"If You'll Just Let It Happen"

One of the artists with whom I [Mark] have periodic contact is Casey Klahn, a pastel artist and teacher in Washington State. His blog, The Colorist, has a wealth of evocative art, the result of years of study and practice, breaking things down to their simplest parts and communicating them in color. My style usually has a lot more detail, and I seem particularly happy when I'm working on large pieces, but I've learned a lot from studying what Casey does.

Here's a recent exchange about authenticity which we had on Facebook (quoted with Casey's permission) after he posted this picture he called "Draw Uphill."
__

Mark: This is one of those things where someone says "Oh, I can do THAT," but then can't. We'll keep learning, though.

Casey Klahn: I have a pastel that my (then 8 or 9 Y.O.) son did that I cannot do. It is incredible what authenticity can accomplish if you'll just let it happen. I used to think that describing art as childlike was baloney - now I understand.

Mark: I particularly like your statement "It is incredible what authenticity can accomplish if you'll just let it happen." Right on, Casey. Well put. I think you got all the elements in one simple sentence. If we'll ease off and allow who we really are to come through, we can watch with amazement as our own authentic selves accomplish what we may not have believed was possible.
__

Something to think about. What happens when you are your authentic self and just let things happen?

年老是傳染病嗎？Is "Being Old" Contagious?

昨天和侄子聊天。他提起居住的大樓預備將二樓的一部分出租作老人安養院。有部分的居民十分反對。反對的理由是：
1. 出租給老人安養院會負面影響房價
2. 他們的小朋友會被傳染到疾病

聽到這樣的事情讓我心裡非常難過。那個人不會老？誰能保證當我們老的時候不需要別人的關懷與照顧？需要到安養院的老人想必是家人無法親身照顧。能夠為他們找到一個好的環境，算是小小的彌補吧？！

A Room With A View

We had the opportunity to experience Taiwanese healthcare from the inside. Once we figured out that Mark probably had a hernia, we decided to go to the doctor. This is where the Taiwanese network healthcare system really kicked into gear. It's different from Taiwan's national healthcare system, but they are integrated in amazing ways. You see, the NATIONAL healthcare system applies to everyone with a health card in Taiwan. The NETWORK healthcare system applies to you and your friends and relatives. Our network is amazing.

Every Morning Is A Wake-up Call

I've experienced a few watershed events. Sometimes, it's a physical experience, perhaps an emergency that reminds me of my mortality. Other times, it's a significant change in circumstances, like getting laid off or coming to the end of a relationship.

As I think back, I recognize these experiences as "Wake-up Calls." My current path comes into clearer focus, and the effects of my choices become more obvious. As I deepen my commitment to my values, I find the courage to either change direction or forge forward with renewed strength.

Recently, Ping and I have been reading (well, she reads it first, recommends the book, then I read it) books about such watershed stories, relating how the author or the character turned his life around to focus on what was important and leave useless habits behind.

I was in the middle of reading a conversation between a man with inoperable cancer and his doctor, when the obvious occurred to me: I don't need to be dying, wounded or facing homelessness.

When I wake up every morning, that's a wake-up call. What will I do with this day?

I don't need the permission (or the insistence) of some catastrophe in order to live my life, to use this day to its fullest.

I woke up.

That's "wake-up" call enough.

Let's go.

New Pastel Painting - JinMianShan, Taiwan

JinMianShan Stairway to Heaven 2
- Soft pastel - 24x18"/61x45.7cm

We are always exclaiming at how fantastic the light is when we go hiking here in Taiwan. Still, when I see my photographs afterwards, they seem darker and more somber than what we felt when we were there.

I've been trying to capture the luminosity of the Taiwanese forest interior. This time, I decided to do something I almost never do: keep the value range "high key." I also pushed the color pretty drastically. I've been thinking about trying this for some time. I've had this bright blue paper that really isn't good for what I thought it would be; it's slightly greenish tint makes every white look kind of yellow next to it. I knew it had to be good for something, if I could only figure out how to use it correctly.

We went to a circus 看“馬戲”去了

Sunday night...what to do? Hmmm...how about going to the opera? What about a circus? Wait...what about an Opera Circus?? From Australia, no less. We had no idea what to expect but the idea was simply too intriguing. We had to find out.

This show was one of 16 different shows the city of XinBei 新北市 (a.k.a. "New Taipei City") has put together to promote art and culture. XinBei and Taipei cities together shape a doughnut where Xinbei is the ring and Taipei is the hole. The Metro Rapid Transit light rail system provides easy access to both cities. With one transfer and a short walk, we could easily get to our destination.

As we were walking to the show from the Xinzhuang MRT station
捷運新莊站, we stopped for dinner at a restaurant called Panini. Our waiter was a nice young man with a wonderful presence. He patiently explained the menu in his best English and graciously served us throughout the meal. Since tipping is not customary in Taiwan, we let him know how much we appreciated his attentive service.

We arrived at the outdoor venue a few blocks away with more than half an hour to spare. The place was already pretty packed! Luckily, we were able to locate two empty red plastic seats almost immediately. Ping even had a good view of the stage, thanks to the little bitty girl occupying the seat in front of her. We were also lucky to get the 70% chance of "no rain," since the forecast was for a 30% chance of precipitation.

So what exactly is an "Opera Circus?" It turned out to be exactly what it says: opera and circus. Here is a good description of the program: Pot-Pourri's Opera Circus. They include plenty of humor, some of which was lost in translation. A good number of people in the audience understood at least some English, judging by the amount of laughter that immediately followed some of the verbal jokes. (Mark's favorite line of the night was from the guest pianist who introduced herself saying: "I've been playing piano since I was four years old. <Pause> And...I'm really tired!") An interpreter did her best to keep up.

One story that everyone got was when the diminutive tenor proclaimed: "When I was small...Okay, smaller than I am NOW...everyone I knew wanted to be either a break dancer or Michael Jackson. I wanted to be the Phantom of the Opera. So, basically, that meant I didn't have any mates. But I had a dream! Ever since I was ten years old, I've had this dream to play the part of the Phantom of the Opera...in Xinbei, Taiwan! So, depending on your answer to my next question, you could make a ten year old boy's dream come true! DO YOU WANT ME TO PLAY THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA???" The answer was enthusiastic. He took that for a "yes," and proceeded to do the Phantom of the Opera complete with a few Michael Jackson white glove "Billy Jean" moves and a bit of  moon-walking, and then finished it off by doing The Worm and spinning on his head. The crowd went wild. I've never seen a tenor do that before.

The outdoor sound wasn't optimum, the singers weren't the best in the world, and the acrobats had their challenges. Still, the air was cool and breezy, the audience was enthusiastic, the performers were earnest and jolly, and we sure had a terrific night out!

Please click the video below to view a short clip of the opening scene.

We Share Herbert's Dream 美夢成真的夜晚

Recipe for a good evening:

• Leave the house at 5:00 PM. Walk to the Beitou MRT station 捷運北投站.
• Ride the MRT Red Line to Minquan Station 捷運民權站 and transfer to the Yellow Line.
• Get off the MRT at Xinjuang Station 捷運新莊站.
• Walk a few blocks toward the Xinbei City Government Sports Office 新莊體育館.
• Stop before you get there to buy dumplings 小籠包 off a little blue truck that has stacks of hot bamboo steamers.If you tell the guy you like them spicy, he'll be happy to make sure they're good and hot for you.
• When you get to the sports park sit on a couple of red plastic stools among the many rows that have been laid out on the grass in front of the outdoor stage between the baseball stadium and the track and field stadium.
• Eat your steaming hot, spicy dumplings!
• Chat with the little boy wearing the hoodie that zips over his face to become an instant Spiderman costume!
• Enjoy a lovely soprano from the Australia onstage singing light opera, pop and movie music in English and Italian.
• Help stack up the little red plastic stools on which you've all been sitting so they can be cleared away.
• Move around a bit to get a glimpse of five overly tall figures in white who are lined up way behind the now-standing-room-only audience.
• Share Herbert's Dream (check out a video of these folks performing elsewhere HERE).
• Revel in the mystery!
• Head back to the MRT.
• Transfer at Minquan and get off at Beitou.
• Walk home again.
• Split a tall beer poured into frosty glasses.
• Be amazed that you just got to watch a fantastic performance pretty much for free!
• Feel totally blessed. You are! :)