Small Stone: January 16, 2014

It seems that absolute precision is required in so much that we do today. The digital age has brought an exactness that was never achievable…seemingly. My great love of letter press printing has required enough precision to be able to set type, set up a printing block and turn out nicely done printing. Beautiful, but not at millimeter specifications. This much used and loved “furniture” is part of the press work in setting up type for printing. We often use wood blocks that help keep it all in place. I think they are beautiful…and precise enough for me.

Small Stone: January 15, 2014

The first picture is a Denver Square; second: San Francisco Victorian; third: a 1915 store front; fourth: an art deco apartment building; fifth: a 2013 street side mural. All of the San Francisco buildings are within three blocks of my house.

In my childhood Denver, I thought of “architecture” as the buildings I knew well─ the Denver Square. Solid, built of brick and with almost no adornment. But, now I live in city where there is a long tradition of ornamental architecture. I wonder what a child growing up in my current neighborhood takes in as their “standard” of architectural style. So very diverse, it must have a life long impact on creativity.

Small Stone: January 14, 2014

It must be spring. Flowers explode in brilliant colors at stalls along the street. The sun shines so bright that it must not be winter. People lounge in the park on blankets and munch afternoon picnic treats. Except, it is not really spring. Mother Nature is playing a trick with a high pressure ridge all along the west coast. When, oh when, will she tire of this game and let it rain?

Small Stone: January 13, 2014

How do we define creativity? I have been observing the work of this assemblage artist at the San Francisco Center for the Book gallery over the past few weeks. I am amazed at how she has taken so many elements to make her artistic statement. Otto Octavius combines a lot of elements from an antique lens device to a 50’s set of rabbit ears. All the little tubes filled with objects are obviously part of the statement. I want to appreciate her work. Yet, I simply don’t get it. I guess I just need a little help here.

Small Stone: January 12, 2014

A blissful Sunday morning. The clouds lifted from our all-to-brief weather front yesterday and the sun was shining. I spent a few minutes just checking how the potted plants in my garden were doing….well, I pretty much do that all the time. Today, however, was special. The dampness in the night left dew-drop jewels all over some of the plants. A gift.

Small Stone: January 11, 2014

At last, we had a very light rain. After weeks of nothing but dry, warm weather we finally had just a little rain. The air is clearer, the sidewalks a bit cleaner and there were even a few puddles. The smiles of the passersby were worth getting a little wet. In fact, it was joyful. 

Small Stone: January 10, 2014

Today I received a real lesson in communication and communicating. I was on a cross-town MUNI bus. Two young men got on the bus at different stops. They did not seem to know one another. One sat in front of me, the other across the aisle from me. Both had ear buds attached to their iPhones. My assumption was that they were tuned out of the bus environment. 

The man in front of me began to move with the music, clicking his fingers, head from side to side in time with what he was hearing. The young man across the aisle tapped him on the shoulder and identified the song and the group! There was a fist bump of recognition and they had communicated. Only the rest of us were left out. My iPhone was firmly in my pocket and no ear buds attached!