Poet Laureate

Who would have thought, two posts about poetry in one day. W.S. Merwin has been named the new Poet Laureate of the United States. More info from the Washington Post, and a couple videos.

Senator Byrd Recites

Senator Byrd was known for his love of poetry. There is not as much video of this as I thought there might be, but here are a couple recitations.

I have post some video of Senator Byrd singing and playing fiddle on my music blog.

"Touch of the Master's Hand" by Myra Welch



"The Little Chap That Follows Me" unknown author

China Succumbs

Something tells me that Chairman Mao would be very upset about this. On the other hand, I expect Paris Hilton to have one very soon.

China's latest walking fashion accessory

Téenek Hawk Dance

This year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival features Mexico, Asian Pacific Americans, and Smithsonian Inside Out.

The high point is the Hawk Dance performed by the Téenek of Tamaletón, Mexico. Here is the description of it from the SI web site:

The Téenek of Tamaletón in the Huasteca region of San Luis Potosí celebrate the Danza del Bixom Tíiw ceremony. This ritual involves "flying" from a pole, in honor of Dhipaak, the Lord of Corn, to ensure good crops. In a newly inaugurated cultural center, the Téenek also perform for tourists, inviting them to experience local ceremonial and foodways traditions as well as vernacular crafts and architecture.

• Florentina Manuel Martínez, Hilaria Martínez Santos, María Concepción Méndez Orta, María Juana Santos Miramontes, Palo Volantín ceremony: dancers
• Bernardino Martínez Santos, Rodrigo Martínez Zapata, Juan Reyes Méndez, Manuel Reyes Crisóstomo, Palo Volantín ceremony: flyers
• Benigno Robles Reyes, Palo Volantín ceremony: director
• Juan Miguel Santiago Reyes, Palo Volantín ceremony: musician, flyer

The rope is wrapped around the pole and as they let go the rope unwinds and spins them around.

Here are some photographs from the morning performance and preparations for the afternoon performance.

Téenek Hawk Dance

This is a video of the afternoon performance—the first YouTube video I have ever created myself.

Kate Greenaway Medal Winner

The Guardian has a set of illustrations from the book Harry & Hopper. Freya Blackwood won the CILIP Kate Greenaway medal for illustration for this book.

Kate Greenaway winner Freya Blackwood

Lighting the Trump Tower

Last night was the official lighting of the spire on the new Trump Tower in Chicago. I don't think that this was exactly what the plan called for.

When lightning strikes (twice), a photographer is ready

Earliest Paintings of Jesus's Apostles

It was announced at a press conference in Rome that the oldest known images of the apostles Peter, Andrew and John have been uncovered in one of the city's Christian catacombs.

Paul, Peter, John and Andrew

The Kiss

Edith Shain, who was photographed by Alfred Eisenstaedt in Times Square in 1945 being kissed by a sailor, dies at aged 91.

Edith Shain dies age 91

We the People

New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on June 21, 1788. Ratification by nine states beung required for implementation, that means as of today the Constitution has now been in force for 222 years.

In commemoration of this here is an image of one of my favorite art works from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Mike Wilkins' "Preamble"

Royal Wedding

The Huffington Post has a set of pictures from yesterday's wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Included are pictures of most of the crowned heads of Europe, except they somehow left out Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, she only shows up in the group picture.

Princess Victoria's Wedding in Photos

For Neda

This is the HBO documentary about Neda Agha-Soltan, the women shot on the street in Tehran one year ago today on June 20, 2009. A cell phone video of the event was posted on the internet and almost instantly she became a symbol of the Iranian government's repression.

Leonora Carrington

The Guardian has a video about Leonora Carrington, a British surrealist painter who has lived in Mexico since the 1940's. I had never heard of her before, but she is very interesting.

Leonora Carrington: Britain's lost surrealist

The Archimedes Palimpsest

Here is a 3 part video about the Archimedes Palimpsest. I saw the Palimpsest several years ago when it was displayed at the Walters Art Museum. I think the restoration has been completed, and I am not sure where it is now.

Old Shoe

A video about the discovery—in Armenia—of the earliest known shoe in the world.

Jacques Cousteau's Centenary

Jacques Cousteau was born 100 years ago today on June 11, 1910. To mark the date here is a short biographical video.

Anish Kapoor's latest work

A video from the BBC about Anish Kapoor's latest work,Temenos, in Middlesbrough, UK. Only time will tell if this ever becomes as popular as Kapoor's Chicago sculpture Cloud Gate, which is now affectionately know as the Bean.

Middlesbrough displays Kapoor artwork Temenos

Picture ot the Day - 6/10/2010

The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Architect and project designer was Douglas Cardinal. The building is clad in Kasota limestone.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

Peregrine falcons in Baltimore

Since I did one post about pelicans in Louisiana, here is an article from the Baltimore Sun about the Peregrine Falcons that have nested in downtown Baltimore for over 25 years.

Peregrine falcons thrive in Baltimore

Louisiana Bird Rehabilitation Center

Video from C-SPAN's visit to the Louisiana Bird Rehabilitation Center.

Louisiana Bird Rehabilitation Center

National Geographic Pictures

Some great photographs from National Geographic.

Best of May From Photo of the Day