Hunger Stone :
Recent droughts in Europe once again made visible the “Hunger Stones” in some Czech and German rivers.
These stones were used to mark desperately low river levels that would forecast famines.
This one, in the Elbe river, is from 1616 and says: “If you see me, cry.”
—
“when the well is dry, we will know the worth of water.”
-benjamin franklin
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credits: history review
i recently went with a group of colleagues/friends
to find the artist, dabls
working on his block in detroit
where we learned so much from him
an experience i’ll never forget
dabls’ installation-‘iron teaching rocks how to rust’
artist/storyteller dabls
uses materials as metaphors
to pass on his stories
of african and european art/cultures
open to everyone
he can be found working and sharing stories
on this abandoned block
that he has reclaimed
as his own and the community’s
most every day
dalbas mbad african bead museum
where each of his beads tells a story
dabls’ art has brought this house to life
—
“Stories are able to help us to become more whole, to become Named.
And Naming is one of the impulses behind all art;
to give a name to the cosmos, we see despite all the chaos.”
-Madeleine L’Engle
—
The Kresge Foundation elected Dabls as “2022 Eminent Artist”
to recognize his accomplishments in the arts as well as his lifelong impact on Detroit’s culture.
—
to read his full story go to:
http://www.mbad.org/best-friends
or just stop by to see him.
The village of Dzembronya, in the Carpathian Mountains,
is often called the place where the clouds are born,
because it is the highest mountain settlement in Ukarine.
—
“people do not want war.
war springs from causes wholly outside the lives, interests, and feelings of the people.”
-frederic clemson howe
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photo credit: Roksana.Bashyrova/WikiCommons
i have exactly one blog follower
in the micro country of liectenstein
with so many interesting things about this amazing tiny place
here are just a couple of examples:
in 1886 liectenstein had an army of 80 men who fought during the austro-prussian war
they suffered no injuries or deaths
and returned with 81 men because they made a new italian friend from the opposition army.
the army was disbanded soon after and they haven’t had an army since.
—
and then there was the accidental invasion which didn’t cause much of a stir:
i really love their approach to life
and i’m guessing my one reader is a pretty laid-back person
and with such a tiny country
perhaps a descendent of that new italian friend they brought back from the war?
here’s to liectenstien!
—
“be so good they can’t ignore you.”
-steve martin
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image credit: expat.com
I didn't have my glasses on.... 