Universes
some deep thoughts in here
I’ve decided that I’m opening an art gallery, but that art gallery is mostly hypothetical and exists as a newsletter on the Internet. Welcome, and thanks for coming.
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This past weekend I went to Washington D.C. to visit some friends and it felt like an entirely different universe than my regular life in Austin, TX. There was public transportation! We walked everywhere! And, I was without my children. I ate meals I wouldn’t normally eat and carried a smaller bag and had a different bed time! It was all so novel!
It made me think of other places and things in my life that feel a little bit like a different universe. Barton Springs feels like that to me, and sometimes watching a movie in theaters does too.
Therefore, this week’s Gallery Blerf exhibit will be titled UNIVERSES BIG AND SMALL.
Shall we?
NASA
This is a nebula where stars are literally…born. You can see them at the center of the photo there—according to NASA there is about 200 little stars in this nursery. The fact that this is real and exists in our actual universe really just bends my whole mind. Stare at it for a while if you have the chance.
Hilma af Klint
The Ten Largest, No. 1, Childhood 1907
If you missed the big Hilma af Klint craze of a few years ago, her history is worth diving into. To oversimplify, Hilma af Klint was deeply interested in the spiritual world, which she explored through séances and meditation. She then tried to express these abstract experiences visually through her paintings.
Gosh, if I don’t love an abstract idea expressed visually. I especially enjoy that af Klint’s interpretation of something kinda occult consists of bright colors and swirly things.
Wes Anderson
Still from The Darjeeling Limited, 2007
Owen Wilson’s character in this film is me in another universe. Our personalities and the roles we play in our respective families are embarrassingly similar.
In this scene the Owen Wilson character and his brothers ride off on a quest they know will most likely end in failure, but they seem so happy and free. It makes me cry every time.
There’s something about when a piece of art actually makes you feel like YOU are being observed, instead of the other way around, you know?
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That’s it! What little universes do you notice around you? Is there a piece of art that makes your inner self feel understood? I’d love to hear in the comments, but more importantly, I hope you run into something universe themed this week and it makes you feel hopeful or intrigued or seen.
Gallery Bookstore
Pictures by Jeff Bridges: photos by Jeff Bridges, specifically on the film sets he’s worked on. A peek into the universe of filmmaking, if you will. The second volume is excellent too. Copies can be hard to find, but it’s worth snooping around some used book sites until you find one at the right price.
The Immortal Jellyfish: a children’s book about losing a loved one that reimagines life after death in the most beautiful way. Healing for adults too—speaking from experience.
Accidentally Wes Anderson: a coffee table book but also an endearing little travel guide to design-y places around the world. I expected it to be a bit pretentious (or just off…like that Wes Anderson TikTok trend) but it’s interesting and very fun.
Stars: A Fully Illustrated, Authoritative and Easy-to-Use Guide: an actually pretty outdated guide to our solar system BUT still has many great and amazing facts. Plus, it’s pocket-sized and you can get it used for a steal.
Pairs Well With
How the solar system is actually moving (via Alex) | Inexpensive little Risograph of thousands of galaxies | A great film with maximum silliness about multiple universes: of course it’s Everything Everywhere All at Once
I wish you many visual treats this week, and perhaps a bag of Cheetos or Flamin’ Hot Munchies.
Toodles,
Rachel
Have you seen the paintings of Loie Hallowel? She is beautifully celestial in her current work that evokes creation. A ground breaking Mother Artist too!
I wonder if, in the star nursery rooms, they have human babies painted on the ceilings