Meri's Play Place

The Temple at Dendara © 2009, 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian holding in my mind and heart the image of greater freedom and opportunity for the people of Egypt and the hope that they preserve and protect the treasures of their ancient civilization Mosaic Monday

With all the political upheaval in Egypt   featured in press coverage and on my mind, I thought I'd present some historical photos from the Library of Congress G. Eric and Edith Matson collection. Dating of these photographs is uncertain, with dates between 1898 and 1946 all in the range of possiblity. Strangely, many things haven't changed all that much in the last 65 years. Here's a glimpse of more recent Egypt from my trip to that beautiful, historical land in 2009. Along the shore of the Nile, between Aswan and Luxor. The Sphinx is no longer easily accessible. There is a walkway around the perimeter for viewing. To access the area between the paws, a special permit is required. The facade of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, shown in the vintage photograph above from the air. Along the road between Luxor and Abydos.  In the villages outside of the Cairo metropolis,  people live much as their parents  and grandparents did, except that they have...

Haiku My Heart with Rebecca and gang. weave a web of peace across the vast universe all we need is love

Weekend Reflections.  Gazing at me, gazing at the gazing ball, camera in hand.

"Midnight Blossom" © 2011 Meri Arnett-Kremian

How about some red roses for a blue lady? A pretty folk art cross? Putting hands together in prayer or around soft balls of yarn? Floating through life? What's your pleasure? Mosaic Monday .

It always amazes me to see photographs taken more than a hundred years ago. And it makes me feel like a little part of a longstanding tradition, capturing moments in time via camera. Of course I don't have to haul around big cameras with heavy plates or worry about the harmful chemicals,  just tripods and spare batteries and extra memory cards. But once upon a time, a man named  John C. H. Grabill (1866 - 1934) made his way around the American West -  circa the late 1880s to the mid-1890s  and took photographs of a way of life that's disappeared. He sent a portfolio of images to Washington, D.C. to obtain copyright protection for his works. And then he seemed to disappear into the landscape. But because he copyrighted those works, way back then, the Library of Congress has made them available to photography aficionados everywhere. I searched census records,  but never discovered Mr. Grabill. Online sources have scant info,  though one a...

Camera play close to home. . . "Repose" © 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian my little piece of heaven. Weekend Reflections .

Wordless Wednesday . From my "Unfolding" series - © 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian

"Broken" © 2011 Meri Arnett-Kremian Wordless Wednesday

Isn't it time to close the door on political extremism, on acts of senseless violence? Time to let in the light of compassion and wisdom? Let's get to work. Buenas dias, Mexico Monday .

Something a little different today for your viewing pleasure. These are all bits and pieces of artful images I created with mixed-media collage, digital collage, or prints created from  altered digital images. There's even part of an artist trading card pictured here. Enjoy!  

"Enigmatic" © 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian oh spectral image draped in billowing whiteness  you're an enigma

The subject of this dageurreotype is Junius Brutus Booth. Daguerreotype of Junius Booth from the Library of Congress Daguerreotype Collection. He was born in London in 1796 to Richard Booth, a lawyer, and Jane Elizabeth Game Booth. He displayed remarkable acting talent quite early in his life and committed to a stage career by the time he was 17. Just after he turned 19 in 1815, he married Marie Delannoy.  They had many children, but only one survived infancy.  Meanwhile, his career was thriving. He gained acclaim for his performance as Richard III in London at the Covent Garden Theater in 1817. He performed in several Shakespearean productions with Edmund Kean, the foremost tragedian actor of the time. In other words, Junius's career took off. . . . and so did he, leaving his wife and sole surviving son behind in 1821. He and his mistress Mary Ann Holmes left for the United States. They settled in Bel Air, Maryland and purchased a house which they remodeled and ...

The self-portraits I like the best are usually reflections, especially ones where I can't see all my imagined (and real) imperfections too clearly. Weekend Reflections .

Ruby Tuesday . "Living Doll" © 2010 Meri Arnett-Kremian. Ruby red lips.

San Miguel shadows. Shadow Shot Sunday .