Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz
2 May
Splash, Art Work From Sue Silverstein’s Magic Kingdom
by Jon Katz
Sue Silvestein’s already famous art program at Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady, Neew York, has a day called Splash Day for her art students.
“We threw rocks into puddles,” she says, “and the kids tried to take photos of the splash as it happened. Of course, then they started skipping rocks, too. We tried dropping marbles into the water, but the rocks worked better.”
I’m in awe of Sue’s innovative ideas; they transform art into a realm of imagination and intuition, igniting the creative spark in the young time and again. This is one of the rare activities in her 80-student art program that isn’t crafted from donated and discarded objects from the generous Army of Good.
Sue is what saints are made of; she has a column on my blog now, usually on Thursday or Friday. Could you check it out? If you have any discarded or forgotten objects, from hats to jewelry to children’s toys to wood, her young artists will turn them into art.
Thanks to your donations, art lives and thrives at Bishop Gibbons and helps Sue turn scores of kids from Tik-Tok to their innate creativity.
You can donate almost any discarded object to Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons High School, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, New York, 12304.
2 May
Images Of Warmth And Peacefulness
by Jon Katz
Scenes like this are memorable.
I am grateful to be able to capture and pass them on to me. I see them almost every day on Bedlam Farm, which is one of the many reasons I want to be here. These scenes comfort and calm me no matter what is happening out there.
I took these photos this morning after getting back from the Cambridge Food Pantry, where Maria and I were stuffing food into backpacks for children whose families need food support.
So many of you right me to thank me for posting photos of the farm where nothing much is happing, but if you watch them for a minute or two, you will find, as I have found, that this is not true. A lot is happening here.
These images are all about peacefulness and warmth, here are two donkeys, inseparable but looking in different directions. Fanny is on the left soaking up the sun – donkeys will only lie down if they feel completely safe – and Lulu, our guard donkey, is always vigilant, on the watch for predators.
The background chorus of songbirds is loud and beautiful; it frames what I see.
I stood and watch this scene, blue skies, and warm and gentle breeze, and our donkeys, as peaceful as they will ever be.
I call these pictures of warmth and peacefulness, things we all need more than ever in our turbulent world.
On the porch, some anemones
1 May
Flower Art, With The Help Of The Spring Sun And Some New Experiments. Come Along, It’s Free. Flower And Souls.
by Jon Katz
I’m experimenting every day with my camera and learning as I go. I promised myself that every season, I would learn more, experiment more, and get better. The journey is still out; it’s early in the season, but I’m off to an exciting start, trying to capture the true beauty of flowers, which has to do with our souls. I’m signing off tonight.
Maria is in a belly dancing class, and I’ve got a new mystery to read and watch on my iPhone. For dinner, I’m making chicken and vegetable dumplings.
I had another wonderful hour with my Zoom blog readers, who are now friends. We had a spirited discussion about the creative spark. I like what the Kabbalah says: God gave all of us the creative spark, and it is a sin not to light it.
Good night; I’ll see you in the morning. In the morning, I’m packing backpacks at the pantry, then back at work and back home.
The flowers speak for themselves, and I used too many in the pictures to try to identify them all. You gardeners and flower lovers are welcome to try it. I know one is a Carra/Zud, Bip mix. The tulips, of course, are obvious, even to me.
1 May
Tales Of Zip: He Was Everywhere, Killing A Snake, In The Feeder, Asleep On My Chest
by Jon Katz
Zip surprises me every day.
When I think I know who he is, he changes or pops up somewhere or touches me with his affectionate side.
I think he killed a giant snake this morning; we bound it chewed in half out near the pasture fence. It was tough to see; I’m assuming it was Zip.
Two hours later, when I went out to sit in my blue chair and read, he hopped up on my chest and curled up. I stroked his back, and he fell asleep. I didn’t move for 15 or 20 minutes; there was something peaceful and beautiful about it, and I decided to meditate with him while I slept.
I did get a selfie; I couldn’t resist. This guy is a photographer’s dream.
I’m going through some important and meaningful changes in my life, all good, and it was good to think about them. Zip is a loving creature who can kill on a dime. They are part pet, part tiger. You never entirely own them or control them. They can also be a great pal. This is the drama of cats.
They can be the most affectionate things in your life, but they will try to kill something the next minute. It was a giant snake; I can’t imagine how he did it.
As often happens, he was awakened by a sound I couldn’t hear. He sat up, tail swishing, ears up, and took off towards a robin eating something on the ground. The robin took off safely, quickly, and far. A few minutes later, I looked at the pasture and saw Zip’s head pop in the hay feeder. I can’t quite imagine what he was doing there, but everything on the farm seems to be his turf, except the farmhouse.
The longer I know Zip, the more I love him and the happier I am that he lives in the barn instead of the house.
This is where he waits for me in our new regular afternoon meeting. He also likes the shade.
Or is it Zud?