"I wish I were the moon tonight"

"The Evolution of Discovery"

By Jennifer S.

November 2009

Paper Collage

This is one of my newest works titled "The Evolution of Discovery." To me, it is based on my own self reflection at this point in my life and debating the vital aspects (both negative and positive) of who I am as an individual. It is about thinking and answering the important and simple question of "Who am I?" I realize that this is something that I won't figure out overnight but I am enjoying the process. Within the collage, I have attempted to use images that reflect the difficulties and joys of this adventure. There is confusion, fear, warmth, curiosity, science, mythicism and of course, humor involved. Everyone needs laughter to survive!

Now onto the amazing, Neko Case! Neko has one of those poignant voices that enters your heart and soul and moves you till tears are running down your face. Whether those tears are of joy or sorrow depends on the song of course. But all week long, I have been playing on repeat "I wish I were the moon" off of her album Blacklisted. It elicits a tone of loneliness that is felt through the simple melody, intense lyrics and of course, Neko's strong voice. I can't help but be moved by this short song. I am posting a link to a live version of this gem and I truly hope that you all see how amazing this singer is.

Alright Everyone, off to make some homemade pumpkin pie! Happy Turkey day one and all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fhur6g8_BM

xoxo

Jenny

Thanksgiving Time Baby!

Wow, how much I love Fall (or autumn if you prefer)! The smell, the colors of the leaves changing, the chill in the air, the fresh produce that comes into the supermarket! Well that final one has really gave me inspiration to cook. I have always enjoyed Butternut Squash soup so I decided to conquer it on the stove. The golden yellow of butternut squash is just a beautiful joy. I don't care what people say, but colors provide happiness in life. They brighten up your day literally!

Just take a look at this squash chopped up! Gorgeous darlings! Anywho the recipe I used was rather simple and included the squash, 1 onion, chicken stock, some nutmeg, salt, pepper and just a little butter! I was surprised that cream wasn't used and that is took less than 1 hour to make! You can have this and a salad and be satisfied for hours! Try making it for Thanksgiving since it is a great way to celebrate the Fall!

Here is the final product. Almost all gone! And I will leave you a lovely photo of the pomegranate I picked up. Talk about a sweet and beautiful snack! Cheers and have a great Thanksgiving One and All!

Peace and Love,

Jenny

Beauty in the Basement

If there is one blessing to a family full of women, it is the amount of vintage items one can find in a dark basement. One day while rummaging through a closet in my grandmother's house, I came across this beautiful silk Kimono from Japan. I am not sure how it ended up in my family's possession but the beauty of the fabric blew my breath away (and not just from the dust that has accumulated over the years!) When looking closely at the garment, the primary colors have remained bright and stand out from the beige background. The details on each flower are impeccable and I wish the photo was of better quality so you all can see! But take a look at the simple lines and dots that create texture and depth to the image. In a way it gives this kimono a realistic feel despite the cartoonish projection. I have noticed and admired this cartoonish quality of Japanese art for the past year. In fact my first introduction was to the woodblock prints of Hiroshige at the MFA in Boston. Despite depicting reality, there is this sense of fantasy to some of the art. Colors are heightened and simple lines keep the details present and complex looking. This is what art is to me- a way of interpreting your own reality in a unique way. As I leave you, take a look at this website, http://www.hiroshige.org.uk/ . It is a great introduction to Japanese Woodblock Prints.

Peace,

Jenny

The Big Easy!

Oh New Orleans... The Big Easy, full of life, a constant humidity and one fabulous culture! The smell of the Mississippi River and Cajun and Creole food permeates the air (in some imaginary world unfortunately). However the streets are tree lined providing a fantasy to some beautiful city, that carries on with life after Katrina. The relaxed atmosphere transcended through me and put me into one constant state of relaxation despite the busy days filled with tours of the area. Wandering the french quarter, or taking the St. Charles street car took me to to another life, one of which I have never seen before. Houses with individual personalities, an old fashioned street car traveling down a residential street, a busy town square filled with religious catholics leaving mass while street musicians and tarot card readers begged tourists for their business. The Voodoo house down the street, though a tourist trap, further reminded me that this city was filled with different cultures. There is this special beat to New Orleans, a slow but soulful aspect that is very different from the stressful, busy northeast. People stroll down the streets, sitting outside with their togo cups! And a stranger will not shy away from a conversation! Oh And let's not forget about famous Louisiana Bayou. I was fortunate enough to take a tour of the swampland and I was exposed to nature up close, seeing wild animals, a traditional Cajun neighborhood and a variety of trees and plants native to the area. In a way it was awe inspiring despite missing out on the alligators who refused to come out and play that day. Even with that small disappointment, we saw two large spiders that were about the size of my hand! I wish I had a picture of them to share with you. And just being out on a boat, traveling through the small passageways allowed me to understand the alluring aspect of the area. I understood why the Cajuns chose to settle in the bayou. The peace that engulfs you is profound and I felt as though I was at peace with the earth. Enjoy the pictures!

To Think!

Here is the beginning of a series of works I am developing based on the brain. The notion that our minds are working a mile a minute, constantly going over lists, images and other thoughts from the day is something to contemplate. We are persistently using this organ of ours and I wanted to illustrate how this process is affecting our minds by making collages and paintings of the dreams that enter and stay in our heads. In a way it is dissecting daydreams and putting them into a visual form like surrealism but without the gore and sexual overtones! Don't get me wrong, I love surrealism but I wanted to explore a more fantasmical (yes i just made that word up!) side to it all! These works are more of an escape from reality than a philosophical look into this world. Enjoy! Look forward to an upcoming post about New Orleans. I swear it will occur fasting than you think!

With Love,

Jenny

Photos For Thought

Hello One and All,

Just some more photos to share. Enjoy!

With Love,

Jenny

Oh La La!

Hello one and all,

Have you ever dreamt about a crazy fantasy job that just seems so unrealistic yet fun? Well recently I been pining to become a prop master. I don't know what it is but to me there is something about placing material items in such a way that they reveal the true self. Well maybe not to that extent but props in my opinion help provide background for the character. Wow I am sounding prolific and that is not like me! Whenever I watch a film, I always pay attention to the background, whether it is the set, props, costumes or even makeup. All of these elements help with character progression and give insight into their minds. Well anywho, out of boredom, I began playing around in my room with items that I have collected over the years. I enjoy placing them and working on a theme such as the Audrey Hepurn one seen below. Speaking of Audrey, what a wonderful actress! A classic gal of poise and grace and if you haven't seen Funny Face, go rent it now! This movie based in Paris follows a beatnik who gets trapped in the world of Paris fashion. With dancing by Fred Astaire and assistance by none other than Richard Avedon, this is a movie worth seeing for it's cinematography alone! Having left you with some food for thought, I am off.

With Love,

Jenny

P.S. I am starting to clear out my iPhoto Library making room for new photographs so look out!

Ready for some beautiful music?

Hello everyone,

I apologize for the lack of new posts but life has been busy. I just scored myself a new internship, I am trying to plan a trip to New Orleans and I have been enjoying the last few lazy days of summer at the pool! But now to the interesting part. As many of you might know, The Killers have become one of my favorite bands and have a special place in my life. Well fussing around on the internet has led me to this cover of When We Were Young by the Noisettes. To tell you the truth, my knowledge of the later band is very limited, but this cover has converted me. The lead singer's voice is beautiful and does justice to this gem of a song. Here is the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD_F0E4CXJ4

Enjoy! Also, keep an eye out for the Killers currently on tour. I just saw them perform at Jones Beach and their energy is out of this world. Having performed songs from all of their albums including some covers like Elvis's Love Me Tender!, this is a tour that shouldn't be missed. I hope everyone will have a lovely Labor Day!

With Love,

Jenny

Welcome One and All!

Welcome one and all Jenny's Magical Forest, a blog following an unemployed lady looking to showcase her creativity and avoid the dull doldrums of life. This will be a place to showcase my creations and get my ass off the couch (one can only watch the Food Network for so long before going crazy!). More than anything, I want to utilize this blog as a means of keeping myself busy during these lazy days of fall when I continue my search for a job and the meaning of life. This will not be a place to complain about life but an experiment in the world of my own imagination. I look forward to sharing this blog with everyone and keep an eye out for future posts! Welcome to my world.

Your One and Only,

Jenny

P.S.

In the meantime, check out Diane Birch, a singer songwriter with an incredible flair for old soul. She is reminiscent of the late great artist, Laura Nyro. Peace!