The Decorated Tree

Monday, June 21, 2010

month of roses

How
Did the rose
Ever open its heart

And give to this world

All its
Beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light
Against its
Being,

Otherwise,
We all remain

Too

Frightened.

—Hafiz

THIS BLOG has essentially always been my version of "stopping to smell the roses"—if not literally, then certainly metaphorically. In this, it was always my intent to figure out a way combine my life with my work while finding a place to express cherished memories and new thoughts about what's going on around me. That in itself may bore some people, so I try to create compelling images to pull people closer, and stop them for a moment to contemplate the simple beauty of life. If that makes them stay a little while and explore the senses in celebrating the natural world, then I've achieved my mission.

THOSE THAT take the time to read a bit further, to stay a little longer, I hope, are rewarded with something they can relate back to their own lives—essentially by "stopping to smell the roses." As the line under the banner says: "There’s no better celebration of any season than the decorated tree adorned with the rich symbolism of nature. This is my ritual to inform and inspire you in the journey called life."

JUNE IS the month of roses. In bloom everywhere, the rose is the birth flower for the month. Whether given or received, roses symbolize joy, love and affection. And depending on the color, they can evoke a particular sentiment and a variety of meanings.

PROBABLY the most beloved, and certainly one of most beautiful of flowers, the rose has a resonant and meaningful life, dating back to before human history, with fossil evidence 35 million years old. I think a flower that has lived through the ages would contain a certain wisdom, even if it's only related by a simple unfolding beauty and sweet scent. There's certainly a complexity in what it has represented through the ages.

THE ROSE is the symbol of love, first and foremost.

AND TODAY is the start of a long hot summer.

ROSE ORNAMENTS | (Both photos) My collection of glass rose ornaments is becoming a touchstone for all in my life that I've loved and lost. Of course it's better than to have never loved at all. All you need to do is take the time to stop and breathe in a memory.

photography and styling by Darryl Moland

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

white wedding

WHO KNEW? Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress. That in itself may not seem like news at all, but since she's widely credited with starting the tradition, it's a revelation. It followed that Victorian era elites, rapturously reading and writing the etiquette books of the day, took Victoria's lead and embellished it with the "connotation of innocence and sexual purity."

FAST FORWARD to over a century later and the Billy Idol song "White Wedding" served to heighten the fantasy of a virgin bride. Some say that he wrote the song to express his displeasure with his sister's fiancé impregnating her before marrying her. It was a nice day (meaning the '80s) for a white wedding, because it was one of Idol's most successful songs.

VICTORIA and husband/cousin Albert are also subsequently credited for popularizing the modern Christmas tree. Either alone is a testament to the great effect these kissing cousins had on modern culture. She was the longest-ruling monarch of Great Britain (64 years!), during a time of economic and imperial expansion (Albert died early in 1861). Victoria gave her name to the Victorian Era, but she was also nicknamed the "grandmother of Europe" since the fruitful couple had four sons and five daughters to keep the royal lineage going for decades to come (42 grandchildren).

“Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in gray, you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen. Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

—From The History of the White Wedding Dress by Kelsey McIntyre

IN ANY CASE, weddings are steeped in tradition, rituals and superstition all-at-once. A bridal set of ornaments is an elegant gift that brings the seasons all together in one set, whether used only around Christmas or separately throughout the year, or both. A wedding in June—is surprisingly only the second most popular month for weddings—even with the "June bride" being part of the cultural dialog. June falls just below September in wedding month popularity (according to the Knot). Victoria and Albert's wedding date was February 10, 1840, so the June bride didn't start there (that may go back to Roman times). In true Victoria (not Victorian) form, it seems like the only tradition today is to break with tradition, making your wedding unique—a reflection of your own personal style. Maybe, also, one day it won't be so unique for gay people to legally marry in this country and it will be passed into law, for better or worse. I doubt if it will interfere with the sanctity of marriage. And it certainly is better than marrying your cousin. Being a gay man from Alabama, I can say that with hope and conviction, having been in two long-term, live-together relationships, nine and six years respectively, both with whom I still maintain good friendships.

ACCORDING TO German tradition, a set of bride's tree ornaments (all photos this post) are twelve symbols of a happy home—a nice gift to wish the newlywed couple success in marriage and life. Follow the numbers to find the meaning, ritual or superstition behind each:

WRAPPING an heirloom such as this set of ornaments warrants a reusable box with protective squares of archival tissue. I've added squares of wide shimmery organza ribbon as an accent. The bride's ornament set can be found in pre-packaged gift-boxed sets, but since this set was found individually, an ornament box was necessary to contain it. This starter set of holiday ornaments can be used together at Christmas or individually, according to the season. Small inexpensive honeycomb wedding bells are a nice topper to the gift instead of a traditional bow (they can also be positioned half-opened, taped to the top of the wrapped box).

WEDDING TABLEAU | (Top) This unusually neutral white and silver bride's tree set was found individually a few seasons ago at Star Provisions in Atlanta. I had to replace the original house ornament which was broken with a similar one from the grand daddy of the German glassblowing tradition, Krebs Lauscha. (Center) I've numbered the set of ornaments to correspond with the list of their meanings. (Bottom) If found individually, it's a nice gesture to archive the ornaments for gift-giving and keeping. The linen napkin with beautiful silver-threaded stitching is by Thomas O'brien, from his Vintage Modern line for Target in 2005. The paper daisies were found at Michaels and the honeycomb wedding bells are from Martha Stewart Crafts.

photography and styling by Darryl Moland

Sunday, May 30, 2010

keys of life

THIS HAS BEEN a weekend for soul-searching. I have had a lot going in my life the past few years and it's good to take some time for quiet contemplation. Sometimes life forces you to do such a thing. It's far too easy to get distracted by all the stuff of everyday life, which makes one forget to attend to the stuff of life that really matters—what's inside. It's scary to be alone with yourself sometimes, but a more meditative approach to life seems to always help me find direction. The older I get, the easier it is to find this kind of silence it seems. Maybe I've had enough practice. Maybe it's like riding a bike. Or finding a key to turn:

THE INCREDIBLY beautiful keys in the photo (above) were found at a crafts supply store several months ago (part of the aptly-named idea-ology line by Tim Holtz (a new discovery of amazing products). Being constantly on the lookout for new ways to express the decorated tree, I thought they would make beautiful ornaments by themselves or in some sort of wire construction—like an ornament I bought years ago which encased an old key within a crudely-made wire "globe." (I need to find it!). Although that's how these keys are marketed, they're not the usual scrapbooker fare. They have a heft and construction just like real keys. I loved them for the "engraved" words that associate with beautifully rendered shapes from the past. Who knows what they will become from here. I guess that's the point.

IN THINKING about how to use these keys (both literally and figuratively), I associated them with a book that my cousin Angela found at an antique store a few years ago and shared with me. I loved it so much that I searched for one and found a copy of my own on Ebay. The book (literary essay) is titled As a Man Thinketh by James Allen and was first published in 1902. I had never heard of it before, but it is one of those timeless jewels that you'll want to read and re-read (my copy is hand-sized and only 76 pages). You can read a copy online, but I'm a bit old-fashioned and like to have a book to hold in my hand—especially the beautiful copy I found.

A PHILOSOPHY like James Allen's became possible when liberal Protestantism discarded the stern dogma that man is sinful by nature, substituting instead an optimistic belief in man's innate goodness and divine rationality. This reversal of doctrine was one of the great revolutions of the 19th Century. It was a move toward a reconciliation of science and religion, which is still in hot debate even today. As A Man Thinketh was Allen's second book of nineteen he wrote and was his most concise and eloquent work that best embodied his thought. The book opens with this statement:

Mind is the Master-power that moulds and makes,

And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes

The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,

Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills:—

He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:

Environment is but his looking-glass.

TO GIVE a broader idea of the infinitely quotable Mr. Allen, I have found quotes from him that pertain to the words on the seven keys in the photo above:

MEMORY: We clothe events with the drapery of our own thoughts. . . .

LOVE: And you . . . will realize the Vision (not the idle wish) of your heart, be it base or beautiful, or a mixture of both, for you will gravitate toward that which you, secretly, most love.

SECRET: And herein lies the secret of true power. Learn, by constant practice, how to husband your resources, and concentrate them, at any moment, upon a given point.

DREAMS: The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.

LIFE: Our life is what our thoughts make it. A man will find that as he alters his thoughts toward things and other people, things and other people will alter towards him.

HEART: The vision that you glorify in your mind, the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart — this you will build your life by, this you will become.

JOURNEY: Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain, or rise with your thoughts, your Vision, your Ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.

WORD KEYS | (Top) These seven "word keys" from the Tim Holtz idea-ology line were a great find at Michaels craft store. The keys are displayed on the beautiful "leopard spot" marbleized endpapers binding my copy of James Allen's 1902 literary tome As a Man Thinketh.

LITERARY CLASSIC | (Middle and bottom) My vintage copy of As a Man Thinketh was found on Ebay and is exquisitely bound in green silk cloth back and corners with "leopard spot" marbleized endpapers with handset type inside—a beautiful addition to my treasured books. Published in 1908 by The Progress Company, Chicago.

photography and styling by Darryl Moland

Sunday, May 23, 2010

home to birds

BIRDS ARE FREE to fly about. They make their homes in trees. They navigate thin air. They eat, well, like a bird. They sing songs whenever they like. Direct ascendants from the dinosaur, they hold the wisdom of the ages. They are gifts of hope and happiness.

MY FASCINATION with birds continues to grow. Aside from the real ones, I see birds in art everywhere I look—Twitter's logo (follow me here), the symbol of the country where I live and even the name of one of my favorite local places to eat, Ria's Bluebird.

FITTINGLY, I met my friend David Schump at Ria's for a delicious brunch this weekend and he graciously brought along a piece from his folk art collection for me to photograph. I had long admired his bird tree—a natural limb decorated with a flock of nine unique birds. Hand-carved and painted (circa 2004) by American folk artist John Carlton (in Delaware), this celebration of birds is quite a beautiful work of art.

ARTISTS CELEBRATE birds in their artwork in every discipline it seems. Two other artist's works I'm picturing here are an illustrated book by Australian artist Jeffrey Fisher and hand-turned birdhouse ornaments by local Georgia woodworker Betty Fugate.

ACKNOWLEDGED as having influenced a generation of designers and illustrators world wide, with birds being his preferred muses, Jeffrey Fisher's book offers up 46 different bird species in illustrated portraits. Each bird is painted in his unique style—unexpected, colorful and beautiful—and paired with quirky musings by his wife, Christine Fisher on each species' history and lore. Jeffrey states in the preface of Birds: "This book is nothing but an enthusiasm for birds. There being a bevy of collective terms for our winged friends—a murmuration of starlings, a ubiquity of sparrows, an unkindness of ravens, an exultation of larks, a pandemonium of parrots—here be an enthusiasm for birds."

WOODWORKER, Betty Fugate of Whirlingwood Studio in Georgia made the birdhouse ornaments pictured alongside the book. A crafter with a myriad of materials from embroidery to pyrography since childhood, Betty hand-turned these ornaments out of exotic woods. They will be beautiful and fun additions to a decorated tree. I've long thought of designing a tree with nothing but birds, and since trees are homes to many types of birds, it only makes sense. What better way to celebrate nature than to celebrate a home in nature?

FOLK ART FLOCK | (Above, top) This tree of birds was crafted by American folk artist John Carlton in 2004. The bird vase is from Target several seasons ago. The cast iron basket (filled with moss) was purchased in the Garden Gift Shop at Atlanta Botanical Garden.

FOR THE BIRDS | (Above, bottom) The illustrated book simply titled Birds is by Australian artist/illustrator Jeffrey Fisher (Chronicle Books) contains some of the most unique celebrations of birds in art I've seen. The hand-turned wooden birdhouse ornaments were made by woodworker Betty Fugate who resides locally in Georgia.

photography and styling by Darryl Moland,
folk art bird tree by John Carlton,
birdhouse ornaments by Betty Fugate

BEYOND WORDS | A heartbreaking scenario played out all-too-often because of Big Oil's unbridled greed, corruption and self-regulation: An oil-soaked bird against the side of the HOS, an Iron Horse supply vessel, at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on May 9.

Monday, May 17, 2010

oil and water

THE IDIOM "oil and water don't mix" is a way of saying two beings or characteristics don't go together. So true in many ways with the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill—literally and figuratively. The Gulf Coast beaches of Alabama and Florida have long been a late spring and summer getaway of mine since college. I go there for the pristine beauty—the clear emerald/blue water, the rejuvenating salty breezes so deftly maneuvered by calling seagulls, and the pristine white sands. All this has lulled me time-and-again to a paradise that is irreplaceable. I haven't visited in a few years, but now the Gulf beaches are threatened with an environmental disaster of crisis proportions. The damage has already been done in the ocean. Already endangered sea turtles and other marine creatures are dying and washing ashore. The shellfish population can't swim away from the spill and could be wiped out for a generation or more because they are poisoned by the oil (this decimates one of the largest populations of shellfish in the world). Our dolphin friends and other seafaring mammals are coming up to the surface of the water for a breath of what? Oil?

WHAT A PARABLE this has become. When the Deep Water Horizon oil rig exploded, eleven people (oil rig workers) were killed and the site is still spewing oil into the water which has reached shore in Louisiana and Mississippi, threatening one of the richest wildlife areas of the world. And this is not the beginning. There are oil spills all over the world. This one just happens to be in my "backyard." Look at the ever growing list of (major) oil spills here.

FOR THOSE OF US who consider our relationship with the natural world as something sacred, we have reached a point of no return—a point where we consider just how sacred it is to us. We are all complicit in the civilization we have created, whether it is having out-of-season produce shipped to us from continents far away or driving our cars to work. Our planet is in distress because of our actions—human actions—and the other inhabitants of this Earth, who we call "wildlife," are left unwittingly to the destruction and havoc we have wrought. At what point do the economics of a situation not matter? At what point do we shift into a collaboration with Mother Earth, instead of a war with her? We, as humans do not hold dominion over the natural world, except in its destruction.

THE BEACH-INSPIRED TREE above was planned for a later post as purely a celebration of the beautiful beaches of the Emerald Coast I hold so dearly in my memory, but now it has become a poignant reminder. It has become an urgent call to find alternative sources of energy—to "think globally" and "act locally." I am truly at a loss for more words about how I feel about this. Words are no longer enough. We must really hold sacred our relationship with nature. It is lamentable that it has come to our own survival to force our hand.

BEACHED TREE | (Above, top) This "tree" is entirely fabricated and made from wire, rubberized plastic (a petroleum product), fabric leaves and who knows what else; is from Pottery Barn Kids (and is entirely unsustainable). But the decorations are mostly made from metal wire, willow, glass, starfish and natural shells (the jewels of the sea). It is held in a container from the defunct Smith and Hawken. The blue/teal pot was found at Marshalls. The silver starfish is made from polymer resin (another petroleum product) and is from Ross. The fisherman's floats (from Pottery Barn) are a reminder of what a struggle fishermen will have because of the spill for years to come.

COLLECTED TREASURES | (Above, right) Seashells are the jewels of the sea as well as the sea glass (see below), along with seeds, pods and other natural items are ironically the basis for this season's decorative trends . . . evident in many stores like Pottery Barn, West Elm and Anthropologie. The bag holding part of what I "collected" is made from brown plastic netting (a petroleum product). The round mat is woven of dyed paper "grass" from the 2005 Contemporary Home Collection at Target. Last, but certainly not least, a gorgeous porcelain ceramic bowl (interior is glazed a light teal color) is entirely handmade by local potter named Cara Gilbert.

THIS WAY TO THE BEACH | (Above) Assembled with wire, most of the ornaments are made from shells, starfish, glass beads and tumbled "sea glass." Sea glass actually tumbled and worn smooth by the sea is harder to find than what you usually see sold in bags in the market. It is a poignant re-offering of glass litter that ends up in the sea, and only one way nature has recycled some of our trash to remind us of the beauty and importance of our coexistence with it.

photography and styling by Darryl Moland

DO SOMETHING

Many of us have been wringing our hands. Cursing. Pacing. And praying about what’s happening to our beloved Gulf Coast. Wishing we could just do something.

This is the something a few friends and I decided to do (below).

These stickers will help spread the word. After all, the coast belongs to all of us. Blame, fury and responsibility do too.

My friends and I hope that this sticker will represent all of us as a people united by heartbreak—as well as determination.

And we hope the dollars collected and contributed will help rescue, rebuild. And restore.

It’s a drop in the ocean.
But it’s something.

CRUDE AWAKENING | It's CRUDE how our oceans and our coastlines have been treated by Big Oil (ultimately, the mirror reflects back to all of us as long as we're not moving to change our dependence on oil). Buy 5 stickers for $10 and we'll donate a minimum of 50% to Gulf Coast restoration efforts. Or look to our site for at least 4 ways to contribute your time and effort to care 4 our coast. All here.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Earth Day, every day

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE has become the mantra of the new generation. Earlier generations touted the three "R's" of Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmatic, but it seems that these bookish pursuits left out an integral part of our very survival as a living, breathing and carefully balanced part of the ecosystem called Earth. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that we have to take care of Mother Nature in order for her to return the favor. It has become painfully obvious everywhere you look. Nobody needs to be reminded about the oil rig explosion and still-continuing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which could become one of the largest environmental disasters ever. That happened this past Thursday, which was the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a day first set aside way back in 1970 to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It's hard to believe that it has taken this long to get people used to the idea of infusing a sustainable way of living into everything they do. We have a daunting task ahead to save our environment, so we all must be more vigilant. As much as I consider such things, I'll be the first to admit I'm not always completely conscientious. But every little thing helps. Almost every large corporate entity has jumped on the "green" bandwagon, but it remains to be seen whether commerce can find its art again and arrive at truly sustainable ways to do business instead of the empty promises of "greenwashing" just because it's a good marketing idea. Yeah, the beautifully-designed sunny green and yellow BP logo is a lie.

WHEN I discovered the Totem Tree from the Dutch company Kidsonroof, I thought what a beautiful way to get an environmental message across to anyone, especially the kids that will inherit the environment as it is or worse. (I bought my tree in the U.S. from a mail-order catalog named uncommon goods). The concerns we face in protecting our environment is symbolically like putting together the big "puzzle" that this tree provides. If you take the time to find a place for all the pieces, it will create something new and beautiful. And it will take nothing less than a complete paradigm shift in thinking to find that balance again.

THIS TREE isn’t just a beautiful "puzzle" made from recycled parts (I've shown the process of putting it together in the photos above). It is a building set for the child in all of us. It is packaged as six flat die cut sheets printed on both sides with a beautiful mix of elements, which when punched out, create a set of over 150 colorful cardboard pieces. There are leaves, birds, a birdhouse, apples and mushrooms. From these pieces, one can assemble a playfully unique tree once the trunk is carefully assembled. Each cardboard piece is intricately printed with natural images such as plants and wood textures. Also in the mix are images of leaves layered with subway maps, crushed cans and other ephemera from our lives. The combination of art, craft and subtle reminders of the garbage we produce, make putting it together an interesting and thought-provoking challenge. The Totem Tree is made from recycled cardboard and (in the unlikely event you will want to discard it) is fully biodegradable. I plan to take mine to the office to liven up my space with it as a "living" sculpture.

EARTHY TOTEMS | (Above) The Totem Tree, when pieced together makes a statement all on its own atop a table by Thomas O'brien Vintage Modern from Target. (Right) At the base of the tree, I placed four small globe ornaments (three are reminiscent of vintage classroom globes) from the Home line at Target; the fourth one being from the 2009 ornament line from Pottery Barn (in tree photo above); a wooden box made from a tree trunk; three mushroom ornaments from my collection (an antique spun cotton mushroom and two newer clip-on ornaments); and a magical garden gnome ornament holding a mushroom. The mushroom ornament has always been considered a symbol of magic and luck. Maybe they're more than in helping in our efforts to save the environment:

Click on this link or click to play the video (below) of an amazing science lecture from mycologist (scientific studier of fungi) Paul Stamets who believes that mushrooms can save our lives, restore our ecosystems and transform other worlds.

photography and styling by Darryl Moland

Totem Tree by Kidsonroof

Friday, April 9, 2010

spring forward

This pale green goose feather tree is abundant with spring-themed ornaments from my collection. Topped with a patterned ceramic bird, the effect is magical.

THE POLLEN COUNT this past Wednesday in Atlanta was 5,733 (particles of pollen per cubic meter of air). The count was more than 2,000 higher than last spring's peak and only 280 below the record reading of 6,013, set on April 12, 1999. The major pollens present are from trees of course (birch, oak, pine and sweetgum), so this is an especially fertile year, which makes one feel like Dorothy must have felt on the yellow brick road crossing the poppy field to find Oz. Nature is having a full-tilt orgy all around (pollen is essentially the "sperm" of trees). While my allergies are not yet going haywire, I do feel a certain edgy lethargy in breathing air heavy with pollen. Everything is dusted with a powdery yellow-green. And the air is thick with the stuff of life.

MAYBE I'VE BEEN too effective in my spring-inducing ritual of decorating trees. The wet and cold winter here (in Atlanta) suddenly gave up the ghost, and everything is blooming at once instead of in stages as it usually does. Everywhere you look, there's something sprouting new life, from the tiny white strawberry blooms in the strawberry pot on my deck to the spring bulbs showing their vibrant colors. The holiday tree I decorated a few years back as a harbinger of spring tells such a story of abundant life. I was thinking of my father when I was creating it, because his favorite season was spring. Down to the white picket fencing around the base and the long ribbons suggesting a summer Maypole dance around the tree, this was a fresh and cheerful presence during the winter holidays that year—a direct representation of the lore of the origins of the decorated tree and a pre-season celebration of the return to brighter and warmer days.

AN ARTIST FRIEND, (Ande Cook), whom I have been fortunate enough to work with in a past job was also commissioned to paint a number of works for Atlanta Botanical Garden a few years ago. I bought a print of one of the paintings pictured (left) which illustrates the mythology of the spring season with a blackbird serving as a canvas for all the life of the season. Like this painting, spring is truly the most forward-looking season of the year—an abundant promise. And I'm loving spring's warmth, despite the lethargic reaction to the pollen. It's a chance to appreciate the surprise of new life in every form, once again.

WINTER INTO SPRING | (Top and above, right) This pale green goose feather tree (from the defunct Martha by Mail catalog) is abundant with spring-themed ornaments from my collection. Topped with a ceramic bird patterned much like the painting shown above, the effect was winter magic.

HARBINGER OF SPRING | (Above, left) A blackbird lands on the winter forest floor and spreads her wings with a promise of spring to come. The original painting by talented artist Ande Cook is gouache on panel and one of 16 works commissioned by Atlanta Botanical Garden. You can buy a high-quality digital print like mine in her Etsy shop.

photography by Claudia Lopez, styling by Darryl Moland

painting by Ande Cook

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