ByGD
My family spent spring break in Iceland in 2017. My youngest child was particularly impressed by the sculptures of Asmundur Sveinsson that were dotted around Reykjavik. Unfortunately we did not make it out to the museum bearing his name, but in the Reykjavik Art Museum, there was a little corner near one of his sculptures dedicated to letting kids create their own art. My 8-year-old translated one of his sculptures to two dimensions.
ByGD
Many years ago, I traveled around northern Japan with friends, exploring the hot springs resorts. At one isolated spot in the mountains, which we called “the grandma onsen” both for its clientele and old fashioned decor, I experienced a bout of insomnia. After hours of failing to fall asleep, I got up and finished my book. Then, since it was closer to sunrise than midnight, I gave up and went outside. I stationed myself on a little platform above a lake, and was soon joined by a grandma. We stood together in silence as the outline of the mountains across from us gradually became visible and the hillside brightened from grayscale to color. It was kind of cloudy, and I never actually felt a moment of “sunrise.” I was a little disappointed. But at some point, the grandma next me concluded the show was over. She let out a little “Ha!” of satisfaction, clapped her hands together, and bowed once at the mountain before smiling at me and wordlessly walking away.
Years later I read about an art project called Applause Encouraged.
…Scott Poblano’s Applause Encouraged, which happened at Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego in 2015. On a cliff overlooking the sea, forty-five minutes before the sunset, a greeter checked guests in to an area of fold-out seats cordoned off with red rope. They were ushered to their seats and reminded not to take photos. They watched the sunset, and when it finished, they applauded. Refreshments were served afterward.
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell, p. 6
The old lady in Japan already understood that kind of art and made it part of her daily life. I didn’t quite get it then, but I’d like to live more that way now.
ByGD
There is a war museum on the island of Terceira in the Azores. It seems a little strange for such a peaceful-feeling island to have a war museum. But Portugal was once an empire and the Azores are strategically located. The museum was interesting and tasteful – relating the facts without glamorizing them. Except for this office. I don’t remember what information it was supposed to relate. But the display gave me a sort of Hogwarts feeling. I want an office filled with floating books like this.
ByGD
Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just getting nostalgic over that Azores trip I took five years ago. But really, who needs Hawaii?
ByGD
One of the fun things about traveling is discovering new foods. Usually, since I live in a multicultural, coastal city, after my trip I find out that I can get those newly discovered foods at home, too. It’s not a waste, because my palate is still broader for the experience. I still remember the first time I ate paella and drank vinho verde – at a Portuguese restaurant in Macau. And I regularly visit Asian grocery stores to stock up on foods I discovered in Japan. But sometimes a food seems to be endemic to the place you find it. The fish jerky I can buy in Seattle is Asian and doesn’t taste like (or last as long) as the dried fish they eat as road snacks in Iceland. My kids fell in love with Sumol soda in the Azores. And I’ve yet to find a local source for that, too. I guess we just have to go back.