Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Whimsical Wednesday.

Okay. I just made up 'Whimsical Wednesday'. And there's no guarantee that it'll happen every Wednesday.
In fact, it won't happen next Wednesday at all, what with it being Christmas and all.

But that's the whimsy part. It's when the whimsy strikes. And it may not be on Wednesday's either.

Just so we're all clear on this from the get go.

I'm reading one of my favorite authors at the moment, Robertson Davies. He was Canadian. But now he is dead. Which makes me sad because that means there will be no more of his wonderful books to read.

What I'm currently reading was written in the late forties and early fifties under the nom de plume, Samuel Marchbanks, who is a decided curmudgeon.

I wanted to share.

*Of Lumpism*

"I became involved in an argument about modern painting, a subject upon which I am spectacularly ill-informed; however, many of my friends can become heated, and even violent on the subject and I enjoy their wrangles. In a modest way, I am an artist myself, and I have some sympathy with Abstractionists, although I have gone beyond them in my own approach to art.

I am a Lumpist.
Two or three decades ago, is was quite fashionable to be a Cubist, and to draw everything in cubes; then there was a revolt by the Vorticists who drew everything in whirls; we now have the Abstractionists who paint everything in a very abstracted manner. But my own small works (done on my telephone pad) are composed of carefully shaded, strangely shaped lumps, with traces of Cubism, Vorticism and Abstraction in them for those who possess the seeing eye.

As a Lumpist, I stand alone."

From:
The Papers of Samuel Marchbanks
1947

The Three Musicians
Picasso
1921

18 comments:

geewits said...

Are you familiar with Gail Bowen? She's the aunt of a friend of mine and a Canadian author. I've only read one book and I liked it. I hadn't thought of her in years until you mentioned a Canadian author.

jmb said...

I haven't read Robertson Davies in years and not this one at all.
I do like that quote.

Have a great Christmas Tai

Jazz said...

I love Robertson Davies. I've been looking for Marchbanks and haven't found a thing though...

kimber said...

Ah, dear Robertson.... I didn't read any of his books until after he had passed, and I'm continually struck by his wisdom, his delight with words, and his cleverness. Especially "Whats Bred In The Bone". One of my all-time favorites.

limpy99 said...

Don't despair, there's hope for more Davies books yet. I think Tupac Shakur has put out more CDs since his death than he did while living.

David Amulet said...

I like the Whimsical theme. We all need more whimsy in our lives, no?

-- david

Hermes said...

Yay for literature that we love. Yay for lumpism! Just don't speed on your way to the bookstore!

Janice Thomson said...

Oh Tai that was priceless! Thank you so much for this.

Jo said...

Tai, I have never read any Robertson Davies (hanging my head in shame), but I think I will now.

BTW, I just read about the oysters. Very interesting! We used to go oyster picking at Bowser on Vancouver Island.

'O Oysters,' said the Carpenter,
'You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none --
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

Unknown said...

Whimsy is as whimsy will.

GW said...

Dr. John sent me.

I love that excerpt. It makes me want to find some books by this man - I love his style!

blackcrag said...

Hi Tai,

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and hope all the best for you in the next year.

Unknown said...

May you have a Joy-filled & Merry Christmas, Tai

May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas. (A Celtic Blessing)

Weary Hag said...

Truly just stopping by to wish you a happy holiday season and healthy, love-filled new year!

Mel said...

hehe Great quote!!

Hope you are having a very merry Christmas!

Crazy Me said...

When I see the word lumpist, it just makes me think of my bootie ... but I guess that's more lumy than lumpist. LOL!

Jocelyn said...

I've just been trying to get up to speed with a British Lit class I'll be teaching this next semester, and I was reading a "Vorticistic Manifesto," thinking, "Why the hell do I know nothing of 'vorticism' or whatever it is?"

Then I come here and discover that I really am really uninformed.

But you are informing me of things, one bit at a time.

Treat me gently.

Unknown said...

I returned to say HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!