Friday, January 20, 2012


My wife sent me the following link. It concerns a number of
mysterious paper sculptures that appeared around the city of
Edinburgh’s literary sites and libraries. These are wonderful
creations and I encourage anyone that stops by to spend
some time and enjoy them.


After looking at the sculptures I began rereading Wendell Berry's
The Long-Legged House and found the following passage.


"I sat in the open doorway there one afternoon, a rich plot of sunlight
on the  floor around me, Curran quietly at work in the room at my back:
I looked up at the ridge beyond the town, the open still sunlit country
of the summer afternoon, and felt a happiness I will never forget"

I have felt that feeling and I have those memories that come welcome
but unbidden, often at the strangest times. And I started to wonder is
that what the person who left the sculptures wanted to capture
or recreate that moment of joy or peace or belonging or rightness
that returns to us through the years.

I thought since there were a number of nests among the
sculptures in Edinburgh that I would include a photo
of a precious find of mine. I found this nest at the base of a spruce
in the mountains some years ago. There was a large flock of
crossbills in the trees so I have assumed this in a crossbill nest.



  
" For we are green and ever falling from high nests of
wind, the secret houses of the sky, into the jaws of
gorgeous cats and flowers

        
          Not to worry but be handsome and heed these"

                              Not to Worry
                                   Gwendolyn MacEwen

5 comments:

Kathie Brown said...

Guy, those paper sculptures are quite amazing. I do not know which is my favorite. I like the dragon in its nest, but all of the others are good also. I like the mystery of the thing, and the creativity to use the books to encourage the reading and telling of stories. Oh, I like the one with the movie screen and the horse galloping off the screen and into the audience! There are so many and all so good.

I like your observation here: "I have felt that feeling and I have those memories that come welcome but unbidden, often at the strangest times. And I started to wonder is that what the person who left the sculptures wanted to capture or recreate that moment of joy or peace or belonging or rightness that returns to us through the years."

I have had those moments in my life, that feeling of rightness or joy, or being in the place I am suppose to be at that time in my life, that sense of perfectness. These are rare and golden moments. they come to us as gifts or jewels, and one never knows when one will find one again.

Nice post. I also like that final quote It gives me lots of things to think about. I like he imagery and the poetry of the words. They fall like drops of rain and role refreshing through my soul.

Kelly said...

Guy, I'm so glad you posted the link. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about each of the sculptures. What wonderful gifts to everyone...I could see a movie being created around it...

Guy said...

Hi Kathie

Thanks, your comments are always so well thought out I really enjoy them. I agree about the special moments I have tried to capture them in my writing but I find it easier to write about negative things fear or sadness then peace or joy. I guess that is common, people are far more likely to complain or gossip than they are to talk about the positve things in their life.

I am very glad you enjoyed the sculptures and the quotes. I really wanted to share them and it is nice to know that they struck a chord with someone else.

Regards
Guy

Guy said...

PS Kathie

At present I think my favorite is the last sculpture of the building but I could easily change my mind.

Guy

Guy said...

Hi Kelly

I am glad you enjoyed them. I thought an artist would find them really interesting and possibly have an even greater appreciation for the amount of thought and work involved than most people. I agree it could be a really interesting movie. When I first saw them they reminded me of the Griffin and Sabine books by Nick Bantock. I would love to see a travelling show or TV show they are so romantic and mysterious.

Guy