Photos from Danmark (feat. the Nordic Lands), Issue IIIX


Regal sewer covering design in Oslo, Norway.
Regal sewer covering design in Oslo, Norway.
Street art survives the winter in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Street art survives the winter in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bringing visibility to sustainable transportation methods in Malmø, Sweden.
Bringing visibility to sustainable transportation methods in Malmø, Sweden.
Painted advertising on a building facade in Malmø, Sweden.
Painted advertising on a building facade in Malmø, Sweden.
Time to dust off the morning ride in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Time to dust off the morning ride in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Dusk and a windmill in the Mols area of Denmark.
Dusk and a windmill in the Mols area of Denmark. Wait, who am I trying to kid? It’s winter in Denmark – this photo was taking practically in the middle of the day!

Native Art


As a break from all the vikings and Danish flags in recent posts, here is some native art from my birth state, Oregon. This WPA-era carving is on the main door to Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. The entire Timberline building is a work of craftsmanship – I’ve only ever carved a very blocky gnome figure, so hats off to the artist(s) who carved this.

native-art

Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats


Many moons ago I ventured to Pendleton, Oregon for the annual Round-Up. Growing up in Central Oregon I had gone to a few local rodeos and fairs, but the Pendleton Round-Up is the BIG TIME, so there was some preparatory work to do. First off, I dug up all my childhood photo albums to relive my days as a young girl obsessed with horses. Want me to name every anatomical point of an equine? Naw, didn’t think so.

Then, I pulled up the top hits of country music from the mid-90s so I could make a playlist worthy of the 3 1/2 hour drive to Pendleton. Despite the wrinkled expressions of displeasure that I received from my car-mates, I stand by this as a totally rocking road trip mix that I dubbed “Pendleton Cheese”.

There are a lot of requirements for being a bona fide cowboy, and during our short time in Pendleton we tried to experience as many as possible. One night, Michael checked ‘being a hipster badass’ off his to-do list by being the first in the room to hop on the mechanical bull.

I knew it would be tough to look legit in a town that would certainly realize I was city folk, but anyone can aspire to be a real cowboy, and my research turned up a few nuggets of pure western gold.

A real cowboy knows how to crease a hat.
A cowboy always looks cool, even leaning up against a trash can. Photo by Robert Frank.
Have horse, will travel.

The Pendleton Round-Up is one of the largest rodeos in the US and dubbed the “fastest moving rodeo” because of the extreme organization of the back-to-back events. No sooner had the last bronc rider been bucked off and it was on to the next competition. One of the most exciting events was the Indian Relay Race. Those original Americans sure know how to ride.

Even the cowboys are impressed.

Another fun part of visiting Pendleton was taking a tour of the underground tunnels and the brothels. Cowboys live a hard life, and they gotta have fun sometimes. I suppose that’s why some girls go wrong.

While my friends and I didn’t necessarily go wrong, it sure was a weekend to remember: whiskey drinking, rough riding, dust in your face fun. While we might not have passed muster as a true tough-as-nails cowboys, we definitely won the belt buckle for having a good time, encapsulated perfectly in these lyrics from Garth Brooks “Rodeo”. Now, where do I find a belt sturdy enough to hold up my pelvis-plaque of honor?

Large silver cowboy belt buckle with song lyrics from Garth Brook's song "Rodeo".
(click to zoom)

Well it’s bulls and blood, it’s dust and mud, it’s the roar of a Sunday crowd…
It’s the white in his knuckles, the gold in the buckle, he’ll win the next go ’round…
It’s boots and chaps, it’s cowboy hats, it’s spurs and latigo…
It’s the ropes and the reins, and the joy and the pain, and they call the thing…
RODEO.

Photos from Danmark, Issue IX


Book shelf at the Laundromat Cafe in Nørrebro Copenhagen.
Biblio color palette.
Layers of paint showing the age of a door at the Frilandsmuseet in Denmark.
Paint through the ages, door of a farmhouse from the 1700's.
Front doors of two Danish houses in Køge Denmark.
His and hers - two houses in Køge.
Typography collage from "Popart" exhibition at Louisiana Art Museum.
Sketch from "Popart" exhibition at Louisiana Art Museum.
Giant acrylic arrow art from "Popart" exhibition at Louisiana Art Museum.
Legs only - artwork from "Popart" exhibition at Louisiana Art Museum.

Wintertime Greetings


A wintry scene from Fyn Denmark during the month of December. A deserted walking street the day before Christmas with old buildings and street lamps.

Wintertime in Denmark is something special. The high latitude means that days are short (very short) and the darkness instigates a hibernating hush over the land – people grouped indoors around candles and food to stave off the bleak, cold season. But during those few hours of daylight, the townscape can be absolutely enchanting, which I was especially aware of in the photo above taken in a small town on the island of Fyn. Swish swish, shhh shhh.

Photos from Danmark, Issue VI


Tiny model houses all dusted in white at the Danish Architecture Center. If it were powdered sugar there would have to be a sign telling people not to lick it.
A field of Danes, kind of like flowers, they only come out in the sunny months. Don't even ask me how they pollinate.
Garbage can to park bench ratio.
Old windows and doors and the parts in between reminds me of a quilt.
The entire Danish army. Their fuzzy hats make me want to take a nap. Perhaps that is their secret pacifist power?