Or Braking For Unicorns…
Not so long ago, I drove past the Walt Disney building in Burbank. Imagine St Peter’s meets Bedrock with a hint of Stonehenge, but constructed by a pastry cook and you’ll have a pretty clear idea. With the seven dwarfs (well, six; Stupid or whatever his name is, is tucked up under the apex) shouldering the entablement of an ersatz Greek temple. Ungainly atlantes (I did my homework, caryatids are the female ones) on an unexpected structure, even for Hollywood. Of course, it didn’t take long to imagine it being excavated millenia hence by a team of archeologists from another planet. What on earth would be their definition of our religious beliefs… but then again they might not be that far off after all.
Admittedly, that is very silly, but leaps of the imagination are like that, into empty space, eyes closed tight, not knowing where you’ll land. That’s why I like to travel like the (most probably) legendary Mandeville: to meet a rhinocerous and see a unicorn. That’s why I drive slowly, you never know what’ll turn up.
Wherever I am, whenever and however, everything puzzles, dismays or delights me. Hopefully, I will not grow out of it. I’m far past the age where I can hope to grow up.
I have a love for maps and foreign lands, but never together. Which means I spend hours poring over the intricacies of old maps and the rest of my time getting lost… story of my life.
Blue Ribbon:
Just found out that I’ve received an award! This is my very first award since I won a traffic safety poster contest in high school, so it certainly is a landmark. Given the rhythm at which I seem to be chalking them up (one every 30 years) I better make the most of it. Imaginales 2003 award in the illustrated book category (http://www.imaginales.com). Have to rush off now, and dust off that mantelpiece.
On the drawing board: Yet more Tolkien illustrations (for a change).
On the bedside table: The Art of Travel, by Alain de Botton, American Gods by Neil Gaimon and the Lore of the Unicorn by Odell Shepard. (If I can remember, I’ll post the titles of the books I’m currently reading, usually about a dozen at any one time – which may explain why I get lost so easily…)
Coming up: Some more Tolkien illustrations… and, it looks like the documentary is going to happen. At last, a chance to talk about myself! (At least I’m familiar with the subject…)
Sorry for such a brief entry, I’ll make it up next week.
See you next time!
