Friday, December 16, 2011

UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS

African Seed by Carrie Varjavandi. Edge Textile artists of Scotland.


"Night the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of the day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man resembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery



Christine Mauersberger. See Flickr photostream here.




Manon Gignoux in collaboration with Hye-Sook Yoo.



Manon Gignoux in collaboration with Hye-Sook Yoo

Manon Gignoux in collaboration with Hye-Sook Yoo



Federico Saenz Recio. See website here.

Night of Sorcery by Josep Niebla. See Josep's website here.



Silvia Cordero Vega. See Silvia's Flickr photo stream here.

Josef Winkler. See more here.

Full Moon and Still Life by Lorna Crane. See more of Lorna's work here.



Night Visitor by Adriane Bannon. See more of Adriane's work here.



"A Different Firmament.... But when they were crossing the silent market-place on which nobody was to be seen except the sentry on duty at military headquarters, when the empty place surrounded by the dark houses, in which scarcely a light was burning, lay before them like a crater of isolation, like a crater of silence out of which recurring waves of peace flowed over the sleeping town, then Heinrich Wendling took his wife's arm, and at the first physical contact she closed her eyes. Perhaps he too had closed his eyes and saw neither the deep summer night nor the white ribbon of the road that stretched in front of them as they walked in its dust, perhaps each of them saw a different firmament .... " - Hermann Broch, The Sleepwalkers

This beautiful ceramic vessel by John Ward reminds me of the moon.

37 comments:

henrietta (aka ani aka zani) said...

the images really build in response to undercover of darkness. expanding from within. veritable collage of black in all it absorption. in my hemisphere now we spend more time in the dark then in the light. full moon passing, waxing, waning adds and subtracts.

Velma said...

soon the darkness will reach it's deepest, and will soon be visibly less. i await the return of the light!

Christine said...

I am humbled and honored to be included in this most wondrous post. Darkness creates a time for self reflection. In the dark we see ourselves.
Lovely work...all of it.

Heather Kirtland said...

I have been following for a while, but wanted to thank you for always pulling together such beautiful and inspiring images!

Leslie Avon Miller said...

Oh, my beating heart, but these are compelling!

Penny said...

Interest and thought provoking.

ELFI said...

à chaque fois tu me surprends..c'est magnifique!!! merci!

Max the Lobster said...

what a stunning group of pieces, i will definately be following some of these artists definately my kind of warmth through this thoroughly dark and misserable weather here in uk!

Jennifer said...

You just gave new meaning to darkness and the night.

LaWendula said...

Robyn, thanks for sharing this with us on our darkest days (in Europe)...
Soon winter soltice will make the light return, lovely!
Great art always makes my day and there is no other blog better than yours to find it! Hugs, FM

nancy neva gagliano said...

vessels and stitches holding the heart

franswazz said...

Thank you for this incredible beauty to start my day!
♥♥♥

Lisa said...

Robyn, I've been pinned to this post for days and only now have had a chance to comment...the fiber arts here are too amazing for words...you really know how to jump start the creative muse...hope all is well with not so little Digby and that he is beginning to learn the ropes. Dexter continues to be a health challenge in every way..thank god for our vet...

Hannah said...

Like others before me, I've come back to this post several times. The first two images of the African star and the black skirt are haunting in their simplicity and symbolism. They evoke the mystery of night by creating their own mystery. Fabulous!

theresa martin said...

Love these - love the dark palette. Another great round of discovery, thanks Robyn.

Sue said...

Wow, I love these dark works! They are so powerful and magic - what a great selection you made!

Jann Gougeon said...

What an "eye" you have . . my kind of visuals! . . and the creativity of your titles! Thank you.

Annie said...

Lovley post!
Happy Christmas and kisses to Digby and Bella.
xoxo

mansuetude said...

i love a dark post. Visited Adriane Bannon link yesterday, felt a profound connection to his "Weight of Heaven" with use of charcoal and dandelion seeds. Last night happened upon an old Russian movie, The Island--a raggedy old "Saint" lives among incredible beauty on an island and shovels the coal every day for the fire. He too becomes like the coal dust but inside, is so clear as the night sky and starred with the luminous. It felt like a burst of synchronicity deep inside.

Thanks for "being" Robyn. Thanda.

Jo Reimer said...

Robyn, Thanks for pointing me to so many incredible artists that I would have never known otherwise. This is a wonderful post, like all the others you've created. Thank you, thank you.

Ro Bruhn said...

More great work, even my colourful brain can still see the beauty in the darks. Thanks for more inspiration over the past year Robyn.

Emma said...

Lovely posts, the rough edges, beautiful leaves & now this darkness. I've spent a happy inspiring time reading about scottish textile artists, all the way from you in SA!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

iNd!@nA said...

another seductive collection of beautiful works

Barry said...

R-thanks - a lovely take on the cover of darkness - with fragments of colour or light. Go well. B

Susan M said...

it could not be more obvious that bright colors are often overrated.

layers said...

As I have a tendency to be drawn to the darkness.. the shadows too.. I see a depth and richness in darks.. and I like to think that there is an edge of light nearby.. wonderful post as usual.

elizabeth bunsen said...

the velvet night sky
the blanket of quiet
stitching stars
beautiful Robyn
savoring each offering...

xox - eb.

Seth said...

It is somewhat ironic but I find there is a lot of light in these dark pieces.

Noela Mills said...

Wow - amazing insights and sharing of yet another incredible body of images. Robyn, you are a constant source of inspiration to me. Thank you so much, and hope you have a wonderful time over the 'Silly Season'. Noela xoxoxox

~Babs said...

Oh Robyn, another terrific post that I'll have to return to when I've more time. So much wonder and awe to investigate,,,,thank you!
And a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Cynthia Monica said...

Thank you Robyn for all your inspiring posts throughout the year...I can only imagine all the time you take to research such wonderful artists and poets, so we readers/bloggers can benefit. Sending you and your family wishes for much Love, Joy, Peace and Blessings! xoxo Cynthia

Gaby Bee said...

Absolutely fascinating post, Robyn. LOVE these dark works you've shown.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy Healthy New Year to you and all your loved ones... may all of your dreams come true for 2012!

Hugs,
Gaby

Sophie Munns said...

There is most definitely a book in you waiting to be born Robyn,
I dint think I'll let up on that... your posts are just so deeply appreciated...always...by so many of us!
may you go well and strong into the a new year and be greatly blessed in 2012.
xxS

herhimnbryn said...

Under cover of darkness.....
pin pricks of star light.

Happy Christmas Robyn and a peaceful New Year.x

ArtPropelled said...

Henrietta, sometimes the nights are our only respite after the hot days we've been experiencing here. Sometimes the temperature doesn't drop but most times we can feel a difference .... under cover of darkness.

Velma, .... and I wait the return of Autumn/Winter. It's been a sweltering week!

Christine, I've had my eye on your striking piece for a while now, waiting for the opportunity to post it on my blog. It really is beautiful!

Heather K, glad you have been enjoying the posts!

Leslie, I do agree!

Hi Penny :-)

ELFI, my pleasure!

Max the Lobster, I wish we could exchange some of our sunny weather for your cooler days!

Jennifer, glad you enjoyed the post.

LaWendula, thanks so much. Hope you are enjoying a bit of quiet time.

Neva, .... and the heart of this art world is quite magnificent isn't it?!

Franswazz, thank YOU for visiting
:-)

Lisa, Digby is doing very well and has settled in nicely, thank you. I wish you were having an easier time with Dexter.

Hannah, yes I've returned to a few of these myself. They have made quite an impression on me.

Theresa M, I'm always delighted to hear you have enjoyed my posts.

Sue, they do have a certain power about them don't they?!

Thanks Jann!

Annie, thank you. Wishing you and your sweet little family everything of the best. Digby and Bella are thriving on your kisses :-)

Mansuetude, I love to hear about bursts of synchronicity. Thank you! Thanda.

Jo, Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed the post!

Ro, it's great to go back and forth between the light, bright and the dark.

ArtPropelled said...

Emma, there are quite a few inspiring artists on the Scottish link. Glad you enjoyed them.

Thanks India.

Barry, the fragments of colour do sing against the dark don't they?!

Susan M, hello you!

Donna, your beautiful collages in varying shades of darkness always draw me in.

Elizabeth B, a blanket of quiet ... yes exactly what i feel.

Seth, fragments of light .... like stars..

Noela, thank you. Hope you are having a peaceful Boxing day.

Babs, hope the rush is over and you are able to relax on Boxing Day.

Cynthia, thanks so much. Wishing you everything of the best for 2012.

Sophie, lol.... you make me laugh! An email to you soon.

HHnB, .... always the starlight .. Boxing Day must be almost over. Hope you had a peaceful day.

urbandon (Don Pezzano) said...

Bring the dark, the veiled, the mysterious!