A Survey of Color in Mexico...

Here are a series of photographs that I took this summer in my travels to Ensenada, Mexico and Manzanillo, Mexico. They're a study of color that gave my camera a run for its money and hopefully they spark the iris of your eye.

As a writer, I am often reminded that reality is frequently much more bizarre than fiction- but the same goes for the visual arts - since no painting I could ever do could embody such colors without appearing contrived. So I hope you enjoy these and let me know which are your favorites...

Art Give Away - Thankful Photography

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! pickin' red rasberries by marisol diaz

So lets try a Thanksgiving Art giveaway! Leave a comment with what you're thankful for and be in the running to win an 8X10 photographic print of this Pickin Red Rasberries image! Remember be creative - we may find that we're all thankful for family - so what will set your winning comment apart? I'm thankful for vibrant LIFE in all of its forms...my truly extraordinary relationship with my husband, my three four-legged children and their bright eyes, my parents, my hands, my art, my bed, my house, my niece and nephew and every thriving member of my family...especially those that have mastered the art of laughter and joy - life is too short for sour grapes! What Are You Thankful for?

Update on Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 11:34AM by Amarettogirl

WINNER ANNOUNCED!

I received such thoughtful, introspections for the Art Giveaway - I was truly moved. It was so hard to choose that I chose a winner AND a runner up! So I will be sending two copies of this signed photographic print out to the winners (one 8x10 and the other 5x7). In first place is Ogun with his thankful comment about waking up to life. I have read Eckhart Tolle as well, and recognize the power of this kind of spiritual journey and the difficulty of dissecting the ego. The runner up is Sharon whose thankful comment recognized the generations that paved the way for our paths and gifts heralded to us in our very biological make-up that too often go unappreciated. Stainboy was in close running all along with his thankful comment, but seeing as he won the last art giveaway I chose to spread the wealth! Winners- please send me an email message (not a comment) with your mailing address in order to mail the digital prints to you and Congrats!

Paris, Munich and Berlin!!

Back from Europe and Breaking a 102 degree Fever!!

Unfortunately, I'm back without the ability to swallow painlessly. Twenty four hours after stepping foot on North American soil my body physically collapsed. I spent most of this weekend burning up and Sunday morning in the emergency room. Don't know if it was being around 53 Spring-Break-therefore-sleepless-high-schooler's on a boot-camp-style regimen of museums and tours in less than favorable weather (snow, rain, hail and ice cold wind), let alone that some of those 53 were complaining about 'Strep' throat and other mysterious ailments. Well, some antibiotic-filled-hours since, I'm finally able to face the keyboard and share SOME of the 750 photos that I took with you all! Mind you my aesthetic sensibilities lend for some alternate type of photos. It was my third time in Paris, second time to Munich and first time to Berlin so as we travelled through those cities expect to see not only some of the typical tourist images, but some of my quirky, graffiti, dessert and color-filled images. Since I can't possibly share it all at once expect this to be the subject of choice through out the next few posts. I hope you enjoy the images and words!!!

Blogging from Paris

The shot above is one of my pics of the Eiffel Tower & of the peace monument that is located at the end of the Parc du Champs de Mars. The glass walls of the monument have the word "peace" written/etched onto the glass in many of the world's languages. The monument is called Le Mur de la Paix (The Peace Wall). It was made by Clara Halter, the wife of famous writer/painter/philosopher Marek Halter and officially erected in 2000.

The image to the right is of Gregg as he looks through one of the glass panes of the peace monument.

Don't ask me who named this cafe- but I think its brilliant. Most definitely one of the places I would love my fictional characters to have an impromptu romantic meeting - the problem- readers would not find a little cafe called 'You and Me in Suede' believable!!!

Rent-a-Bike and leave it where you like! Why, oh why? can't every city in the US have these?? Well, I can tell you why NYC can't have them - the parts would be sold off instantaneously...or maybe not - I'm done being the Ye-of-little-faith-person I want to believe its possible!!

Can you tell what's wrong with this pic? No, the building is not melting.

In most European cities when they are doing construction on a building they cover it with a sheeting that has imagery on it - like mega-banners. The images are usually of a building itself to disguise that construction is even happening. Sometimes there will be something quirky happening in the image like in the building windows or there will be elegant large scale advertisements on the sheets. This time they took a Salvador Dali cue and distorted the image of the building. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Me in the Marriott Rive Gauche/Paris Lobby (click to see larger)
So let me know what you think and stop back by in a few days to see some more of Euro & Me!!!