Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Volume 2: 05 - Beyond the Islet
Beyond the islet
At the entrance to the Bay
We were astonished
To see countless multitudes
Of seabirds, gulls, and others
Which rose like a cloud
Into the Air
Disturbed by our approach
Deafened us
By their wild and screaming cries.
What could be the
Great Attraction
For the swarm of feathered Fowl?
It proved to be a monstrous fish
On whose flesh these multitudes of birds
Were ravenously feeding.
It was extraordinary to watch
The ferocity, envy, gluttony,
And all manner of evil passions
Exhibited among the guests
At this Banquet.
pgs 41 & 42
Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Volume 2: 04 - The Trees
It was admirably suited
To our purposes
The branches strong
Closely interwoven
No beams required
To form a flooring.
I made preparations
That there be no delay
On the Morrow.
A bright moon
Having Arisen
I continued Working,
Until Worn Out.
pg 53
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Volume 2: 03 - Security
See how secure it is
Guarded on all sides
By These High Cliffs
Accessible only
By the narrow passage to the ford
While from this point
It is so easy
To reach the ship
The whole of its valuable cargo
At our disposal
Suppose we decide to stay
At least until we have brought on shore
Everything we possibly can.
pg 39
Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
Volume 2: 02 - A Beautiful Landscape
A beautiful landscape
A wide and lovely bay
Fringed with yellow sands
Either side extending
Into the distance
Lost to view
In two promontories
Enclosed by these two arms
Lay a sheet of rippling water
Reflecting in its depths
The Glorious Sun Above
pg 20
Swiss Family Robinson
pg 20
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Volume 2: 01 - Coral Reef
Glorious shells and coral branches
greatly prized for ornaments
made into beads
for necklaces
"One might almost say
that coral belongs to the
animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms.
It is hard like stone
it has stems and branches like a shrub
and tiny insects inhabit the cells."
Left alone
these coral insects
laboring incessantly
raise foundations
on which fertile islands appear
clothed with verdure and inhabited.
The sight of the lovely shells and coral
inspired us.
pg 163
Painted on front inside cover of Vol. 2
Swiss Family Robinson
greatly prized for ornaments
made into beads
for necklaces
"One might almost say
that coral belongs to the
animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms.
It is hard like stone
it has stems and branches like a shrub
and tiny insects inhabit the cells."
Left alone
these coral insects
laboring incessantly
raise foundations
on which fertile islands appear
clothed with verdure and inhabited.
The sight of the lovely shells and coral
inspired us.
Painted on front inside cover of Vol. 2
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
44 - Mountain Valley - End of Volume I
The prospect before us was wide and varied
Swelling hills and verdant vales
extending from the river
towards a chain of lofty mountains
We crossed the stream and were
soon surrounded by desert.
"Look beyond the toilsome way
to those grand mountains
whose spurs are already stretching
forward to meet us.
What pleasant surprises
await us
amid their steep declivities."
pg 192
Painted the back cover of Vol. 1
Swiss Family Robinson
Painted the back cover of Vol. 1
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
43 - Ostrich
Very large ostriches.
Magnificent birds
feathers alone worth having.
As the ostriches approached,
in our direction
they varied their pace,
as though in sport
springing, trotting, galloping and chasing
each other round and round
so that their approach was by no means rapid.
Only one was male,
the white plumes of the wings
and tail contrasting finely
with the deep glossy black
of the neck and body.
pg 193
Painted on back inside cover of Vol. 1
Swiss Family Robinson
Painted on back inside cover of Vol. 1
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
42 - Lianas
Continuing our way
through a thicket
densely overgrown
with lianas.
We emerged
on the seashore beyond
the forest sweeping inland.
pg 18 - 19
Painted on front cover of Vol. 1
Swiss Family Robinson
Painted on front cover of Vol. 1
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
The End of Volume 1
Altered books was a new concept when I began this blog... and in many ways still is. But I have journeyed far in the time I've spent with my first book. I have three more surfaces to paint with this book.... the inside back cover, and both outer covers. Then Volume 1 will be done.
It started off with me finding words on the pages that inspired me.... and then painting whatever picture was inspired by the words/ I stopped delineating the words when it became too difficult to paint around them. But I still look for words to inspire a painting. For the three remaining surfaces in the Volume 1 book, I'll paint scenes that I'm inspired to do based on the book.
Volume 2, of the same book, will be a more slender volume. I plan to remove more pages from the book so that the remaining pages will fit more easily within the binding. I plan to go through the remaining pages that have not yet been allowed to inspire a painting and find any words of inspiration. In whatever order I wish, I will then finish up volume 1 and start painting volume 2. Eventually I hope to take the abbreviated story and pictures, and put them together in the order of the pages in the text, and create a miniature story of my own. It won't really tell the story by itself, but for anyone who is fond of the story, it will be an interesting journey into memories...and perhaps inspire a re-read.
To get perhaps 60 to 70 paintings/poems inspired by 278 pages of text is an interesting feat.
As I finish Volume 2, I will then face another decision. I might take my unbound copy of SFR, and paint yet more, depending on whether or not there is any more inspiration. My thought is that I will unstaple the actual binding, and pull free the larger sheets, gluing three sheets together and creating approximately 40 - 50 "canvasses" where I can finish off any last bits of inspiration and/or select out the best of all of the paintings and see what time and ability will do for a new vision o fthe same thing.
It's a bad thing, I think, to be a glutton? Gluttony is my big sin. I can't even avoid it in painting. But it gives me pleasure.
It started off with me finding words on the pages that inspired me.... and then painting whatever picture was inspired by the words/ I stopped delineating the words when it became too difficult to paint around them. But I still look for words to inspire a painting. For the three remaining surfaces in the Volume 1 book, I'll paint scenes that I'm inspired to do based on the book.
Volume 2, of the same book, will be a more slender volume. I plan to remove more pages from the book so that the remaining pages will fit more easily within the binding. I plan to go through the remaining pages that have not yet been allowed to inspire a painting and find any words of inspiration. In whatever order I wish, I will then finish up volume 1 and start painting volume 2. Eventually I hope to take the abbreviated story and pictures, and put them together in the order of the pages in the text, and create a miniature story of my own. It won't really tell the story by itself, but for anyone who is fond of the story, it will be an interesting journey into memories...and perhaps inspire a re-read.
To get perhaps 60 to 70 paintings/poems inspired by 278 pages of text is an interesting feat.
As I finish Volume 2, I will then face another decision. I might take my unbound copy of SFR, and paint yet more, depending on whether or not there is any more inspiration. My thought is that I will unstaple the actual binding, and pull free the larger sheets, gluing three sheets together and creating approximately 40 - 50 "canvasses" where I can finish off any last bits of inspiration and/or select out the best of all of the paintings and see what time and ability will do for a new vision o fthe same thing.
It's a bad thing, I think, to be a glutton? Gluttony is my big sin. I can't even avoid it in painting. But it gives me pleasure.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
41 - Seacorn
At the break of that eventful morn
to set our eyes upon the unicorn.
Baskets of the choicest fruits
in fresh and fragrant profusion
anchor weighed
sails set
the little vessel
as though partaking
of our joyous expectation
Bounded merrily over the water
Gave berth to the reef
against whose frowning rocks
the sea lashed itself to foam
Every eye on board
and on shore
turned toward
the unicorn
pg 272 - 273
Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
40 - Mushrooms
Displayed all the wonders
House, cave stables, gardens, fields, and boat-houses
Perfect flowers
took the place of honour
Our steeds
with tails in the air, ears back
and heals thrown playfully out
they seemed about to overwhelm us.
We stepped aside
to shelter ourselves
behind the trees.
Many a shower wetted us
during these days
as the annual deluge began
Never before
had this dreary season
seemed so short and pleasant.
The weariness and discontent never appeared
before we were released from our captivity.
pg 266 - 267
Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann Wyss
Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)