Archived Comments
Enjoy the past comments below for Monument…
Reminds me that here in Canberra, the political capital of Australia, a marvellous arboretum is being created. Some embassies are offering trees from their countries, to see if they will grown in our climate. There is a grand plan and I think we will be congratulated in another hundred years for this foresight. This city is already known for beautiful street tree plantings, but the future varied forest on a hillside overlooking our valley will no doubt be the jewel in the crown.
When my father was in his eighties he saw a neighbor in his mid-nineties planting a tree. Dad asked what the small sapling was. The older fellow said it was a cherry and that he always wanted to have a little fruit coming on. Right, grow and plan for the future.
You speak to my soul.
What a wonderful post, thank you so much! I was hoping for an image of the forest on a clickback and will make do with the lovely image you have painted within my imagination. Mahalo nui loa for reminding us to treat our art with the reverence it surely deserves.
You couldn’t have touched on a topic closer to my heart. I have spent many many fine hours wandering through Redwood Park with my dogs, and even counting the Redwood Trees (over 100 the last time I counted, which was 5 years ago). There is nothing finer than to stand at the base of a tree and look upward communing with nature and enjoying the beauty. A trip to Redwood Park is really worth it. Most of the unusual trees have plaques that list the name of the tree. It’s truly a special park. The massive Big Leaf Maple in the field is also awe inspiring.
It would be nice if EVERYBODY would remember to include the name of the State or Provence where these marvelous sites are located. I keep reading about paint outs, marvelous scenes, and activities at places like Redwood Park and Hazelmere Valley, but no mention of the State or Provence. PLEASE, remember to read what you write before sending it, with the attitude of Im reading it for the first time and need to know more.
Silent forests dream of green life red trees huge as sky open up the muse to believe in heaven, one sees fruits bloom and become Love helping children create and ‘be’ is glory Silent forests dream
“At the end of the day, It’s about what we do, what we’ve done and what we leave behind that counts”..
This is a beautiful letter. Thank you, Robert, for beginning the morning on a positive note.
What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing these two brothers story. I love it when people with a handicap, turn it into such a great positive that lives on. Wish I could see the forest they planted.
Ahhhhhhh……. Art is long life is short. Very true. Love your thoughts and thanks for your efforts!
I’m back on the open acrylic paints subject. Finally got to the states, live in Hopkins, Belize, where there is no place to buy art supplies and if you order them the customs duty is 20%, seriously. So I brought back a batch of these paints with the gel medium and it is really great. You can work with the best characteristics of acrylics and oils. Now I am having a local handyman make me some panels to work on. It is hard to find stretched canvases. It’s always something. Thanks for all the advise. Just to let you know we are reading your letters.
I grew up on a farm where I used to spend happy hours alone in a forest of huge old pine trees, the earth was spongey with pine needles and 60+ years later I am still transported back whenever I smell that balmy resinous smell of a pine. Those early years molded me into who I am today. Your letter took me back too. Curiously we have a copse of of giant Redwoods in our famous Garden Route indigenous forest here on the southern coast of South Africa, Trees are great ambassadors for world peace. I don’t paint nature, it would feel like capture and imprisonment ! I love your letter thanks Carol Plettenberg Bay
Thank you for this trip down memory lane Robert. I went to school in grade one at Hall’s Prairie School in the ’50s. My Dad worked at the Pacific and Peace Arch border crossings. I knew about the brothers because friends of my Dad had worked for the brothers every autumn, helping round up their pigs for sale. It was a mysterious story, these two men living on separate floors of a tree house, not speaking to each other. When Redwood Park was opened, that became a favourite place of ours to hike around. The tree house was intriguing and a bit scary to us kids. I credit that park with my life-long love of trees. What a wonderful legacy these eccentric brothers left. Although it has been close to 50 years since I was there last, it still remains a strong memory, a monument indeed. The concept of relating the planting of those tree seeds to the planting of our artistic seeds really resonates with me. There is constant cultivation of both required to reach maturity. It is a life-long garden of growth.
What a wonderful sanctuary. We all have them and are enriched by them.
“The Redwoods” – Joseph B. Strauss Here, sown by the Creator’s hand. In serried ranks, the Redwoods stand: No other clime is honored so, No other lands their glory know. The greatest of Earth’s living forms, Tall conquerors that laugh at storms; Their challenge still unanswered rings, Through fifty centuries of kings. The nations that with them were young, Rich empires, with their forts far-flung, Lie buried now-their splendor gone: But these proud monarchs still live on. So shall they live, when ends our days, When our crude citadels decay; For brief the years allotted man, But infinite perennials’ span. This is their temple, vaulted high, And here, we pause with reverent eye, With silent tongue and awestruck soul; For here we sense life’s proper goal: To be like these, straight, true and fine, to make our world like theirs, a shrine; Sink down, Oh, traveler, on your knees, God stands before you in these trees.
I do reflect on the fact that I would leave behind some artworks as a legacy. I estimate that I have painted 3000 works…and one way or another most have found homes. There is some measure of comfort in that. And maybe 50 or so of the hundreds of adult students I have taught watercolor painting to, developed into serious “fire in the belly ” artists….which enriches their lives. And they will be leaving artwork as monuments. I thank God for my interest in painting…it is a challenging and rewarding thing to do. I did not have to make my living at it, thank goodness. I depended on a career as a Chemical Engineer to supply the shekels I needed to support a family of 5, buy art supplies and take workshops. I was able to retire at age 57…..and art has been pretty much my passion now for some 45 years. I fills my days. Painting and teaching give me a solid reason to get up every day…no guilt at all in spending so much time at what some would call a hobby.
Yes, while creating, my mind goes into a state of tranquility, a sort of State of Bliss, a state of nothingness and everything(that’s on a good day of course:)…Time slips away…process becomes creation becomes art..inner feelings are manifested in the outer world for all to see….stillness….joy.
While creating art, I slip into a transformational state, a State of Bliss if you will,,,time flows slowly…ideas are borne out of whole cloth and thought becomes manifested in creation. Do I create art or does art manifest through me?? hard to tell…we are one:))
I just want to thank you Robert Genn and Elves. Beckett must be an Elf of course! What a lucky boy to have such a remarkable Grandpa. I among thousands it seems as this point in time, value our gift of receiving food for the joyous mind..from Mr. Genn! You are a blessing among us.
I love receiving the letters . Each time one comes I am reminded of all the artists out there making this a more beautiful world to live in. At 75, after 50 plus years of “making art” I am happy that I was and am still able to create work which makes people smile….and am ever grateful that the young take joy in picking up a paintbrush or a mound of clay and produce THEIR view of the world ! Let that stream of creativity never end!!!!
Robert, when a friend signed me up to receive your newsletter, I was so thrilled! Your letters are so inspiring to read, because you always have something of interest that helps me in so many ways. Like the present one, about these young people. It shows that they have no hangups when it comes paint; they just paint with all the energies that are given them, and they seem to have a sublime message of complementary colours! I feel what is put on canvas has a message, on how they feel inside. Life has many different avenues for displaying ones feelings, and when you see a child at play, it is time to take notice, because it seems to reflect what the mind is telling the world…with paint, building sandcastles, whatever! These paintings are wonderful, and Beckett is growing in leaps and bounds, to follow in his Grandpa’s footsteps!
Your letters are always inspiring. I especially loved this one and to see the joy on that little guys face-priceless! When do we lose that absolute fearless joy of creating? How do we get it back? And the belief in ourselves just because we “are”! Please teachers,parents,grandparents, caregivers, encourage creativity and expression of any type.
Robert — your grandson is adorable! I myself know the rewards of teaching art to adults with developmental disabilities. For the most part the process flows free and easy for them. The beauty is that they have no preconceived notions about their art. Their visual expression comes directly from the heart.
I have taught art to special needs students for 15 years. They are the most wonderful group to work with. Intuitive, uninhibited and honest in their appoarch, expression and attitude towards art making. They are a real joy and inspiration to work with.
This is the most valuable and humanizing art site on the Internet. Thank you all.
My sister who suffers with MS lived with me for a few years and really enjoyed painting and using watercolor sticks. She had a wonderful eye for putting interesting colors together. She was able to complete parts or all of some paintings before she lost the use of her hands. She really enjoyed painting and playing with color.
I loved this letter which gives me, an inexperienced person with those who have Down syndrome, some insight about these gifted folks. Their artwork is wonderful and your grandson, by his picture, seems such a happy beautiful boy! Thank you so much for this article.
Beautiful! And, in my humble opinion, the world might very well be a better place if we all had a little of the third chromosome 21 in our DNA. With joy, Linny
Hello Robert I was thrilled to read your article about the history of Redwood Park. Years ago I lived in the same area as you do, in B.C. and loved being in the park, although I never do it’s origin. Thank you for always bringing us such interesting and vital information! Blessings J
As a teacher of art, I realized that each student had their own over comings, so I found that encouraging the penmanship,(the unique individual’s style, like your hand writing, in this case drawing/painting) was the key to overcoming what we call learning blocks, by making it,(art) into play, doodle, then move it into the serious mode, I could reach 99% of my class. I was born with many disabilities, I had Polio which they arrested at an early age, but dept perception, and sports, my glasses were thick!
He is a sweetheart! How wonderful that you can share a pastime with him that is so meaningful to both!!!
Solitary Fishing boat oil painting, 16 x 20 inches by Carol Lopez, Vancouver, BC, Canada |
I have yet to see an ugly tree.