First Ascent

Our fearless explorer looks out from her perch far above the Mississippi. Madeleine had a great time on her  first trip to the top of the Arch, accompanied by mom Emily and me. Not a bit of anxiety about the height or the cramped little cars you ride to get to the top. She was interested in everything except sitting still.

Also Lambie's first ride to the top. Thanks, Aunt Virginia!     

The Firebird

Memories: when I was an undergraduate I would cruise the sale bins at record stores (Record stores! Philip Glass, who I will sort of meet again tomorrow night, was the son of a record store owner in Baltimore. We bought and played LPs then! L'ancien régime.) looking for new musical experiences. I remember buying a box set of the three early Stravinsky ballets. The Firebird was accessible yet invigorating. Petroushka was a stretch. The Rite of Spring was impenetrable, not the pinnacle of art I hear it as today. 

The association came from a work in the summer show at the Missouri Botannical Garden, Garden of Glass. (Mulit-level, no?) It features the work of artist James Mitchell Smith, mostly on display in the Climatron, mentioned in Tuesday's post. It is best seen illuminated by colored lights at night as here. Unlike a lot of art glass, the pieces are fused, not blown. How else could these feathers be created?

All contemporary art glass is inevitably compared to the work of Dale Chihuly. Several pieces of his work are scattered around the garden on permanent display. Once, while chatting with an artist friend, the subject of Chihuly came up. I asked the artist's opinion. "Too easy," he answered. I get it.

Big weekend on tap. We're taking Madeleine on her first trip up the Arch this afternoon. Tomorrow night Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents the American premier of Philip Glass' opera The Trial, based on the Kafka novel. The composer will be in attendance and there is an open reception afterward. I'm planning on bringing a small camera. 

Black Masons

Every educated American knows that, since Reconstruction, African American people have been barred from many white social organizations. So, in many cases, they formed their own. Masonic lodges lave a long history in Europe and the Americas. African American Lodges are sometimes known as the Black Masons. They always take part  in the Annie Malone parade.

I enjoy seeing them. They are so elegant and perfectly tailored. The  ladies in the second picture do what some call the Windsor wave, the way Queen Elazabeth holds her arm and hand up and just rotates it at the wrist.

Late post today. I wish life would leave me alone a little more.     

City Daily Photo June Theme Day: Nature

I'm mostly an urban street photographer. A trip into the archives was required to come up with something for this theme day.

This may be the single photo I'm most proud of. It was certainly the most difficult - Mt. Everest on a rare clear day. Long way to go for starters. We were travelling in Tibet with a small group, accompanied by English and Tibetan guides. There was a night at base camp, accessible by a very rough road. The shot was taken at 17,200 feet / 5,242 meters. I had pretty bad altitude sickness. Two men in the group had to grab me under the arms and pull me up the last little hill to the overlook. It was worth every effort.

Maybe there is something to the fact that Ansel Adams and I share a birthday. (Well, Kurt Cobain, too.) Okay, that's an exaggeration. Other than this shot not much has rubbed off.

The Lonliest Guys in Town

There aren't a lot of Republicans in the City of St. Louis proper. I think every single elective office is held by a Democrat. On the other hand, they have lots of colleagues in the suburbs and surrounding rural areas. The state government is very far right wing. (Well, if it's any consolation, neighbouring Kansas is worse.) Now, it is a completely personal opinion but I think that this group, in its current form, is allied with the forces of darkness. Haven't they read Matthew 19:24 or 19:21? The party of Abrahan Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower wasn't like what exists today.  

Afternoon update: I just came across this. You can see what you think if you have the time. Some of you will agree and some will think I/we are idiots.    

Moonrise At The Space Station

Nah, it's the Climatron at the Missouri Botanical Garden, a geodesic dome that somehow contains four different climactic zones. The family went to an event at the garden Sunday night, more about which soon.  

Yesterday's photo was from the annual Annie Malone parade. The organization is a major provider of social and economic services to the area's African-American community. The parade is always a great photo op and there will be more from it, too, as soon as I can work it in. I think Olivier's comment on the Facebook version is correct. He just wanted to fly.

We ordered Madeleine her first camera today. After all, the child will be four years old in August. It's time to get started. There may be some guest posts. 

What Is This Man Doing?

Let's make a projective test out of it. What do you see? I'll give you one hint: it's in a parade. More details later.