Aug

Creative Inspiration, Supermoon Style

by Meredith Mullins on August 25, 2014

Supermoon with fir trees offers creative inspiration in 2014

The howling supermoon
© pjsells/iStock

The Howling Moon

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.
—George Carlin

The August Supermoon made headlines. No surprise. We seem to revere supersize things (Mayor Bloomberg’s jumbo soda ban notwithstanding). And, we often look to the sky for creative inspiration and a connection to the rhythms of the earth.

Who wouldn’t love a full moon so big and so bright, you could almost reach out and touch the textured craters?

Everyone was excited. Astronomers. Photographers. Lovers. Howlers. Skywatchers. Media Magnates. There were “Oh, I see” moments all over the world, as the supermoon was promoted, studied, photographed, and discussed.

Supermoon over mountain, offering creative inspiration in 2014 (Photo © Kathryn Kemp-Griffin)

A Perigean moon in France
© Kathryn Kemp-Griffin

By the Light of the Perigean Moon

The phenomena of Supermoons happens often enough to add terms like “apogee” and “perigee” to our vocabulary, and yet rarely enough to gain media attention and send people in search of a vista where the moon will be clearly visible.

A Supermoon occurs when the moon, sun, and earth are aligned (called syzygy), and when the moon comes closer to the earth than its standard orbit (the exact definitions vary, but the gist is that the moon comes closer to the earth than normal by about 10%).

When the moon is closest to the earth, it’s called perigee. When it’s at its farthest, it’s called apogee (a micro moon).

Supermoon at the Pinnacles National Park, offering creative inspiration in 2014 (Photo © David Taggart)

Supermoon at the Pinnacles National Park in California
© David Taggart

A Year of Supermoons

This year offered five Supermoons. The first two, in January, were new moons, not so super to the eye. The other three, however, are full moons—July, August, and one yet to come on September 9.

Although the difference between a Supermoon and a regular moon is difficult to detect for the average viewer, the perigee is said to be about 14% bigger and 30% brighter.

Scientific studies show that Supermoons have no significant link to natural disasters, but the tug on the oceans is visibly stronger (higher and lower tides).

The Supermoons stir the creative juices, as well as (possibly) throwing a bit of “lunatic” energy out into the cosmos.

Supermoon over Monterey harbor, offering creative inspiration in 2014 (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

An iPhone’s impression of the Supermoon over Monterey Harbor in California
© Meredith Mullins

Photographers capture the Supermoon with varying artistic vision, in up-close-and-personal portraits and in conjunction with other elements—a halo around a statue’s head; a glowing orb in the palm of a hand; a distant circle, dwarfed by something larger in the foreground; mysterious silhouettes with the moon as backdrop.

Supermoon off rear deck of a cruise ship, offering creative inspiration in 2014 (Photo © Lauren Gezurian-Amlani)

Supermoon from the rear deck of a cruise ship in Alaska
© Lauren Gezurian-Amlani

Hype and Hyperbole

The August Supermoon was well hyped in the media, and the upcoming Supermoon will surely take center stage on the evening of September 9th. Creative inspiration will continue.

I say, whatever it takes to inspire us to stop for a moment and look at a beautiful rising moon in the stillness of the night . . . is OK by me.

Comment on this post and include your best Supermoon photograph, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Thank you to Kathryn Kemp-Griffin for introducing me to the George Carlin quote.

Meredith Mullins Comments

Nature Discovery

Aug

Inspired by Art and Wondering Why?

by Sheron Long on August 18, 2014

Sculpture of "The Thinker" by Auguste Rodin is itself an example of inspiring art used in this article to suggest making an emotional connection to art instead of overthinking it. (Image © Robert Long )

“Le Penseur” (The Thinker) by Auguste Rodin at the Rodin Museum, Paris.
Image © Robert Long

Don’t Overthink It!

Art. It’s part of our earth and in every heart. It’s as old as time, and yet it lights up the future. It speaks to you without words.

Art began talking to me during college, not as much in my art history class as on a study abroad visit to the Rodin Musuem in Paris. Perhaps it was my age and the subject matter of “The Kiss” that caused the emotional connection, but art has been a source of inspiration ever since.

"the Kiss" sculpture by Auguste Rodin inspires and emotional connection to art. (Image © Robert Long)

“Le Baiser” (The Kiss) by Auguste Rodin.
Passion burns in a slab of stone.
Image © Robert Long

Like all those feelings you can’t explain, I wondered why. Even studied quite a bit about form and composition, line and color, representation and abstraction. While all that knowledge helps with art appreciation, I came to understand that the value in viewing art is feeling it.

Now I don’t go to museums to analyze the works but rather to be in the midst of inspiring art. It makes me marvel, and that’s a thrill.

The Brain Reaction

Evidently, there’s a biological explanation. In a 2011 study, the British neurobiologist Semir Zeki showed artwork to people as he mapped, through fMRI, the parts of the brain that responded. Those parts associated with pleasure and reward lit up.

Scientists at the University of Toronto pooled data from 15 similar studies between 2004 and 2012. They also found that viewing paintings activated brain regions related to inner thoughts and emotions.

Though this brain research is recent, people have known the joy of making and viewing art for thousands of years. The oldest art in the Louvre Museum is this lime plaster statue dating to about 7200 BCE and excavated from ‘Ain Ghazal near Amman in northwest Jordan.

9000-year-old human figure excavated from 'Ain Ghazal in Northwest Jordan inspires an emotional connection to art. (Image © Sheron Long)

This guy delighted eyes 9000 years ago and now today
in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
© Sheron Long

Look into his eyes and you can’t help but smile. This statue is one of about 25 figures believed to be the earliest large-scale representations of the human figure.

Perhaps the ‘Ain Ghazal figures started a trend, though not all the splendid statues that followed in history have eyes or even heads. The Winged Victory lost her head somewhere along the way, but the folds of her flowing garment pressed by the wind against her body show the work of a sophisticated sculptor in ancient Greece. And, oh, those magnificent wings—admire them and you can almost feel the front part of your brain light up!

"Winged Victory of Samothrace" in the Louvre Museum, Paris, illustrating how inspiring art evokes an emotional connection. (Image © Robert Long)

The “Winged Victory of Samothrace” depicting the Greek messenger goddess Victory dominates a hall
in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
© Robert Long

French Lessons

In France patrimoine, or French heritage, includes the sculptures shown here—in fact, all art in the national museums. As such, the art is protected and owned by the country’s citizens, who are charged with passing a love of art onto the next generation.

That’s why you often share the galleries in French museums with inquisitive school children, like this group of sketchers at the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

School children sketching sculptures develop an emotional connection to art. (Image © Sheron Long)

Eyeing “Spoon Woman” by Alberto Giacometti gives a young girl an early start on appreciating art.
© Sheron Long

Another group recreated Alberto Giacometti’s skinny dog with pipe cleaners, literally feeling the art.

School children studying the inspiring art of Alberto Giacometti as they use pipe cleaners to recreate his bronze sculpture of a skinny dog. (Image © Sheron Long)

Culture and heritage come along with this art lesson.
© Sheron Long

Bronze dog, inspiring art by Alberto Giacometti, alongside two student creations made from pipe cleaners and illustrating an emotional connection with art. (Image © Sheron Long)

Two pipe cleaner dogs and one Giacometti bronze—
all capture the imperfect forms for which the sculptor is famous.
© Sheron Long

The French lessons are an “Oh, I see” moment: Connecting with heritage, connecting with art is a human right. The French make sure their children get the chance.

The Outdoor Museum

It’s true that most art is inside museums, so people often have to make a deliberate choice to see it. Some are put off by guides who make them feel ignorant or the stuffiness of some institutions. Communities that place art in public spaces and street artists who create so much more than graffiti are making a difference in access, however.

Boy climbing on a modern art sculpture of a large head in the Tuileries Gardens. (Image © Robert Long)

Art you can climb on!
Sculpture by Ugo Rondinone
© Robert Long

When Swiss-born sculptor Ugo Rondinone set up 12 giant heads in the Tuileries Garden for his “Sunrise East” exhibit, he added amusing interpretations of the human figure to history’s collection. He also gave museum access to the public with an open invitation to play with his inspiring art.

No one needed a guide. Most rediscovered a bit of wonder from these cast bronzes covered with silver auto paint. An emotional connection with art? For sure, and no need to overthink it.

Two adults showing an emotional connection with inspiring art as they make the same face as a funny sculpture of a giant head by Ugo Rondinone. (Image © Erick Paraiso)

Art inspires a number of emotional reactions.
© Erick Paraiso

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Sheron Long Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/France/The World's Art & Design

Aug

Food for Thought: Can Anyone Love Field Rations?

by Meredith Mullins on August 4, 2014

An MRE Beef Enchilada, life-changing experiences with field rations (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

The Beef Enchilada MRE main course. Tasty? You be the judge.
© Meredith Mullins

Life-Changing Experiences: The MRE versus the RCIR

Life for military personnel in the field is never easy. Sometimes the only part of the day to look forward to is meal time. Enter the MRE.

Meals Rarely Edible? Meals Rejected by Everyone? Morale Reducing Elements? Materials Resembling Edibles?

The MRE—Meal, Ready-to-Eat—is a staple for American military in combat or in the field where other food options are not available. But, as you can see by the affectionate monikers, MREs are considered far from a fine dining experience. They offer life-changing experiences in the world of “fooding.”

Part of an American MRE, life-changing experiences in field rations (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

MREs provide sustenance under difficult conditions. The food must stay edible up to three years in a variety of climates and must be able to be dropped from the sky by helicopter or parachute. Gastronomy, needless to say, takes a backseat.

The MREs (approximately 1200 calories) include a precooked main course, such as chili, beef taco, chicken with noodles and vegetables, spaghetti with beef sauce, spicy penne pasta, and cheese tortellini, and sometimes a side dish such as mashed potatoes or black beans.

Chicken MRE main course, providing life-changing experiences in field rations (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

The package contains hard crackers or bread and some kind of spread (cheese, jelly, peanut butter); a dessert such as fruit, power bars, or candy; a powdered beverage; and extras such as sugar, salt, other seasonings, coffee, tea, matches, spoon, chewing gum, moist towelettes, and toilet paper.

The main course can be heated in the flameless chemical heater included in the MRE package, with water added to activate the heating elements.

Stove instructions for an MRE, life-changing experiences in the world of field rations (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

The main course packaging also includes notes about the importance of food for strength, endurance, motivation, and mental alertness.

Cultural Diversity: French versus American Field Rations

The French field rations are a bit different. A Ration de Combat Individuelle Rechauffable (reheatable individual combat ration) includes food for one full day (about 3200 calories).

The RCIRs are often traded for five U.S. MREs in combat zones where French and Americans are present, not just because an MRE is for one meal, but because the French rations reflect a bit more attention to haute cuisine than to just sustenance.

Napoleon Said “An Army Marches on Its Stomach”

The RCIRs include two entrées (hors d’oeuvres) such as fish terrine or paté, with sweet and salty crackers and cheese spread; instant soup; two main courses such as salmon with rice and vegetables, cassoulet with duck confit, chicken tajine, navarin d’agneau (lamb), paella, rabbit casserole, and poultry with spring vegetables.

chocolate cake in a can, RCIR from France, life-changing experiences in field rations.

They include muesli for breakfast; a nougat/fruit jelly bar; desserts such as chocolate mousse or crème caramel; assorted candies and chocolates (the kind that tourists buy in France); powdered fruit drinks; coffee, tea, and cocoa; water purifying tablets; salt and pepper; sugar; a trash bag; and a pack of tissues.

box of caramels in the French RCIR, life-changing experiences in field rations

The kit comes with an easy to build stove, a chemical heating tablet that lights easily with a single match, and match books with pictures of French monuments.

The only downside: if you light a flame stove in combat at night, you may get shot.

French pate in the RCIR, life-changing experiences in field rations

The Combat Ration Face Off

The “Oh, I see” moment? In a combat ration face off, the French would win. Who wouldn’t choose navarin d’agneau and after-dinner chocolates over listless chicken and dry pound cake, although both kinds of field rations are life-changing experiences?

But sometimes, American staples in MREs like beef stew or pizza or the popularly traded MRE M&Ms hit that nostalgic sweet spot.

It’s not just about the food. It’s about “home.”