Urnes Portal

Whoa. Two weeks flew by and I didn't even notice. School has started once again, and the struggle to balance my personal life, school, and work has begun yet once more. I am spending most of my free time alone studying, buried under pre-calc and world literature books, trying to understand yet another ancient foreign culture... most of the time it's greek to me. Literally. I am shocked at times how modern some works sound. There are these ancient egyptian poems that sound just like something one of my friends would say to me. I wish I knew who wrote the poems. They are so old that no one knows. I usually hate poetry, but this I liked. It wasn't cliché and sappy like most things I am forced to endure.

Of all my classes, I would have to say that I am enjoying Printmaking with Martha Mason, and History of World Art with Tom Emmerson. I really like learning about the origins of art and seeing different styles repeat themselves throughout the ages with different artists' interpretations. Right now we are looking at the period in Post-Roman Europe, the beginning of medieval times. There are a lot of animals used in very intricate carvings, the lettering in the Book of Kells from Ireland, everything is very ornate and seem to have lots long twisting vines and whorls. My favourite piece right now is part of a church door, called a portal. It is from the stave church in Urnes, Norway. I see it's influence in pieces from the victorian/art deco periods. I love the dog that is biting something that looks like a snake or a vine. I haven't decided. I like the joints of the dog, how they are curled lines. This is a stamp with the Urnes stave church portal. I just love the dog's eyes too. So big!



I think I may have come up with the perfect 5-year plan. I'm pretty psyched! Hopefully it will work out, seeing as I make plans all the time and they don't pan out.

Lately I have been listening to a lot of Nelly Furtado. Embarassing, but true. To make up for it, I've been listening to a lot of Royksopp, Arcade Fire, Seabear, and Electralane. Song I'm currently in love with is 'The Story' by Brandi Carlile. (thanks t!)