Ruth Lee's Web Log - Artistic Expression

Maksim - Somewhere in Time

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:39:00 -0400

...a grand and beautiful escape that you can provide your own imagery for now and in future viewings...a welcome break from studying Islam with me. :) Click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkKue_MEnkk&feature=related

A Thousand Winds

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:26:00 -0400

A dear client who recently visited Japanese colleagues in San Francisco was intrigued that these Asian men were so touched by a poem written by a woman from the Mid-West. The poem has since become a popular song in Japan.... Kathy

“A Thousand Winds -- Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep” is a poem largely considered to be written by Mary Elizabeth Frye (1904-2004), but of disputed origin. Of course the reason I am sharing this remarkable verse here is not to discuss who the original author is but to share with you the power and wisdom in the words. [More]

Meditate Deeply Via Flute

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:07:00 -0400

I want to share this profound flute music with you, too. I shared it on Facebook, but most of you do not get over there regularly, perhaps at all... What an amazing place to meet others of like mind! Anyway, i could not share there that i filmed another flutist deep in the Amazon jungles in 2005. He played for me and anyone who ever views that scrap of film which remains in hiding in my office now... why? The time has not yet arrived when a man who viewed a white woman for only the second time in his life is ready to share his music... Click here for Tenzin Kalden's personal fantasy for flute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIC0ZVEdtvo

La Traviata at the Reading Terminal Market

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:13:00 -0400

Many thanks to Cheryl for sharing with me us...

On Saturday, April 24th, 2010, over thirty members of the Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus and principal cast members from the upcoming production of La Traviata converged on the Reading Terminal Market Italian Festival.

Wearing street clothes and blending in with the crowd, the artists swung into action as the first orchestral strains of the famed were piped through the market, giving a rousing, surprise performance for hundreds of delighted onlookers who were there to enjoy the Italian delicacies and the everyday treats that the Reading Terminal Market has to offer.

[More]

Vatican City Virtual Tour

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:32:00 -0400

The most awesome thing I have ever seen on the net. The Vatican virtual tours. Rita

INSTRUCTIONS: After you link on the site below and select an image and it appears, then HOLD DOWN THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON AND SLOWLY MOVE THE CURSOR AROUND THE ROOM (May be necessary to copy & paste this link to search bar.) Click here: http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html

Kate Smith's 'God Bless America'

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:03:00 -0400

In early 1940, Kate Smith, a fiercely patriotic American, and the biggest star on radio, was deeply worried about her country. She asked Irving Berlin if he could give her a song that would reignite the spirit of American patriotism and faith. He said he had a song that he had written in 1917, but never used it. He said she could have it.

She sat at the piano & played it and realized how good it was. She called Mr. Berlin and told him that she couldn't take this from him for nothing. So they agreed that any money that would be made off the song would be donated to the Boy Scouts of America. Thanks to Kate Smith and Irving Berlin, the Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties. The clip at the bottom of this email is from the movie "You're in the Army Now" You will see a familiar face in this—one that we are all very proud of.

Frank Sinatra said that when Kate Smith, whom he considered the greatest singer of his age, first sang this song on the radio, a million guys got 'dust' in their eyes and had to wipe the tears the 'dust' caused. See if you can watch and listen without 'dust' getting in your eyes. Sit back and enjoy a Real Star. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnQDW-NMaRs

Now, watch the Headline News - Death of Kate Smith, 1986 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzGoUbhpKKA&feature=related

Okay, what happened to Kate? Why did she disappear after all those years and never heard of again, she was not shy nor did she ever avoid the public, so what happened? Care to know? [More]

?Trolls? Wins Again

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:18:00 -0400

Just have to share the great news about “Trolls” the movie we talked about here a few months ago… So great to have the Director’s Mom as a friend!

Hi and I hope you are well.

Last year I told a lot of you, to see my daughter Brianne's short film called "TROLLS" at the Edmonton Film Festival, as it was the best short film I have ever seen. Most of you thought I was just a proud and bragging mother. But I was right and others throughout the world also feel the same way.

Brianne graduated from Victoria School of Performing Arts in 2005. She was an honors student in Math and Sciences but also studied film, video and photography. In 2005 she moved to Vancouver to study at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Brianne always prefered directing and photography. In her 3rd year Emily Carr sent her to Melbourne Australia as an exchange student, a division of Melbourne University also called Victoria School of Performing Arts. (Her travels were published in the Sons of Norway newsletter.)

TROLLS was her graduation film project from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in May 2009. Brianne graduted with a bachelor of media arts degree. TROLLS has been 12 Film Fesitvals. She just returned from France. Trolls was chosen for the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, the Cannes of the short-film world, and one of the world's most prestigious short-film festivals. [More]

Brianne Nord-Stewart Wins Again

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:58:00 -0400

I’m sending out a drum roll now and the spotlight is pivoting about and settling on Brianne, who is going places fast. Send her laughs and hugs and all kinds of energy that you want back refreshed and renewed.

This is my daughter Brianne's film that was shown at Edmonton Film Festival in 2009. It is amazing. D

Nord-Stewart's Trolls was chosen for the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, the Cannes of the short-film world. The comedy -- which chronicles a quintessential coming-of-age moment, wincingly funny and embarrassing, in the life of a nine-year-old boy -- is one of the 76 films on display culled from some 5,000 submissions. It's one of only two Canadian offerings at the festivities.

[More]

Quantumorphix

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:08:00 -0400

Puzzled enough to continue to explore??? Hope so...

During the early 1970s, Stanislav O'Jack took some unusual photographs, to say the least. At the time he used a simple Kodak camera with a plastic lens and the film was Kodak Kodacolor. Strange lights and illuminations appeared on the photos. Stan indicated much the same thing happened when other people gave him their cameras to take pictures.

He first thought he was a camera klutz. But he eventually realized that the film phenomena correlated with special inner states he could sense, and which he felt "energized" the camera. In addition to the expected physical scenes, remarkable optical effects were imprinted on the photographs. The special occasions when the optical effects were most likely to be obtained were (a) spiritual rock concerts; (b) religious shrines; and (c) high-energy metaphysical lectures. [More]

Patrick Henry Hughes, Musician Extraordinaire

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:52:00 -0400

I got this note from our dear friend Jan and smiled, but when I saw the video I was stunned!! You will be too! Not sure whom I admire more, Patrick or his father.

“You absolutely must take time to watch this video from beginning to end. I guarantee that this phenomenal young man will put you in a better frame of mind for this day.” Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=9xwCG0Ey2Mg

Kseniya Simonova, Sand Animator

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:11:00 -0400

2009 Winner Ukraine's Got Talent - The next Susan Boyle may have come from the Ukraine. Kseniya Simonova is not a singer. Instead she is an amazing artist and storyteller. Her means of conveying a story is not with words, but by running her hands through the sand.

Kseniya Simonova is a sand animator, who was the winner of Ukraine's Got Talent for 2009. More than eleven and a half million viewers have seen her YouTube video of the moving depiction of the Nazi invasion of Ukraine during World War II.

[More]

Adventures with Ruth

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:55:00 -0400

Wow, seemed like a dream come true! I was watching PBS as I exercised this morning and caught the tail-end of a cooking show called, what else? Adventures with Ruth! I got only a fleeting glance at a visit to Morocco where the food is soooo good, and a place I have always wanted to go—to eat and just see. Wellllll, I go to the web site http://www.gourmet.com/adventureswithruth and find out about Ruth Reichl, the food adventurer. However, it appears I am too late! Check out the announcement posted on the site: Please note that Gourmet magazine ceased publication after the November 2009 issue.

Anyway, here’s the scoop on Ruth. Her show will continue on PBS as long as people are interested enough to send in cash when asked to support it… [More]

Subway Art

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:05:00 -0400

Many thanks to Cheryl for sharing with us all year art and such that she discovers!

Call us boring and simple-minded, but before we saw the work of street artist Joshua Allen Harris we never once considered the artistic possibilities of subway exhaust. Using only tape and garbage bags, Harris creates giant inflatable animals that become animated when fastened to a sidewalk grate. Check out this amazing video of what can be done to brighten others days with a little imagination! To see his art at work, click here: http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1781

Dancing Russian Dolls

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:48:00 -0400

Here is something different in a Talent Show. I don't know what I was expecting when I opened this, but I hope you are as surprised as I was. They are just amazing with their little routine. Just look how small they are in size, but how large in talent. Cheryl

Click here: YouTube - Baletaci

Musician Matisyahu personifies harmony

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:30:00 -0400

He is a Hasidic Jewish musician from New York City known for blending traditional Jewish themes with reggae, rock, and hip-hop sounds. He pushes musical boundaries by incorporating a variety of genres to create unique sounds with deep messages that aim to unite and uplift. Matisyahu once said, "All of my songs are influenced and inspired by the teachings that inspire me. I want my music to have meaning, to be able to touch people and make them think. Chasidism teaches that music is 'the quill of the soul.' Music taps into a very deep place and speaks to us in a way that regular words can't." Listen to one of his latest songs 'One Day', which he created as an anthem for hope and a source of inspiration for people struggling to open their hearts and stay positive. Click here: http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1753