Vietnam

My partner and I recently returned from a wonderful trip to Vietnam.

The Bonsai Tree

The Bonsai Tree:

When I was living in San Francisco, that would have been a decade ago, I had an older friend who gave me a Bonsai Tree.

- “Take it.” He handed it to me.

It was a Ficus. It wasn’t doing so well. It had been “Over-pruned.” He explained the abuse was a result of frustration. Or, visa-versa. I am not sure now.

The result was the same; too many twigs left standing with no leaf.

I searched a local plant shop for a suitable tray to place it on; something that would keep the water from ruining the table underneath. I had to mist spray the rocks, it was explained, to keep the soil moist.

- “Oh, I think what you have is fine. That’s what I would use, a piece of Tupperware, just like that.”

That was what the shop owner told me after hearing my request. I held the Bonsai Tree and listened, knowing my search would continue. I knew there was nothing suitable in her store.

I took the tree elsewhere, to show in another shop, down the street.

It has a fine bottom now; a tray designed for Bonsai plants. It’s the right receptacle for a pot of this width and length.

The tree has had leaves that have come and gone over the years. There has been very occasional pruning. Its’ environment had been varied.

I have been told it is quite old.

There are rocks in the rectangular pot. The tree has a large root, like a thirsty appendage.

I keep applying the water. It gurgles though its’ rocks. It keeps its’ thirsty roots satisfied. There have been more promising leaves and healthier twigs with greener flesh.

I have not been dissatisfied.

By, James Legare
© Jan 30, 2009

The Menil: Giorgio de Chirico

January 21st, 2009

The Menil Collection: Open Wed-Sun 11-7, 1515 Sul Ross, Houston

I visited the museum today and have taken notes on some of the paintings there.

Artist: Girogio de Chirico

He was a member of the Pre-Surrealists, and then later, Surrealist movements. He founded the Metaphysical school. His paintings, which I saw in the museum today are; Symbols of War, Melancholia, Hector and Andryomache, and Metaphysical Composition with Toys. I am sure there may be other pieces painted by him in the Menil museum which I may have overlooked.

Symbols of War gives me the impression of a clutter of flags. What looks like the cross of a crucifix appears prominently. One has to imagine the helmets and faces. It is a small painting with an ornate frame. There must be symbolism employed here.

Melancholia has long shadows cast by objects including the arches within the walls of buildings. The arches are simple and the walls they penetrate are the flat walls of a drawing, not the solid walls of a building. Are these real objects? Are they the symbols of objects?

There is a statue in the center of Melancholia which wears the expression of ennui. Its arm expresses surrender. This is a weighty statue with a level of detail lacking in the buildings on either side. The statue is in a courtyard that seems to portray a mood. There is a forlorn flag against the sky in the background. There is steam from a train. The colors of this painting invoke disquiet.

Hector and Andyomache are mannequins. Their faces are the lines and curves of dashes that suggest sewing. So, there is no faces where one would expect them. There are triangles about their torsos. Their feet are the only recognizably human parts of their anatomy. The rest of their bodies look like pieces of wood from a workshop.

Metaphysical Composition with Toys is a depiction of two piles of objects. The piles are towards the bottom of the painting. One pile is colorful, the other rather drab. The two piles are separated by a wall that is tilted very unrealistically and at an imbalanced sort of angle, creating a Topsy-turvy plane. This induces vertigo.

The Symbols of War was painted in 1916. I think it would be Pre-surrealist. The other three paintings definitely look Surrealist. They are disturbing by design. There are no faces where one would expect to find them. Off-putting colors are used. Architectural walls that lack realistic detail and weight. Carefully planned long shadows. These are shadows that go beyond mere twighligth.

Surrealism was a movement which attempted to change the viewer’s consciousness.

The Dada/ Surrealist movement was an anti-art movement, and, a subversive attack on “civilized” standards. They had a nihilistic ethic. These movements were a revolt against the senseless barbarities of war.

Civilization had broken down despite the spiritual values that were supposedly delivered by Art and Christianity, as evidenced by the First World War. The rationalist approach ended. The Surrealists ushered in a new aesthetic. Nietze influenced this rejection of the values of the late 19th century.

Learning a Foreign Language

I am studying Spanish. I have been for over a year now.

I read a recent article in the February issue of Harper's Magazine. www.harpers.org
The article is by Mark Slouka.

One of the points the article makes is that the political situation in the United States is not likely to improve due to the widespread ignorance in the electorate.

The problem is the triumph of anti-intellectualism.

It is necessary for the populace to acquire a love of foreign languages. This would be an example of patriotism of the genuine kind.

There is patriotism of the false kind. It make itself known with false dichotomies.

You are either with us or against us.

Large Full Moon

Yesterday evening had the largest full moon of the year. My partner and I walked through our Southgate neighborhood to see the Christmas lights on our way to Rice Village. We found ourselves talking to a woman who was putting up her lights with the help of laborers.

"I am an agnostic." -I said at one point of the conversation, which seemed to tilt heavily towards that one deity that pulls relentlessly like an irresistible gravitational force. It seems no social interactions are immune.

"Really," -she said. "Do you know why you don't believe in God?"

I hurried across the street before I could hear the answer.

What kind of world would it be if Atheists proselytized?

There were other parts of the conversation that took place in the light of that very full moon. For instance, the woman pointed out that the laborers were "good people", in her estimation, because "...they believed in God."

It occurred to me that many people in Texas would think that atheists cannot be good people, because, they are atheists.

Also, the woman said that Obama couldn't really accomplish much because the Presidency was not a powerful office. "The President isn't very powerful, really."

I pointed out that Obama could accomplish a great deal with the proper, broad support of a great many people. Also, I thought to myself, Bush managed to destroy a great deal with this supposedly un-important office. That gravitational force truly does work its spell on one's judgement.

When we got to Rive Village we purchased round, glass ornaments for our artificial Christmas tree. I may be an Atheist, but, I still believe in Christmas; or at least, commerce.

The Party Dec 6th

I was invited to the deck that evening at our friends home. They live in Midtown, but the light pollution did little to detract from the view of Venus and Jupiter.

There were impressive card tricks performed by a professional. I helped prepare the hors d'oeuvres before the party. I had a conversation with someone who was concerned about the financial markets. O.J. Simpson's sentence was discussed.

My partner and I had a conversation with another psychiatrist about life in Houston. She sat down next to me in a chair she was surprised to discover swiveled. Houston is very metropolitan. It reminded her of Virginia, somewhat conservative, where she was from. She had a husband and said that Houston was a good place to raise a family.

More liberal people have to move here to change the politics. It was agreed. Her husband wasn't a psychiatrist.

Spanish

Yesterday, the 8th, I was phone-banking for the Chris Bell campaign. I was able to use my Spanish language skills, limited though they are. I spoke with the voter's mother. Apparently he was in school. Hopefully, we will try again later.

There were, as always, maps of the district for the State Senate Seat that Chris Bell is hoping to win. It is a crazy, curvy district; an "S" that begins quite small but then takes steroids and continues to Louisiana from Downtown Houston. It resembles a piece of modern art more than a district. I like to think of the districts as a plate of spaghetti thrown against the wall. That's what they look like.

We are hoping that Chris Bell wins this runoff election to help ensure that legislation that is not pro-equality is defeated. From what I understand, the HRC and Karl Bach have helped a great deal. I think 37 thousand doors have been knocked on.

Here's hoping for a Pro-Equality Texas!