Glass by Dale Chihuly

Glass

Glass, photo by Spencer Olinek.

In the course of looking for photos for Michigan in Pictures, I see a lot that I say “I can’t blog this today, but I’ll definitely come back some day and do it.” Often, some day never comes. Sometimes it does though…

Here’s a photo from the 2005 Dale Chihuly glass exhibit at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Get it at the Wallpapery delicious size.

There’s a Dale Chihuly Wikipedia page and at Dale Chihuly’s web site you can see a lot of his work including a ton of videos at his web site (check out “Chihuly In Action”). His bio says:

Dale Chihuly is most frequently lauded for revolutionizing the Studio Glass movement by expanding its original premise of the solitary artist working in a studio environment to encompass the notion of collaborative teams and a division of labor within the creative process.

However, Chihuly’s contribution extends well beyond the boundaries both of this movement and even the field of glass: his achievements have influenced contemporary art in general. Chihuly’s practice of using teams has led to the development of complex, multipart sculptures of dramatic beauty that place him in the leadership role of moving blown glass out of the confines of the small, precious object and into the realm of large-scale contemporary sculpture. In fact, Chihuly deserves credit for establishing the blown glass form as an accepted vehicle for installation and environmental art beginning in the late twentieth century and continuing today.

Here’s a cool slideshow of Flickr photos from the 2005 Dale Chihuly glass exhibit at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.

To the Edge

To the Edge

To the Edge, photo by hardyc.

Chris got this shot of geese walking to the edge of the ice at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. I wonder if the sunsets do anything for birds? (other than making them think “gonna be getting cold now” and “almost bed time”)

Be sure to check it out bigger, have a look at this great shot he got of the Detroit Princess and also see Chris’s web site.

Lake Superior Shore in Winter

Lake Superior Shore in Winter

Lake Superior Shore, photo by Treefarmer.

It’s been a while since I posted a straight-up winter background – be sure to check this out bigger for maximum chill. Treefarmer has some more great ones in his Upper Peninsula of Michigan set (slideshow).

Find more winter backgrounds on the Michigan Winter Wallpaper page.

Ultimate Fishing Early Risers Edition presents: What’s your favorite Michigan fish?

Early Risers

Early Risers, photo by docksidepress.

The Ultimate Fishing Show – Detroit gave me a few tickets to give away. The show is about fishing trips, boats and gear and it happens January 8-11, 2008 in Novi.

I figured I should offer some over here on Michigan in Pictures, so here’s the deal: Post a comment with your favorite Michigan fish to catch, eat or look at below and then send an email to giveaway@absolutemichigan.com with your name, city and email address and we’ll give away as many as we can!

Note that if you don’t want to go you can still post your fish!

This photo is in Matt’s My Photos by Most Interesting set (slideshow) and like all his photos, it’s posted background bigalicious!

Sailing into 2009

Sailing

Sailing, photo by gh patriot.

I thought it was pretty neat that this photo showed up in the Absolute Michigan pool after yesterday’s post. Be sure to check it bigger. It’s part of Kevin’s pier/sunset set (slideshow)

As 2009 dawns, I feel some trepidation. While things have been bad for us here in Michigan, there seems to be little doubt that our national economy has even further to fall. What that might mean to us is anybody’s guess.

One thing I do know is that after years of being in a “single state recession,” we now have company. That will undoubtedly mean less assistance in some cases, but it will also open up more opportunities and solutions as other states and nations begin to grapple with the issues we have been wrestling with.

I expect that in the year to come we in Michigan will make decisions that will have profound effects on our state’s educational system, our infrastructure and our amazing natural resources.

My most profound hope is that our decisions take into account the truth that Gov. Milliken referred to below.

The truth is that the quality of life in Michigan depends on nature. The natural beauty of our state is much more than a source of pleasure and recreation. It shapes our values, molds our attitudes, and feeds our spirit … in Michigan, our soul is not to be found in steel and concrete, or sprawling new housing developments or strip malls. Rather it is found in the soft petals of a trillium, the gentle whisper of a headwater stream, the vista of a Great Lakes shoreline, and the wonder in children’s eyes upon seeing their first bald eagle. It is that soul that we must preserve.

-Michigan Governor William G. Milliken
from William G. Milliken: Michigan’s Passionate Moderate

Happy New Year folks!

The Door Into Next Year

Detail from the House that Father Coughlin Built...

Detail from the House that Father Coughlin Built…, photo by “CAVE CANEM”.

As we prepare to leave 2008 at the docks and set sail on 2009, I think there’s probably a lot that we hope to leave behind, and much that we hope to discover in the year to come.

I hope that all of you find what you’re seeking in the year to come and that you have very happy and safe celebrations tonight!

Be sure to view this larger and check out C.C.’s In Through the Out Door set (slideshow).

You can read more about the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak on Wikipedia and the story of the “venom and compassion” of the man behind its construction 1930s radio priest Father Charles E. Coughlin.

Industrial Haven

Industrial Haven

Industrial Haven, photo by Jesse Speelman.

Attention superheroes: if you’re looking for a cool & moody hideout, Detroit has you covered!

Be sure to view it bigger, on black. Chancellor Monnette has a cool photo of the tunnel and a map.

in the woods

in the woods

in the woods, photo by nicole st. john.

Nicole says that she found some old pictures that she never got around to uploading. See them larger in her slideshow.

Let’s pass on the discussion of bee-keeping for today and dream about that nice warm buzz of spring … something it seems that Mamma Michigan is doing this morning as well.

Enjoy your weekend, folks – maybe a nice museum today?

Superior moon

Superior moon

Superior moon, photo by farroutdude.

faroutdude says this is the moon rising over Lake Superior on a cold night.

Be sure and check this out larger and on black and also have a look at his other night photography for some sweet shots of the Marquette lighthouse..

Happy Michigan Holidays

Holiday Train, photo by StormchaserMike Photography

The holiday season seems to too often become about things that I have no desire to celebrate – busy-ness, consumption and another excuse to fight about the fact that we are a country that is predicated on the acceptance of all religions and lack thereof.

Still, there’s a part of me that sat at the top of the stairs, waiting for the report as to whether or not Santa came, one that snuggled in bed with my grandmother listening to the radio announcer tracking that red and white clad superhero of wishes and dreams, who sang carols with my family around the tree on Christmas Eve.

happy-holidays-paws-ofthe-tigersThat part wants – with much thanks to Samara and Paws of Roar of the Tigers – to wish all of you a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa a belatedly Happy Eid al-Adha, a Happy Winter Solstice/Yule and a Happy Winter Season for those who prefer not to celebrate anything.

Be sure to check Mike’s Holiday Train out bigger and his whole Holidays slideshow.