Reliving Glimpses of Montreux

The weather has become properly December-like, with snowflakes beginning last Sunday and snow that has stayed on the ground here for the past couple days.  This means that it is very cold outside because usually snow at this low elevation doesn't usually last too long unless it falls in substantial quantities.  So it's a good moment to think about the last rain-less, snow-less, fairly warm weather day we've had lately, which was the day I spent at the Montreux Christmas Market.

Having posted most of the Market photos, I have just a couple more.  I held this pair back because I wanted to post them together.  Here is a view of one of Montreux's luxury hotels, le Grand Hotel Suisse, as seen from the train station

and here it is again from the waterfront, with topiary "sculptures" in the foreground.

Creating animal shapes, realistic or fanciful, from shrubbery is a long-standing tradition along Montreux's lakefront - where flora and fauna literally meet.

But creativity is not limited to animal shapes.

And the medium is not always shrubbery.  Each time I visit, I see something new!

But the main attraction remains the beautiful lakefront itself.

Yes, those are indeed palm fronds in that photo.  It is for good reason that the Vevey-Montreux area is often referred to as the Swiss "Riviera."

Sampling Chinese Art

After a long pause, I'm heading back to China, or rather to HWMBO's experiences there in May and June.  I understand from one daughter-in-law as well as straight from the source that HWMBO's photos of China provided Thanksgiving Day entertainment for his dinner guests, thus displacing the Big Day's football games. At least until after the photo adventures ....  So here we go again!

Because HWMBO and the group were in China after having studied Oriental art history and because they were staying at the Chinese Central Academy for Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing,

it made perfect sense for them to visit with some of the art students.  In fact, much of one day was spent partly in watching student artists at work.

Concentration and dedication were evident in this man's intricate artwork.

They could view displays of highly detailed works such as this painting of traditional musicians

and this very realistic depiction of artifacts being unearthed from an archaeological dig.

Modern and experimental art was also featured at CAFA's Museum.

Not being satisfied merely to watch, many in the group decided to try their hands at copying designs

for some hands-on experience.

Their concentration was palpable

as HWMBO memorialized the moments in his own way.

But the budding artists had some hand-painted results

worthy enough to be taken home

and shared as personal mementos of

their fascinating experience.

Travels in China - Exhibition at CAFA, Beijing

China's Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) is the only advanced academy of fine arts that is under the direction of the Chinese Department of Education.  The academy includes six specialty schools as follows:  School of Fine Art; School of Chinese Painting; School of Design; School of Architecture; School of Humanities and School of City Design.  It also includes a School of Continuing Education and an Affiliated High School of Fine Art.

While CAFA is principally associated with painters and sculptors, its curriculum also includes graphic design, product design, fashion design, digital art and environmental art design, among others.  Because HWMBO and his study group were housed at the academy and it was nearly the end of the term, they were treated to an exhibition that featured student projects.

Obviously, there were many projects that featured painting or photography, or some combination of both.

Others were decorative items like these mushroom-themed stools, that could also be considered as wall art.

This one featured modern versions of ceramic animals

in a whimsical display.

Old materials were presented in contemporary ways

as furnishings,

and if one wished for something striking in garden furniture, this grouping might fit the bill.

Designs for futuristic motor vehicles abounded, such as here.

and again here.

How about a yellow cab, version circa 2053?

Or an all-purpose vehicle for both land and water?

Perhaps we'll see some of these designs in our own future some day.

Prince Tyger's Tiger

Prince Tyger has been enjoying his first year of pre-school. He loves playing, exploring, singing and reading.  But he loves painting the most. Here is one of his recent multi-media oeuvres.

His proud parents liked it so much that they have had it framed. Now it hangs in their hallway for all to see. When the Tyger was asked what the painting was called, he answered, "The Tiger." Proud Grandmom wonders whether he even knows that is her special name for him particularly when the painting resembles a tiger less than it does a boy. Interestingly, the painting does remind me of him.

Beijing Dreams

Although I haven't received word yet, if all has gone according to plan so far, HWMBO and his fellow travellers arrived in Beijing, China yesterday, where they will be lodged for the remainder of their time in China at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA).

Unless there is a major excursion planned, their daily post-breakfast routine will comprise 50-minute courses from 9 am to 1 pm in Tai-chi, Chinese language and Chinese culture. After their lunch hour - actually an hour and a half - they will be involved in various "extra-curricular" activities that will include tours to artists' studios, art galleries, local markets and visits to Chinese families.

Major excursions will include a visit to the Great Wall of China

and various other tours, e.g., the Forbidden City

and the Temple of Heaven, the largest sacrificial building complex in the world.

I look forward to hearing about these exciting adventures!

Annecy Art Market and Prospects of Paddle-Boating

The monthly Antiques Market in Annecy is also an occasion for the monthly Art Market, so after lunch, we headed along the main canal towards the lake,

appreciating the little houses fronting on the canal along the way.  Annecy is, for good reason, called "la Venise de la Haute Savoie."

As we drew closer to the lake, we began to see evidence of the Art Market.

There were lots of artistic displays, some featuring traditional landscapes and floral arrangements,

others with African wildlife themes,

still others featuring vivid red poppies - always a favorite theme.

There was even some sculpture for sale, although the artist was engrossed in her book!

But it was a very hot day and the girls were beginning to flag,

so off we headed to the lakefront, where the turquoise water view and the fountains refreshed us.

In fact, the paddleboats looked so good that day that we all wished that we'd brought our bathing suits along.

With a last look at the views and a promise to return once the Moms had arrived, this time with suits,

we reluctantly dragged ourselves away from one of my favorite places in the world!

Visit to Italy's Lake District: Part IVa - Isola San Giulio

Leaving the chapels at the Sacro Monte of Orta, which was added to the World Heritage List in 2003, we noticed a groundskeeper, thoroughly absorbed in his hedge-clipping.  He was protected from the horrendous noise by his headphones.  We were not.

Fortunately, the noise diminished as we began our descent, passing by villas clustered along the lakeside, and entered the lovely little town of Orta San Giulio.

Before proceeding to the large lakeside square, the Piazza Motta, we stopped to visit the little church of Santa Maria Assunta, a lovely golden-sided structure that dates from the 15th century when it was built to consecrate the end of a plague epidemic.  The inside, originally decorated in baroque style, was beautifully redecorated in the 18th century.

One reason that it has become a favorite venue for weddings is because of the view of Lake Orta from its steps.

From there, we continued our descent to Piazza Motta and the lakefront, where we boarded a ferry for the Isola San Giulio.

San Giulio, also known as Saint Julius of Novara, was a missionary priest to northern Italy in the 4th century.  Few facts are known about his life.  He may originally have been Greek and educated in the Christian faith by his parents.  According to legend, he was ordered to destroy pagan altars and sacred woods and to build Christian churches.  Also according to legend, he walked on his cloak across Lake Orta to the island that now bears his name.  He is said to have built 100 churches and the 100th is located on the island.

The Basilica de San Giulio, established in 390 AD, has had its interior redecorated since then.  Like many of the Sacro Monte chapels and Santa Maria Assunta, it has baroque features, including an enormous serpentine pulpit carved from dark green marble mined from a nearby quarry.  As we had already learned from our time in Stresa, quarries abound in these mountainous areas.

We also strolled around the island via the path of silence.

The path of silence received its name from an order of Benedictines who took vows of silence.  We were respectful but not necessarily silent as we toured the narrow streets,

and viewed the decorated houses

and sculptured fountains.

Beauty was everywhere, from simple geraniums adding bright emphasis to weathered stones

to vividly blue hydrangeas

to a fellow traveller, posing unaware as she herself attempted to capture the moment.