Discovering Artist Barbara Rogers

This past weekend I had an opportunity to visit the Tucson Museum of Art, ostensibly to see an exhibit, Henri Matisse. The works were interesting, but for me the real excitement of the day occurred when I discovered the wonderfully colorful creations of an artist who is new to me. Barbara Rogers: The Imperative of Beauty, A Fifty-Year Retrospective 10/06/2012 - 01/13/2013 is a visual feast for the soul. The retrospective encompasses early pieces from her Berkeley days, those she did while in Hawaii, and later works too. Check it out yourself and take a chance on a raffle for an original piece of art.

For those who can't read the caption under the canvas that is going to be the prize-it is titled Games, Barbara Rogers, oil on canvas 36 x 48. Permission to use the photo by Tucson Museum of Art (BW).

Tickets can be purchased at the Museum Store or by calling 520-624-2333 ext. 111. The drawing will be on November 8 at 7:30 pm after the Barbara Rogers’ lecture and book signing event in the Museum Lobby.
Proceeds benefit the Tucson Museum of Art.
Learn more about this fabulous exhibit at the Website below.

www.tucsonmuseumofart.org

Today's quote- "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." So many are credited for saying this, that your guess is as good as mine!

Have any of you come across a new talent recently? Please let me know by commenting on this blog by clicking on the white envelope.
Thanks. And have a visually magnificent day.

Joy at the beach, celebrate the moment

This picture conveys it all. Have a joyful day and wonderful Labor Day weekend. Happy September 1st.

Here is the quote for today from Thich Nhat Hanh:

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."

Do you find that this concept resonates with you? Please let me know.

In Peace and Health, Nan





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Eerie Sky and Humility, Mother Nature and My Nature

Eerie sky. Monsoon threatens. Earlier today, while briskly walking outdoors, I pondered the power and changeability inherent in nature. Then, I was reminded that coping with mother nature is a metaphor for how I might improve my relationships to those things I can't control.

I am at choice today to get bent out of shape when a storm washes away my plan to have a picnic, my computer breaks down, someone is late for an appointment, or other people, situations, or circumstances don't act the way I think they should.

I can get angry, feel resentful, or take things personally. However, for today, I skip down the higher road. This choice allows me to opt for peace, equanimity, and well-being.

Dear reader-when you are at a crossroads and are perplexed about whether to choose conflict or peace-what guides you to walk on the higher path? Please comment (by clicking on the white envelope under this post) and explain what helps you to put things into perspective. Does being in nature nurture you and replenish your spirit? If so, does it help you tread more lightly when dealing with yourself and others?

 Hope you make the best of your day, whether the sunshine springs out from behind the clouds or it rains so hard it reaches the top of the reservoir.

The quote for today:  "Nature is so powerful, so strong. Capturing its essence is not easy-your work becomes a dance with light and the weather. It takes you to a place within yourself." Annie Leibovitz, photographer

In Peace & Health, Nan

Fwd: guest blog from Michaele Lockhart

Date: Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 2:52 PM

Subject: guest blog from Michaele Lockhart

Thanks for inviting me to comment, Nan.

Your definitions of web sites vs. blogs were thought-provoking. They were good general guidelines, but often the distinction is not that clear-cut.

A web site is a first meeting, a first impression, and that encounter where we decide: "Do I want to get to know this person better?" A blog is the actual invitation to step inside, sit down, and share in a conversation. It's definitely more intimate.

A web site usually has a purpose, but sometimes graphics and trailers are so convoluted that a casual visitor might have trouble figuring out what the purpose is. The web visitor spends an average of three seconds making up her mind if she is going to stay. A precious three seconds—maybe wasted? Marketing can or may be a part of the overall site.

Here's where the distinctions get fuzzy. A good web site is designed for information sharing, but so is a blog. Are the type font and size easily read? Is the layout calming or distracting? The site or blog should contain contact information. Where can you be reached for an interview? What is your expertise? Why should we move along to your blog (if you have one)? Of course, if you're an author you'll probably be promoting your books.

Who can forget the charming movie Julie and Julia? Julie starts writing a blog about cooking and her self-challenge to create everything in Julia Child's cookbook within a year! What drew her readers in was the blog's central theme. We don't know what happened afterwards, because theoretically there would be no forward momentum.

For those who write personal blogs, ask yourself "Does my blog contain momentum?" This will ultimately help attract readers. Is there a "call to action?" No, you don't need to do anything drastic or start a revolution somewhere. In the personal journal-blog, your "call to action" will be teasers and an invitation to your readers to reflect and respond about issues that you've addressed.

Home from vacation, blog and website differences

I enjoyed the refreshing change (temperature wise and blue ocean views) that a short jaunt to the West coast (Newport Beach, CA) provided. This is the first opportunity I've had to blog. Glad to be back!

I'm motivated to do research about the difference between blogs and websites (partly work related and partly to help my readers learn what's new and good). I do need input from you out there, so hope I'll get some feedback, especially from those of you I know look at my blog, but haven't commented. Here's what I've discovered so far:

Blogs-

          content based on its timely nature

          journal format

          informal style (usual purpose is part social and partly to network)

          spans one or two topics at the most

Websites-

         content based on a structured or static basis

         professional or business purpose rather than social

         provides clear information to a specific audience and/or for a definite purpose like book-selling

         features good website navigation and is updated less frequently than a blog

See more details at the sites listed below:

How to Make an Official Websitehttp://www.ehow.com/how_5843839_make-official-website.html

http://www.intuitive.com/blog/whats_the_difference_between_a_blog_and_a_web_site.html from strategic business thinking and management consulting by entrepreneur, business and technical guru and popular writer and speaker Dave Taylor

Please let me know what you've discovered about blogs and websites. And a Big thanks for reading my blog post today.

The quote for today comes from Thinkexist.com

“It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.”

 Dale Carnegie quotes (American lecturer, author, 1888-1955)