Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Buon Compleanne... Allison!!!



"Notturno Veneziano" - oil on gallery wrapped canvas 12x12 inches


I am dedicating this evening's post to my lovely art historian daughter Allison Morgan... aka Jemima Puddle Duck/ Ms Pig... who will turn thirty-one tomorrow. It seems hardly possibly that thirty-one years have passed since she and her Mother laboured for twenty-seven difficult and dangerous hours to bring her into this life. It seems like only yesterday... that she shared my studio space every Saturday morning at my Brush Works Gallery in the Woolen Mill in Kingston , Ontario.


All of my children have shared in my artistic journey... each one with his or her own individual interest and ample artistic talent, I am proud to say. But it has been Allison... who has made it her life's avocation to pursue all things Art... up to and including her earning her Doctorate In Art History from St Andrew's College in St Andrew's, Scotland. She now teaches Renaissance Art History between Queen's University in Kingston and Carleton University in Ottawa... while continuing to write a post doctoral enlargement of her thesis topic for publication.


I am indeed proud of "Her" ... and her academic achievements... but what I most admire about Allison is her sense of self-determination... loyalty... intelligence and her wonderfully quick wit and sense of humour. "She" is... the kind of teacher that we so very deeply need at the head of the class... to guide young new minds through her wonderful example. Her sense of fair play... yet high expectations for her students will lead many other students... particularly young women like herself to push forward the envelope for opportunity and advancement in the world... for these young minds... in a too tired and male-dominated society of the past.


I decided to paint a special picture today... a sort of commemorative gesture marking not only her special day... but one which would visually celebrate the common love that we share for now... and always...Fine Art - Past and Present... as well as the common love and affinity for magical Venezia. It was here in this magical city of culture... that we both found our life's passion... work... and our Selves!


The image I have selected is my favourite basilica in Venice.... Basilico Santa Maria della Salute... or "La Salute"... as she is affectionately known by all Venetians. I visited her and sketched it her many times during my eight weeks of study in Venice. This High Baroque church architecture... constructed of white Istrian Limestone sits like an iceberg in the inky darkness of night... fairly seeming to float on the surface of the quiet waters of the night lagoon.


She was designed by the important Venetian Baroque architect Baldasarre Longhena between 1631 to 1687 and was opened with a special pageant known as the Festa della Madonna della Salute on November 21st, 1687... and that pageant processional still is observed on that same day... travelling from Piazza San Marco and across the Grand Canal to La Salute. Some cultures never forget to remember and to celebrate... things that mattered from their Past!


"La Salute" was constructed and dedicated to honour and to give thanks to the Blessed Virgin to give thanks for deliverance from the Great Black Plague which decimated the population of Venice... other Italian cities and the rest of the known world in the first half of the 17th century.


Her luminous and ethereal presence... against the stark, inky black of night... from the very first time I witnessed this moment described in my painting... perfectly described the basilica as being a looming symbol of new hope... in a previous world filled with suffering and death. And even today... in these troubling times... that Hope is revisited each ... celebrated and embraced by the citizens of Venice on November 21st. It's a marvellous example of... simple... child-like Faith and Hope!


So... I offer this rough quick study of this fine Venetian monument to "You" Allison... as a symbol of hope for a bright and fulfilling future life... and as a deeply held and unconditional gesture of my great love... affection and pride that I hold in my heart... especially for "You". Thank you ever so much for the constant and unconditional love that you have offered me along our journey together...


I so look forward to sharing many more exciting adventures together... and our always enjoyable returns to The Hundred Acre Wood... The Blustery Days... and our fav... The Muppet Adventures! Still young at He(Art)... EH Jemima???? HA HA!!!


Have the Happiest Birthday ever!... I look forward to a real celebration get together soon!

Until then Ciao... and Happy Birthday Sweetheart!


All my love ALWAYS!!!

Dad

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Good Painting... to ALL!!!



PS I'll give this a "tickle 'er two in the morning Allison and add a few figures on the steps to amplify the grandiose Baroque scale of this magnificent edifice. It was a mad one session dash to get it posted in time for the celebration! Hope that you like it!

18 comments:

  1. what a lovely painting and sentiment!! wonderful bruce and happy birthday to your daughter! how proud you must be!

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  2. Hi Bruce,

    I hesitate to intrude on this very personal piece about a father's pride and affection for his daughter. How proud you must be and how wonderful that you can share so much.

    The painting is beautiful and so different to the usual sunlit views of Venice.

    All the best,
    Keith

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  3. Gorgeous capture of the architecture, its deepness! (I don't know how to say what I am thinking and meaning here, Bruce. Will wonders never cease.)

    Happy birthday Allison!!!

    Oh I do hope you'll share a link for her book when it is completed, Bruce. I love learning about art history and the Renaissance has always been my favorite period of them all for some reason. I'd love to read it!!

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  4. Hi again Friend Suzanne!... Thank "You" for taking the time from your always busy painting schedule... to visit... and to help blow out Allison's birthday candles together with us!

    Yes..."I"... am indeed very proud of "Her"... and I share an equal amount of pride in each of my other four wonderful... and talented children. They are the true "masterpieces" of my life. They are the gifts to a Future... that i can neither imagine... or be present in.They will carry on the work though... each in his or her own manner!

    Thank you Suzanne for these very meaningful words!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest tregards,
    Bruce

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  5. Hi again Keith!... So wonderful of "You" to take the time to read this post and to offer your good wishes to Allison... and to add your personal impressions to this celebration!

    "You" are never an intruder in my thoughts or world Keith. You are an extension of my "family"... and my Self really. Though we have never met face-to-face... we share so many commonalities in thought and principles. This bonds us in a strange .. but very real way.

    As I earlier stated... you are always welcome to share our house... should you ever choose to visit Canada!

    When one has visited Venice.. photographic imagery pales in the place of the personal connection and ambience that one forms with Her. These feelings and views are never out of my psyche. They have become a part of who "I" have become... and now have shaped Allison's Destiny as well!

    How strange the workings of the Universe at times!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  6. Hi there Sherry!... So good to hear from you on this... Allison's special day!Thank you for your special greeting to "Her"... I am sure that she will be reading it for herself... very soon!

    All of us who choose to blog and in so doing... share a part of our Selves/person... our accomplishments... our trials and our ideas through this wonderful medium. It forges very personal relationships that would not otherwise be possible.

    Our relationship... perhaps... though virtual/cyber... is very real and "I" take it very seriously... and do look forward to the "connections"... and sharings Sherry!

    Thank "You" for your sharings and your sweet thoughts of Allison this morning! We'll keep you updated on the book project - it's in process... sort of...HAHA!! Writer's block strikes again... and life gets in the way!

    Ciao... for now!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. Bestest birthday wishes Allison!

    A very beautiful dedication Bruce and a very nice painting. Eight weeks in Venice must have been a wonderful experiance. I've only managed a week but hope to return one day.

    Happy painting!

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  8. Hello to The Seaside Den of Creativity!... Many thanks from Allison and "I" both... for adding your "bestest wishes" on her special day!

    My eight weeks in Venice in April-May, 1989 was pivotal in changing my artistic directions... forever! "I" emerged fully blessed... and Transformed by my eight week adventure and "baptism by immersion" in Venetian art and culture.

    It has lit my path leading to the Now... and as you can clearly see from this quick version of La Salute... its impact and largesse sustain "Me" still... after the event... nearly 25 years later.

    Those of us who have been fortunate enough to share her secrets... her veil of mystery and her labyrinth of hidden campos... piazzas...bridges... canals and calles all share your hope... no need... to return to her beauty and allure! "I" shall for sure!

    Thanks again for you best wishes and lovely thoughts... I always look forward to our visits.

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. You're such a good Dad! and you're just bursting with pride!! I love this painting!! Happy Birthday, Allison!!

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  10. Hi there Hilda!... Thank you for visiting ... and for adding your birthday greetings for Allison! We both appreciate your kind words!

    You're absolutely right Hilda! I am VERY proud of Allison and her achievements! "She" has been a real source of personal inspiration and admiration for all members of her family... and for "Me" in particular!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  11. Such a beautiful birthday gift to your daughter! My son just turned 35 last friday - we both have Libra children! A great sign:-) How fortunate that you got to study for 8 wks in Venice!! I have always wanted to see Italy, especially Venice, Florence, Tuscany...
    An aside...my husband has been fantasizing about moving back to ON and looking at properties in the ST. Mary's area as well as Bruce Penisula. I am leaving it up to the universe. I love it out here but do miss my friends and family from back there. Time will tell what is to happen. And thanks for the lovely pep talk on my blog today!! Hugs.

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  12. Hi there Karen!... Thanks for visiting... for sharing your ideas... and for receiving the "pep talk" in the positive and supportive terms that I intended.

    I so hate to see another artist with much talent... struggling because we all do so from time to time in this creation game! It often seems a never ending succession of trials... without much gain or growth.

    A truly working artist must always be trying to improve... and it would seem to our selves at least...that we are only as good as our last painting. Keeping the faith is so hard to do... because our process demands that we are alone with it for the most part.

    As for the moving thing... The Universe will indeed take care of such things... as it has just recently for us. Stay tuned...


    Glad to see your presence again on line. Glad too... to know that I didn't offend with my suggestions and attempt to reach ont to you!

    Good Pencil-pushing... and Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  13. Hi Bruce,
    Congratulations to you, your wife and Allison on her birthday and her accomplishments.

    You're right.. La Salute is a beautiful church. My husband and I were married in a little church called Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Do you know it???

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  14. Hi there Marian!... Thank "You" for your kind felicitaions for Allison's special day! Allison's whole family of kin... and the longer-than-long scroll list of Facebook Friends are all proud and love "Her"so!!! Well deserved..."She's"... very special!

    WOW!... How strange this Universe is Marian! "I" seem to be so tuned in to Her frequency these last days!... and yet another connection between "You"... and "I"... beyond making art!

    Do I know of Santa Maria dei Miracoli? This Silly Bear practically lived there... sketching her reliquary derived structure... clad in that purplish-grey-to pink marble/stone!

    I found such peace and pleasure just sitting alone in that small nave... just God... Me and the Universe ... truly... "Three-in-One"!

    Amazing this Universe Marian... as it reveals itself to "Me"!

    Thank "You" ever so much... for yet another nudge down memory lane!

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards
    Bruce

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  15. Happy Birthday, Allison! And, beautiful post and painting, Bruce!!

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  16. Hi there Linny!... thanks so much fro dropping by and for leaving Alllison your best wishes!

    I enjoyed painting these paintings... even the commission really! Both came from the heart for sure!

    Congrats on the Arabella feature triumph! Well deserved!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  17. Thanks for this lovely birthday tribute, Dad! I love the painting! And thanks to all your friends in the blogosphere for their well wishes as well. Marian Fortunati - her last name is apt! Fortunate are those who have the opportunity get married in the little jewelbox church!
    Love Allie xoxox

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  18. Hello there Jemima!... We will bring down La Salute on Wednesday... for a fitting and festive "presentazione"... on Thursday at Chez Piggy's at our celebration! Looking forward to that festive occasion!

    Your thesis precis for inclusion in Deborah Howard's retirement collection was nothing short of spectacular scholarship and a finesse in editing! She will be so impressed with your effort! Well done Allison! I so enjoyed the whole 19 page read... and will read it again... during one of my early morning "Inner Sanctum" sessions!!!

    Marian is indeed fortunate in many ways... including her "jewel box" wedding. She has many adventures... and reaches out... well beyond "the ordinary" in her painting and extensive travel!

    "I"... am so very proud... and lucky... to be your father... and that pride and joy simply increases as your already magnificent journey continues!

    Once again...Buon compleanne!

    All my love ALWAYS!
    Dad
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