Logging Air Miles ... and Blogging

Big travel news. In just a few short weeks, I begin a month of travel, fun, adventure, writing and my first archaeological dig. Three trips spread over four weeks – Alaska, Israel and Phoenix.

Trip 1: New Orleans // Dallas // Alaska // Dallas // New Orleans
On May 14, we leave for a week in Alaska. We’ll have a couple of days in and around Anchorage then off the Bethel for my niece Lauren’s high school graduation. I haven’t been to Alaska since 1992 and this will be Kimberly and Jonathan’s first trip there.

We'll meet Mom in Dallas and fly together to Anchorage. We'll have two and a half days there, before flying to the village of Bethel. In addition to the great time with family, we hope to see lots of beautiful scenery and wildlife.

We are really excited about the trip. I should have a few interesting blogs from this trip.

Trip 2: New Orleans // Philadelphia // Israel // Philadelphia // New Orleans

After a few days back home to work, recharge and repack, then it’s off the Israel where I am participating in New Orleans Seminary’s archaeological dig at Tel Gezer. Gezer has an interesting history. When the Israelites came into the Promised Land, Joshua defeated the King of Gezer, but the Israelites failed to drive out all the Canaanites. The city was destroyed by Egypt during the reign of Solomon. Then Pharaoh gave Gezer to Solomon as a wedding present. Solomon rebuilt and fortified the city. It was destroyed again by Shishak, another Egyptian king, around 925 B.C.

The site has been excavated several times beginning in the early 1900s. In June 2006, a consortium of school began digging under the direction of Dr. Steve Ortiz, archaeology professor at Southwestern Seminary. NOBTS is a consortium member in the Gezer project. NOBTS was asked to lead the excavation of Gezer’s ancient water system dating to 1800 B.C. (about the time Abraham lived).

The water system was explored by R. A. Stewart Macalister in 1908 and by Pére L. H. Vincent shortly thereafter. The two archaeologists produced conflicting reports. And for the past 100 years the deep tunnel has been filled with rocks, dirt and debris. Those in the know, believe there is more to learn about in the tunnel.

I had the privilege of studying under Dr. Ortiz in 2001 and 2002 when he was on the NOBTS faculty. Since my first days in his “Exploring the Biblical World” class, I’ve wanted to go on a dig. When I joined the NOBTS staff I worked on numerous archaeology articles which only increased my interest in the subject. Over the past year I have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Jim Parker and Dr. Dan Warner on several articles about the Gezer dig – even more interest. So I’m excited about the opportunity to dig.

 So I’ll help clear rubble from the tunnel five hours a day for two weeks. Sounds like hard work … I guess I won’t need an “Indiana Jones” fedora. Then in my spare time I’ll write about the dig. I’ll be blogging about this trip at www.nobtsarchaeology.blogspot.com.

Trip 3: New Orleans // Phoenix // New Orleans
The last stop of my whirlwind tour is Phoenix, Ariz. I’ll have a few days in New Orleans after the Israel trip, then it’s off the Phoenix for a three-day work trip. I’ll write several articles, pack up the seminary’s exhibit booth and head home. Then I’ll rest … and mow the lawn.

Paint, Emotion and Creative Energy

Everyone seems to have an opinion about the print hanging in the foyer of my office at New Orleans Seminary. I’ve heard many people express their feelings about this painting. Some love it. Others hate it.

The print was made from an oil painting of an urban scene. Though somewhat abstract nature, the setting is clear -- the French Quarter of New Orleans. The focal point of the piece is a stylized St. Louis Cathedral.  It appears to be a view from Chartres and St. Louis streets facing east.

I, for one, have always liked the painting. As an artist I greatly appreciate the painter’s technique. From the use of a limited color scheme applied with a palette knife, to the almost unstructured, rugged look of it all, it just works. The artist skillfully captured the look and feel of that spot. He was moved and was able to conveyed emotion.

I don’t know why I never researched the artist who created this painting. I just didn’t. A few months ago, my blogging cohort in Geaux Therefore, Frank Michael McCormack, Googled the artist and found a great website dedicated to the artist and his work. 

Parker Lee Leibsohn who painted under the name Parker Lee was born in Iowa to immigrant parents in 1924. After studying at the University of Denver, Lee developed an almost abstract, modernist style and focused much of his attention on urban landscapes. He later lived Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, Portugal and Mexico. Some his paintings from his time in Mexico and Europe are even better. In the late 1980s, Lee made his way to New Orleans. Drawn in by the jazz scene in the New Orleans, he lived here until his death in 1995. Apparently, this lithograph on our wall is a product of these last years of his life. The painting is inspired and inspiring. And without including a single person in the painting, he conveyed emotion. His website, parkerleeleibsohn.com, is worth a visit.

It is no surprise to me that Lee found fertile ground for creativity in New Orleans. With its beautiful tree-lined avenues, Old World architecture and unlimited supply of colorful characters, the city has long inspired artists, musicians and writers. 

French impressionist Edgar Degas spent a year here in the 1870s living with relatives on Esplanade Avenue.  His 1873 painting, A Cotton Office in New Orleans, his most important work during sojourn in New Orleans, is one of my favorite NOLA paintings.

William Faulkner, O. Henry and Tennessee Williams lived and wrote here at times during their careers. And the city also found it’s way into the works of Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck and many others.

Music courses through the veins of the city. Music is the lifeblood of many a neighborhood. It is here that jazz was born and continues to thrive. We couldn’t even begin to name all of those who have soaked up the creative energy of the city and turned it into music. 

Part of the attraction is the city’s brokenness. This place is real with many wonderful qualities and many problems. Hurricane Katrina stirred up many emotions. The result has been a new, more passionate outpouring of creative energy. People still want to paint and sing and write about this unique, wonderful (not perfect) place.

Classical Gas Stations ... and Street Signs

By Gary D. Myers

I have always loved Edward Ruscha’s art – especially his painting of a simple gas station. I was inspired the first time I saw it and I consider that painting one of my major influences. Unfortunately, for many years I couldn’t remember who painted it.

"Standard Station" Edward Ruscha

Ruscha painted the work known as “Standard Station, Amarillo, Texas” in 1963. It is simple, stark, bold and powerful. A few weeks ago Sunday Morning on CBS aired a feature on Ruscha … and … wow, there’s much more to Ruscha than one painting. See the feature here.

I found out that Ruscha, like me, grew up in Oklahoma. The story goes that he and high school classmate Mason Williams got bored with Oklahoma City in 1956 and left for Los Angeles. California seems to have some sort of “magnet” that attracts Oklahomans (I spent the summer of 1991 in Los Angeles, but that’s another story).

Traveling Route 66 during his trips to and from Oklahoma, Ruscha was inspired by the gas stations that dot the old highway. In 1962 he created a book of gas station photographs titled “Twenty-six Gas Stations.” He painted “Standard Station” the next year. With the book and the painting, Ruscha caught the attention of the art world. His friend Mason Williams also made a name for himself asva comedy writer for The Smothers Brothers and as a guitarist. Williams’ best know song is “Classical Gas.” Listen here.

I dug around and learned a little more about Ruscha’s art and influences. Like me, Ruscha was influenced by Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Both artists use collage, overpainting, stenciled words and bold colors. Raushenberg often used newsprint in his works. All three artists were enamored with words. Because I was only familiar with “Standard Station,” I did not realize that most of Ruscha’s paintings are simply words on canvas.

Though I avoid realism in my acrylic work, I really enjoy the work of American realist Andrew Wyeth. It should not have surprised me to learn that Ruscha was also inspired by a realist – Edward Hopper.

Though I focused on watercolor when I studied art at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, I always dabbled with Pop Art. After Hurricane Katrina I wanted to paint out of a love for the city of New Orleans and hope for the future. I gravitated toward a Pop Art influenced style, but I intentionally avoided the trivial things often associated with Andy Warhol and other Pop artists. My paintings featured street signs to illustrate a sense of place. I attempted to arrange multiple signs in a lyrical way or paint single signs with powerful meanings. Visit the “Art” tab or the “Art” category to see or read about the street sign paintings.

I was several progressions into my “Street Signs” series before I realized how connected these paintings were to the styles of Johns and Raushenberg (though I don’t pretend that to quality is near that of these great artists). And it was the CBS feature that reminded me of Ruscha’s stark painting of a gas station that has served as a quiet, background influence on my art. So thank you Ed Ruscha. Keep up the good work!