Look Far!

Katherine Mezur's dance teacher gave her the advice "Look Far!" whichshe passed on to me, after I posted a blog entry anticipating my upcoming trip to BogliascoFoundation, a residency for scholars and artists. After a twenty-four hour journey, in four airports, here I am, looking far.

People said it rained here for twenty-five days. After last night's storm, the sea is jade green swirling into turqoise, touches of lapis around the rocks (half-Maine, half-Capri). And the sun is shining.

From my balcony, I cannot help but look far. It's far as far as the eye can see. (I mean that.)

And from my studio, with its tiny low windows, one stoops to see far. (I mean that too.)

If I am speaking cryptically, in riddles and koans, it is because you cannot look far without going inward and you cannot go inward without contradictions. Pretentious? Or realistic? Or maybe that's just the way it is. Koans happen where narrative fails.

Koan: many philosophers have speculated on its etymology. The simplest. Ko = public. An = matter for thought. A way of making public and palpable--i.e. communicating--ruminations too cumbersome for words. Like looking far.

I'll be blogging from here on new media. But right now all five windows are open to the sun. The surf beats the shore. I'm looking far. And listening.

(Thanks for posting, Katherine. These two photographs were taken from my balcony here, one in afternoon light one in platinum late afternoon light, both using the same color, digital camera.  I guess the addendum to "Look far!" is don't top looking.  The same scene never stays the same.)