I think of where I am and where I will spend time next. I remove myself from a need to be productive, and this brings me to recall favorite places I have been to, namely art museums like The Hirshhorn, The Kreeger, and the Getty Center.

I came across Fado by way of a recommendation. A soulful and wise person I met through an international fellowship at work told me I should give it a listen. He said it just seemed to fit me, after only a few days together. The artist I will be giving a good listen to is Amália Rodrigues. A friend gave me a book of her work after traveling in Portugal, and now it is time to hear her sing.

Last week, I wrote a letter that touched on photography. While I am in my winter break, I wanted to share one of my favorite photos I’ve come across.
It is a photo taken by Venezuelan photographer, Hector Rondón Lovera. It had a different name when original published, and I encourage reading into the story a little, but this is “The Priest and a Dying Soldier”

A favorite writer of mine, Roland Barthes, in fact someone whose style nurtured my own, has a very interesting quote at the opening of one of his very interesting books. Camera Lucida, a brilliant book on photography, begins with this:

“One day, quite some time ago, I happened on a photograph of Napoleon’s youngest brother, Jerome, taken in 1852. And I realized then, with an amazement I have not been able to lessen since: “I am looking at eyes that looked at the Emperor.”

It just doesn’t add up. Building the tree could perfectly be a peaceful, fun experience, but something like this is only as good as a memory when it tries to deliver what the actual thing does. It does not generate; it recalls.