"Hands Like Wings" fibre art by Renie Beskin Adams.
A flock of birds before my eyes when will be my next surprise. I can remember as a child when we all clambered into the car for a long drive to the beach for the day. Great Excitement! We would play "I spy with my little eye" to pass the time. When that became tiresome we searched the sky for birds. We probably drove my parents scatty with our piping voices "A flock of birds before my eyes, when will be my next surprise?" My stepdad would always say "Christmas" which prompted many howls of "Nooooo, that's too long to wait".
Escher's birds/fishes have always fascinated me.
Year 2: Still Counting, by Don Wesley
Don Wesley pays tribute to the US soldiers killed in Iraq. "For every soldier that has perished in the conflict, Wesley paints a bird on a six foot wide painting that represents the total lives lost for that year. Each anniversary of the conflict marks the end of that year's painting. Then, Wesley begins another painting. There are now 6 of these large canvases with the sixth year now in progress."
"The Bird Tomb" of Neferherenptah at Saqqara.
Steampunk birds by Jim Mullan.
Illustration by Ken Orvidas.
My favourite piece is the perfect flock of wooden birds carved by South African artist, Daan Samuels. This sculpture was voted the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa at the Design Indaba Expo held in February.
What absolutely beautiful bird pictures - they are all fantastic - can't really say which is my favourite - maybe the one dedicated to the fallen in Iraq. I find this a lovely idea - that their souls are now free as birds.
ReplyDeleteThe Weaver of Grass, I found this idea very moving. If you click on Don Wesley you can see the rest of the paintings in the series.
ReplyDeleteThat picture by Don Wesley is superb and I've always loved the Van Gogh one but it does rather creep me out too!
ReplyDeleteMmm, it's even more creepy knowing he ended his life in these wheatfields.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post, birds really are inspiring.
ReplyDeleteHere's a bird-quote i like:
"God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages." Jacques Deval
oh, that top painting!! the birds, the expressions on the women's faces!! thank you, robyn!
ReplyDeletei've been thinking about birds a lot lately... but none have flown onto my pages. i think maybe a new kind of bird is waiting to land. ; )
Thanks Thinker, a proverb I came across this week...Man is a bird without wings and a bird is a man without sorrows.
ReplyDeleteoh Robyn! what a wonderful treat. my Omi had a thing for birds and I have had her on my mind a lot today, so this was a splendid little surprise to me.
ReplyDeletethank you. :)
Lynne, that top "painting" is made up of thousands of tiny stitches!
ReplyDelete...a new kind of bird is waiting to land...hmm, interesting.
3rdEyeMuse,I'm so glad! Birds do tend to be uplifting.
Robyn,
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing post...Birds...Vincent, Escher and yes the carving by Daan Samuels...Oh Fly me away...
Have a look at http://bridbird.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the link Jo. Lots of interesting posts over there.
ReplyDeleteHow amazing! I have been working on a piece with all these birds, it's hard to explain. But I have been thinking of nothing but birds for two weeks and here is this beautiful post with all these inspiring birds.
ReplyDeleterebecca, I find that things seem to pop up just at the right time. Glad you enjoyed the post.
ReplyDeletewow - each of these is incredible in a whole different way! fascinating. I love Escher too.
ReplyDeleteLove the Daan Samuels sculpture and the Steampunk Birds by Jim Mullan.
ReplyDeleteRobyn - you have posted my heart
ReplyDeleteHi Robyn, THis is a great set, something wonderful in each piece, so thanks for posting. As you know, I am fascinated by birds. We have a spectacular roost flight that happens every dusk above the wrecked pier here, so I was particularly interested in the swirling piece by Don Wesley Year 2: Still counting.
ReplyDeleteYour work...your choice of art....all fabulous and interesting.
ReplyDeleteHey Robyn, I love ALL of it! The Steampunk birds are really neat (I want one!), I love the illustration by Ken Orvidas, and flock of wooden birds is AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Queencraftygirl
Bindu, there are so many creative people out there!
ReplyDeleteEmbellisher, the wheels on the steampunk birds just finish them off don't they.
Jeane :-)
Spot, the flight at dusk sounds wonderful. Today on the way to Durban we saw flocks of swallows whirling and soaring. At first we thought they were a swarm of insects but then realized they were too big. Amazing sight.
Thanks Hens Teeth.
Hey Queen Crafty, I wouldn't mind a steampunk bird myself and don't you love all the birds perched on that finger.
Yes! I do love the birds on the finger!!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Queen Crafty
You do a great job on these themed collections. I'm struck by Wesley's piece and the loss of life his works represent.
ReplyDeletewhat a delightful collection.
ReplyDeleteAll I can do is keep looking in amazement. Fabulous post! Every piece is a new way to look at birds. I'll have to come back and look at this post often.
ReplyDeleteLeanne
So amazing! Each one more lovely than the last. I keep going back to the Don Wesley, though. Mesmerizing.
ReplyDeleteEach post keeps getting better and better Robyn. First the textile piece, and then the Steampunk birds, and then finally beautiful pictures of South Africa and where you live. It is wonderful to be able to envision your world!
ReplyDeleteoooh I adore the steampunk birds! The Don Wesley painting is wonderful too, and the carved flock at the end...awe inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI love your themed posts and I thank you for the web exploration you do! I always find inspiration in the links you post.
ReplyDeleteFantastic flocks of Flying feathered friends... Fabulous Freedom!!!
ReplyDeleteThe paintings by Don Wesley leave me breathless. And since I love all things bird, (just goes right along with the nest thing!) I think they are all just great! I love visiting here and being exposed to so many wonderful artists that I may never have found on my own. Thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteBird art of all kinds
ReplyDelete