language she sings?!
This makes me cry each time I listen to it . . .
(click on image to play . . .)

Happy 31st Birthday, Eliot!

Gary, Catherine, Kyra, Eliot, Spencer, Julia . . .

Heads Up: When the carnival came to town

It’s funny how one, even us management types, can start to think like a self-centered self-promoting artist once one begins to produce art.

With that in mind, how about a little advertisement on the blog for my fans to know that the carnival is coming to town ? soon!

Mr. Big Shot

Three Gorgeous Ladies!

Brianna, Julia, Denise setting out for a walk to Squire's Lake on a sunny NW day. (Love the new glasses D!)

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Slavko Says "Olives and Tuna"

It's been amazing morning and whole day spent in the olive garden picking the olives, and evening as you can see on the grill with tuna fish.

Olive harvesting's on the peak this weekend, presses working all day around!!!!!!!!!
(D'brute sez: I wanna be there!)

Chaz says . . .Hvar

Melanie had a dream last night that you bought us a cabin on Hvar and brought us there on a helicopter. The cabin was sited near an inlet and out in the water there was a smaller island where sharks were able to beach themselves for sunning and mating and dying purposes. Melanie awoke with a smile and was happy.

Opening: Christine Wardenburg-Skinner

We visited Christine's first solo show ever, at the "Dear Edison" gallery(Edison, WA). It's there the month of November. Over the years, she has participated in many, many group shows. Here, her woodcuts are powerful and her ceramics charming!!!

Eliot's Fab Cab Work

Here's Eliot at his current job site . . .making hand-crafted vertical grain fir doors, cabinets, and stairs...fabulous, fabulous stuff . . .imagine it finished and gleaming like sun-warmed gold! Teresa, the owner - also in the picture - loves it.

Ganga!

I love this stuff!!!  Mountain music from Croatia and Herzegovina . . .we have some short videos that we shot in Solin this summer while eating lamb and drinking pivo with Slavko, Eliot and Kyra . . .maybe we'll post them soon . . .find lots more of this music , grouped by region  -- and downloadable -- at http://www.imota.net/html/ganga_u_karti.html

 

Ginger

A bit of sad news from the Pennsylvania Hurd household.
Our cat Ginger, we got when we first moved back to Hanover
over 16 years ago, passed away today of old age.

She was a wonderful companion.
She had lost her agility, speed and hearing by this summer
but not her good nature.
We will miss her.

Mr. Big Shot is "Out of Sorts"

(Mr. Big Shot says about this: " . . .while writing this story I had a lot of energy driving it and I think it was because I first understood, at that time, that you were now going to be livingin Croatia and things would be different.")

So, I got the postcard. I guess I have not gone along for the ride or something. The voyage. Nonetheless, I have been thrilled for you. Loved the pictures and the stories and I hope you bought that old rock. It’s so much more convenient to purchase antiquity rather than having to live through it.

Things are good in Alger. Get your ass back here. I need to borrow your lawnmower and I don’t want to be nice about it. I am tired of being nice to people who pretend to be your friend as long as you are nice.

I need to have my friend back here so I can borrow his damn lawn mower without being nice. And if I were to offer him a few beers he might bring it over as well. God, the world is full of crazy people and they are crazier than when you left. Speaking of crazy . . . (continued)"

Slavko Says . . .Poems from the Island

Well, the Book is coming to print as soon all details are ready . . .poems and anecdotes I showed you this summer . . .

it feels exciting . . .Thanks for support, otherwise it would still be in the drawer. . .

(D'brute sez: More on this as it develops!)

Halloween

Bonfires on the mountainside!

July in the Park

Beautiful day. Eliot's dawg. Life is good.

Rumi remembered

By Saeed Taji Farouky, from Al Jazeera

Iran has celebrated the 800th birthday of Jalal ad-din Muhammad Rumi, the poet and spiritual leader famous across much of central and western Asia, with a week-long conference in the cities of Tehran, Khoy and Tabriz.
But scholars say that political pressures and the increasing commercialisation of Sufism, the mystical strand of Islam Rumi so heavily influenced, threaten to overshadow the poet's message of universal love and tolerance.

Read more...