Rauschenberg Combines

News of Robert Rauschenberg's passing reminds me of how much I have admired his work and his enthusiasm for found materials -- particularly his "Combines." I can relate to the fact that "He loved making something out of nothing." In fact, I've always liked the way the verb "combines" becomes a noun by virtue of his work. What a life, what a body of work, what an inspiration... He is quoted as saying, "I don't really trust ideas, especially good ones. Rather I put my trust in the materials that confront me, because they put me in touch with the unknown." At left is "Migration," from 1959, a combine: oil, paper, fabric, printed reproductions, printed paper, and wood on canvas.

Ruby Moon Seedlings

I wrote about my seed-starting project a while back. The seeds were harvested from last year's Ruby Moon Hyacinth Bean plant. They have taken over one end of my desk and now stand 9-10 inches tall. Hopefully I can plant them outside soon. These are a vine-like plant, with purplish stems and veins and bright green leaves. Late in the summer they have amazing fuschia to purple-colored pea-like pods. I plan to do some studies of them in my Green sketchbook.

Road Trip

I've been up in the mountains, art directing a photo shoot for the past couple of days. The 3-hour drive was inspiring... great colors, beautiful weather, crazy geologic formations to admire. (I need to get out more!)

Green

I have been thinking about a series of collages related to growth, plant forms, roots, etc. That's probably why I am so taken with the seedlings that sit in the window at the end of my desk! Last year when I planted the seeds they took over a month to sprout. Somehow these are up and unfolding within a week. The shapes of the new leaves and the pliable stems stretching toward the light are beautiful and changing hourly it seems! It feels like a science experiment...