'Happiness is an angel with a serious face.'

sculpture, 'Head of a Woman' - 1912 and 'Blue Eyes' [portrait of Madame Jeanne Hébuterne] - 1917

While visiting Erica earlier this year I saw this art at a Marc Chagall exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art which included some work by his contemporaries, in particular Amadeo Modigliani.

'Portrait of a Polish Woman' - 1919

ABC Wednesday's letter du jour is M for Amedeo Modigliani, an Italian painter & sculptor who lived from 1884-1920. He studied in Italy but made his more famous work while in Paris in the Left Bank bohemian Montparnasse with contemporaries like Picasso and Chagall. His work is easily recognizable in the painted figures with elongated bodies and mask-like sculptures. Sadly he died at 36 from drug and alcohol abuse, and finally, tuberculosis.

Visit Mrs Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday for many more uses of the letter 'M'
title quote by Modigliani

'. . .my purse is empty. . .'

Being an inveterate people watcher, I can't stop myself from a) watching and b) photographing the watchees. These three were admiring Marc Chagall's paintings in Philadelphia this spring. I liked the progression of the smaller work and short lady to larger painting and taller women, with Erica listening and viewing. So, I present you V for viewing, viewers and viewee [me]. Visit ABC Wednesday for more vees.

My name is Marc, my emotional life is sensitive

and my purse is empty,

 but they say I have talent. 

Marc Chagall

These are the days. . .

While I read this it is 23 degrees outside and I've been wearing socks to bed lately. . .it is finally sinking in that winter has arrived. Over my bowl of oatmeal I remind myself to practice the same mindfulness I use to cope with the bleak midwinter as I do diabetes. Mindfulness offers the suggestion that with patience it can be possible to move nearer to instead of running away from the unpleasantry which can offer rewards of its own. One result is to make peace with the pain. This Marc Chagall painting is one I keep on hand for just such an occasion as my current journey to Siberia.

Blogging has saved my bacon [“Mmm … bacon”--H. Simpson] as well and today is no exception. I recommend you visit iBeati who has written her take on this here. You'll be swept up in her delightful sense of humor and the 'grace' of her thoughts.

Speaking of delight, visit Blue as she has begun a new MeMe called True Colours Thursday--today's color is RED in all its amazing glory. Stop by and join in.

Happy Thursday!

Imagine. . .

I saw this, actually very small, peace sign painted on a boulder at the edge of someones property while I was out walking yesterday. It called me from the road I was on and in spite of its size opened up a flood gate of memories of coming of age in the late sixties. While I was taking the photo someone drove by and gave me such a quizzical look asking, 'who has the time to take a picture of a rock anyway?' This little emblem means something different to each person that sees it, but it will always mean imagine to me.
I recently found this Marc Chagall painting at the MIA called 'Poet Dreaming.' So I'm adding this image to today's ABC Wednesday letter 'I' as well.

In his book In Beauty, John O'Donohue shares that "the imagination is capable of kindness that the mind often lacks
because it works naturally from the world of between;
it does not engage things in a cold, clear-cut way
but always searches for the hidden worlds that wait at the edge of things."
—Barbara Biziou

Visit ABC Wednesday hosted by Mrs Nesbitt where the letter 'I' is highlighted. You'll be glad you did. Join in anytime.