In the Labyrinth

Pierre Ménager's Santa Fe Street Scene, 1943 (or One That Got Away!)

It's frustrating when I occasionally run across one of my grandfather Pierre Ménager's paintings up for auction at e-bay. I always seem to arrive too late to bid! Here's a beauty from 1943 -- a watercolor of a crowded Santa Fe street scene. Everyone seems so busy, from the sailor home on leave, the dark-hatted men striding briskly or lounging against walls, to the zaftig women bustling across the street. The signs are lit up like a Friday night, offering food, drink, a place to cash checks, and for the sober, The Faith Café (just behind the Pabst sign!). It's interesting to compare this one to another painting he did of the Zuni Shalako Ceremony -- both paintings share the same exuberant street activity, diminishing to a point at the distant center of the painting -- which is an image of a sacred place, whether church, or a trio of Zuni gods. I love the way he infuses the ordinary material world, its humor and humanity, with the divine.

You can see closeups of the details at the e-bay site (for at least as long as it's up) here. Also, clicking this image will open a larger view of the painting.

Devouring Books

Oh these are books good enough to eat! Every year around April 1, cities, libraries, and schools in many countries host an "International Edible Books" festival. The International Edible Book Festival website explains the April date for its celebration of food and books:

"April 1st is the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), famous for his book Physiologie du goût, a witty meditation on food. April fools' day is also the perfect day to eat your words and play with them as the "books" are consumed on the day of the event. This ephemeral global banquet, in which anyone can participate, is shared by all on the internet and allows everyone to preserve and discover unique bookish nourishments. This festival is a celebration of the ingestion of culture and a way to concretely share a book; it is also a deeper reflexion on our attachment to food and our cultural differences."

The website has links to photo galleries of innovative creations -- some of them witty (and visual puns abound here!) to simply delicious. The book atop is The Book of Pi by Stephanie Krause & Robert Christie in the 2003 NY Center for Book Arts. The book just above is Eat Nature by Japanese artist, Masaaki Tatsumi. (You can see more of the Japanese Edible books here.)

The Daily Coyote

Here's a fascinating blog from Shreve Stockton, an author and photographer who unexpectedly found herself the surrogate mother to a wild, orphaned coyote puppy whose parents had been shot by ranchers. Her blog, The Daily Coyote, recounts the last five months of her life with Charlie -- along with terrific photographs. In fact, you can subscribe to the blog and receive a daily photograph in the email. Stockton, who lives in a tiny town in Wyoming, also had a blog, Vespa Vagabond, in which she chronicled her journeys across the US on a vespa. You can also purchase prints of Charlie here. (Special thanks to Elizabeth for alerting me.)

International Children's Digital Library

I have to say I love this site as it offers digital copies (and we are talking some big files here!) of illustrated children's books -- many of them rare classics of the 19th century. I have included two images (above and below) from "The Baby's Own Aesop," handsomely illustrated by Walter Crane -- every single page is richly detailed.

And have a look (below) at the beautiful Kate Greenaway version of "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" with its delicate drawings and soft colors. Lovely.

Or this Celtic Tales, with illustrations by Katherine Cameron. The best part is you can actually read the stories too! Make sure to click on the magnifying glass to see the full size of the page.

There are so many wonderful books in this digital library, old and new, international collections, and different age groups, representing so many different artists and authors. A significant treasure trove of children's literature and illustrative art.

Dining, Shopping, and Doing up the House Renaissance Style

I have just collected three books as part of the research for The Innamorati sequel -- best thing perhaps about writing an historical novel is the research! And there are times when I can't figure out if I am a history student who likes to write novels, or a novelist who finds great stories in history. But here are the new treasures:

The Banquet: Dining in the Great Courts of Late Renaissance Europe by Ken Albala -- a fascinating study of the richness and opulence of dining, including the dishes (all those spices and aromatics from the East), table habits, and political propaganda -- and how it all got created and cooked.

Shopping in the Renaissance: Consumer Cultures in Italy, 1400s -- 1600s by Evelyn S. Welch. Oh man is this book interesting -- especially if like me one has to write one of those "market day" scenes. What did people buy? What was considered frivolous, essential, fashionable -- everything from foodstuffs to relics. She also looks at hiring fairs, auctions, and lotteries.

Inside the Renaissance House by Elizabeth Curie offers a close look at every room in the house from the great rooms to the bed chambers. The house (like the banquets) was a source of public status. What went into every room was intended not just for comfort, but to make a statement about the owners. (I suppose not much has changed here -- just the choice of furnishings and details.)