The Solitude of the Soul // The Art Institute of Chicago

"The thought is the eternally present fact that however close we may be thrown together by circumstances...we are unknown to each other." Lorado Taft, sculptor

I went to the Art Institute recently with my mom and my friend, Grace and I discovered a beautiful sculpture that I don't think I'd ever noticed before. I love unfinished art and while this piece is actually finished the four figures emerging from this huge rough looking marble block is so striking to me. My friend Grace likes to stand in front of a painting or sculpture for a long time and really look at it. She said that she preferred to look at fewer pieces of artwork and remember them rather than move quickly through many galleries. Such wisdom. We spent time in only 3 galleries, but I discovered several pieces of art that I hadn't noticed before (and I've been to the Art Institute many times!) :)

As you can see above, the title of the piece is called, The Solitude of the Soul. Such an incredible portrayal of deep human emotion. The sculptor, Lorado Taft, was a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for 20 years and he created many sculptures for the city of Chicago. We're so lucky to have such an amazing collection at the Art Institute.

HIP HIP HOO RAY

 

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ― Henry James

Tomorrow's my birthday (!!) and school's out in 6 days (!!) Summer is coming fast! HIP HIP HOO RAY! :) ....Walks on the prairie path, picnics outside, trips into the city, the pool, popsicles, the farmer's markert---HERE I COME!! Happy Friday, friends! *That's not my ice cream cone, but YUM it looks good!

images via // juicy fruit  // HIP HIP HOO RAY //  lily collins // swan pattern // sprinkles cone

Red / White / Blue

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag." —Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMarineCorps

image via.

To the CREATIVES...fight your way through

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.” ― Ira Glassa

via: September issue