I saw this quote at an exhibit, “The Saint John’s Bible: A Modern Vision Through Medieval Methods” at the Walters Art Museum today. Tina and I went there along with Flower Mart. The exhibit features the St. John’s Bible, which is a Bible that is being illustrated in the medieval tradition but with modern illustrations. For example, in Ezekiel, with the Valley of Dry Bones, the illustration is haunting – faces from the Holocaust, piles of eyeglasses, and even piles of dead cars (in reference to the harm we’re causing to the environment right now).
Anyway, there were also a lot of examples of calligraphy and script art in the exhibit. This quote was there, in beautiful calligraphy. The author of the quote is William Morris:
“If I were asked to say what is at once the most important production of Art and the thing most to be longed for; I should answer; A beautiful House; and if I were further asked to name the production next in importance and the thing next to be longed for; I should answer; A beautiful Book. To enjoy good houses and good books in self-respect and decent comfort, seems to me to be the pleasurable end towards which all societies of human beings ought now to struggle.”
I didn’t know what most of them meant either. I also don’t know how many of them are British terms and how many of them cross the cultures…my head spins because there’s so much that is so different! It does my head in really. It is quite funny how everyone feels the need to comment…and I think part of the annoyance of people saying that I was so big was because I never really was…I’ve always been about right on size. Oh well. I hear I will probably be a lot bigger for a second one anyway so maybe it’s good preparations! ;o)By the way, we may have missed the silence comment on the last comment you left…did we miss something? We really miss you guys. Love, Leah & Jon