Neglected Beauty.

Pandemic beauty, The tree

2020-04-22T18:19:00.001-07:00

The following is a story taken from the Baltimore Office of Performance & The Arts. It is a first in a segment I am entitling "Pandemic Beauty". The stories I include are from others' perspectives-- their words, points of view, observations and insights involve the accidental beauty they encounter while trying to navigate the perils of the Covid-19 pandemic. You might call these stories a remedy for the soul.

Something Beautiful

The other day I ordered dinner from a local restaurant and, in our no-touch society, the young man who delivered it rang my door bell, put the bag on my top step and then stepped down to the sidewalk when I opened the door. I thanked him and he was on his way back to his car when he stopped and took out his phone. I watched as he took a picture of a tree in front of my house that was resplendent in pink. It is breathtaking—if you take the time to notice. That delivery man did notice and because he did, he helped me see the beauty that was right outside my door. That one mundane encounter completely changed my day and my mood, and I won’t be able to pass that tree without remembering the momentary joy it gave that man and he in turn gave me.

It is hard right now to look past the sickness and sorrow of this pandemic to notice that beauty still surrounds us. Not just in the spectacular show Mother Nature is putting on this spring, but also in the art that has found its way out of museums, galleries, studios and theaters and is now accessible on our personal devices. The opportunity to tune out of the pandemic for a while and re-balance and restore is abundant and all of us - especially the essential workers, the true warriors in the COVID-19 battle - need a reliable respite.

In this issue of BOPA’s newsletter we are sharing arts resources and upcoming virtual events—some produced by BOPA and others from partners and kindred arts organizations. The Baltimore Arts Blog on BOPA's website also lists opportunities to indulge and create.

I hope you will take advantage of what is right in front of us and, when and where you can, lose yourselves, at least for a little while, in something beautiful.

Donna Drew Sawyer

CEO, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts

The beauty of a sick day

2019-04-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I had had it. Nothing was getting done, the topic for my column was just too boring to write about (believe it or not, some plants can be dull) and I couldn't come up with a timely alternative to save my ass. Getting my clients to call me back was like waiting for seeds to germinate, and all David dog could do was give me increasingly dirty looks for making him wait "just 5 more minutes." So, I did what any smart professional would do-- I got up, turned off the computer, took off my glasses, grabbed the leash and walked out the door. Yes, I walked out on my job that day--actually forgot all about it as we turned towards the baseball field just two blocks from the house. It was early spring afterall, I owed nature my attention, not my computer. Who knows, maybe I'd find a topic for my column in the woods.

After David had relieved himself on my neighbor's hellebores (sigh, dogs....), I remembered I had volunteered to water some young magnolia trees at the park by the pond and they were probably thirsty by now. So we headed on down.

Once we were there, I saw the "Do not Swim" sign too late as David dove in before I could finish screaming, NO! I yelled like any hysterical mom would, worried to death about the toxins and bacteria he could be ingesting. He got the point and exited pretty quickly. Before he could spray the slimy muck on me, I shooed him over to the stream a few feet away. Back in water, splashing like a happy fish, the fear of diptheria dissipated each time he dove under to catch some falling leaves. Dogs. They can teach us a thing or two about finding joy in the simple things.

On the path back up the hill, I watched David run into a field covered with waxy, golden flowers. I knew they were invasive weeds, but I write a blog called Neglected Beauty, so of course I loved them. As I watched him run like a drunk puppy through mounds of Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna), it dawned on me, this was exactly where I was supposed to be. On a walk, in the woods, with my dog. Not at a desk, stressing about things out of my control, waiting for the phone to ring. Still without a topic for the column, I didn't care. I got one for the blog.

We found things on the forest floor. Nice things. Pretty things. I didn't care if many of them turned out to be invasive weeds. (I am a very open-minded Master Gardener). There's reason after all for every single plant in this world. Besides, they were a pleasant charge of color under the gray clouds on an exceptionally drab April afternoon.

When we returned home, I took out my journal, I wrote down the following list. I realized a sick of this job day totally counts as a sick day, in my book at least. There's a whole lot of healing to be had outside in nature. The first step is to disengage from that whiny internet relationship that you spend more time with than your loved one (true fact). Next time you find yourself stuck working remotely from home with stress piling high and no end in sight, take a sick day, or a half of a sick day--even if it's just for a long walk. Your dog will thank you. So will Nature, she wants to be noticed, you know.

Prescription to de-stress (Tested):
Gently but firmly step away from your computer.
Call in sick-- to your boss or yourself.
Go outside. Take a walk.
Go into the woods, urban or country.
Take a deep breath. Exhale.
Keep going. Breathe. Feel lighter.
Pull out cell phone. Turn off ringer. Take a picture of the forest floor.
Reminisce about discovering nature as a kid and playing outside.
Think about how that made you feel. Enbrace that feeling for a bit.
Smile. Ask yourself why you don't do this more.
Go home. Sit down.
Write in day-timer: Remember to do this more.

There is no beauty in climate change

2017-05-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

Every time I write a post, I put the word beauty in the title. This blog is about finding beauty in whatever form it may take, so bringing the theme of what it is I write about seems fitting. While I managed to get "beauty" in this time, you'll note it is prefaced by the word "no." I just can't find any beauty in climate change right now.

On April 29th, I went to the People's Climate March in Washington, DC, which was held to protest the current administration's attacks on the environment, including the recent slew of budget cuts in the E.P.A. More than 150,000 people from all over the country attended, exceeding the estimated 100,000 turn out by the National State Park officials.

The purpose of the March was to pressure our nation's leaders to act on climate change as opposed to dismissing it, or denying it, which seems to be more of the case in the current administration. It was well organized and timely, marking President Trump's 100th day in office, however, he was not in Washington, but rather at his home in Mar a Lago, FL-- a trip that costs taxpayers an estimated 3 million dollars per visit. Should this weekend getaway habit continue, it could easily result in the highest amount a president has ever accumulated for vacation time. (http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-s-mar-lago-travel-triggers-cost-ethics-concerns-n743541)

The dominant message was loud and clear: Our environment needs help; we need to repair and create workable solutions to protect our planet NOW--and it cannot come fast enough. Laws already in place are in danger of being revoked and environmental anything is at risk of being cut, just ask the new E.P.A. Administrator, Scott Pruitt.

But there was a revolution in the air that day and thankfully, the creators of the world--the artists, designers, writers, thinkers, architects, scientists, environmentalists, community activists, parents, farmers and small business owners all came together for several hours to create some positive and inspiring messages of hope. Thousands of thought provoking signs flooded the march, a reminder of the perseverance and ingenuity of the human spirit where a powerful narrative always manages to elicit new solutions.

The good news is there are many more fighting on the right side of the environment than not. Communities are coming together all over the world out of a need and desire to protect and honor the earth. Whether it's an urban tree planting, introducing legislation to eradicate plastic shopping bags, cleaning up a local stream or contacting your local State Senator or House of Representatives (PLEASE DO THIS) to support environmental bills or just to complain about cuts, the most important thing any of us can do is to get involved. Organizations such as 350.org: https://350.org/ Greenpeace: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/getinvolved/ and More than Scientists: http://morethanscientists.org/get-involved/ are great resources on how you can help.

The message remains the same in any protest--we are stronger when we collaborate. Mass mobilizations create change. And slowing down climate change IS possible if we take the giant first step so many refuse to do: admit we have a major problem and our world's health is in crisis.

As I left the march and got into my car, I found myself feeling unusually calm and optimistic. Being engulfed in a sea of thousands of like minded souls made me remember I am but one of many who are willing to fight for solutions to protect the only environment we will ever know. That day, I managed to find hope in a vast crowd of passionate earth worshipers whose idea of change was, well... not so neglected, but rather... quite beautiful.

All photos by C.A. Langrall, April 29, 2017. Washington, DC.

New, old city beauty

2017-02-15T15:41:00.000-08:00

Galanthus nivalis, Snowdrops

Well, to say it’s been a long time since my last post is an understatement. Three years to be exact. Between a smattering of several exciting marketing and design jobs, writing a monthly column for a local New Mexican newspaper, a new dog (first one), traveling back and forth to care for an elderly parent, and then relocating across the country, I honestly just didn't have the energy. Or the time.

Despite the monumental transitions going on in my life, I never stopped spying neglected beauty. I found it everywhere, from the high desert to the endless pastures of middle America, and then back again to the east coast, where everything seemed more lush and green than I ever remembered. No, I never stopped seeing "beauty". I simply cataloged it away in my mind for a later date—a much later date it seems.

Jasminum nudiflorum, Winter Jasmine

Living in the high desert in New Mexico for nearly six years changed my perspective on so much, to say the least. And now I find myself back in the land of black and white, a place my newly adopted Southwestern gray attitude often has no bearing. Luckily, there is grass (I’ll never take it for granted again), as well as gorgeous perennials and dozens of varieties of trees every bit as tall as northern New Mexico’s conifers to distract me. Baltimore, MD is a beautiful place, there is no denying it, but it changed a lot since I last lived here. The energy is chaotic and restless now, an on-going reminder of the Freddie Gray tragedy that nearly broke Baltimore City. Coupled with the current mercurial political climate, it makes it hard to concentrate on finding anything beautiful after a long day of misinformation and frustration.

Helleborus, Hellebores

But find it I will. I am more determined than ever to revisit the neglected beauty I started writing about nine years ago. Here, in quirky, old Baltimore, also known as Charm City and Mobtown, two polar opposite nicknames that both describe its quaint yet rough edged history, there is still a lot of beauty to be found.

Crocus longiflorus, Crocus

So, three years later, I am starting my first post with images of some early harbingers of spring. Where there is growth there is hope. Let's face it, we all need to look forward to something, especially after this dreary winter where political unrest and strange weather patterns reigned supreme. Regardless of the fear and anger that surrounds us, there is always one thing we can count on: beauty.

Cydonia oblonga, Quince

Yoshi's world: Desert cast-off beauty

2014-06-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

Yoshi Arasaki came to the United States over 30 years ago with her husband "Saki" to open Japanese restaurants on the west coast. They were hugely successful and when it came time for Saki to think about retirement, the couple choose to move to Santa Fe to enjoy the quiet mountain living. Saki never did retire, although he can be found on any golf course that is open when he is not freelancing as a sushi chef around town. With Saki working, Yoshi found herself alone with little to do than make origami and create a pleasant home for Saki to come back to at night.

Saki and Yoshi moved into a well-respected neighborhood called Casa Solana (Spanish for sunny house), which may seem ironic or strange or both, depending on how you look at it, as it served as a Japanese Internment Camp during WWII, nearly 70 years ago. It may seem questionable how a prisoner of war camp could have morphed into one of the most sought out communities in Santa Fe. Isn't the energy bad? Could it be cursed? While one could ruminate over the possibilities, especially in a place filled with haunted Native American stories, the answer would lie within its residents, who seem, well, genuinely happy. Yoshi and Saki included.

Like most communities in Santa Fe, the neighborhood has many hiking trails and vistas to enjoy, which Yoshi started to take advantage of when Saki slept in after a hard night's work. She would disappear for hours, and when she returned, she always had something in her hands or her arms. Most times she would be carrying obvious desert fare-- tumbleweeds, dead sunflower stalks, a cholla branch, weird branches. But every now and again, she would have other something unidentifiable on those small determined shoulders and I always got excited watching her head to her casita, imagining what she was going to do with all the dead stuff.

I never asked her what she was doing with them, until the day I looked across the street and saw something unusual sticking out of her half dead purple robe locust tree. It looked like the wind blew a tumbleweed that attached itself to some branches. But there was something dangling, something put there on purpose--it looked like pine cones stringed on yarn. A mobile of desert dead stuff. (picture damaged, not available)

That day, I summoned the nerve to go over and ask Yoshi what the odd thing in the tree was. She smiled, not speaking much English, she pointed for me to come inside. When I went in, I saw all the dead plants she had been carrying home from her walks. They were everywhere, corners, ceilings, on tables, bookshelves. Like little dead plant sculptures, each carefully placed, some stuffed with silk flower blossoms she bought at the Dollar Store.

Yoshi said, "I like things on floor." I wasn't sure what she meant, then she pointed to the ground outside her home and then my yard, which was a tragic waste land of weeds and dead cholla branches. I thought about it some, and then I got it--Yoshi found beauty in the weeds, the left over desert plant remnants.

I asked her if I could take some pictures, she said yes, but I stopped after the 5th one. It felt a bit invasive.

I hope one day it doesn't and I get to take more. Thank you, Yoshi, for your beautiful vision.

Mistaken beauty

2014-03-08T18:06:00.001-08:00

Even though I'm a Master Gardener, I still have to remind myself that I became certified in the Southwest-- a place my east-coast root's still grasps to understand. The culture, the adobe buildings, the wildlife...just about everything I see in this high desert is incredibly exotic, and I find myself playing the "what is that called?" game, in particular with the flora. I test myself when no one is around, trying to identify each native plant and flower variety I stumble across. I surprise myself sometimes at the vast botanical knowledge I have gained here in just 3 years, and then there are those occasions when I am sorely mistaken.

Plant in question...

Take this golden beauty pictured above, for example. While my friend was moving from Santa Fe, NM to Pojoaque, NM last week, I was thrilled to spot what I thought was the first forsythia, surreptitiously spilling out of a cracked adobe wall. I snapped its image, looking forward to sharing it with all my winter weary readers who would surely become excited at the thought that spring was closer than any of us thought. Just as I posted the image, something didn't feel quite right. While everyone commented on it's beauty, I was second guessing it... was it really a forsythia? For starters, forsythia stems are woody, this plant clearly has green stems. Then, there was the flowers, these six petal blossoms were perfect, but didn't forsythia have four petal blooms?

Winter jasmine, close up

I was right to doubt and do a little sleuthing, and after an hour scouring the web for "plants that look like forsythia," I finally stumbled across a similar image that said in small italics, 'winter jasmine.'

Forsythia, close up

Winter jasmine? I had never heard of it (to my embarrassment). After reading up on it, there are some similarities to forsythia; it grows in zones 6-10 (Santa Fe is 6b), but this plant is in the jasmine family not the olive, and blooms before forsythia, that is a month or two before. Like forsythia, winter jasmine can grow tall and wild, but unlike the free-standing forsythia, this hearty jasmine likes to be supported by things like walls and arbors. It isn't fragrant like regular jasmine, but it certainly captures your attention with its diminutive sweet flowers.

Regardless of the mix up, I am glad I trusted my instincts and questioned my authority (something I highly recommend). Yes, even Master Gardener's can be wrong. When in doubt... Wikipedia.

Bountiful winter jasmine

Natural floral beauty: Compliments of New Mexico

2013-07-31T22:36:00.000-07:00

Still life of found objects from northern New Mexico deserts and the Pecos Wilderness.

It's been too long since my last posting, life in New Mexico sure does keep me busy writing, designing and scouting neglected beauty. I am excited to announce my latest project where I am writing and promoting a new, local publication called EcoSource with some incredibly talented people. Owned by TREND Magazine, EcoSource covers the green side of Santa Fe featuring art, architectural landscaping, design and green efforts that being made by some incredible sustainable, local businesses.

For now I'd like to share some inspirational photos of floral designs where the elements are all organic and gathered locally--in backyards, the desert, the sides of roads and in the Pecos Wilderness. It's pretty amazing to get to work one on one with Mother Nature.

When people tell me there is but pinyon pines, juniper and chamisas in our landscape. I always say look again.

Santa Fe Master Gardeners Association arrangement: Local, seasonal spring blooms from various gardens and roadsides in Santa Fe.

Bark with lichen, fungi and found botanicals. New Mexico.

Antique compotes with succulents.

Beautiful spring assortment from Santa Fe gardens. Santa Fe, NM.

Donna Nash, owner of A Woman's Touch Landscape company holds

organic orb created by C.A. Langrall. Santa Fe, NM.

Harvest bouquet of local apples, buffalo gourds, roses, switch grass, radishes and

tropical protea from a Santa Fe greenhouse.

All designs by C.A.Langrall except for bark piece which was created by an outside source

Rattling beauty: Gourds as art and music

2012-06-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

What happens when you play with your fruit rather than eat it? According to Santa Fe gourd rattle artist, Marianne Macres, you make music, beautiful, tribal, exotic music.

Music?... from gourds that are fruits, not vegetables? How can that be? Well, sometimes Mother Nature plays tricks on us in the garden and what seems a part of one family can actually be another. As for gourds as a musical instrument, Macres had to explain. "Years ago, I was in Taos and met a friend who showed me gourds where more than just ornamental fall decorations, they were beautiful dried fruits with many purposes, like becoming a musical instrument."

Marianne found her new passion when she picked up her first gourd rattler and shook it. As a trained artist from southern California, Macres, she has been involved in the arts most of her life and now decided to experiment with gourds. She says it took fifteen years to perfect her craft when she founded "Gourdjus Rattles," a line of musical instruments she sells in New Mexico for Native American rituals, spiritual ceremonies, and personal collections.

Before coming to the Southwest, Macres lived in Maui for nearly two decades earning her living as a well-known scrimshaw artist. Her love of flowers was apparent in all of her pieces, each design had a blossom or a plant that she painted in tiny detail. As much as she loved her work, Macres began to get discouraged over the harvested ivory that came from elephants which provided her art medium. She eventually ended her career working with ivory and focused on raising her family until she moved to New Mexico in the early 90's.

Painting gourds came naturally and so did her inspirations. As a worshiper of the earth, female form, animal totems, and native symbols, Macres found gourds to be the perfect source to create fantastical scenes and imagery.

She chooses her gourds based on their shape, texture and variety. Ornamentals, including Crown of Thorns, are great for floral designs while hard shells work well for animal/pagan totems. She buys local, getting the majority of ornamentals from a roadside stand in Riconada, NM. If she can't get certain varieties there, she purchases them from several organic farms in California. She refuses to buy imports from other countries.

Macres explains her design process is a random one. She says the stick or handle often comes first, which she finds on her long walks in the mountains. Her favorite material is aged wood that she gets from juniper, cottonwood, sycamore, apple wood and cholla plants and trees. Her prerequisite is that they must have character.

She then matches the handle with the right gourd, which she will dry for six months. Once the gourd becomes moldy, she washes it in water with some bleach and black soap and scrapes off the remaining mildew. She does 8-12 gourds at a time, making the process go quicker than doing them individually. The paint comes last, acrylic is best says Macres, "because of all the amazing colors you can create."

The filler, or noise makers consist of ant rocks and mung beans. Macres believes her rattles posses a direct relationship between the under and upper worlds, and the ants seem to have mastered living in both, which is why she chooses their diminutive, self-produced pebbles. "I couldn't be happier doing my part as an artist to create something that is used to honor the rhythm of life," says Macres.

A deep spiritual connection is apparent in all of Macres's gourds. Creating art from a living, organic source that is used for a ceremonial purpose gives her great pleasure. Healers, Shamans and therapists all use her gourd rattles to call upon spiritual guides from the past to integrate and heal those in the present. Macres says each gourd she designs has its own personality, soul, and sound, which she says "invokes the spirit... driving the heartbeat of Mother Earth."

Gourdjus Rattles range from $30.00 to $75.00 and may be purchased on her Etsy website: www.GourdjusRattles.etsy.com. Marianne Macres may be contacted by email at: gourdjusrattles@gmail.com.

All photos provided and property of Marianne Macres.

Lost and Found beauty

2012-04-02T22:45:00.016-07:00

Santa Cruz, NM

Living in a place called the "Land of Enchantment," you think would quell any complaints about the ambiance. Undeniably, it is absolutely beautiful here, sometimes so much so that it is hard to put into words. My friend Nancy Kenney says there aren't enough superlatives to describe Santa Fe, NM. Agreed. Yet as much as I am inundated in beauty, both raw and created, I sometimes, well, get a little bored by the repeats and that 'oasis in a desert' feeling. I feel terrible for saying that but I come from another city, also with a charming nickname, aka Baltimore, MD or Charm City, which seems funny, because when I lived there, I thought that was small.

Joy ride

So I plan escapes every full moon or so. Last weekend was one of those get-outta-dodge romps that provided some serious new doses of neglected beauty. Friends like Eddie help. When he shouted at 8:00 a.m., "Mandatory field-trip, get dressed," it's like he read my mind. We got in the Jeep, and headed south on 25.

Espanola, NM

First stop: Espanola. Ok, it's a start. Eddie, who is well-known for his Spanish Colonial wood carvings, needed to drop some samples off at a friend's studio. On our way, we spotted this incredible weeping willow so massive and perfect I made him pull over for a shot. Funny how neighbors can be, the lady across the street threw me the most putrid look as I took a picture and then demanded, "What do you all want?" All I could think was beauty, lady, I just want beauty. But I said nothing.

Santa Cruz Lake

Next stop: water. Eddie wanted to show me that it does exist in New Mexico, contrary to popular belief. So we headed towards Santa Cruz Lake. At least we thought we did.

Not so fast...after chasing a dirt road that dead-ended in a cow field in Truchas, we turned around only to get side-tracked by the mountain-side towns' funky vibe and numerous little galleries. It was my kind of place, but we were on a mission, so back to find that unmarked Rt 76.

Sun shadows

Mission accomplished. When we arrived at the lake, we convinced the Park Police to give us just enough time to absorb the view without having to pay the entrance fee. Ten minutes later, we were saturated in sun and sparkle which made us very happy as we planned a return camping trip.

Enter at your own Risk

Stop #3: Casa del David: character extraordinaire who is Eddie's friend. David's drive way entrance is a mixed bag of memorabilia...strange combinations of things like cleaning mops arranged as of they were miniature sculptures; rusted antique refrigerators which made us wonder what might still be inside; and dangling dead animal carcases that we deduced may have come from inside said rusted refrigerators. I was instantly entranced.

David and Eddie

David spoke in one of those rare dialects where ancient New Mexican Spanish attaches itself to English cliches, an often magical yet difficult to comprehend combination that only Eddie seemed to understand.

Disturbing plastic headless baby that kinda looks like Bart Simpson

I asked David if I could take some photos and he said no. He mumbled something about my camera stealing spirits and ruining the aura or something like that. After a rather awkward pause, he laughed and said, "Si, of course." Then he handed me a bottle of port wine, and said bebelo, so I did.

Cow skulls and Christmas lights

After a while, Eddie wanted to leave and return to the enchanted land where my little casita painted the colors of tropical citrus fruit awaited our weary day-tripper souls. As we pulled out of the driveway, I noticed two Maryland license plates. Could it have gotten any better?

He only had plates from Maryland

All photos by Carole Langrall

Remote beauty

2012-03-26T23:11:00.025-07:00

Northern New Mexico’s vast landscape can seem endless—you’ll drive for miles and still see the same scenery: mountains and mesas, junipers and pinon pines…maybe an adobe ranch thrown in just to make you realize there is life form out there. Yet lodged beneath the blue skies and glorious spaciousness lie little towns, secret little towns, and unless you are a local or have to stop for gas or a bathroom, you may never know what you might discover.

There is a speck of a place in northern New Mexico called Ribera, that surprised a group of us a few weeks ago. We went to meet a man who is a well-known rancher in the area. It seemed like a nice day trip idea, especially when everything was covered in a silvery layer of snow.

We headed out of Santa Fe on I-25 N, passing Glorieta and then the Pecos wilderness, where we encountered more mesas. The view became very lush and looked like little landscapes from a miniature train garden set. After we passed the last plateau in Rowe, a lone mountain appeared in the distance that had a leveled-off butte, making it seem out of place. My friend told me that was Starvation Peak, a place legend has it, where 27 Spaniards starved and died after being attacked by Navajo Indians for trying to steal their land. Whether it’s true I don’t know, but I love a story when the persecuted get creative and catch a break, if only for a small moment.

We got to Ribera, our destination, which is about an hour from our art-hungry home called Santa Fe. Ribera sits twenty miles southwest from the nearest town, which is Las Vegas (not the glittery bachelor party spot, this is actually in NM). Las Vegas is a place with a vintage vibe so big it’s like a time warp, (but its charming mineral springs off the side of the road more than make up for the dilapidated, abandoned neighborhoods surrounding it).

The town of Ribera is spread out over one big, wide open space that is perfect for ranchers and artists or for disappearing from society. It attracts the famous, like radio shock-jock Don Imus, who bought some land and started his non-profit, “Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer.” Its art edge is found in the El Ancon Sculpture Park, which was created by artist and environmentalist, Nicasio Romero. All the locals know each other because there are only about 500 of them. Then there are the “off the gridders” who found the perfect escape, away from civilization and annoying tourists looking for turquoise.

Our destination was high up a mountain which required horsepower-- thank God we didn’t take the Mini. We got lost about three times, our host had to come rescue us, but it didn’t matter… the snow-covered chollas and chamisas made us feel like we were in a winter fairy-land.

If you get the chance to visit Ribera, make sure you stop off at La Risa and have a breakfast burrito, you won’t regret the wild goose chase it may take finding it. Special thanks to Eddie Rodriguez, our tour guide and host for his shrewd navigational abilities, hospitality and awesome fajitas.

All photos by: Carole Langrall and Karen Schuld Photography

Tribal beauty: Omo Valley's botanical fashion show

2012-01-29T13:02:00.000-08:00

There is a fashion show each year that makes New York and Milan's Fashion Week look mild. Held in a remote location, without stylists or designers, the models don't even use mirrors-- as a matter of fact, there is only one designer featured: Mother Nature.

This organic parade of texture and color has been a cultural celebration of several tribes in the Omo Valley of Ethiopia for generations, in particular, the Surma and Mursi people.

These two tribes have deep-seated roots in ancient traditions and rituals, but have been at odds with the local government and neighboring groups for decades. Access to natural resources and agricultural land is a never-ending part of their daily life, with the region acting as a hub for arms and ivory trade.

Yet despite the hostile daily life, the tribes continue to pay homage to nature's ephemeral resources by adorning themselves in vibrant colors, flowers, pigments and plant parts.

German photographer, Hans Silvester, documents the two tribes in his book, "Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration From Africa," which has powerful, colorful images of the Omo Valley 'natural fashion show', as well as other regions of Africa.

For more information on Hans Silvester's photos and work, visit Story Culture blog, or read about him in the UK Daily Mail.

Ready-to-wear beauty: Weedrobes

2012-01-05T13:15:00.000-08:00

Weedrobes wardrobe

A friend sent me a link to some of the most fantastic clothes I have ever seen. I'm ready to wear them all, but I lean towards the invasive species ensemble. Invasive species ensemble?

Invasive Species

You heard right. Multi-media artist, Nicole Dextras, from Vancouver, BC, has managed to create some of the worlds most beautiful and natural garments made entirely out of plants and flowers. Invasive weeds included. She calls them Weedrobes.
Camellia Countessa

The idea for came out of Dextras's passion for environmental art and her work in the theater as a clothes designer.

Hydrangea Dubutante

She began her Weedrobes series in 2005 as an experiment. Her objective was to create art that in turn created a dialogue for people to become interested in the environment, while being made aware of the impact of consumerism.

Eco-Man

Her wearable sculptures are literally green--they are made from local, sustainable plant materials she finds in her garden and community. She then photographs her models in their organic outfits in urban landscapes to illustrate the interaction between humans and the plant world.

Weedrobes Accessories

After the photo shoot, Dextras places her living sculpture in a garden or park setting and allows it to decompose over time.

Aside from her blooming frocks, Dextras is an accomplished artist, writer and photographer. A visit to her website may make you swoon, but will also most assuredly make you think about the wonders of our environment.

Balancing beauty: Herbalist Doug Simons

2011-10-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

New Mexico may be famous for its vast desert and mountain ranges, but there is an underworld of beauty waiting to sprout. In reality, most of us would be surprised at the abundance of vegetation that flourishes in many parts of this arid state.

Doug Simons knows this fact better than anyone. Owner of Chanchka Remedios in Gila, NM for more than 20 years, Simons combines his passion for healing plants and people through herbal remedies. Chanchka is a Lakota word meaning “red-tailed hawk,” a sacred bird in many Native American cultures that can acclimate to all the biomes in his region. Remedios is a Spanish word for remedies or cures. As Simons states, “An imbalance in people can be healed or cured when they learn to harmonize their relationships within the plant kingdom.” http://www.blohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifgger.com/img/blank.gif

After taking an humblecha, a ceremonial vision quest, at the age of 17, Simons knew he had a calling--to help connect people with the earth through the healing potential of plants.

Growing up in Colorado, Simon spent most of his childhood discovering and identifying plants with his mother and sister, who is also an herbalist. Years later, he moved to Gila, where he found an enormous selection of plants and herbs to use for his work, such as pinon, sage brush (along with other artemesias), juniper, and chaparral. It may come as a surprise that the majority of the plants Simon uses come from this southwestern region of the state, or as Simons refers to, “his backyard.”

Simons’ priority when working with plants is to leave them intact, using only what he needs, which is typically about 10%. In his workshops, he emphasizes this and educates his students to always ask the plants’ permission before taking them apart. This spirituality, coupled by a strong botanical knowledge, has made Simons a popular lecturer on the subject of plants.

Most of his clients come to him due to health and lifestyle concerns. Simons’ objective is not to replace Western medicine through his remedios, but rather to gently integrate components of plants into their daily routine. Simons believes that his clients can achieve balance once the healing power has shifted into a state of equilibrium.

Simons is available for consultations and gives workshops within the state and throughout the southwest. You may contact him at his website, Chanchka Remedios.

Illuminated beauty: The electric world of David Wiles

2011-10-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

I was invited to a party at the home of David Wiles, a local Santa Fe artist known for his fetes of fantasy and fun. To find his place, you don’t really need a house number, you just turn onto his street and follow the path of neon and LED lights. Pass through a lush garden brimming with cactus, snapdragons and waterfalls, and you have entered a Southwest version of A Garden of Earthly Delights, also known as David Wiles’s world.

Step inside, and you are instantly immersed into a multi-sensory experience... your eyes immediately zoom in on cow skulls with blazing neon eyes and guests that are bathed in a phosphorescent green glow. Smells of Asian delicacies mixed with cinnamon and incense lead you into the kitchen where more light installations frame the walls and corners.

It’s almost a sensory overload, and if you aren’t careful, you may miss something. While illuminating and fantastical, Wiles’s house also has a very relaxing, Zen-like effect. Wiles says he likes to design and create vignettes that also serve as shrines, which have symbolic importance. A world traveler, Wiles claims influence by recent treks to India and to Burning Man, an annual arts event held in Nevada. “There is nothing is better to find then a place for something that’s been out of place,” says Wiles.

A classically trained, well-respected timpanist who has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts and symphonies around the world, Wiles discovered two decades ago that he had a passion for light structures and neon. He became a licensed electrician and started creating illuminated pieces (his neon cow skulls were a big hit in Santa Fe galleries) that he also uses to decorate his home.

Wiles calls his place a three-dimensional Garden of Eden, while many party-goers refer to it as “Club Oasis.” Planted in his backyard, much of his entertaining set-up is surrounded by trees and gardens, reminiscent of World Party’s 1986 album Private Revolution, where a living room scene thrives beneath shaggy branches in the woods.

There is a converted separate garage that serves as his bedroom, and is adorned with hanging gongs, Asian inspired linens and, of course, more techno-colored neon. Wiles continues his inside-outside theme with additional comfortable seating, like the bedlike section complete with big cushions, pillows and blankets. Planters of cacti dot the corners as he “never met a cactus that didn’t become a friend.”

Adjacent to the garage is his office space and hallway which both have custom made light structures and an impressive blown glass collection. Sprinkled throughout are framed pictures of Burning Man highlights, an event Wiles has attended for the past nine years.

It's clear Wiles's design sensibility is heavily influenced by music and light with the numerous drums and percussion instruments he has strategically placed around his house. "Hearing and seeing are really the same thing, but in different languages," says Wiles.

By the time you are ready to leave, your senses should be in tip top shape. But don’t forget to look down--Wiles’s final surprise is an array of illuminated glass blocks that he created with LED lights.

Thank you David, for your vision and willingness to share your “electrifying vision” with the world.

Roadside beauty: Embudo, NM Gas Station Museum

2011-10-04T21:30:00.001-07:00

If you take the low road to Taos, NM you'll discover all sorts of unusual of things you usually only read about or see in movies. Sure the views are spectacular (and often overwhelming), but there are actually people and businesses who live in these lush and untamed parts. Take the gas station in Embudo we found last week. We stopped when we saw they sold Nehi's.

We bumped into the owner and asked if we could take some pictures. Well, hell yeah, he said, so we did.

The first thing you notice is the extensive collection of gasoline memorabilia, from pumps to oil cans to well preserved vintage signage, he had it all. Only thing is, it's a museum, not an actual gas station.

Looking at a row of rusted pumps reminded us of another lifetime when odd and even license plates dictated how long we waited in our parent's station wagons for gas.

We never did catch the museum/collector's name, but he was nice enough to let us roam free around the property. After spying around back, we discovered he was also an outsider artist.

We're not sure if which made us smile more...the vintage sewing machines lined up on top of weird old metal signs or the tin can robot riding the John Deere mini tractor.

In any case, stopping off to see this road side attraction is highly recommended.

Make sure you thank the nice man who created all this beautiful madness. The dog is friendly, by the way.

If you're in the 'hood, check them out:
1819 Highway 68
Embudo, NM 87531
505.852.2995

All photos by Carole Langrall

Bull beauty

2011-09-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

After I grabbed a copy of the Santa Fe Reporter today, I immediately turned to Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology horoscopes (I have my priorities straight, really) and although I sometimes get disappointed by the fact that the Taurus 'scope is often smaller in content than the other ones, this time it didn't matter. The reason is simple, while Mr. Brezsny is usually spot on with his magical metaphorical messages (regardless of the size his predictions), this week it really hit the mark.

Taurus, Week of September 22:
A guy on Reddit.com posted a photo that made me think of you. He had been out walking in the wilds of Ontario, and found a single ripe peach growing on a scraggly, skinny tree in the middle of an abandoned quarry. There were no other peach trees in sight, let alone peaches. I suspect that when you find beauty and sustenance in the coming days, Taurus, they will be in similar situations: unexpected and unlikely. That doesn't mean they'll be any less sweet.

I clicked onto that little peach tree pic, and all I can say is this week is indeed a Neglected Beauty week, so go out and find some.

Oh, and I hope that guy didn't pick it. You hit the bulls eye again, Mr. Brezsny, well done.

Environmental beauty: Earth Now, American Photographers and the Environment

2011-07-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

Ansel Adams

If you haven’t visited the New Mexico Museum of Art in Sante Fe lately, now would be the time as there’s an exhibit you won’t want to miss: EARTH NOW.

Bill Owens

Inspired by Ansel Adams; and Eliot Porter’s landscape photography, Earth Now is a collection of important works by American photographers that tell the story of Mother Earth, from man’s less than gentle influence, to his attempt to repair the damages. The pictures stimulate visitors to think about their personal relationship to the environment and to consider the impact of the choices we make as a society and as individuals.

Bremner Benedict

With a growing concern for the environment in this country, the idealized, unpopulated landscapes of both Adams and Porter set the standard for twentieth-century nature photography. Earth Now begins with a collection of works by these two artists and moves on to a group of landscape photographers who came of age in the 1970s.

Greg Mac Gregor

The exhibition’s primary concentration is on work made after the millennium. The pictures stimulate visitors to think about their personal relationship to the environment and to consider the impact of the choices we make as a society and as individuals.

Brad Moore

The second section of the exhibition presents several emerging artists, while others are more established artists doing new bodies of work, some of which have never been exhibited.

Exhibit Information:

New Mexico Museum of Art
107 West Palace Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-476-5072

Earth Now Exhibit

Richard Misrach

Seedy beauty: The environmental art of Richard Solomon

2011-07-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Tucked away, far from the beaten track, grows a wild seed. It’s found in a secluded spot near an 8,000 foot mesa, shielded by its natural habitat, invisible to most passersby. Unless you are Richard Solomon, a man who lives to find seeds and plant material.

Also known as the “Seed Shaman,” (www.seedshaman.com), Solomon is a man with a passion for discovering, collecting and working with a variety of plant material including goat’s beard, milkweed, desert marigold and wild sunflowers he uncovers on nature walks near his home in Ilfeld, New Mexico.

Solomon has been collecting and creating seed art for almost two and a half decades. After a successful career as CEO/Founder of a marketing and product development company for Fortune 500 companies and non-profits, including the World Wildlife Fund, he was ready for more natural pursuits. While a resident of upstate New York, he was taking a walk one day and came across an unusual clump of grass. Pulling it up from the ground, he examined the dangling roots and asked the Universe, “How can I make my way in this world with this beauty?”

With that vision, Richard embarked upon a new life making his living as an environmental artist. He believes he may be the first with his particular style of art and hopes his work will spread globally as a part of an emerging environmental arts movement.

Like Solomon himself, his work is multi-dimensional. He creates large Giclee fine art prints, set against a black background which he believes best accentuate the details of the seeds and petals. He also creates smaller, flat-pressed pieces that are multi-layered, usually containing flower petals, grasses, seeds and roots. Each composition tells a story; as Solomon says, it’s like he was on a journey without a map when he designed them.

Aside from his originals and prints, Solomon creates botanical sculptures using branches, twigs, pods, grasses and bark. Each sculpture is sewed and bound with the natural fibers of the yucca plant as he eschews using any unnatural elements such as glue, string or wire. They are completely organic pieces of art that can be hung on walls or doorways. However, like most fine art, they should be kept away from direct sunlight. This goes for all of his work, as the elements are in a natural, dried state.

His current “Seed Orb” project involves creating and marketing glass orbs filled with goat’s beard heads which looks like large, luminous dandelions. The pieces make lovely interior accents that can be used together in clusters or simply by themselves.

Solomon is also in the process of marketing a new global environmental venture called EarthWords™ to be introduced in the spring of 2012. EarthWords™ is a kit containing rye grass seeds, a dispenser and a guide book. The purpose of the kit to write a word in the earth that will grow into a ‘green’ social statement within 10 days. It is a project suited for everyone: consumers, corporate sponsors, nonprofits and schools. Solomon believes EarthWords™ will help bring awareness to global warming by allowing individuals to literally write a “green footprint” on the earth and develop a new sense of reverence for the world around us.

Richard Solomon’s art may be purchased on his web-site, www.seedshaman.com, by email: seedshaman1@aol.com, or by contacting him directly at 575.421.2855.

PHOTOS: C. LANGRALL, RICHARD SOLOMON AND ERIC SANDERS

R.I.P. beauty: Los descansos de Santa Fe, NM

2011-05-15T23:57:00.000-07:00

Santa Fe Trail

Un descanso is a Spanish word that translates into "rest" or "place of rest." Another interpretation involves a meaning that is more macabre in nature-- a memorial marker that is placed at the spot of one's death, usually by the side of a road.

Alameda and Palace

Descansos have been around a long time, from Greece and Europe to the Americas. While it is not certain exactly when or where they originated, the practice became common during the European Crusades for soldiers who died in battle. They were typically buried at the site of their death with a cross placed on top. The tradition continued when the Spanish Conquistadors came to America, making New Mexico the first state to be known for erecting descansos, due to the many battles that took place from Las Cruces to Espanola.

A rare Star of David marks a descanso on Old Las Vegas Highway where four teens died tragically in 2009

Note from friend of teen in the above mentioned accident

In more recent times, especially in Santa Fe, descansos have taken on more of an artistic interpretation rather than just a religious oriented tribute (crucifixes are the norm). The simple crosses of decades gone by have been replaced with ornate shrines of religious and non-religious icons, including poetry and handwritten letters; stuffed animals and toys; holiday décor and painted stones; even alcoholic containers that serve as vessels for flower arrangements.

Descanso near El Dorado

Rodeo Rd.

While descansos may be subject to ravages of the elements of nature and time, the memories never fade.

Cerrillos Rd.

They are beautiful, colorful celebrations of the loved ones we lost all too soon. Next time you pass one, stop and look at the neglectedly beautiful details on the ground.

Rodeo Rd.
To learn more about descansos in New Mexico, read "Descansos: An Interrupted Journey" by Rudolfo Anaya, & Juan Estevan Arellano and Denise Chavez, or visit their blog

All photos taken and are property of C.A. Langrall

Radioactive beauty: The Black Hole, Los Alamos, NM

2011-04-06T11:20:00.001-07:00

There is a place in New Mexico that isn't known for its art scene or landscape. Hard to believe, but this place has something no other can offer: recycled military lab equipment. Maybe not so beautiful, but certainly neglected and very, very interesting.

The Black Hole, home to long forgotten “nuclear waste,” has the world’s largest and most diverse selection of scientific and lab equipment, such as CRT oscilloscopes and X-ray converters. It is located just outside the lab buildings, and sits adjacent to a triangular church called the Omega Peace Institute. Once you pass the sign of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Sir Joseph Rotblat, you’ve entered The Black Hole zone.

It's a little like "Lost in Space" meets the Pentagon-- but the stoic landscape of burnt aspens create a more sci-fi than military feel.

Step inside the 17,000 square foot warehouse and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the endless rows of shelves overflowing with gages, valves and machinery. Some items are identifiable; however, many are simply mysterious reminders of past wars, both hot and Cold.

There’s even a library with books ranging from lab manuals to vintage collectors item magazines.

The salvage museum was the brainchild of Ed Grothus, a.k.a. "Atomic Ed," who started out as a machinist and then became a weapons expert working on atomic bombs during WWII. He quit working in the labs 1969 when his conscience could no longer tolerate his role in nuclear bomb development. He became an outspoken anti-nuclear protester and later a solar power advocate.

If you are looking for something unusual, this is the place to go. The Black Hole has provided materials to over 500 Universities and Research Institutions around the world as well as technical props for 4 major motion pictures. There was even a documentary made about Ed’s endeavors called, “Atomic Ed and the Black Hole,” which was released in 2002, complete with a Laurie Anderson’s “Big Science” soundtrack.

Ed passed away in 2009, but his legacy lives on with another Ed (a close friend of the family) who will give you a tour while assuring you the radiation has been removed from all items. I don’t know if I believe that, but it sure didn’t stop me from buying a Department of Defense water container that can also be used as a commode.

Click here to visit the site of: Atomic Ed and the Black Hole Documentary.

Southwest spring beauty: Early signs in Santa Fe

2011-03-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

Muscari and leaves

It's spring in Santa Fe, NM and despite the lack of precipitation, Mother Nature has once again found a way to survive, even in the smallest, driest spaces.

Euphorbia rigida

The Santa Fe River is a mere trickle from the scant snowfall we received this past winter. Signs of water are sparse, but hearty fighters like dandelions, euphorbia rigida and miniature sedums are poking up from underneath rocks and unraked leaves from last year's blustery fall.

Friend or foe?... the dandelion

Sedum

It may still be a little bit before the fruit tree blossoms blanket the dried chamisa and adobe landscape, but there are a few early bloomers in town.

Apricot blossom
White cherry blossom

Blooming vinca vine

Bearded Iris are getting ready...

Vanished beauty: Pine Point, by the Goggles

2011-03-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

Very Short List is a very cool website with excellent new (and sometimes vintage) entertainment and media that haven’t been hyped to within an inch of their lives. Each weekday, the site recommends a single gem from the vast mass of films, TV shows, books, websites, music, and more. The focus is on products that deserve attention but haven’t already been subject to giant media pile-ons. If you like neglected beauty, you will love this site.

I caught a recent post called Pine Point, which was an almost book that got converted into an interactive part on-line film, part website. It's spans the last years of a Canadian mining town named Pine Point, that vanished from site in 1987. The film is done in a scrap-book format and takes at least 20 minutes to view. To absorb the story in full, complete with very cool, retro graphics, take your time when reading so as not to miss the incredible narrative. Accompanied by a somewhat hauntingly sweet soundtrack, it's time travel back to the days of where hanging out and just being a teenager in the 70's was as good as it gets.

The concept was based on a website designed by former Pine Point resident, Richard Cloutier, and created by the Goggles, a company formed by Michael Simons and Paul Shoebridge, the award-winning creative team behind Adbusters Magazine. The film is produced by the National Film Board of Canada .

Pine Point is a video/film/website you don't want to miss, so check it out.

Glass covered beauty: The Slug and the Squirrel

2011-02-28T21:50:00.000-08:00

After signing up for Google Alerts for my floral design studio, A Garden of Earthly Delights, I have discovered some pretty amazing forms of earthly beauty from those with similar names. Sometimes I find people or companies creating outrageous floral replicas of Hieronymus Bosch's famous triptych, or beautiful paintings of floral et fauna in exotic locales. Today, I found a smaller version of earthly delights when I was re-routed to a New York Times article about miniature terrariums.

The living designs of Jose Agatep and his company, The Slug and the Squirrel, were featured, highlighting adorable, hand-made glass displays filled with unusual plants. They are sold on his web-site and now at Anthropologie. The terrariums come in a variety of sizes and shapes and offer an eclectic assortment of plants.

The concept of terrariums has been around for centuries, but Agatep's botanical creations are unique in that he uses found containers from flea markets and vintage shops and adds interesting combinations of plants, such as succulents and mosses. The spot-light on his terrariums is well-timed with an on-going exhibit similar in nature at the MoMa by artist and landscape designer Paula Hayes, who uses much larger vessels that encapsulate flora.

For more information, visit: The Slug and the Squirrel

Winter garden beauty: Piet Oudolf, landscape architect

2011-02-20T20:43:00.000-08:00

It's winter and as much as we gardeners pray for warmer, more colorful days, there are still opportunities to find beauty in the dormant beds of our gardens. Dutch landscape architect, Piet Oudolph, knows this better than anyone as he designs four season landscapes that continue to awe, well after the final blooms of fall's Japanese anemones perish.

Oudolph, who is a leader in the New Perennials Landscape Movement, suggests choosing (perennial) plants for their texture and long-lasting shapes as opposed to simply their color. He has practiced this philosophy in his international acclaimed gardens for years. Oudolf was recently asked to partake in a Q&A segment in the New York Times last week to discuss the merits of winter gardens.

Included in the interview is a spectacular slide show (I could not download, you must click on link to see), demonstrating Oudolf's passion for all season gardens, which has been a favorite Neglected Beauty topic for years. While many people still believe their gardens are unappealing during the winter months, they may change their minds when they look at his incredible images. Skeletal remains of echinacea and dried ornamental grass reeds seem every bit as beautiful as when they were alive, but now they are caste in haunting, sepia tones that pull the viewer in a new direction. All you have to do is adjust your perspective a bit, and you will see Oudolph's message: while everything must have a season, beauty still continues to bloom in death as it once did in life.

To learn more about Piet Oudolph, visit his website.

All photos property of Piet Oudolf.

Trashy beauty: The Beach Garbage Hotel, Madrid

2011-01-25T09:24:00.000-08:00

What would it look like if we took all the trash in the world and made art out of it? It may look like this:

When German artist, Ha Schult, got fed up with the ocean’s polluted waters, he decided to make a statement and in this case, a hotel, out of debris he collected from waste dumps and flea markets in Europe. His latest piece entitled, the Corona Save the Beach Garbage Hotel, is located in Madrid, Spain and is currently on exhibit and open for business until January 23rd.

According to Schult, roughly 30% to 40% of the objects used were found on beaches in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The hotel has five double rooms which have been booked up since it opened, and all of the trash has been disinfected. The hotel has attracted environmentalists and famous faces like model, Helena Christensen and jewelry designer, Jade Jagger.

Photograph by LIFE magazine

The idea of recycling waste is not only brilliant, it may be the future. Through his art, Schult manages to open the world’s eyes to the fact that ocean pollution is very real. This is one of many “trashy” installations of Schult’s. For more information on his art, visit his uber-cool website at Ha Schult Online.