Peabody-Essex with Mark Slawson

     Mark Slawson had not been to the PEM is years, and so we took up a trip up and enjoyed the "Passion for American Art" exhibit, some John Thomson's photos along the Min River in China, and a lot of the great permanent exhibits, many of which I've presented in this blog before, but still give me such pleasure.
     I guess, more that anything, I see the wood, glass, porcelain and oils and still stand awe-struck by the inspirations that created the art, and the exalted techniques that brought them to us.  And not to be discounted are the people who had the foresight to conserve, and present, such greatness.

     Here we go.

Cicada Cabinet, 2006

Brian Newell

detail of above

African Blackwood Vessel, 2002

Matthew Hatala

Mega Megaplanet, 1999

Josh Simpson

Steps to Illusion, 1990s

Martin Rosol
How strikingly beautiful can a glass object be?

Pod

From the Kentucky Series, 2000

Marvin Lipofsky

Seven Deadly Sins: 2003: Envy

Russell Biles

Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony

detail, above

Dressing chest, about 1810

Thomas Seymour

detail, above

Center Table, 1869

attributed to Israel Fellows

detail of above

detail of above

Portsmouth Doorway, 1910

Abbott Fuller Graves

Sunset on the Marshes, 1867

Martin Johnson Heade

Mount Washington from the Intervale, 1873

John Ross Key

Portrait with Circle Cloth, 1999

Jane Smaldone

Portrait of Marjorie Saltonstall, 1916

Marie Danforth Page

Portrait of George Crowninshield Jr. 1816

Attributed to Samuel F.B. Morse

Portrait of Alexander Hamilton  1792

John Trumbull

Portrait of Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1840

Charles Osgood

Painting:

East Headland, Appledore, Isles of Shoals  1911

Miniature ceramics, 17th, 18th century

View of Shanghai Bund, 1857

Attributed to Chow Qwa

detail above

Orchid and Hummingbirds near a Mountain Lake  1875-90

Martin Johnson Heade

Approaching Storm, 1871

Francis Augustus Silva

Ship under Full Sail, Storm Clouds, 1851

Fitz Henry Lane

Low-back settee, Music Stand

Sam Maloof

A Pine Raft, Min River

John Thomson

Yuen-Fu Monastery

John Thomson

Island Pagoda

John Thomson

Six-panel screen depicting the Sumiyoshi Festival, Edo period, 1660

Six Artists in Kyoto workshop

detail of above

details, Japanese collection

Grandkids, birds, etc.

A catching-up blog, containing photos from the last very busy week. I saw a lot of Oliver, who went birding with me on Saturday morning, saw him play in a steel band, and we saw "Dark Phoenix" together. Here's more.

On a walk in Strier Conservancy I saw this fly hovering about 6 feet away.  I some how managed to focus and 

take the picture. 

Eastern Towhee, a great show-off

A  wonderful day at Plum Island.  Oliver brought me significant luck as this Killdeer was

about 4 feet from the car. 

And immediately afterword, a unique find: a Wilson's Phalarope!

Only the third time I have ever seen one.  It  caused quite a sensation among the

many birders that morning. 

This is the female, the more colorful of the two

Here is the male.

And the female again.  

The Osprey

Oliver on the lookout

Baltimore Oriole as we left the sanctuary.

At the Mitchell School at Alex's farewell march at he moves up to Grade 4

Here is Belle, Heather and Cheney's daughter, all of whom I will be 

visiting and staying with in Beijing

Oliver's Steel Band performance.

Looking very intense, as he usually does.

Before I left Newburyport I took the opportunity to climb the steeple at the UUChurch, which was

 a fund-raiser for Jackson's trip to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, in S. Dakota

Add caption

You walk up through about four levels to reach the view from the steeple. Here is the church attic.

Some  incredible 17th. century wood beams and flooring.

The church bell, made by Paul Revere's sons.

The steeple is the highest point in Newburyport.

Song Sparrow, from Massasoit State Park.