So needed a nature walk today! Couldn’t wait to post these pictures, so I created this blog from my phone. I am learning. Enjoy, and thanks for reading and viewing.
Laura Lee
Charles White: a Retrospective at the Art Institute of Chicago
(Soldier, Charles White)
A Charles White retrospective is at the amazing Art Institute of Chicago right now through September third. The Art Institute, on its web page Charles White at the Art Institute of Chicago, states:
Charles White, born and educated in Chicago, was one of the preeminent artists to emerge during the city’s Black Renaissance of the 1930s and 1940s. A passionate mural and easel painter and superbly gifted draftsman, White powerfully interpreted African American history, culture, and lives in striking works that nevertheless have a more universal resonance
I’m not an artist, nor am I an art critic. But what comes to mind and to heart while viewing his works was all of this: dignity, pain, suffering, caring, compassion, strength. These are not art words, and I cannot speak about what White used to create such art. But I can speak to how White;s artwork affected me, a highly sensitive poet. I would like to find words deserving of the near reverence I felt in the presence of art that is not only great, but art from a great person. White felt people were basically good and his works are imbued with love and respect as well as with a painful knowledge of social injustice, racism, poverty, separation, loss.
I almost feel I should step back, use few words, and just show the photos, simple photos taken by my little phone camera. You can see I am not a professional or even a good photographer, but I believe you can sense the greatness of White’s art work even from my phone photos.
If you can get to the Art Institute of Chicago, I would highly recommend seeing this retrospective. I will go again, and perhaps find some words. If you cannot get to the AIC, look here for insights and images: http://www.artic.edu/exhibition/charles-white-retrospective.
White’s creative compassion stays with me.
Charles White, a retrospective, now at the AIC through September 3rd.
What does it mean to be American? Read Ms. Bailey’s insightful blog post. Click on the link:
https://baileylaurajean.com/2018/07/12/a-mistaken-appeal-to-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-76
I so agree. These are trying times to be American,and vital that we uphold the very highest ideals.
One of the main arguments I hear in favor of allowing undocumented people to live freely in the United States is that “they” take jobs that American citizens do not want such as backbreaking, physically demanding housekeeping and agricultural jobs. This is the wrong argument for immigration-rights activists like me to advance because it perpetuates […]
On the (not) lucrative world of poetry (I’m laughing too!)
I write mostly poetry, although I am writing more nonfiction since I started this blog about six weeks ago. I do share many poems in their rough draft stages on my Facebook page, but I have a closed site and limit the views even there. However, I don’t post my poetry here on my website/ blog just yet.
Why? I’ve submitted poetry many places, and editors/ publishers don’t want work that has been “published” elsewhere usually. Mind you, only a few people are “reading” the poems there at all, but some will even claim a closed locked down Facebook site means
you’ve published your poem.
We poets are not writing Pulitzer Prize winning novels and posting them on Facebook! It seems a bit silly and excessive to me to not be able to share and get my close friends’ critiques; however, with the poetry publication market as competitive as it is, I don’t want to ruin any chances I might have of publishing.
I admit to liking an audience for my writing. Is that shallow? Probably.
I can write good poetry of a particular style, narrative poetry and dramatic monologues, the latter of which is out of style. I have sometimes written good lyrical poetry. I am not an academic but a caring reader and writer, so to me it’s okay I’m not making a living as a poet.
As if. DECADES ago I did research and found that only 9 people in American admit to making their living as a poet. NINE out of what–1/3 of a billion Americans?
I’ve only got so many poems in me–I don’t want to lose the right to publish them unless they are actually PUBLISHED elsewhere. I send out the ones I can stand to lose! Since poetry doesn’t pay, I have many poems I just don’t want to lose. I know. As if!
It’s a labor of love, poetry writing and poetry reading. At least for me it is.
Thanks for reading.
Laura Lee
Prairie Walk and Illinois Prairie Wildflowers
This photo I took in the prairie today: (See also: https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/146854985/posts/606)
Photos by Dr. John Hilty, Illinois Wildflowers, Illinois Wildflowers
And these from the University of Illinois: Illinois Wildflowers from the University of Illinois
Fight for Freedom ( Reblogging)
For the Cost of a Postage Stamp (Thanks to L.J. Bailey–Reblogging)
Writers! You can use your writing voice to help kids. Thanks to Laura Jean Bailey for the information. Please consider writing. I am right now.
We can make a difference in the life of children separated from their parents at the border. We are not powerless. Heartland Alliance in Chicago is currently caring for 66 immigrant children.
Demonstrate caring and compassion by sending a brief letter with a positive message to a child at Heartland Alliance, 208 South LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60604. The letters do not need to be in Spanish.
Check out @heartlandhelps’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/heartlandhelps/status/1014157505486868480?s=09
Protest sign at Families Belong Together rally in Chicago on June 30, 2018. Photo by L.J. Bailey.
English, the Word “Stealing” Language
What fun looking at the etymology of English words. I often have my students ex
plore the origins of interesting words we come across in our studies, and they are amazed to learn how much of our versatile language “borrows” from other languages. It helps them understand spelling and pronunciation in English can be greatly influenced by the origins of the words.
Plus it’s interesting to do so.
Once again, a thanks to Thoughtco.Com. To learn more about English’s interesting word origins, go here: Loan Words in English
Don’t feel bamboozled. It’s just English.
Oh. This post created entirely on my phone as I sip ice tea on the patio before the heat wave hits.
How did I do?
Thanks for reading!
Angered Over the Janus Ruling
Educators and those who care about great public schools–be vigilant!
For now, here is one union’s thoughts here:
Important Educator Blog–Ciedie Aech
Educators, especially urban educators, please check out: 
STOP SCHOOL REFORM: THOUGHTS FROM the LIFE OF A”BAD” TEACHER
Laura Lee 