Thursday, November 28, 2013

bird gifts

Yes, 'tis the season already, but winter holiday shopping is for the birds you say?  Well, birds are a nice idea, but not real birds - leave them alone!  

One way to look at it, blowing money on yourself and loved ones can relieve stress and depression.  

Here are my 12 picks, all doable.  So, spread the wealth.


etsy.com/listing/167273657/tree-of-life-limited-edition-print

Apak (Aaron & Ayumi Piland) limited edition print.  Original painting Tree of Life, 2009.  

Artwork of equal whimsy and wisdom.  The Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad timelessly tells us "Da-da-da! (damyata, datta, dayadhvam)  Be self-controlled!  Give!  Be compassionate!"



Most recent edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America, 1827-1839.



Constantin Brâncuși's Bird in Space, 1923.

A day spent together at the museum, well worth the price of admission.  It's one of the most pleasurable casual adventures.  For me, modern sculpture reached its zenith with Brâncuși.

Also check out Galerie de l'Atelier Brancusi: 
centrepompidou.fr/cpv/ressource.action?param.id=FR_R-b48bd4ab504cd917caf7a9559e7370f5&param.idSource=FR_E-b48bd4ab504cd917caf7a9559e7370f5



Cavallini & Co. notebook set, 2013.



Charles & Ray Eames House Bird, c. 1910.



Max Ernst's Une semaine de bonté, 1934.

I suggest the editions by Gallimard or DuMont Buchverlag, but Dover's is pretty good.  And above all, the Jeanne Bucher original 5 volumes.  



Katsumi Komagata/Christel Sadde Mobile Birds, 2009.

There's also a white version.



Lladró Magic Forest Ring, 2007.

Wearable sculpture in the round ... and not as overburdened as a lot of that haute couture nonsense haha.



MUJI cuckoo clock, 2012.



Anaïs Nin's Little Birds, 1979.

If you've been nice, you can be a li'l naughty.



Music by Bird.

There's a lot of debate about which recordings are best.  Several disc box sets are available.  Also see cmgww.com/music/parker/about/music.html

Another great selection would be any of Olivier Messiaen's oiseaux works, there are several.  Info here: oliviermessiaen.org/messiaen2index.htm


(original source unknown)

A gift that keeps on giving, for life.

Myself, I have an Aztec bird motif on my shoulder.



Decoylab It's My Forest clock, 2010.

An extra item, because it's really neat!