a bit of art

i found a bit of heaven on earth last month when i indulged in the art institute's exhibit on japanese screens.


this autumn maple and flowering cherry are part of a set of two; the bamboo grove was painted on the other side. every time i have come to the art institute since i first visited perhaps 10 years ago, i have gazed longingly at this very maple in the gift shop but never was able to spend the money on it. japanese maples are my favorite, this shade of dark red is my favorite, this style of art is ... you get the idea. well, a few months ago i saw a framed version in the clearance section - 70% off - and with an additional 10% off member discount, it now hangs in our living room!

this one portrays the mythical meeting once a year of two stars across the milky way.

this last one is a modern rendition of a screen. a japanese artist visited an artist's haven in virginia and carved this out of walnut. the gold foil is deliberately applied with an impermanent glue and is supposed to flutter away over time, reflecting the evanescence of life.