Tuesday

A tea convention



When ever possible, I have been gathering information and links on the subject of tea for a blog currently under development, of which my good friend Monica, of twenty-nine years is aware of. So if Monica comes across something interesting, she has passed it along to me for consideration. This time, she learns from a friend about an artist who paints with tea and that he is displaying his work at a tea convention in Las Vegas. Obviously both peaked my interests, especially the tea convention. So I would like to pass along to all those who participate or follow in Kimmie’s ‘Tea on Tuesday’, or just enjoy tea trivia, what I have learned.




This coming June 11 through the 13th, World Tea Expo invites top vendors, potential buyers and others related to tea industry to the annual Tea Expo held in Las Vegas. The main objective of the event is to gather tea professionals, R&D executives, merchandisers, scientists, and entrepreneurs into a single arena. This year the even is being held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, but in 2011 it will be the Sands Convention Center. During my web research, I also discovered that in December 2010 the Macau Tea Expo will be held at the Guanggzhou, China.

As I now drink exclusively tea, I have discovered that sales of tea products since 2008 are expected to increase by $3 billion at the end of 2010 in the United States alone and that about half of all American households have ready-made tea products in their home. All of this is good news, especially for those who drink green, white, or herbal tea for their health.

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Though most of this month has passed, did you know that it is National Poetry Month? Back in 1996 the American Academy of Poets established the concept in the hope to increase the visibility and availability of poetry in popular culture. With the success of Black History Month (February) and Women's History Month (March), the Academy in conjunction with poets, booksellers, librarians, and teachers, chose April as the best time to turn our attention to poetry. Finally




in two days from now it is the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day
and though change has begun, we are far from the end.
Today we are still facing global warming, pollution,
species endangered of extinction and more; it is
therefore imperative that we make further
change in our habits and our life style.
More over our government needs
to take charge, setting an
example for other
nations to
follow.




I thank you for your visit
Egmont




A Nation Mourns






And in their death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions . . .

2 Samuel 1:24-25




How often are we to die before we go right off this stage?
In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part.

Alexander Pope 1688-1744









Thursday

This month’s sidebar worth mentioning



One of the reasons I have selected Ingrid Dijkers as this month’s featured artist of the month is that her work appeals to me on several levels. Her exceptional artistic qualities, craftsmanship, stylization consistency, and the work is mostly gender neutral, as well as not stuck in a Victorian time-warp as so much of other artists journaling imagery is.


One of the reasons I have selected Ingrid Dijkers as this month’s featured artist of the month is that her work appeals to me on several levels. Her exceptional artistic qualities, craftsmanship,  and stylization consistency, the work is mostly gender neutral, as well as not stuck in a Victorian time-warp as so much of other artists journaling imagery is.



Ingrid’s first Coptic book “A Small Town”
Made from many “parts” of reclaimed books


Her work encompasses complexity and simplicity, a delicate balancing act in which the two dance in a visual performance of colour, composition and visual creativity to delight the eye. The artwork is filled with a richness of imagination, luring the viewer with her magic, telling a tale to delight the child, as well as the adult. Stories that will ignite into dreams of their own, to all those who let their mind wonder down the rabbit hole.



“Glass House”
Constructed of collage elements and mounted between glass


Ingrid’s artistic repertoire is not limited to just art journaling, rather it is rather extensive, ranging from ATC, collage, altered books, wearable art known as ‘SteamPunk’ jewlery, and contemporary dolls, a true mixed media artists who is also very accomplished in her photographic skills.



Various pages from altered books


It should therefore come to no surprise to anyone, but Ingrid’s art and creations have been widely published in magazines like ATC Quarterly; Belle Armoire Jewelry; Cloth, Paper, Scissors; Art Journaling; Somerset Studios and most recently in the premiere issue of Jewelry Affaire. Her blog is also listed as one of the top ten by The Art Journal Caravan Navigation Guide.



Prototypes for “The Bug Collection





Flight to the Garden
Clay and cloth construction figure riding a paper maché Pterodactyl.


Though here blog is chuck full of beautiful imagery of her art, I do recommend a visit to her official website for a greater in-depth view, as there her years of work is excellently catalogued, making it easy to navigate about.  So pour yourself some hot tea or coffee and be prepared to be lost in a magical world of Ingrid’s art.



When I saw you
Wearable collage made from kiln fired clay, glass, solder
and various small charms contained within.

Full quote reads
"When I saw you I fell in love and you smiled because you knew

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March 17 thru June 13, 2010


This is the first exhibition outside Denmark to focus on the paintings of Christen Købke (1810–1848). Emphasizing his exquisite originality and experimental outlook, the exhibition focuses on the most innovative aspects of his work – including outdoor sketching, his fascination with painterly immediacy, and treatment of light and atmosphere.


The exhibition features around 40 of Købke’s most celebrated works, spanning a variety of genres. Works include landscapes, portraits of many of his family and closest friends, and depictions of Danish national monuments using his charming and unusual sense of perspective.



Christen Købke, 'Self Portrait', about 1833
Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen


Købke was born in Copenhagen, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts from 1822 to 32. From 1825-8 he was a pupil of the portrait painter C.A. Lorentzen, then studied under C.W. Eckersberg until about 1834.


In 1838 he travelled to Italy via Germany where he visited the painter J.C. Dahl in Dresden. He stayed in Rome, Pompeii and Naples, but spent much of his time sketching outdoors on the island of Capri.





The Northern Drawbridge to the Citadel in Copenhagen, 1837


Købke was a pre-eminent painter in his country and arguably one of the greatest talents of Denmark’s Golden Age. With the exception of one journey to Italy, he spent almost his entire life in and around the Citadel in Copenhagen, where he found the principal themes of his art.


Købke’s work demonstrates his ability to endow ordinary people and places and simple motifs with a universal significance, creating a world in microcosm for the viewer.



Exhibit catalogue


Christen Købke died at the early age of 37 with a career that barely spanned 20 years, nothing in his formative years as a painter were exceptional to that of his contemporaries which highlights his talent as all the more remarkable. His modest and unassuming nature make him an instantly likeable character. Although his working life was tragically short, he was inventive and extremely productive and this catalogue gives an overview of his entire career.


The exhibition is organized with the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh,
where it will follow from 4 July–3 October 2010.


Supported by The A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation, Copenhagen

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The previous week we experienced spring but as of Monday it was a throw back to winter with cold temperatures and snow falling around 2000 foot elevation. Our cherry tree just outside of the kitchen has passed its prime and with the return of the rain, the fragile petals have fallen like tears and lay scattered about the ground like a dusting of fresh show.


I wish to express my sincerest gratitude for your many inquiries and support regarding my health. In brief, I am doing a little better since one of the medications was dropped and shortly I will be entering into a three-month cardiovascular rehabilitation, which should help improve the current situation. There still remain unanswered questions regarding the future and this is still unsettling as it is distraction. So I continue to accept each day with its gifts as well as its faults, not thinking about tomorrow, as the moment is more precious than an unknown future.



I thank you for your visit
Egmont