March 16, 2010
Visably dramatic. Sometimes.
![[IMAGE] View to Vancouver Island](/blog/blogpix/cattlepoint2.jpg)
…about the musicA vista, plus one you can hear.
Driving on the south end of this island mid-morning today, I was stunned (as always) by the immense view from the coastline on which my tires, myself and my latte were planted, looking out to Canada’s Vancouver Island directly across the Haro Strait. I liked the unwitting visual symmetry of the space above the horizon until the clouds became dark, and the space between the sea and the bluff on which I stood. The foggy March haze draped itself around the mountains so beautifully. I’d like to go through life draped like that myself. Forget about fabric clothing altogether, and just adorn myself with cloudwear.
I know. You can’t really see all that in this little photo. Trust me: those mountains are really big when you’re standing there. About three times as high, at least. Really.
Turning my head 90 degrees to the left, I could see another, more distant mountain range: the Cascades, making a dramatic backdrop behind several of the San Juans. But of course, in my little snapshot, that backdrop doesn’t look nearly as dramatic as it is in person. You’ll just have to trust me again. Drama baby, drama.
![[IMAGE] View to the Cascades](/blog/blogpix/cattlepoint3.jpg)
But I can at least give you an inkling of all that craggy, snow-capped drama, taken on another, sunnier day from almost the same spot, but with a 300 zoom lens attached. I liked the dance between the edges of the driftwood and those of the peaks. Voila, drama!
![[IMAGE] the Cascades](/blog/blogpix/cattlepoint4.jpg)
So I’m off on the morning ferry to Seattle, where I’ll be at this wonderful concert on Friday night hearing the fabulous Karen Bentley Pollick do some amazing things with my violin and electronics piece, Vista, as well as with quite a number of other beautiful new works composed by visibly living and breathing composers. Like the mountains, they too tend to look much smaller in photos than they are in person. About three times as high, at least. Really.
Glenn Buttkus said,
March 17, 2010 @ 8:23 am
How terrific of you to share VISTA @ 2:22 with us, many of whom will not be able to attend the Karen Bentley Pollick concert. Doug Palmer is sad as his train speeds along through the Badlands today, dropping down through Deadwood, waving at Mt. Rushmore, and he will miss hearing the Shapiro magic live. The electronics really enhance the piece’s mood. How are the electronic portions performed in live concerts? This morning, listening to your piece, the wood in the split railings, the piles of driftwood came alive, a real Anime as their various spirits undulated and danced to the strings, making all the mountains laugh, Olympics and Cascades, all but Mt. Olympus that just smiled. For some reason in my mind I saw an eagle in the ribbon of cold sky beneath the dark belly of those clouds. Are there many eagles on SJ Island?
Finally you waxed poetically with your prose. It is just something that cannot be forced or faked, those poetics of your enthusiasm and nature girl zest.
Cloudwear
Driving on the south end
of this island mid-morning today,
I was stunned
(as always)
by the immense view from the coastline
on which my tires, myself and my latte
were planted,
looking out to Canada’s Vancouver Island
directly across the Haro Strait.
I liked the unwitting visual symmetry
of the space above the horizon
until the clouds became dark,
and the space between the sea and the bluff
on which I stood.
The foggy March haze draped itself
around the mountains so beautifully.
I’d like to go through life
draped like that myself.
Forget about fabric clothing altogether,
and just adorn myself with cloudwear.
Alex Shapiro March 2010
Paul H. Muller said,
March 17, 2010 @ 2:33 pm
The middle photo could be northern Scotland…