In my last post, I promised a series, yet have done nothing with it. My apologies. Here’s the first installment of Arty Heart. Enjoy.
Now, I am by no means calling myself an artist, but this first piece I’m going to share with you is a picture I took in Paris. I’m completely obsessed with it.
Here it is:
So, what are you first thoughts? Probably ‘what in the world is this?”
Here are my thoughts behind it: I remember staring at this apartment building for awhile just thinking how cool it looked and wanting to meet the people that lived there. It looks like a massive quilt where each apartment window is a patch.
I love, love, love how each window represents someone so different and that can be seen through the variety of colors on the window coverings. It just reminds me that even in such a confined space, there is still such variety.
Now, the picture would be different if I zoomed in on only a few windows, but by looking at the entire building, the entire picture, and seeing all the little things that make it up, it brings a much cooler concept.
I’m going to start a new series (because I’ve been so faithful to the one established series I have already…). I’ve been told I have an “arty heart” and I love that. I think I’ve discovered what exactly has caused this and what it’s causing me to do.
First, what caused it:
My dad used to play the “who sings this?” game while riding in the car with him. I think I started to appreciate all types of music at that point.
Then, in the 2nd grade, I decided I wanted to take piano lessons. I did and didn’t stop until I graduated high school. I loved it. I almost majored in it, but after a lot of thought, I discovered playing the piano was something I just did for me (the nauseous stomach before every festival or recital led me to this decision).
My mom always did crafts with me. We had a “make it” closet filled with random items that put together in the right way created something unique. She also planned amazing birthday parties for me that always involved making something and using our creative sides.
I took dance lessons for a couple years. I wasn’t the greatest, but I had fun.
And then, from 6th to 8th grade, I attended Humanities Middle School. It was a smaller public school that students had to apply to. It integrated arts into every class. I mummified oranges, made Faberge eggs, became Nefertiti in a wax museum, helped create a magazine, made paper, quilted, created replicas of old historical buildings, painted under tables while laying on our backs just like Michelangelo may have with the Sistine Chapel, etc. I wish I could remember everything that we did there because I think all of it was pretty great.
What it has caused me to do:
Spend hours in art museums. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel and look at some of the masterpiece’s of the world. The Llouve in Paris, the statue of David in Florence, Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, MoMA & MET in NYC, every Smithsonian in DC, and various ones we stumbled across in London.
Love architecture. I love brand new modern buildings. I love old buildings. I love skylines. I’m fascinated with them. I think having a long family history of brick-laying doesn’t hurt this love either.
Became a concert junkie. I love music. I’m obsessed with it. I love finding new bands that haven’t quite hit the big-time yet and telling people about them. I would go to a concert every day if possible.
Interested in photography. I’ve always taken a lot of pictures and posted them everywhere. This past semester I took a photography class, which just fueled the fire. I think I’m decent at it.
Do crafty things. Make a magazine mirror, bracelet, whatever, I’ll do it.
Watch any broadway/dance/musical. I’m a fan. Check out ‘In The Heights.’ It rocks.
Love to travel. Discovering new cultures and the variety of art it brings is pretty exciting for me.
I’m sure that’s not the entire list of what this arty heart has caused me to do, but you get the gist.
So, on to the series. This is what I’m thinking…I don’t have a specific day for it, so it’ll be sporadic. “Arty Heart” entries will contain any type of art that I’ve come across that I want to share with you: A cool building, picture, museum, artist, painting, music (I’ll try to keep this and Tune Tuesday separate), or even a craft. I hope you enjoy it and your heart becomes a little arty in the process.
I’ve noticed several brand/logo changes lately. I wanted to share some with you and get some feedback!
The first is from Dairy Queen. I didn’t know about this change until I passed the one back home and noticed a new sign.
Here’s the old:
And the new:
Personally, I like the old better. I think it’s classic and looks great as a bright neon sign. It’s recognizable, but now these swooshes get in the way of that. What do they add to the idea of Diary Queen? Thoughts?
Next up is Pizza Hut, or now is SOMETIMES going to be labeled as The Hut according to their press release.
The old:
The new:
I think “Pizza” in the name really helped the brand recognition, so now I’m not sure about this new one. When people see "The Hut" they may be wondering what in the world they sell and choose not to go there. Compared to before, when the answer was obvious. I also do not like that they are using this logo at some locations and the old in others. I think that could be a confusing disastor for consumers. Like? Dislike?
The last I have for you is Pepsi. It’s not so recent and got a lot of talk in a lot of my classes.
The old:
The new:
The new logo was presented with a lengthy scientific report complete with graphs on the energy fields within the logo showing how it would pull buyers towards it. Well, it may have worked on me. I started buying Pepsi products and found a new love for Diet Pepsi (I blame the energy fields). The logo is American, modern yet still classic, and somehow has a friendly feeling. If you google image search "New Pepsi logo" you'll see all kinds of things: a variety of smiling faces within the logo, an overweight man within the new logo and Obama's campaign logo. Who has fallen for the energy fields??
Building a strong brand is a very lengthy process. So rebranding and changing the face of your brand is a big decision. It could change how consumers feel about the brand at first glance, good and bad, and it may cause a decrease in recognition or recall of the brand. Companies just have to decide if it’s worth it in the long run. So, who thinks these companies made a good decision?
So, I think I first heard this song when our amazing FCA praise band led it in worship one Tuesday. David Crowder released this song as a single, BUT I just discovered that someone from Charlotte actually wrote it and happens to be the brother of my photography professor I had last semester. His name is John Mark McMillan and click here to get the background on when and why he wrote the song. (I have the David Crowder version below without any intro).
Well, I think this song is pretty self-explanatory, but the lyrics really capture the beauty of our good and great God. I love having this song that allows me to sing it out to Him. So just press play below and reflect on some of the words I took out:
I listened to the song the other day while I was sitting on the beach back home. It was unusually windy and from the very start of the song, I was aware of God’s presence and the beauty He created around me:
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
Love this one!
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, And I realize just how beautiful You are, And how great Your affections are for me.
Oh how He loves us
When I was at the beach, the ocean part overwhelmed me because as far as I could look, all I saw was the big blue sea:
We are His portion and He is our prize, Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes, If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
I want my heart to do this every time I think of His love. I don’t want to be able to sit still:
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest, I don’t have time to maintain these regrets, When I think about, the way…
South Carolina has been the state for news these past few weeks. And not good stuff. Here’s a recap for all you non-palmetto-tree-state-livers:
Governor Mark Sanford’s affair with an Argentinean woman. Great. First he was “missing” and then we find out this was happening instead. He’s been sneaking off, lying, using government money and cheating on his wife and family for the past few months. And he didn’t resign although outcries for it are increasing every day. I was quite embarrassed on many levels when he made the announcements: as a South Carolinian, a Christian (which he and his family are), and I thought if he brought up Beaufort Senator Tom Davis’ name one more time as being his buddy…geesh. I think Sanford was a lucky man when he scooted out of national headlines because of Michael Jackson’s death. Click here for the whole story.
Gaffney County has a serial killer and he has already taken 5 victims in less than a week. A little scary considering I was there just a few weeks ago for a wedding. The killer’s pictured popped up on CNN and CNN.com while over 100 investigators in the Carolinas are working on the case. Let’s get this guy. Click here for more information.
This one didn’t make national news, but a huge fire overtook an old mill in Rock Hill, just blocks away from my apartment. Apparently the fire was so big, that smoke could be seen from as far away as Charlotte. The building used to be a bleachery, but has been abandoned for a while. It took more than a day for 55+ firefighters to get the fire out. Read more here.
Let’s all hope that sweet southern little South Carolina will only make good news. Please.
Everyone’s favorite Tuesday music blogging spot is back! Although I may need some help adding t-words pretty soon. Comment if you’ve got some. To check out some older Tune Tuesday posts, click here.
Go.
Song: Syndicate Artist: The Fray Album: The Fray
I’ve put the video down at the bottom, so press play and then read on!
The Fray is one of my top 3 bands. I love the piano infused into the lyrics that somehow can always be interpreted on a spiritual level. And I don’t think this song is any different.
This album was released in February and for now, this is my favorite song on the album. What I did first was look up the word syndicate, it’s only mentioned once in the song. So keep this in mind while listening:
syn⋅di⋅cate : a group of individuals or organizations combined or making a joint effort to undertake some specific duty or carry out specific transactions or negotiations.
I’ll just go ahead and say what I think this song overall is about because then I think the lyrics just fall into place. And this may be a long post, because I think this song is FULL of good stuff.
Much of the new Fray album seems to be about finding the Lord and the struggles of building our faith. Specifically, I think this song is about hardships, battles and doubts Christians face when we have built up that faith.
The thing that we are searching for, Jesus, seems to be so distant and old being over 2000 years old:
Halfway around the world Lies the one thing that you want Buried in the ground Hundred miles down
And that can be frustrating causing doubts or times when we just want to give up even though we are “awakened” to the Truth:
First thing that arises in your mind while you awake Bending you til you break Let me hold you now
The chorus is kind of encouraging in that the person speaking seems to have been exactly where the “baby” is at and reassures them that its ok to ask questions and to just hold on to what they believe:
Baby close your eyes Don't open til the morning light Baby don't forget You haven't lost it all yet
We have no idea the love and forgiveness that we are capable of that is shown by Jesus and we may not realize this until we see Him face-to-face:
Don't know what your made of Til the one thing that you want To come in with the dawn and suddenly changes
I haven’t quite figured out this line. This is the one mention of syndicate. Any ideas? I’m sure Monday is significant in that it is the day after Sunday. Perhaps the thought that people go to church on Sunday only to return to their same exact lives the next day making no changes after learning on Sunday:
Monday’s syndicate means everyone’s the same But all we've lost to the flame. Listen to me now
Another line is then added into the chorus. This just reiterates the fact that there is questioning going on, but the one thing we know for sure is our God:
All we know for sure Is all that we are fighting for
These next few lines are pretty powerful. I think they show that our God is mysterious and that we may never have all the answers (which is a struggle in itself, but also a beautiful thing because it shows how big our God is) even as our relationship with Christ grows and we get closer to Him:
Someday when this is over We may still have no answer For now is when I hold her We are closer We are closer We are closer We are closer
So what do you think? This is of course my interpretation, and I think many of these lines can be interpreted different ways. Some may even think it’s just about a long-distance relationship, but the Fray is always wonderful about putting deep, hard-hitting lyrics embedded into some very pretty music.
In the past week, I took a couple of mini vacations.
From Sunday, June 14 – Tuesday, June 16, I did absolutely nothing (except get a sunburn and play with some cute kids) on Edisto Island. Every summer, my aunt rents a house where the backyard is the beach. It takes about 10 seconds for me to get from the house to the Atlantic Ocean. It is the loveliest.
Edisto Beach, SC
From Friday, June 19 – Sunday, June 21, I explored the mountains, creeks and waterfalls around Erwin, Tennessee where my brother lives. Made a trip to the hippie-filled Boone, NC and dangerously rainy top of Roan Mountain.
Erwin, Tennesse
My question is….which do you prefer: beach or mountains? If you could only chose one, which would it be?
I'm a Senior at Winthrop University as a Integrated Marketing Communication major.
Listening to music is my favorite. I'm also a concert junkie.
I'm crazy about traveling to new places, taking pictures, coffee shops, IKEA, the Olympics, doing creative projects and Elevation church.
I'm also fascinated with the media.
