Halsman didn’t use montages or any kind of tricks; only meticulous staging, a lot of preparation, enough patience and numerous failed tries. After each attempt they had to clean the spilt water from the floor, chase the cats and ease them; sometimes, accidents would happen and Dali would get literally soaked… At last, in the 28th session, the desired effect was achieved. Art doesn’t just randomly happen.

Art Dali Photography Halsman Phillipe Painting Salvador Surrealism

Art Dali Photography Halsman Phillipe Painting Salvador Surrealism

source: http://obviousmag.org/en/archives/2009/01/salvador_dali_phillipe_halsman_surrealistic_photog.html

currently in Somerville, MA near Boston..

- went walking around Davis Square
- hot chocolate/ham.cheese.sausage.bagel from Diesel Cafe
- deCordova Museum, epic turkey salad sandwich/clam chowder, and Walden Pond with Ev.

Walden Pond.. known for the temporary yet impactful residence of Henry David Thoreau. Walking through the trees felt as if I was in either Lord of the Rings, or Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. the give of the soft peat beneath my shoes felt somewhat comforting. like a nice thick rug.

definitely one of the more relaxing couple of days this year. to gather the thoughts, calm the mind, and ease the soul. the next time i need to de-stress, i just need to take myself into the woods next to a lake and go for a stroll. this is truly a beautiful place.

creation of ownership/ownership of creation

a blurb from something recent:

"Dance has always been part of this journey of social and cultural self-discovery and self-identification. Having grown up in Taiwan in the midst of the political status-quo that currently exists, I feel that it is only natural that I am always questioning, "What does it mean to be Taiwanese?”, “What is my identity as a Taiwanese person?”, and more recently, “What is my identity as a Taiwanese-American?”

My family and I have always identified on the end of the political spectrum where Taiwanese sovereignty is favored. Definitions of Taiwanese (politically/culturally/socially) have always been blurred, existing within a grey area. When I am asked, its always easier for people to understand what I’m not, rather than what I am.

Although I may not necessarily answer these questions of nationality, and cultural identification through dance, this eternal search for self has in turn fueled the strong sense of belonging and ownership of the definitive qualities that I have been able to create, and still am creating, for myself. Through my dance, I am making active choices and decisions about my effort, and my aesthetic; how I want to move, my creative process… all coupled by an overall encompassing awareness of all these factors, which in turn produces self-applicable ideas and concepts that I can firmly believe in and call my own.”