Posted: 3 years ago

Saturday, June 6, 2009: Just returned from the Y, working out for an hour, not many there but the die-hards like me and Anne were and used the pool (Anne) and the weight room (me) to keep the body where the mind and spirit still are. It is a good day to think of 'something wonderful' in your life. Here are two quotes  about that topic that I really like (well, one is a quote and the other is song lyrics):

Something Wonderful Lyrics (Hammerstein Oscar)

This is a man who thinks with his heart,

His heart is not always wise.

This is a man who stumbles and falls,

But this is a man who tries.

This is a man you'll forgive and forgive,

And help protect, as long as you live...

He will not always say

What you would have him say,

But now and then he'll do

Something Wonderful.

He has a thousand dreams

That won't come true,

You know that he believes in them

And that's enough for you.

You'll always go along,

Defend him where he's wrong

And tell him, when he's strong

He is Wonderful

He'll always need your love

And so he'll get your love-

A man who needs your love

Can be Wonderful. 

She'll always go along

Defend him when he's wrong

And tell him when he's strong

He is wonderful.

He'll always need her love

And so he'll get her love

A man who needs your love

Can be wonderful

Happy Saturday!!!

Posted: 3 years ago

SWAN LAKE, JUNE 14, 2009, A NEWLY CHOREOGRAPHED BALLET BY STANTON WELCH, USING THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF MATRIUS PETIPS (1818-1910) AND LEV IVANOV (1824-1901). Normally, the story is the context that holds something together but here it is Classical ballet, Russian folk dance, Middle Eastern dance and Russian classical music (Peter Ilyrich Tchaikovsky-  1840-1893) that is the true context  sustaining the brilliance and wonder in this newly crafted traditional ballet. Dance (especially ballet, although there are hints to other forms of dance) is the context through which an audience can enjoy the true magic of this work of art. The content is the story that loosely holds the different dances together in a time and narrative shape. The form of this work is an exploration of the emotions, the patterns, the athleticism of dance (ballet). Only those who immerse themselves in dance can see and experience the true wonder that this piece exudes (which means seasoned ballet lovers who must use their knowledge and forget it at the same time so that the wonder comes to them like to a child just experiencing the world- for that is the other group that enjoys this piece, although they cannot place it in a context for the history of dance: children). As someone who has seen a wide array of dance companies doing Swan Lake, I have to remember those dances and forget them as I enjoy what is happening in this moment, before me, on the stage, with this company and this set and this choreographer.  

The story is the content that holds this dance together (of the 3 hour performance, it is but at most one hour of what is seen): Odette, a young maiden, is in the forest. The evil knight Rothbart appears and captures her, turning her in a white swan. She is cursed to remain a swan during the day and a maiden at night. A royal hunt is taking place at the edge of the wilderness, where the young prince, Siegfred, and his entourage set up camp, celebrating the day’s hunt. The Queen arrives and calls her son aside, telling him that he must grow up and choose a mate from four beautiful maidens. Upset, Siegfred decides to leave the camp and explore the woods where, near the lake, he sees Odette and falls instantly in love with her. As the sun begins to rise, the evil knight Rothbart summons her and she is transformed again into a swan. All the other swans arrive and Siegfred’s friend line up to shoot them with bows and arrows. Siegfred stops them and Odette is charmed with his bravery (therefore falling in love with him). The next night, there is a ball at the castle (decorated in Art Nouveau charm and color) and Siegfred dances with each of the four maidens that his mother, the Queen, has chosen for him. Rothbart arrives with a black veiled maiden (Odile is the maiden’s name who is identical to Odette). Siegfred does not know his deception and asked his mother to bless his choice of Odile (thinking that it is Odette). Odette arrives late to the ball; Siegfred realizes his mistake and Rothbart’s deception. Odette, hurt that Siegfred choose another, runs away: Prince Siegfred follows. Arriving at the lake, he begs Odette for forgiveness. The sun comes up and the maiden turns into a white swan again. Before long, Rothbart and his black swans appear and he summons all swans in the morning mist. The Prince, desperate to be with his love, grabs his crossbow to kill Rothbart. The Prince hits his love instead and she falls. The spell that Rothbart has placed on her is broken and she becomes a maiden again, dying in Siegfred’s arms. He picks up the body and walks into the lake, drowning himself. The last scene is young maidens appearing from the forest changed.  

The dance is the context for this work of art (filling over two hours of the three hour performance): Act One and Act Two are almost totally magical dance, in solo, pairs and ensemble. The grace and beauty carries the time along (an hour and a half of dance for Act One and another hour in Act Two). I commented to my wife: “These two acts stand with the best ballet that I have seen in my lifetime”. This performance was truly wonderful (and I compare this ballet company to the Russian Bolshoi and New York’s American City Center Ballet Companies- in my mind, two of the great companies that have grown and risen through the years). One remembers a line with an arm accented by an identical repeat from another dancer. The vision of the leaps, the spins, the intercourse of movement is flawless, beautiful and seemingly effortless. The context, dance, carries this production to its magnificent conclusion. The audience, as one body, stood and cheered with their hands until everyone was recognized and some more than once or twice. Houston should be proud and give support for this wonderful organization. Truly, the Houston Ballet Company is one of the great organizations for innovative dance in the world. This performance of Swan Lake was another jewel in their crown of excellence. Stanton Welch deserves much of the credit, building this organization since he was chosen as Artistic Director in late 2003. He was an outstanding dancer and choreographer with the San Francisco Ballet and the Australian Ballet Company. We Texans will admit that he was born in Australia and he has brought a background of exceptional dance, a continued tradition blossomed anew, here in Houston, Texas. We also admit that when you reach this height of mastery, it is hard to mimic but it is wonderful to enjoy and reflect upon. For Stanton Welch and this extremely talented company, Swan Lake has raised the bar for excellence; now, we wait to see where the next production takes us! As Texans, we also admit that we expect exceptional dance as in the context that has grow here.  

DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL AND IT BECOMES THE BASE, THE STANDARD, FOR THE NEXT WORK OF ART…AND SO IT CONTINUES AS A CONTEXT IN WHICH EACH WORK IS CREATED AND PERFORMED! YOU BECOME COMPETITION FOR YOUR OWN EXCELLENCE AND USE IT AS A GUIDE.

Posted: 3 years ago

It was one of those days where I went out with Anne’s lady friends and their husbands to devour cuisine from India, in downtown Houston. All was small talk that colored the day in ‘chiaroscuro’, blended together in the best Leonardo fashion but without passion. The food was filled with coloration and varied shapes, scents and tastes. The food was color but the partakers were in shadows. One could say, “Just another day!”, but I refuse to fill anything with bland colors so I open another tube of learning and started to write a poem about ‘mixing colors’ of life because, even on a bland day, there must be colors seeping through the surface. Rembrandt taught that lesson. Learn it!  

JUST ANOTHER DAY, MIXING MY COLORS 

Mix the colors of my breathing with the air of blue skies.

Mix a rainbow at my fingertips to choose my next decision.

Mix ‘we’, yes ‘we’, with our healing promise To kneed in the world’s black/gray sorrow of endings.

Mix the colors of love in all its green newness, It’s red passion, and spin yellow, dripping sunsets.

Mix the world’s faces with the freshness of youth, Then see lingering, magenta clouds open wide.

Mix my DNA with the colors of every day, Then watch them spill unfettered onto my waiting canvas.

Mix those I love with the joy of brilliant earth, Sweet water and the sour, dry movement of my dance.

Mix and match, paint a child’s toy, create all this to enjoy; Then walk boldly, welding the purple fabric of open doors- Mixing cyan with light, tell ‘myself’, “Do not be coy!”

Posted: 3 years ago

07/11/09:  Each year, the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club hosts a Community Appreciation BBQ to recognize volunteers for their service to the community.  The event is always held at their "Scout Hut."  It was great being amongst fellow Rotarians, and the food wasn't bad either. 

If any of you are ever in the area during the summer, and would like to attend a club meeting with a great ambiance, the SJC Rotary Club's Scout Hut can't be beaten. They meet every Wednesday at 6:00PM.

07/17/09:  Today, I had lunch with two of my closest friends.  I guess you can say that we grew up together since we've known each other for 40 years.  Anyways, we get together a couple of times a year, and after all these years, we still manage to have things to talk about.  I guess my husband is right, I do have the talent to gab. 

Posted: 3 years ago

Hello all,

It is about 4:00 a.m.

Some young gentleman seems to feel the need to make very little sense at an impressive volume in the hall of the hotel where I am staying, which seems to have given many of us on this floor the chance to consider the mysteries of the world at an unusual time of day.  Ah, the gift of philosophy.  Truth be told, everyone could have been as quiet as church mice, and I'd probably have still popped out of sleep, as I am fighting an epic battle with jet lag, which (I am happy to report) in no way has diminished the fun I have had here the last few days.  This is a great town, indeed.

I am in Limerick, Ireland, and am finding that (despite the fellow now singing in a shower in the next room) the people here are among the most hospitable I have ever met.  I attended the Limerick Thomond club on Friday for lunch, and am guessing that it is surely among those in the world that have the most fun sitting down together for a meal.

I was there not merely to experience a Terran meeting, but also because I am helping connect my former club in Santa Clara (California) with the two Rotary clubs here.  Our two communities are working toward a twinning relationship, and it is quite fun to be a part of the effort to create club-to-club, school-to-school, university-to-university, and city-to-city ties together.  An exceptional fellow named Barney Callaghan of the Limerick Thomond club (and chief executive of a national youth service organization called Gaisce) has spent quite a bit of his own time with me the last few days, and we have exchanged many ideas on how to encourage young people to share stories with each other.

That's what I'm doing, and if you're reading this, say a prayer that the night I wrote this I got back to sleep quickly. 

Posted: 2 years ago

I am serving my second term as a member of the BOD for my Alumni Association; which by the way is Chapman University located in Orange, CA.  Go Panthers!!!

Anyways, to kick off the new term for incumbents, and welcome new board members, the association holds a "retreat."  On Thursday evening, there is a dinner, and then Friday is an all day event filled with "strategic planning" sessions on what the association plans to do for the coming academic year. 

As I looked around at the new faces, it hit me like a ton of bricks to see all these YOUNG fresh faces.  Oh Lord, is it possible these could be my kids.  Yikes!!!  How time flies when you are having fun. 

Posted: 2 years ago

The excitement around here is the new concrete addition to our patio and lots of new grass to water.

Jack M. B. Selway, RGHF Founder & CEO

Posted: 2 years ago

At least you have grass to water.  Everything I plant goes to "heck in a hand basket."  I can kill silk plants. 

Posted: 2 years ago

Spent a whole afternoon with faculty from the five campuses of Lone Star College System yesterday, after driving 45 miles each way to attend. Mostly it was about standards and statistics but the underlying reason for the confererence/workshop was "Student Engagement" which leads to success in any college. One of the things that was brought up was a greater emphasis on math, English and science (looking across the waters to what India and China are now doing in education and emphasis). I agreed in terms of students finding jobs but I told this story to them that I have loved for years: "In an India market place, a lowly begger asked for alms all day and everyone seemed to ignore him. A merchant had watched this and decided to give the man some money so that he could feed his body. The begger bought bread and fruit with half of the money. Then he bought flowers with the other half. The merchant was furious and told the begger, "Why did you do that? I gave you money to keep you alive for another day!" The begger answered, "The bread and fruit will keep me alive longer; the flowers will make life worth living."

I went on to remind the participants that life is just not job, money, and objects to stay alive. One needs something to makes the job, money and objects worth having. That is the purpose of American education. It is our tradition and it pays well. Innovation does not come from just doing the job but creating new jobs and new sources for wealth (for having such fun while you work, you create). China and India are learning that lesson from us; we should look to them to remind us of our own strengths.

It was an interesting afternoon (even weighing through all the statistics and data).

Joe 

Posted: 2 years ago

If the world was a global village with only 100 people in it: 

57 are Asians; 21 are Europeans; 14 are Americans (north, south and central); 8 are Africans 

52 are women; 48 are men: 30 are Christian; 70 are non-Christian: 30 are Caucasian; 70 are non-Caucasian: 89 are heterosexuals; 11 are homosexuals: 6 people from our village would possess 59% of all the wealth (and they are all from the USA): 80 live in poverty: 70 are illiterate: 50 suffer from hunger: 1 is dying; 1 is being born; 1 owns a computer; and 1 (only one) has a college degree 

Sooo…. If you are in good health, you are luckier than one million who will not live through the week. 

If you can read this, you are more fortunate than two billion who cannot read anything.

On this Thanksgiving week, this is something for all of us in a global eClub to think about and gives thanks that we are some of the lucky ones!! 

Posted: 2 years ago

Congratulations to Joe Kagle!!!!!

Artist JOSEPH L. KAGLE, JR. of KINGWOOD, TEXAS
http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/historians/kagle.htm
has received FIVE Special Recognition Merit Awards for his artwork in the "7th Annual Color: Bold/Subtle Juried Online International Art Exhibition" hosted by Upstream People Gallery.

This international exhibition received approximately 300 entries from around the world and 58 artists were selected by the juror Larry Bradshaw, Professor of Art at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, U. S. A. Professor Bradshaw states this about this specially recognized work:

"'Joseph L. Kagle, Jr. of Kingwood, Texas has a great and wonderful use of pattern and color that is quite arresting. “Building America with Parallax Rainbow #56”, “Parallax Rainbow #27”, “Rainbow Matrix #7”, “Variation on ‘Death of Sardonapolis, by Delacroix #2” are all genius works of art."'

The exhibition will be featured online during December, 2009 at www.upstreampeoplegallery.com and continue for 12 months, closing November 30, 2010. 

 

Posted: 2 years ago

WHAT A WAY TO GO!

LAST NIGHT, AFTER A DAY OF SNOW AND SLEET AND CANCELLATIONS OF MANY, MANY PLANNED PERFORMANCES IN THIS REGION, PLUS OTHER ARTISTIC EVENTS, ANNE AND I DROVE THE TWENTY-FIVE MILES TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON TO WITNESS OUR ‘ONCE-A-YEAR WONDER’: “CELEBRATION OF DANCE.” I DO NOT CARE WHAT THE WEATHER WOULD BE BECAUSE I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO ATTEND THIS ONE DAY: A YEAR’S FESTIVAL OF THE BEST OF THE BEST BALLET DANCING IN THE WORLD. I WOULD HAVE TO BE NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO MISS THIS EVENING.

Yes, I did say, “The best ballet dancing in the world!” And it is by our own Houston Ballet Company (which has raised 37 million of the 54 million needed for their new school of dance to open next fall). We started the evening at 6:00 p.m. with a reception for those who have season tickets (or had given donations in the past- we have little money but I give my art work and that is auctioned off for $$$$). The food was excellent and the company was special: we were surrounded by others who love ballet with the same passion that we do. 

Then we went to the performance. It started at 7:30 p.m. with 13 short segments which took pieces from the season that had just passed (again, the ‘best of the best’). It got a large applause before the first intermission. Then that was followed by three longer pieces: two elegantly-danced works which showed the line, the movement and the elegance of what ballet can be when the instruments (the dancers) are exceptional and dancing with passion, THEN started a final tribute video to Barbara Bears, a dancer from Florida who has made Houston her home for years as a prima ballerina in all kinds of performances and productions, with a final dance by her, as Hanna, (and five dancers from the company) in the final ballroom scene of The Merry Widow. You get the idea: final, final, final…. “My goodness, what grace, what style and what a farewell performance by this giant of a dancer!!” I thought, as she received a thunderous, standing ovation with many shouting “Bravo. Bravo.” Again, I thought, “There could be nothing that could equal this farewell to a woman who has given so many years of pleasure and joy to her passionate ballet audience. They had chronicled her life in video from a small child who wanted to be a gymnast, to the dancer who went to New York to work with Balanchine, to the young, but seasoned dancer who made Houston her home and stage.” 

I was wrong. It started with a few roses thrown on stage by the orchestra and those in the first few rows as she took her first bow. It continued with baskets and bouquets of roses brought and laid beside her on stage by the stagehands and ushers. It really came to a crescendo as a line of all the dancers in the company, ALL THE DANCERS IN THE COMPANY, from both wings,  brought one rose to lay at her feet (it seemed that hundreds of dancers came to give her a justified farewell homage to excellence), and finally the Board of Directors of the Houston Ballet each in single file brought one rose to lay at her feet. The roses filled the stage, were piled around her bowing figure as the sound in the auditorium continued to build and reverberate off the walls as if one giant voice and presence was shouting, “Bravo, Goodbye but never forgotten!” It was a moment like I have never seen anywhere for saying a non-simple ‘goodbye’ to someone who has given so much through the years and now received the ultimate WAY TO GO OUT and retire.  

After the second intermission, I was curious: “What could Stanton Welch, the artistic director of the Houston Ballet, do to equal the emotional, rousing tribute to Barbara Bears?” I found out. It was a single, World Premiere piece create by Welch called “40” (this is the 40th year of the Houston Ballet). It did all that the other pieces had done but used the whole company of dancers working in small groups, as one dancer or, as it ended, with everyone making a visual pattern on stage that lifted the audience to more cheers and more applause. Nothing could top the tribute to Barbara Bears but this equaled that experience in a different way. 

I have been saying to myself and to my wife all morning, “WHAT A WAY TO GO TO THE BALLET,” (OR ANY UPLIFTING EVENT) ON A NIGHT WHERE WE WERE NOT SURE IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO EVEN DRIVE THERE (SNOW AND SLEET AND ICY ROADS DID CAUSE MANY OTHER CANCELLATIONS, LIKE THE ALLEY THEATER’S PERFORMANCE AND MANY HOLIDAY EVENTS. YET HERE, ALMOST EVERY SEAT WAS FILLED). HOUSTON, TEXAS, IS NOT PREPARED FOR SNOW AND SLEET AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER (THE EARLIEST TIME THAT IT HAS HAPPENED IN HISTORY OF THE CITY). 

THIS NIGHT IS THE WAY THAT I WOULD CHOREOGRAPH FOR MYSELF IF MY ARTISTIC CAREER CRIED TO BE OVER (BUT PAINTERS AND VISUAL CREATORS CAN GO ON RIGHT TO THE END WITHOUT THE BODY TELLING YOU TO END THE BASIC WORK OF A CAREER, WHICH IS NOT TRUE FOR DANCERS).

This morning, still with a smile, last night rings in my mind: “What a way to go to the ballet or sign out of the ballet company!” I give a symbolic rose of my own, this morning, wading through my joy of last night at the Houston Ballet.  

Posted: 2 years ago

As I prepare for the holidays with my kids in Half Moon Bay, CA, I just want to take a moment to thank the members of the club who worked on our new sit.  I just love it, and hope we will be able to keep in better touch now that we have it. I'd still like to see an open thread on the home page like an internal Twitter stream where we could just check in and say hi to each other:-)

Happy Holidays everyone

Francine Hardaway, Ph.D

Stealthmode Partners

http://www.stealthmode.com

http://blog.stealthmode.com

Posted: 2 years ago

In this time of giving, I received some presents that are welcomed: 1) I was selected to give a presentation on 'creating a lesson on the history of art from 50,000 BCE to 1940 in four weeks (two classes a week)' for my college and other faculty (an impossible task that I have been working on for two years and finally have a handle on it: simplifying it to 'faith and reason' or 'power and freedom'); 2) two of my paintings are selected for the January 12th Annual All Media Online Juried International Art Exhibition (58 artists chosen internationally, which receives 800,000 visitor to its website each month); and most important as a gift, 3) I received a call from my doctor that my PSA came back (it had been high in November on one test, indicting that I might have prostrate cancer) that the recent PSA was normal (therefore the first test was not accurate as an indicator) and I will not have to have another blood test for six months (just to again make sure). We will spend two days at my daughter's house, opening and giving presents, enjoying each other's love and company, and then the following week we will spend some time with them in Galveston at a rented beach house. What's Up, Doc? The world is good and the people close to me are better. Giving is great but some receiving makes the giving even better.

Posted: 2 years ago

2010: With each New Year, I set resolutions that deal with my work, my painting, my teaching and my writing. They are not unattainable goals but simple things that need to get done: such as, continue to scan the journals finished for future printing this year, start to work in the studio again when the weather gets warmer and finish the series that I started in the middle of last year, complete some new journals but work slowly on them so that they do not crowd out other things I wish to complete this year, get ready for the Presidency of the eClub, finish up some business left hanging for Rotary Global History Fellowship (such as traveling to Chicago and Montreal this year to represent this organization- my last duties as Chairman/President, 2007-2010), continue to improve my course in Art Appreciation, look into some grants for lecturing abroad through the Fulbright system, continue to exhibit with the Upstream Peoples Gallery (where 800,000 visitors review the work each month online), and keep my promises to myself for things of a personal nature. I know that we do not have many tomorrows. Even a two-year old has less tomorrows than yesterdays (that can be counted upon as certain). Therefore I must, in my work/in my life, see the extraordinary in what most people call "ordinary".

REMBRANDT KNEW THIS SECRET. HE PAINTED THE JEWISH POPULATION THAT WAS FLEEING FROM THE SUFFERING IN SPAIN AND DRAW THEM AS THEIR ANCESTERS. HE KNEW A LESSON THAT I TRY TO TEACH MY SELF, MY STUDENTS, MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND MY GANG (SIX TO TWELVE YEAR OLDS WHO LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND COME BY OUR HOUSE TO GET POPSICKLES AND PLAY SOME MIND GAMES. THE LESSON IS WHAT I SAID: "WE LIVE IN AN AGE WHERE THERE IS NO TIME THAT CAN BE WASTED. WE LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE WE DO ROUTINE THINGS THAT CAN BE MADE INTERESTING WITH A LITTLE CREATIVITY AND OUR WEALTH OF IMAGINATION. THE WHOLE WORLD IS A GALLERY OF SIGHTS AND SOUNDS AND EXPERIENCES THAT CAN BE VIEWED AS 'FRESH AND GROWING IN FULL BLOOM'."�

REALITY IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SHAPED AND REFORMED TO FIT THE JOY OF LIVING, INSTEAD OF SEEING IT AS REPEATING ITSELF INTO A BORING PATTERN. TO KNOW IS TO GROW; AND TO GROW IS TO DREAM! EVERY MOMENT MUST BE LIVED AS IF IT IS YOUR LAST (BECAUSE IT IS ˜YOUR LAST OF THIS MOMENT"). I RESOLVE TO CARRY THIS IDEA INTO THIS NEW YEAR.