author...illustrator...guerilla artist
author...illustrator...guerilla artist
glean, v.i. & t. Gather ears of corn left by reapers, gather (such remains); strip (field etc.), thus; collect in small quantities, scrape together, (news, facts, etc.) source: the concise oxford dictionary.
This weekend I watched the film "The Gleaners and I" by french filmmaker Agnes Varda. Following her attraction to "gleaning", Varda documents various forms of the concept from people who harvest potatoes left in the field, to a famous chef who gleans produce from the countryside, to artists, and also the homeless. It is a fascinating and sometimes strange and painful journey. (Apparently I have always been a 'gleaner' and didn't even know it.) It is also a commentary on the nature of overconsumption in our culture, and asks us to question 'what is enough?' In the end 'the Gleaners and I' left me grinning, (and hungry).
wanderings and things i like...
...a hike in the california hills (adding to the seed pod collection), oak trees, yellow hills against a blue sky, the smell of bay laurel under our feet
...collecting strange large 'nuts' that look like chesnuts but bigger
...squash and apple soup (from the Moosewood restaurant cookbook)
...new books, 52 Projects by Jeffrey Yamaguchi, Cook Until Desired Tenderness by Cleo Papanikolas, "The Spell of the Sensuous" by David Abram
...purple potatoes and small pink turnips, which I had never eaten before, from the farmer's market. (i roasted them with thyme)
...the local satsumas are very good right now.
...decaf cappucino's from Pete's
...Miranda July
...gleaning blue things found on the street.
...looking up words in the dictionary.
Your entry was exactly what I needed. :)
Posted by: Swirly on November 16, 2005 08:10 PMAre you a member of Netflix? If not you'd probably dig it. It sounds like we watch the same kinds of stuff and they've got a ton of great documentaries. I've got the Gleaners coming and saw the Miranda July flick a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it. It reminded me of how it felt to be a kid in a weird sort of way.
Here's a link for you. You might want to check out Matt McCormick's films. Are you familiar with The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal? Such an awesome way of looking at things!
http://www.peripheralproduce.com/
I see you have Miranda July link up there. Did you see Me and You and Everyone We Know? Fabulous movie!
Posted by: kyra on November 16, 2005 10:51 AMI love that you have always been a "gleaner." After reading your blog for some time now, I'm certain from your entries of resurrected and/or artistically interpretted found objects, you are most certainly a gleaner. The thought that at one time the corners/edges of fields were once left un-harvested on purpose for those who gleaned to live adds an additional layer of interest to the subject. I am certain some creative a-ha will come of the thoughts...but for now I'm chewing on it...
Posted by: Felecia on November 15, 2005 10:31 PM* i interrupt this with a HAPPY DANCE, do the HAPPY DANCE *
~~~~just ordered your book~~~~
* resume happy dancing *
Posted by: Leonie on November 15, 2005 10:00 PMI´ve recently discovered your blog...and i´m loving every single line! I´m reading slowly ´cause my english is not that good (i´m brazilian!). I´m trying to do 100 thinks to do and loving the wish jar journal, the illustrations...i´m so glad i´ve dicovered u!
Thanks for sharing all these good things withus!
Hugs!!!!
I have that cookbook, I love that soup, too.
Posted by: Jodi on November 15, 2005 06:38 PMI have finally caught up, and am now reading your blog in "real time"! I am so pleased about the positive embrace of your new life in California. When I first moved to NC, I spent far too long paying attention to the things I felt were "missing" and not enough time being open to the unique things it had to offer.
Posted by: nadine on November 15, 2005 03:58 PMI've been catching up on your entries, you revolutionary, you! I support you and the statement you're making.
I love your work. Always have. I appreciate the dynamic, evolving artist (and soul) that you are, Keri.
The main reason for this post is to tell you that I was just reading your "ideas" list and I want you to know that you completely kick ass. Just had to say that. :-)
Posted by: Kymberlee on November 15, 2005 12:15 PMHa. I totally beat you to both Miranda July, and purple potatoes. I've been obsessed with weird coloured vegetables ever since I had purple mashed potatoes at my cousins wedding a couple years ago (did you know that carrots were originally black, not orange?). And I just wrote an entry about the fabulousness of Miranda a month ago.
Posted by: beth maher on November 15, 2005 11:17 AMThanks for the recomendations, the 52 projects book and the film from Miranda July.I hoope it commes soon to Spain!!
Posted by: natascha on November 15, 2005 07:29 AMGleaning, like turbary (the right to collect turf or peat)and estovers (the right to collect wood for fuel from a common or wasteland) were common or customary rights people once held close to their hearts as these rights were part of a moral economy which the working rural people in 18th and 19th century Britain had practiced since time immemorial. Industrialization and the booming agricultural markets brought an end to these customary rights, but the concept is still very dear to many people today. Society has changed a lot since those times, and not for the better in many ways. Back then, society was more communal and each person had a customary right to be able to gain a basic living from the land. Everyone in the community knew each other and the better off viewed caring for the struggling as part of their duty to society. The patriarchal society was not all kindness and light, however; I would not necessarily wish to go back, but there is a lot we can still learn from our customary past.
Posted by: Terri on November 14, 2005 08:13 PMIt's become a family tradition to watch this movie every Thanksgiving, so I've been looking forward to seeing it again in the next couple of weeks. So glad you saw the magic in it as well - it's one of my all time favorites : )
Posted by: Jessica Poundstone on November 14, 2005 07:42 PMKeri.
I always love the way you describe things... You have this amazing ability to make anything sound dreamy and romatic.
Jenn
Posted by: Jenn on November 14, 2005 06:03 PMHooray! I'm so glad you saw The Gleaners and I. It's informational and affirmational to see other resourceful folks.
your fellow gleaner -B
Posted by: Brandy on November 14, 2005 05:49 PMI agree with Adele. Little insights like this are fantastic. Oh, thought you might be interested in this link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051114/ap_en_tv/product_placement
Too bad it isn't happening for purely altruistic reasons.
Posted by: Dee on November 14, 2005 03:01 PMThat's one of my favorite movies! Hooray for the gleaners of the world!
Posted by: Nicole Raisin Stern on November 14, 2005 02:50 PMi love your posts like this... where you fill us in on little things you like from your life.
Posted by: adele on November 14, 2005 01:29 PM