Beginning Anew

I have for some time felt a terrible ennui concerning posts, truly struggling to find points of interest and the words to express them.

The truth is I am entering a period of reflection, I find myself  more and more interested in MAKING, instead of discussing (at times pontificating) about what has been made. My blogging friends , Thom of the marvelous Form is Void and the very fine artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins have offered splendid support in this arid period. As have other readers, I appreciate that.

Clive in particular has offered wise advice, if you are not interested in yakking away ,why not post the progress of your work?

I had thought of that before, and I have from time to time posted snippets of my work. But I confess a hesitancy. When I have posted work the response has from time to time been quite vitriolic, I was shocked by the harshness. I am self taught/self learning, it is often a rough road for me. I struggle with how things “ought” to look, my desire to emulate work that I so enthusiastically admire and a constant fear that the sand is slipping away so very quickly.

At times it is crippling, the harsh critique, even when warranted- which most likely it  was- only added to the chorus within my head. For that reason, I have hesitated to take Clive’s advice and emulate his own delightful Artlog.

But I have now decided my timidity is hampering any opportunity to record my progress, to explore other options and to openly engage with others. For many (most) of my readers the new blog Boondocks Babylon will be of little interest. It will be a space devoted to personal reflection, my struggles in the studio and day to day concerns. I really ought to make it a private blog, but I have developed friendships through Babylon Baroque and wish to extend an invitation to those readers to pop in from time to time.

Babylon Baroque will continue, the posts may be less frequent, but my interests in art and culture will  surely be piqued once again ; I will reserve this blog for established art.

For now,  Boondocks Babylon will keep track of my own daubs.

Until next time,

please take care,

Babylon Baroque

Garnier Opera House, Paris

Salome cast in Greenery-Yallery

We recently had the good fortune of catching the final performance of the San Diego Opera’s production of Salome. As I really am only familiar with our dear minx by way of Oscar and Aubrey I wasn’t sure what to expect.

source

I was delighted, most particularly with the lead soprano Lise Lindstrom, she gave a marvelous performance. As is so often the case I was drawn to the sets and costumes, in particular her gown in the final scene. It was, I declared with great bombast the perfect yallerish, Oscar would have adored the color. Unfortunately yallerish is incorrect, a quick Google search for the word provided only my own blog as the source, I have made MANY references to the word, all of them incorrect. I feel a bit of a fool.

The correct word to describe this Aesthetic Movement staple is Greenery-Yallery. First termed it appears by the witty duo Gilbert and Sullivan for their production of Patience in which they mercilessly lampoon lily- wristed blue-and-white china lovin’ aesthetes with utter abandon. 

“A pallid and thin young man

A haggard and lank young man

A Greenery-yallery Grosvener Gallery

Foot-in-the -grave young man!”

This 1882 greeting card illustrates the sort of fellow perfectly.

Source V&A

Wilde did of course make ample use of the color yellow, there is his poem Symphony in Yellow.

The drawing room at Tite Street was described as having dazzled in “greenery-yallery” effect 1909 source 

And of course there was that notorious yellow book found on Wilde’s person at the time of his arrest; alas it was not THE Yellow Book so loved by the “foot-in-the-grave” set.

Yellow Book, volume 3, October 1894

My only real disappointment in the San Diego production was the executioner of Blessed Jachanaan. In my fantasy he would appear as that bit of stellar beef ( Duncan Meadows) from the Royal Opera House production .

Unfortunately he was a rather chunky fellow with bad posture, quite a let-down.

Duncan Meadows, Royal Opera House production of "Salome"

 source : Feuillton

For a snippet of the final scene with the minor deity( and his mighty sword) check out this clip

The Duncan Meadows “lead” so to speak was from my friend the artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins.Clive not only is a most impressive artist,but a blogging wiz, he kindly walked me through the compexities of WordPress.

Although I have been blogging for quite some time, I must have become rusty ( or WordPress has become more persnickety).

I thank you friend, a fresh day and a constant  visit to “save draft” seems to be the trick.

Knowing that once again I may post freely is a tremendous relief. I am now posting far less frequently than I have in the past. I hope my readers understand that my life is now often spent in my Hermitage ( my pretentious little studio); posting is becoming less and less a priority, but when the spirit and time allows I will indeed be back.

I am touched at the swelling number of followers, perhaps I ought to give it all up for good if the number of “hits” is any indication of activity when I am so very fallow.

Wishing all a “utterly charming” day!

Take care,

Babylon Baroque