Old tire swing, Fromberg, Montana.

old tire swing
Originally uploaded by ken e williams photos

When kids didn't have lots of manufactured stuff, they, with their family and friends, used their imaginations and what was available to invent the entertainment they needed. They were rarely bored.

In 1955 the Mickey Mouse Club was first broadcast. Children could sit in front of a screen, see products that were pitched on commercials which were aimed at convincing the kids they "needed" stuff. Those watching did not need to use their imagination or talk to each other or improvise play or police their activity.

Current research and the common sense confirms that children under the age of two who watch videos and television hours each day will experience a delay in language development and have fewer social skills. Is it difficult to understand the reason so many children are now being diagnosed with forms of autism and attention deficit disorders?

Go here to listen to NPR story on play or here for a University of Washington study on the effects of television on language development. 

Beula Briar: Sept. 19, 1911 - April 7, 2007

Beula Briar during nursing home visit April 2, 2007
Originally uploaded by ken e williams photos

Today I learned that one of the most unusual people to influence my photo work died five days following the visit during which this photo was taken. Beula was generous, tough, witty and always willing to give me shots - once we finished re-building fence or cleaning out ditches.

This photo was taken in the nursing home in Laurel, Montana where we had our final meeting. I miss her.

Beula Briar at gate to her homestead

Beula Briar at gate to her homestead
Originally uploaded by ken e williams photos

Once while visiting Beula and walking some of the 120 acres she farmed as best she could, I noticed a shiny piece of blue glass and picked it up. It was a small broken bottle. She noticed I'd gathered this from her land and asked what I'd found. I told her and she informed me to leave it where I found it. Nothing that came onto her land ever left her land, while she was in charge.

farm girls

farm girls
Originally uploaded by ken e williams photos

     I am like most folks raised in western, Occidental cultures that often value ONLY work that is close to perfect. Unless of course the play at school features the grand kids.

     I know better. And I still feel the need to go for close to A+ or near perfect. Two stories from a book (Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils of Artmaking by Bayles and Orland) I recently read, relate.

     “When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college - that my job was to teach people to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, You mean they forgot?” (Howard Ikemoto)

     And a story about a pottery teacher who, on the first day of class divided the students into two groups. One group was instructed to make one nearly perfect piece of pottery and turn it in on the final day of class. Their grade would be determined by the quality of the single piece. The other group was told to produce as many pieces of pottery as possible. Their grade would be based on the pounds of pottery they produced. Fifty pounds an A, forty pounds a B, thirty pounds a C.

     The students who were asked to produce pounds of pottery did in fact produce many fine ceramic pieces. The other students produced, in most cases, nothing. They were paralyzed by their angst about a near perfect piece.

     I am inhibited by my notions of near perfect and slowly learning to let go. And to honor what I learned years ago - the process determines the outcome. When I seek to only share my really great images I am less productive and less happy. Making and then finding ways to share many images is far more satisfying.

     Getting over my obsession with perfect is wonderful. Some of the photos I’ve posted are mediocre. I like them and want others to see them.

     The photo accompanying this entry is one of these. It is technically weak, not well exposed and and far from really good. I like it and have fond memories of the two girls who were the models. And I like the idea of the composition. It is on my web page for that reason.

     Practice does not make prefect. It may increase confidence and reduce concern with perfect. And eventually some really fine works of art.

the glue of friendship

the glue of friendship
Originally uploaded by ken e williams photos

Reciprocity,
acts of giving to others
what we seek ourselves.

friends

friends
Originally uploaded by ken e williams photos

Two children near creek,
childhood's simplicity bares
secrets worth knowing.

passage

passage
Originally uploaded by ken e williams photos

Small gate deep in hedge,
will lead to new connections-
when opened with faith.

Where's a leader like Eisenhower?

KC Line Up
Originally uploaded by mdt1960

Two stories heard on National Public Radio this morning reminded me of old themes. Fear and greed or courage and generosity.

We tax payers are shoveling piles of money into building impressive and powerful fighter jets like the F22
( $300,000,000.00 each ) which are - according to defense analysts who study these things - useless at defending against kids with britches full of explosives and determination to kill as many infidels as they can. Or commercial jets headed for World Trade Center buildings but not fully "on the radar" of the underfunded Air Traffic Controllers.

While American soldiers are fighting in dangerous places without needed supplies and arms and our wounded soldiers not getting satisfactory services in the Vet's Admin system. While the folks at Lockheed Martin are banking big profits from projects like F22 designed to fight the Soviets. Based on greed ?

Hey Congress !!! The Taliban don't use jets. Get smart and use common sense about this war effort and provide the men and women who put their lives on the line, with the tools they need.

Regardless of how we feel about the politics of it all.

What Drives Record Spending on Defense?

The other story was about the enduring beauty of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. For over two hundred years it keeps bringing goosebumps and deep emotion. Maybe it speaks to human longing for authenticity, courage and beauty.

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata

Where I spend my time and energy - political pork and greed OR creative beauty is hardly a question to consider. With choices like these I'll go with beauty.

Maybe we could send the Taliban recordings of the Moonlight .... naw they don't like music. Let's "nuke em" in their mountain-cave terrorist cells with fire power from $ 300,000,000.00 fighter jets.

Does it get sillier? Was Beethoven on to something enduring ?

Blessings and peaceful times,

Ken