Pittsburgh is Beautiful in Spring

Posted on April 25, 2011 by ruthek

Everywhere you look the trees are blooming and there are lots of spring flowers. Here is a tree bursting out from a tiny patch of dirt between two buildings on a street with blocks of nothing but buildings.

I took this on the way to the oral surgeon. I am better, but not good. This is my sixth day of the antibiotic. My past experience has always been that two days brought great improvement. I had only a little after three days. He thinks he should remove the implant and that will clear up the infection. Then we'll try again. I hate to do it, but I'll probably go along with that. Nasty, nasty.

For some time now, I have thought about making portraits of trees. Here is my first one: in my backyard, the shadow cast by the tree in the next yard.

Andy and me

Posted on February 10, 2011 by ruthek

We went to the Warhol Museum over the weekend with our visitors from New Jersey. It's not my favorite place, only rarely have I found things that interest me, but every visitor seems to want to see it. I was having a hard time explaining silk screens to one of our guests, so we all went downstairs to what they call the "weekend factory" where you can make a print from a silk screen. I also found that I could have my picture taken with Andy for only $2, a fantastic bargain considering he charged $25,000 to make your portait.

They stand you in front of a piece of green felt and you can see what the picture will look like on a monitor. The lights were in the wrong position for me, so I stood on a small stool, making me taller than Andy, but not as terrible as with the lights straight down at me. Here's the picture:

I think it looks like some of those 19th C. photos of ghosts, or astral projections. Of course, Andy is the ghost, but he looks more solid than I do. I would pay $5 to have Andy wearing one of those wild hairpieces and both of us in focus. Well, maybe the focus is too much to ask for.

Nothing on the calendar

Posted on December 22, 2010 by ruthek

No blood test; no exercise (that was yesterday); no Christmas parties (not my holiday): nothing left but to finish that paper. I don't think I've ever worked so hard to get my ideas focused and into words. Most of it is finished; just the conclusion, pictures and captions, and a thorough rereading and editing. I should be able to get it posted before the end of the year. I guess my master's thesis was more work, but it didn't mean as much to me; I'm not sure my ideas were well focused; it was eight years ago.

This is the time of year to look back. I started writing this blog five years ago–I'm rereading those early entries. Amazing how little has changed; exercise is still my number one obsession, but I've become more religious about it. Japanese art has been important through all five years–my first class was January 2006. I wrote a paper for that class, also.

Went back to Phipps yesterday, about 4 pm, so there was still some daylight along with the garden lights. Haven't looked at the pictures yet. It's after 10 am. Unusual for me, I'm still not dressed. I'll start rereading the paper, get dressed, write the conclusion, or go for a walk to think and then write the conclusion. That's today's agenda.

Phipps Conservatory

Posted on December 20, 2010 by ruthek

Phipps is one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh, second only to the tunnel under the convention center. They are open until 10 at night every night this month (Christmas excepted, I think). Last night Robin, Steve, Charna and I went to see what it looked like. We were charmed. I took a few pictures, but I want to return, alone for better picture taking, at dusk. I'd like a little outside light with all the other lights.

Some of the areas were a little spooky. There weren't many other people and it was very quiet. Here is a staghorn fern. (I think it would benefit from a little adjusting in Photoshop. Maybe tomorrow.)

This huge tree is amazingly beautiful. My photo doesn't do it justice.

Most of the rooms had holiday displays; this one is entirely devoted to the holiday.

With just a little Pittsburgh kitsch. That's a melting snowman in front of the plastic flamingos.

You can take an online tour of Phipps here, and read about their trip to India to prepare for the next tropical forest exhibit.

Working on my term paper

Posted on October 22, 2010 by ruthek

I struggled for two weeks to restate the goal of my project, following the professor's comments. I sort of knew what I wanted, but I didn't know where I was going with it. Finally turned in this statement:

Japanese Gardens are the subject of poetry; poems are created and read in gardens. They appear as backgrounds in scroll paintings, and emaki painters designed many of the earliest gardens. Japanese gardens grew out of reverence for nature, but trees and plantings are shaped to conform to a Japanese ideal of nature, making gardens a true art form. In some, the viewer can appreciate the scene from a special place, a frame, in others the viewer can be more interactive, he or she can enter and stroll along, each few steps presenting a different view, much like walking through a museum and stopping to examine and appreciate each picture.

Rocks, water, stone lanterns and decorative bridges, sometimes a tea house, and plants are the elements of a Japanese garden. In addition, the two concepts: illusion/shakkei or captured scenery, and replication of famous places, are often used to organize the garden space. I will explore the use of those elements and ideas to create aesthetically pleasing spaces. Then, using maps and photographs I propose to examine Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, Koraku-en in Okayama, and Shirotori in Nagoya and two gardens meant to be viewed from within a building, Chishakuin and Nanzen-in, to determine what constitutes an aesthetically pleasing space for me.

Now I have to begin writing the paper. I have several free hours after my Osher music class this morning, then lunch, then just missed the bus so walked a mile or so instead of just waiting for the next one. Of course, a cup of tea was necessary as soon as I got home. Listened to phone messages. The Republicans have the wrong number for someone. Opened Word. Did you know National Geographic has jigsaw puzzles you can play with on line? Last night was a reception for a Gigapan exhibit David arranged in the US Steel lobby. If you zoom in on the right side you can see Ivetta's head, my back and Qing, one of my ESL students. Because the camera keeps moving, if the person moves, only part of her will show up.

Only an hour before I have to leave. Guess I better start writing.

Start! Heart Walk

Posted on October 11, 2010 by ruthek

Sorry I've been so slow about this, Mage, but I was very tired afterward and also had some other work I had promised to do on Friday, then promptly forgot.

So, here it is: The event was held at Heinz Field, home of the Steelers. This is the first time I've ever been there.

Mostly it was held in the parking lot and the area near one of the entrances. They let us go in to what is known as the Great Hall, but the stands and the field were securely locked up.

Vendors with heart related products had booths, along with a few hospital groups. There are only a few hospitals around here. Most of them are UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center).

I had the feeling most of the people attending had some kind of relationship with the vendors or the hospitals. I don't think the American Heart Association did a very good job of publicizing the event. They were able to use the stadium because this was the Steeler's bye week. Every news broadcast talked about the Steelers not playing this weekend; it seems to me they could have mentioned the Heart Walk in connection with it.

The event began at 10 am with lots of milling around and opportunities to visit vendors. Nothing really happened until 11.

That's the Steeler's mascot, Steely McBeam, scaring a small child.

Then there was a half hour of speeches and some warm up stuff geared to thin, healthy people of which there weren't too many around. Finally, the walk began, about 11:30.

I never found my cardio-rehab people, Robin was otherwise occupied, and I never saw a single person I knew. So I walked alone among hundreds of people.

It was a nice walk; half of it was on a pleasant trail next to the Allegheny River. But the day was unseasonably hot. It would have been much better if they had walked at 10 and had the speeches afterward. I completed the entire 3 miles, but the heat knocked me out.

This is a survivors hat that was given to me for surviving heart disease. I should have gotten another one for surviving the walk. My idea of a survivor is someone who had gone through the event and lives to tell about it. I think I've only survived the skirmishes; the battle won't be over until the afib wins.

Thank you again, Mage and Robin, for helping me raise money for the event. If anyone else wants to contribute, it will count towards my goal for the next 30 days. I dedicated my walk to Arvin's memory; it would be nice if I could reach my goal in his memory.

Kentucky 3

Posted on September 22, 2010 by ruthek

I did more in two days in sleepy, old Kentucky than I do in a week in Pittsburgh. Raja's a great guide, and of course, it's mostly new to me. Thursday afternoon, after walking around downtown Georgetown and being introduced to one person after another, we went to a couple of art shows, then went up on her roof, had a wonderful gazpacho and strawberry rhubarb bread for dinner, then drank beer, and listened to music from the town square. Raja's roof is the only place in this dry county, you can sit outside, drink and listen to the music. Perfect after my long drive.

Dark area in the foreground is the deck with lots of flowers and bird feeders. We sat on the adjoining roof, which was in the shade while we listened to the music and talked.

Friday we went to an interesting photography show, then drove around Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky and a charming town, and finished with a veggie sandwich at Wallace Station. (3 cheeses, lettuce, tomato, toasted almonds, sprouts, bourbon mustard on whole grain bread.)

Here are some of the horses in this community that is normally (and always) horse crazy.

'Nuff yet?

All of the galleries had food and wine; I probably ate too much, and I got very tired of looking at horses.

Bet you thought this was another horse.

Haven't figured out what he was doing there. He looks permanent.

Saturday, we went to breakfast at the famous Fava's, wolfing down omelets, biscuits, home fries and frickles.

Let my mouth not forget you, Fava's famous deep fried dill pickles.

No lunch that day. In the afternoon we went to the Horse Park to the Gift from the Desert show, about the Arabian Horse. After dinner out, five of us went back to Raja's for more art conversation. (See Kentucky 1 and see Raja's blog for one more development in the flag business.)

A little more of Fava's.

And a little bit of Raja's place.

More food and more Gigapans

Posted on September 12, 2010 by ruthek

The African food class went to Kenya this week with a beautiful chef, Lydiah Wanyoike, who does catering and hopes to open her own restaurant here in Pittsburgh.

Lydiah made tilapia with rice, coconut beans and steamed cabbage for us.

We had a brief discussion about other foods from Kenya and admired Lydiah's dress, also from Kenya. I'll probably never cook any of this, but I enjoy watching the demonstrations and, of course, eating the food.

Friday afternoon, the Gigapan group, which I wrote about here, went up to the top of the U.S. Steel building, the tallest manmade structure in Pittsburgh, and shot some test Gigapans in preparation for the big one on September 23. I just went along for fun. It was awesome being 64 floors above the city. The roof is an acre in area with a thick, chest high railing all along the periphery. I never felt any fear or insecurity; just had to watch where I walked because of some things projecting from the surface and lots of cables running across the expanse. Here is the group rushing to the edge, then a few of my shots looking down.

The white structure is the David Lawrence Convention Center, my favorite place, because of the tunnel that runs underneath.

Two of the three rivers: the Allegheny flowing into the Ohio on the left.

Looking East, away from downtown with the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt rising above everything else.

PPG. I particularly like the way the other roofs are reflected. I'll have more about the Gigapan as I work on it.

Silence and another good thing

Posted on August 20, 2010 by ruthek

I forgot how much I enjoy silence. The world is noisy; silence rare. And too often I turn on the radio or TV, just for company, or to drown out my tinnitus. I seldom really listen. One afternoon I walked home through Mellon Park and suddenly heard silence. The dogs that run loose while owners stand around talking were not there. It was just me and the squirrels and trees–not even traffic sounds and I can't recall the tinnitus. Totally wonderful.

The next day, driving out of the garage after the cardio rehab, I had a similar experience. I could only hear a soft purr from the car and a rhythmic slap as the tires hit expansion joints. What a joy it would be to permanently get rid of that noise in my head.

Another pleasure: Saturday night, Steve's cactus produced it's occasionally, yearly blossom.

We don't know anything about the cactus. It's a cutting from a large plant that belonged to Steve's father. The cutting was dormant for many years then suddenly began to grow. About seven years ago it began to produce one or more flowers one night each summer (with the exception of last year). The flower opens only once. Although various flying insects visit it, no fruit or seed is produced.

Home again

Posted on August 11, 2010 by ruthek

Drove back on Sunday with Robin, Steve and Charna. Happy to be back and not moving. I've been going to the rehab. They never weighed me, but I haven't gained anything. Amazing! Ordered my new glasses, working on Photoshopping images, but otherwise don't have much ambition. Too hot again.

Here's a Photoshopped picture of Charna:

From this original:

Eventually, I'll put up another slide show with all my New York images.

100 Books Before I Die

Ruthe Karlin

Category Archives: Photographs