MUSEE MECANIQUE

MUSEE MECANIQUE - Pictures taken at the Musée Mécanique at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Enjoy!

http://museemecaniquesf.com/

CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR - It takes an author with a great deal of daring to attempt a tale with such an epic scope as this one. In Jean M Auel's novel, entitled 'The Clan of the Cave Bear', she explores the imagined interaction of our Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal ancestors. Based on interviews I have read, she was greatly inspired by research and archaeology, such as the Chauvet cave (see my blog for related posts). If you love high concept or historical fiction, you owe it to yourself to read this book!


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DAWN OF ART

Dawn of Art by Jean-Marie Chauvet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

DAWN OF ART - Imagine spelunking in France, stumbling upon a cave filled with wondrous charcoal and ocher paintings, later realizing the environment had remained untouched for 30,000 years! The book, entitled ‘Dawn of Art: The Chauvet Cave’, includes over 100 pages of stunning photographs of this magnificent art. The writer in me finds imagining the lives of our early human ancestors--their life struggles, obvious spiritually and amazing talents--absolutely enthralling. This discovery led archeologists and historians to reformulate theories of the evolution of human art. At different times, the caves seemed to have been dwelled by humans, as well as cave bears. For a related post, check out ‘The Cave of Forgotten Dreams’, go visit my blog.
http://chadschimke.blogspot.com/2011/...


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DAWN OF ART vid clip

ODE TO SPRING

ODE TO SPRING – In April, the first Cherry Blossoms bloom and birds flit about--where cold rain gives way to successive days of clear skies--prior to the onset of June gloom. This time of year my memories revert back to a more pastoral time of life, with high meadows, box canyons, mountain jays, mule deer, gnarled juniper and Indian paint brush … of a high altitude Continental Divide. When I’m feeling wistful, I sit on my outdoor balcony, overlooking Glen Park, in San Francisco. When I’m there; I see any number of finches, squirrels, hummingbirds and even the occasional fly. I’m always surprised how few flies, mosquitoes or mayflies are here in the city. Spring symbolism holds deep meaning as I’m reminded (once again) that I’m a country boy living in the big city. Perhaps that’s why I will always be sentimental for garden gnomes, hummingbird feeders, seed cakes, sweet pea vines and bird baths. A mini-vacation (if only in my mind and only for a moment) far away from a landscape of zero lot-lines, streets with pot holes, storm drains that flow into the bay and handi-cap accessible ramps etched into sidewalks corners. ‘Of beechen green, and shadows numberless, singest of summer in full-throated ease.’ Excerpt taken from Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats circa 1819. 

BEARDED LADY

NOTE – My novelette Weirder is inspired by the bearded lady and will be promoted at Serving Fish on Friday  5-4-12 @ 10 pm.

BEARDED LADY - Julia Pastrana was excessively hairy over her entire body. She had a jutting jaw and swollen gums. In odd juxtaposition to her physical appearance, she possessed graceful poise and a buxom feminine figure. Domestically civilized, she was linguistically fluent in her native language (from the Root Digger Indians) in addition to Spanish and English. Under her handler’s management, her exhibition was a resounding success. She sold out venues on the sideshow circuit and was a media celebrity in the middle 1850’s. During her performances, she sang romances in both Spanish and English; and danced to traditional numbers dressed in fancy costumes. Mr. Lent (her handler) was afraid of losing profits and married her. He forced her into physician examinations, prevented her from leaving home and barred her from walking about in daylight. She became pregnant and doctors were fearful due to her height and narrow hips. Julia was more concerned the child would take after her cruel husband. In 1860 her fears were confirmed when she gave birth to a newborn completely covered in hair. The child lived only thirty-five hours. Julia died five days later. Mr. Lent had the bodies of his wife and child dissected and mummified to put on display. The corpses- of the bearded woman next to the mummified infant- were dressed in a dancing costume and sailor suit. The sideshow performer’s sad story is a study in contrast. Ultimately, Julia Pastrana is remembered for her unusual physical characteristics but even more important is her intelligence, talent and sophistication. 

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

Very Special People by Ruth Drimmer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE - Very Special People is a book by Frederick Drimmer. Mostly, the book explores human oddities (sideshow freaks) within the idiom of circus performers. Conjoined twins, hairy/ bearded, little people/ giants and fat/ skinny. The book is excellent, but my favorite part isn’t written by Drimmer. Hands down, the best section of the book is The Elephant Man by Sir Fredrick Treves. I’ve always been captivated by this eccentric character; conflicted by a horrific youth, later famous and adored near the end of his life. To me, it’s beautiful the way he was treated kindly by the doctor, with generosity and love. He deserved special care as someone who was fragile; not able to fend for himself. It’s the ultimate tale of human compassion.

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ART OF THE AMERICAS

ART OF THE AMERICAS - The artifacts depicted in this blog post come from an exhibit titled Art of the Americas; at a fine art museum in San Francisco, the de Young. As I understand it, all these pieces pre-date the brutal invasions by Spanish conquistadores. The exhibit has a focus on religious and funerary aspects. The Maize God is one of my favorites, at the top of the row of images. Since it’s under glass at the museum, that pic is the hardest one to make out, on the blog page. Composed of limestone and pigment, dated to approximately AD 800. The deity is associated with creation myths, fertility, birth and abundance. The other pieces are figurines, pottery and obsidian ceremonial knives.

CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS

CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS - The Cave of Forgotten Dreams is a 3-D movie by eccentric German director, Werner Herzog. The movie deals with a cave in France filled with animal bones, marked up with cave bear scratches over which incredibly beautiful figures (horses, rhinos and cats) were painted by early humans over 30,000 years ago. There are magical points in the film that the 3-D experience takes you there. The end of your nose almost touches the cave wall or smells the still air. The subject matter is captivating … imagine the life of our earliest European ancestors: hunting mammoths and rhinos, sharing with the (soon to be extinct) Neanderthal and gathering about the land on a hunt, wearing suits made of pelts and leather. I REALLY wanted to love this movie. But I couldn’t, not completely. Besides being far too long, convoluted, overly repetitive, irritating music, pointless commentary in horribly butchered English and a post script that was so random…I was very irritated by the end of the film. In summary, what could have been a journey into humankind’s most treasured window onto the past was marred by poor choices, lack of direction and missed opportunities.

CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS vid clip