Lake Effect Lace Gallery Talk with Carol Posch Comstock
January 20, 2012
Erie Art Museum
411 State Street
Erie, PA 16501
Many years ago when I was an undergraduate student at Villa Maria College, I took a photography class taught by Carol Posch Comstock. I was pleased to see she was giving a presentation on her latest photographic interest at the Erie Art Museum. Carol is developing expertise in photographing snowflakes and because I knew she would bring passion and devotion to her work, I was interested in hearing her speak.
Carol became interested in photographing snowflakes through her interests in nature and geometric patterns. Before hearing her speak, I had never thought of snowflakes as geometrically shaped, but she is right. How could I have missed that?
Carol explained the process used in working with these tiny creations. It involves connecting a camera to a microscope lens and carefully placing a snowflake on a slide. This is a painstaking process that involves the proper lighting and temperature conditions--snowflakes melt quickly. I was surprised to learn atmospheric conditions affect the detail on the flakes. Carol said an outside temperature in the single digits will produce a more sharply defined flake than temperatures in the 20's.
Carol's photographs were breathtaking. The snowflakes are so intricate, so delicate, and so temporary. There is a world of beauty to be found under Carol's microscope, a world that well melt before us. I was entranced by Carol's work.
If you would like to see examples of her work, she has a show at the Erie Art Museum through February 25, 2012. You can also check her website at www.goodsofthespirit.com.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The Help
Welcome back to my blog! During the past several months, I have had health issues which have kept me close to home. I am afraid the blog has been left to rest as I recuperated. As the new year starts, it seems appropriate to begin again.
About a week ago, my friend Kim and I went to the dollar theater to see the film, The Help. The story takes place in Jackson, MS, in 1963, and shows life from the perspective of "the help," the African-American women who worked as maids.
I'm not sure how to feel about the film. I've seen it twice, something I do not ordinarily do. The first time I saw the film, I enjoyed it and found it thought provoking and entertaining. When my friend Kim suggested we see it together, I thought I would have much the same reaction as I did the first time. I didn't.
The second time around, the shallowness and hypocrisy of the society women were much more apparent. Behavior and values were appalling. I suppose it could be argued many of the characters were stereotypes, but they were more a turn-off than entertaining.
My reaction to the maids was opposite to how I felt about the society women. I wanted to see the maids as my friends. They were the most interesting characters in the film, and the story would have been more dynamic if more attention had been given them.
Kim's reaction to the The Help was different than mine. Kim thought it a very well done story with a good message about discrimination. I thought Kim made a very good point when she said the characters were developed to play off each other well. She said she would want her children to see the film, and I agree with that. It is interesting that two people can see the same film in so many different ways!
About a week ago, my friend Kim and I went to the dollar theater to see the film, The Help. The story takes place in Jackson, MS, in 1963, and shows life from the perspective of "the help," the African-American women who worked as maids.
I'm not sure how to feel about the film. I've seen it twice, something I do not ordinarily do. The first time I saw the film, I enjoyed it and found it thought provoking and entertaining. When my friend Kim suggested we see it together, I thought I would have much the same reaction as I did the first time. I didn't.
The second time around, the shallowness and hypocrisy of the society women were much more apparent. Behavior and values were appalling. I suppose it could be argued many of the characters were stereotypes, but they were more a turn-off than entertaining.
My reaction to the maids was opposite to how I felt about the society women. I wanted to see the maids as my friends. They were the most interesting characters in the film, and the story would have been more dynamic if more attention had been given them.
Kim's reaction to the The Help was different than mine. Kim thought it a very well done story with a good message about discrimination. I thought Kim made a very good point when she said the characters were developed to play off each other well. She said she would want her children to see the film, and I agree with that. It is interesting that two people can see the same film in so many different ways!
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