Pretentious? Moi? Well maybe just a bit. It is many years since I had to use my head for the purposes of paid employment but I hope the grey matter hasn't quite reached the mush stage and can deal with the abstract as well as the purely practical, and when I don't know something I do try to find out. One of the advantages of being married to someone with the nickname "Two Brains" is that his encyclopaedic knowledge is there to be consulted when I need to look anything up, and yesterday when I wondered about the 'frame' as philosophical construct, he naturally had the answer.
A browse in the "Very Dusty Books" section of our collection (see above) produced some impenetrable texts, but luckily The Doc. was on hand to clear the fog. "Kant," he said as he helped me make the bed this morning, "'The Critique of Pure Reason', the bit about the dove." So just to show that a so-called "Domestic Arts Blog" (a hint of pretension, there, perhaps?) can yet include a reference to matters cerebral, here comes the quote in question, and make of it what you will. As to illustrations, where do you find light doves when you need them? As there isn't even as much as a wood pigeon in the garden this morning, I've photographed the flying creatures my daughters made in Design Technology lessons - I'm sure Kant could have made the leap from dove to horse to dog, couldn't he?
"The light dove cleaving in free flight the thin air, whose resistance it feels, might imagine that her movements would be far more free and rapid in airless space. Just in the same way did Plato...venture upon the wings of ideas..into the void space of pure intellect."
Up, up and away!
These look like they floated out of a Chagall painting. Very impressive artwork!
Posted by: Fay | 16 March 2007 at 03:53 PM
What a fun post this morning! Checking your blog for beautiful photos and interesting ideas is a daily pleasure for me. I chuckled when I saw your bookshelves. We have a "Very Dusty Books" section, too, and the photo looks like it could have been taken in our house.
Posted by: Robin | 16 March 2007 at 04:04 PM
Very clever! Made me smile-thanks
Posted by: A Wildlife Gardener | 16 March 2007 at 04:28 PM
That dust is protecting those beautiful books. I tried to read titles, but I need to 'fly' over to get a closer look.
I love your DD's art! I saw the flying sheep and thought of a hooked mat pattern for dogs with wings to hook in memory of a favourite pet!!
Posted by: Peg | 16 March 2007 at 04:35 PM
Yes, freedom to fly 'in airless space' or Plato's void can be wonderful and lead to all sorts of things. But to be contained - in a frame - and feel safe and secure can also assist creativity.
I too love the Chagallesque horse and dog.
Thanks for this entry Karen.
Posted by: Elizabeth | 17 March 2007 at 03:19 AM