And . . . as an immediate and natural follow-up to Clair de Lune, I must also mention Claude Debussy’s “Reverie” as another incredible piece of musical genius. It was wonderfully used in the Westworld series, which I greatly enjoyed!I Love, Love , Love it! Live in absolute beauty. Live an aesthetic life. Absorb yourself in satiating joy! Carpe diem my friends! Featured image by the author, James L. Patterson (Princess Arch, Red River Gorge, Kentucky)
One of my all-time incredible favorites! Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergeamasque L. 75). This particular rendering by Michael Dulin. Sublime! Carpe diem my friends. Live life absorbed with incredible beauty! Featured image by the author – James L. Patterson (Linderhof Palace, Bavaria, Germany)
My wife is incredible! We always celebrate our anniversary with a nice card and perhaps something nice regarding a gift and/or event. It seems that our ongoing theme is one of “adventure.” Take note of the beautiful card she gifted me this year! What do we mean by “adventure?” We don’t climb mountains. We don’t sail in a yacht around the world. We don’t skydive. We don’t kayak. We don’t submarine to the bottom of …
JoyKarl Heinrich GruppeTennessee Marble, 1925Brookgreen Gardens – Murrells Inlet, SC. Immerse yourself in beauty! It’s one of the keys to living an enriched life. Carpe diem friends! All images in this article by the author, James L. Patterson
While listening to a few of my chill/trance/dream-pop Pandora stations recently an artist started appearing that I hadn’t previously heard before: Emma Hewitt. I’m not sure why her songs weren’t included in those genre playlists years ago (her “Burn the Sky Down” album was released in 2012). Her music and heavenly vocals exude a wonderful haunting beauty. I recently purchased her CD (yes, I’m old school) but had to resort to ordering one from Australia …
After watching the movie “The Pale Blue Eye” this evening, I’m reminded of my long time admiration (and sometimes obsession) with Edgar Allan Poe. Unusual as it may be, my initial exposure to E. A. Poe was long ago when I was a lad of only 17 years of age. At that magical time I was made aware of an album by Alan Parsons titled “Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Edgar Allan Poe” – Parson’s …
In July 2015 while perusing the gorgeous entries of exquisite cars in the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance in Lexington, Kentucky, I came across a vendor’s booth that housed a phenomenal piece of scientific and artistic apparatus called the “Porter Garden Telescope.” I was smitten! I spoke with Russ Schleipman who was tied to the formal business venture called Telescopes of Vermont. He explained to me that several decades ago his father Fred discovered the Porter Garden …
Porter Garden Telescope – The Perfect Blend of Art and Science Read More »
I have a tendency to re-watch movies that resonate with me – those that seem to speak to my soul, whether due to its storytelling, music, theme/subject, philosophy, cinematography, or all of it rolled into one. Recently I watched A.I. – Artificial Intelligence again (for an unknown _th viewing), and of course, was moved by the story and it’s wonderful film score by John Williams. And in this current time of unfolding AI the movie …
Beauty – Music from the movie A.I. (Artificial Intellegence) Read More »
A fascinating limited television series launched at the beginning of March 2020 titled Dispatches From Elsewhere. It consisted of ten episodes and aired on AMC weekly on Mondays until the end of April. The show was produced by Jason Segel and featured four primary characters who all lead lives of various levels of mundaneness, fears, challenges, distractions and lack of direction. Sounds a bit like most of the population, doesn’t it? These individuals – Peter, …
Aesthetics “Officially” speaking, Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty and artistic taste. But you don’t have to be a philosopher to bask in the benefits of living an aesthetic life. Simply having a sensitivity and appreciation for beauty is a good start. Slow down; pause; observe. Note and appreciate those things that give you pleasure and inner satisfaction when you experience them with your senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, …
What is Romanticism? Ask anyone on the street what “Romanticism” is and you’re likely to get replies that include: beautiful flowers, surprise gifts, elegant date nights, heartfelt love letters, tender gestures, etc. – – essentially, anything that generates romance between two people in a relationship. While that concept is nice (and important) it isn’t the same definition of “Romanticism” as my focus in this article. Specifically, I speak of Romanticism as a state of mind; …
Into the UnknownHermon Atkins MacNeilWhite Marble, c1912Brookgreen Gardens – Murrells Inlet, SC (All images in this post by the Author: James L. Patterson)
NightMario Joseph KorbelWhite Marble, c1932Brookgreen Gardens – Murrells Inlet, SC (All images for this post by the Author: James L. Patterson)
Diana of the ChaseAnna Hyatt HuntingtonBronze, 1922Brookgreen Gardens – Murrells Inlet, SC (All images in this post by the Author: James L. Patterson)
Sunlounger – Crawling (Chillout mix) Chillout and relax . . . (Featured image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay )
E.S. Posthumus – Estemos Peaceful beauty . . . (Featured image by Denis Velicanov from Pixabay)
Souls In Motion – Sensual Illusion (Balearic Mix) Beautiful and laid-back tune – soul soothing . . . (Featured image by James L. Patterson)
Delerium – Light Your Light [Featuring Jael] (Featured image by jplenio from Pixabay)
A beautiful piece of music from Sleepthief: Afterthoughts featuring vocalist Lauren Edman. Heavenly . . . . . Ethereal . . . . . (Featured image by James L. Patterson)
Another GORGEOUS song by Kristy Thirsk – Fading Light, from the compilation CD Beauty 2 (which I’ve owned for numerous years). . . (Featured image by James L. Patterson)
Sleepthief – Sublunar (Sweet Angel) Probably my favorite female vocalist for ethereal/dream-pop/angelic/trance-type music, Kristy Thirsk. Hauntingly beautiful (as is all of her music with Sleepthief, Delerium, Balligomingo, and Conjure One). (Featured image by James L. Patterson)
Samson and the Lion Gleb Derujinsky Limestone, 1949 Brookgreen Gardens – Murrells Inlet, SC Mr. Derujinsky must have been one of Anna Hyatt Huntington’s favorites, as there are numerous scultpures by him on the grounds of Brookgreen Gardens. And . . . they all seem to resonate with me. 🙂 (All images by the Author: James L. Patterson)
Man Carving His Own Destiny Albin Polášek Indiana Limestone, 1961 Brookgreen Gardens – Murrells Inlet, SC I very much like the description on the placard sign about the artist’s vision of “man chiseling himself, struggling to hack out his own character, carving his future by the effort of his will.” This aligns in my mind with an individual’s effort to create the best person they can be during their short sojourn on this Earth – …
Nereid Berthold Nebel Marble, c. 1945 Brookgreen Gardens – Murrells Inlet, SC (All images by the Author: James L. Patterson)
Such a moving and melancholy song. So wonderfully written and performed. The piano and strings are incredible! It’s a piece I’d like to have played at my funeral. (Featured image by Debbie D. Patterson)
Chill and sexy sounding . . . . (can’t find this on YouTube) (Featured image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay)
Peaceful. Soothing. Beautiful. (Featured image by James L. Patterson)
Powerful. Inspiring. Epic. Invincible! I was surprised to hear this being played in the opening video montage at recent University of Louisville football games. I had heard it numerous times previously on my Pandora shuffle of Delerium, Blue Stone, Sleepthief & Conjure One. It’s composed by Thomas J. Bergerson and has been used in numerous film trailers, television shows and advertisements. This song gives me chills; moves me; envelopes me. It makes me feel like …
I share here two versions of the same beautiful sculpture – each with their own unique finish. The Brookgreen Gardens version is a natural bronze whereas the Speed Art Museum example has a gold finish. Both are gorgeous! Paul Manship is one of my favorites. The theme, particularly with the use of an armillary, is appealing to me! My garden armillary pales by comparison. 🙂 Cycle of Life Paul Howard Manship Bronze, 1924 Brookgreen Gardens …
I was completely blown away and mesmerized by this gorgeous sculpture in the Art Institute of Chicago during a 2007 visit. It evokes such ethereal beauty! I found myself just sitting for a time gazing in awe. The Lost Pleiade Randolph Rogers Marble, 1875 Art Institute of Chicago (All images by the Author: James L. Patterson)
Another nice tune from Conjure One – Tears From The Moon (Carmen Rizzo Stateside West Chill Out mix) . . . (Featured image by Robert Karkowski from Pixabay)
Very relaxing Chill tune. Blank & Jones – Chilled Cream . . . . (Featured image by James L. Patterson)
Orpheus and Eurydice Nathaniel Choate Bronze, 1952 Brookgreen Gardens (All images in this post by the Author: James L. Patterson)
