In Japanese folklore the kami are revered but the mono are universally feared, both are invisible beings, but the mono possessed no particular shape or form.
The abstract without the particular allows the demonic. Peter Buffett referencing 'someone'.
William Blake (Proverbs of Hell):
The ancient Poets animated all sensible objects with Gods or Geniuses, calling them by the names and adorning them with the properties of woods, rivers, mountains, lakes, cities, nations, and whatever their enlarged & numerous senses could percieve.
And particularly they studied the genius of each city & country, placing it under its mental deity.
Till a system was formed, which some took advantage of & enslav'd the vulgar by attempting to realize or abstract the mental deities from their objects; thus began Priesthood.
Choosing forms of worship from poetic tales.
And a length they pronounc'd that the Gods had order'd such things.
Thus men forgot that All deities reside in the human breast.
[Kitty: maybe I could learn to write Japanese- must get a manicure for my paw 'quills'! Not sure I could 'meow' it though….was nervous about Chinese because 'Meow Tse Tung' would take away all my cream. And I don't lick up very much. At all! And I know I shouldn't really at all…but I make sure it is organic. And I chant a little 'Moo prayer' before i drink.]
Well folks: it is Armory Show Week in New York where all the galleries hope they will lure some of your hard earned money (or in the case of the actual Armory Show price points not so hard earned money) away from one.
So here I am as a guide so as no-one wastes their hard-earned 'me' time on the weekend (if one is so artistically inclined). Was gonna 'hit the sack' at this midnight hour but suddenly got a lease of enthusiasm. Could it be that I saved a nice young couple from the evil 'taxi spirits' and we all shared an ummmmm uber ride home? Perhaps. Will regret this tomorrow I am sure.
Can't really speak of what I haven't actually tasted, as Wittgenstein sorta coughed. So on a limb SpringBreak Art Show has an amazing location this year across two floors of Ralph Lauren’s former headquarters on Madison Avenue, between 58th and 59th Streets. (This fair scours NYC every year for commercial/government premises in between tenants/uses.) Didn't get there today but what a thrill for all these young and mid career (mostly) artists to have a AAA NYC venue! From experience everyone will find something to like. And from experience everyone is very nice at SpringBreak. Yo! seems like 57th St Seattle!
Visited Volta today, well now yesterday. Totally worth the trip. So heartening is that all the price points are affordable to those with a modest disposable income. If you don't even inhabit that realm then me thinks they will all be very very pleased to see you anyway and speak with you about their artists.
Photos HERE
Art on Paper is a little bit of a schlep into unknown territory for some, but it ain't that bad. And you won't get mugged! And it's a little great adventure. One can only do some many things in one day!
If the title Antiquarian Book Fair sounds a turn off with thoughts of moldy first editions and moldy old men: THINK AGAIN! I love this fair. Spent almost 5 hours there today and not bored for a moment. And believe me, I get bored very, very easily. And grow old very, very reluctantly…;)
Kotte Autographs
Even Beethoven composed mundane ‘to do’ lists-sure Tom Lehrer could make musical fun of that!
Maus loswerden, Maus loswerden (Get rid of mouse, Get rid of mouse.)- a musical mystery solved Sir Simon Rattle.
Enough said, take a look at these PHOTOS and tell me if that doesn't excite your literary tentacles just a wee bit….
Kitty Litter’s PHOTO favorites!
