Monthly Archives: December 2019

the days slip by

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ezra Pound, Venice  1971 And the days are not full enough And the nights are not full enough And life slips by like a field mouse Not shaking the grass. Ezra Pound, “And The days Are Not Full … Continue reading →

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Peter Pan was a meanie

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

A much darker side to the beloved character Peter Pan has been revealed with the publication this month of J. M. Barrie’s original manuscript, Peter Pan and Wendy. I never much liked the book growing up, but fans will be … Continue reading →

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Art House

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

The Spanish street artist known as Okuda San Miguel recently brought his signature style to a blighted neighborhood in Fort Smith, Arkansas . His project, “The Rainbow Embassy,” was organized by  Justkids for the Unexpected , a group trying to revitalize economically … Continue reading →

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No Losers In This War

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

In 1981 the Spanish town of Ibi revived the 200 year-old tradition of the Els Enfarinats Festival. On December 28th each year a mock war takes place around the town hall. A group of local married men, called “els Enfarinats,” … Continue reading →

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Which Side Are You On

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

I recently spent three weeks in New Zealand driving on the “wrong” side of the road. Needless to say, it was sometimes a challenge, especially in cities like Wellington and Auckland. As the map above shows, in most countries, people … Continue reading →

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Chanukah Lights

Posted on December 26, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

In the holiday spirit, here’s the pop-up book Chanukah Lights, published by Candlewick Press in 2011, with a text by Michael J. Rosen, illustration and paper engineering by Robert Sabuda, and additional design work by Simon Arizpe and Shelby Arnold, explores the eight day Jewish “festival of … Continue reading →

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A Little Mistletoe

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Mistletoe : legends, myth & folklore written & illustrated by Maryline Poole Adams This little small press book explores many traditional aspects of Midwinter holiday festivals, including the mysteries of mistletoe. It looks at various stories, legends and traditions from … Continue reading →

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Ho.Ho.Ho.

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Beijing-based graphics studio 39 degrees north created this animated version of author Neil Gaiman’s dark Christmas poem Nicholas Was. I never was that into the holiday any way. Ho.Ho.Ho.

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Seattle Little Free Library

Posted on December 23, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Little Free Cookbook Library This unique take on the Little Free Library project is outside the PCC Natural Market, West Seattle  

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Baffling Ending

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

 

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