When All Is Said And Done

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It's Mother's day every day, ya know.

So If I listen to this song right, they are singing about growing up & thanking their moms. Let's take a look at this phenomenon then.

	Their stares...bit spooky, no? I do think this is pretty interesting in that they somewhat resemble European classical portraits.

How to be proud as the one who watches over
Speaking of portrait, would you be pleased if you get painted like this?

Painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo "Vertumnus and Portrait of Rudolf II von Habsburg" (1591)

Emperor Rudolf II was so satisfied with the way he was painted as Vertumnus, the Roman god of the seasons, growth, plants and fruit, he awarded the painter, Arcimboldo one of his highest orders.

I brought this up because I've just found out the book version which may not be as famous as the aforementioned painting. (The model is not the emperor)
If you are fond of reading, I bet you'd love to be painted like this...would you? They say they can't actually tell if this particular work was made of praise or scorn!

Painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo "The Librarian" (1566)

Girls' mama
Back to the subject, the girls' version of Mama song is here!

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written by Matt Rowe, Richard Stannard, Spice Girls / from the album Spice, 1996 Virgin

She used to be my only enemy And never let me be free Catching me in places That I knew I shouldn't be Every other day I crossed the line I didn't mean to be so bad I never thought you would become The friend I never had Back then I didn't know why Why you were misunderstood mama So now I see through your eyes All that you did was love Mama I love you Mama I care Mama I love you Mama my friend You're my friend I didn't want to hear it then but I'm not ashamed to say it now Every little thing you said and did was right for me I had a lot of time to think about, About the way I used to be Never had a sense of my responsibility Back then I didn't know why Why you were misunderstood So now I see through your eyes All that you did was love Mama I love you Mama I care Mama I love you Mama my friend You're my friend You're my friend But now I'm sure I know why (I know why) Why you were misunderstood So now I see through your eyes All I can give you is love (all I can give you is love) Mama I love you Mama I care Mama I love you Mama my friend Mama I love you Mama I care Mama I love you Mama my friend My friend Mama my love (you're my friend) Mama my love Mama I love you Mama I care Mama I love you Mama my friend Me loving you (me loving you) You loving me (you loving me) A love that's true (a love that's true) And guaranteed (so true) Me loving you (me loving you) You loving me (mama I care) (you loving me) A love that's true (a love that's true) And guaranteed (so true) (Mama I love you) me loving you (me loving you) You loving me (mama I care) (you loving me) A love that's true (a love that's true) And guaranteed (so true) Mama I love you, me loving you (me loving you)

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Much like Boy Zone's "Father and Son", it sings about the difficulty in building good relationship with your own mother, but unlike the former, love seems to have conquered it all in the end.

It's worth noting that there are quite a few fans out there who actually sang this song when they were little, after the fights with their moms! What a lovely story:)

Here comes tough Grandma
"You don't get to be 95 without having some sad memories and knowing ugly things. But I don't believe in painting ugliness. I paint pretty pictures. ... If people can't get pleasure out of looking at a picture, what's the use of painting it?"

I haven't read art exhibitions newsletters I subscribe to for a couple of years for there hasn't been much going on anyway. A few weeks ago, I felt like taking a look at it after the long break, and then I instantly felt the urge to visit Grandma Moses's listed on the front page.

It was not until this American farmer lady hit her 70s that she's decided to paint regularly in order to ease her pain caused by her husband's death. Though her fairytale-like, gentle painting strokes may evoke an image of grandma who is smiling amiably looking for some companionship to chat over tea, someone who is in need of being surrounded by happy people, she would rather be the one to help herself first, as clearly expressed in her words; "I would never sit back in a rocking chair, waiting for someone to help me.”

Contrary to her painting style, the way she created the worlds based on her memory in the canvas, she was pretty much a realist, too, who refused to stop working though I consider not in a sense of self-realization valued in the modern era, but more as an individual devoted to others, which include Nature and God.
She was asked to paint religious subjects, but declined, saying she cannot paint something she's never seen, and when asked if she felt sad to let go of her paintings into which she put so much emotion being sold, she replied, "Oh no I'd rather have the money!"

Her humble, yet rigorous, never-say-die attitude toward what she called "a good day's work" life is neatly told here. It(Biography of Grandma Moses)'s a good read:Grandma Moses @The Art Story

The museum that holds the biggest collection of her paintings:Bennington Museum

You can meet her at the documentary below. Regrettably, the video quality is not good, but it is so amazing when the camera follows her painting details, I almost forget these are paintings! Her paintings are decorative folk art, not necessarily meant to photocopy objects, but yes, I was invited to real Nature and life in it! She interacted with Nature and her life breathed through it. Her paintings quietly show it.

I don't know how well-known her works are outside the US. It was my first time seeing them, and it was a blissful encounter. Her calendar and postcards bought at the museum shop are now hung in our living room. Innocent, joyful feelings expressed in the art do bring good vibes. You can feel the air changes. (Hey, I know it, that happens when I listen to Steo singing!;)

Animal kingdom mamas

I don't usually watch animal videos, even though I consider myself an animal lover. This time, I looked for one. The puppy story at the last part is so moving. Who said animals lack intelligence when love and trust are certainly a big part of what we call intelligence?

Listening to your Mother Nature

I was looking for xmas music, and I found this nice flute version of Ave Maria I'd like to share.
Sunlight doesn't discriminate, nurtures us all, and creates this beauty.