Today, July 6, 2017, is my 6th year anniversary on WordPress. To celebrate I am revisiting my 1 year anniversary post. Here it is:
2011 / 2012. One Year, during which I have connected through the blogosphere with so many wonderful, creative people. I have been inspired, entertained, informed, educated, enlightened and sometimes moved to tears.
I began Art Rat Café as an assignment for an art course, never thinking that I would continue past the first few posts. Now I’m addicted and look forward to more of our amazing communications through the aether
I am so curious about you all and would love to be able to magically bring you together for a blogger’s party in my beautiful city – to look in your eyes and touch your hands and feed you Italian wine and Vancouver salmon.
Blogging is so frustratingly cerebral and although I love it for what it is my approach to life is ever a sensual one.
As I live my days and make my art a special part of my thoughts is always active creating my next post, wanting it to be meaningful, magical and mysterious for you and for me. This process is as much a creative act as making a painting, writing a poem or dancing.
Back ‘In the Day’ you would all have been my ‘pen-pals’, (anyone remember ‘pen-pals’?).
The nature of Time is definitely strange and unpredictable – the Trickster in our lives – the accordion playing at our table in a Parisian café, serenading our hearts with music so bitter sweet.
After all is said and done
It’s just a rainbow ‘round the sun,
Another ring toss ’round a star,
A bear stuck in a honey jar,
An ancient number scratched in rock,
A ticking tap, a dripping clock.
Years pass like apes in papered parlors,
Time is their hunger
And we’re all bananas.
I love you all and send deepest thanks for your comments, likes and support of Art Rat Café. My connection to you means so much to me.
Here’s to you, dear friends, and to another year of bountiful blogging.
Peace and Love… Keep on Truckin’…
Credits:
‘Keep On Truckin’ image thanks to Robert Crumb.
Painting and poem by clinock.
Painting: Self Portrait with the Other. 30″ x 20″ (76.2 cm x 50.8 cm) Acrylic on canvas.
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This Moment Now, Not Redux, P.S.
This intensely powerful July full moon woven into this rare, northwest coast summer heat-wave, is…phenomenal. Summer was late arriving in Vancouver, BC. this year and we needed, so desperately, the sun and its blessings. I drink it in. charging.
Full city, full moon, full light
You could keep a whole city alight in the energy I have tonight.
I am summer heat and am expanded and ignited by it – Fire – Leo – In – My – Element.
This music was not in my one year post but I just had to put it here…with these words…
“And that full bellied moon, she’s a-shinin’ on me.
Yeah she pulls on this heart like she pulls on the sea”
Congratulations! You bring joy, beauty and light to all of your “pen-pals.” ( I had a pen-pal in England way back.) I enjoy your posts very much. Enjoy your sun and moon! Cheers!
Thank you Jo Nell, what lovely words. I am delighted that you enjoy what I choreograph and present in these electronic spaces. Cheers to you too!
Concurring with Jo about pen pals! John, I like your imaginative and somewhat nostalgic poem “After all is said and done…”, and also enjoyed The Moon song by Isakov. Of course, as a moon lover, I love your photo of the full moon and trees. I assume that the poem “And that full bellied moon, she’s a-shinin’ on me. Yeah she pulls on this heart like she pulls on the sea” presented above the photo is yours also. How lively you have depicted the faminine nature of the full moon with this poem indeed!
Thank you very much for sharing this post, and for commenting on my moon-themed post at https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/if-my-name-were-moon-tonight/
Hi SoundEagle…“And that full bellied moon, she’s a-shinin’ on me. Yeah she pulls on this heart like she pulls on the sea” I quoted from the song on the video, it’s not my poetry although I wish it was. Thank you for your visit and comment and it’s good to see you back on-line…
Happy birthday to you and many happy returns, John! May you also have a wonderful weekend!
You are very kind SE and I thank you for your wishes…
John, have you ever painted orchid(s) on the canvas?
SoundEagle, no I can’t say I have ever painted orchids. I love orchids and their fragile beauty but my art explores different pathways…
Hi John,
I hope that you have had a great time enjoying your birthday with relatives and friends, and that you received some special presents, whatever they may be.
Yes, like you, I am also very interested in orchids, and have been dedicating some of my time and attention to one of my other websites at https://queenslandorchid.wordpress.com
A few years ago, I enthusiastically featured some of the works of an artist at https://queenslandorchid.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/superb-illustrations-and-paintings-of-paphiopedilum-shared-in-the-queensland-orchid-society-facebook-group/
I am certainly very curious and intrigued to see the outcome of your orchid painting(s) if or when your styles and aesthetic slants are being applied to portraying orchids on the canvas, whether realistically or abstractly.
Yes, there are about a dozen or so blog buddies that with whom I wish I could spend hours and hours just talking and sharing seated at a breezy back porch. You, of course would be invited.
I would be there with bells on Carl and honoured by the invitation. My back porch needs are simple: a comfy rocking chair, a jar of moonshine and a pipe of homegrown. I’m packing my bags, see you soon 🙂
congrats on your bloggiversary! I’m happy to be part of this online art journey, this multi-media-public-broadcast-penpallery! Wha vibrant and fabulous times to be alive in this crazy world!
Absolutely Mixy, I’m with you all down the line. I adore your “multi-media-public-broadcast-penpallery”. Keep on truckin’ my friend…
congrats….due to the Crumb image I half expected to either see this song https://youtu.be/v2x9GbxqvmA or this one https://youtu.be/pafY6sZt0FE
Enjoy your weekend and the next year of blogging. 🙂
Warm Thanks Terry…for the words and the music…Midnight Special so nostalgic and ‘innocent’ and the Dead, always in my heart, say it all…
“Truckin, like the do-dah man. once told me youve got to play your hand
Sometimes your cards aint worth a dime, if you dont layem down,
Sometimes the lights all shinin on me;
Other times I can barely see.
Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip its been….
Hasn’t it though
Happy Anniversary John, loved reading your 1 year post, you are such a good soul! Happy 6th Anniversary! This is a full moon in Capricorn, there could be fireworks😊 Enjoy your weekend and be safe
And fireworks there are and continuing…celebrating Canada’s 150 years of Confederation….Relationships also exploding in the sky, such ephemeral beauty! Can I blame a Capricorn moon?
Thank you so much for your wishes and kind words Deb
Happy 6th John!!!!! The old posts were/are just as remarkable as your new ones. For me this painting rates as Brilliant Plus!
Your poetry has changed dramatically….much deeper and more intense but always capturing the essence of your theme.
Keep on truckin’ mate…the blogosphere needs you more than ever!
6 is the special spirit number that has proved itself to be mine. We all have one, the number that weaves itself through our individual lives, and repeats itself in a variety of manifestations.
What is yours?
A thousand thanks Robert, for your support of my art and writing from the very beginning. Do you know you were my first blogging connection, right there at post #1? You are still communicating and inspiring and I appreciate it matey, very, very much.
Spirit number has got me thinking John. I studied Numerology which reveals Destiny, Life Path, and other numbers but I have never thought about a Spirit number. It seems your number has often appeared in your life. I can’t say the same for me although I am aware of certain number energies which do seem real.
I’m thrilled to be reminded of our “first contact” and am mutually grateful for all that has come out of it. You have always generously offered consistent insightful comments……thanks again mate!
Here’s to the next six years John.
Wow, yes Mark, the next 6 years…I’m thinking they will be the most beautifully intense EVER!
Of course of action, as a synodic month dearestr, I dearest your picture of the replete(p) synodic month and trees. Spirit figure has got me cerebration John.
Thank you amaranto es, for you comment and your visit…