Imagine my delight finding Sky Pesher, a permanent James Turrell installation, open to the sky, right here in Minneapolis. I first learned about his work while staying on Naoshima Island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea where several pieces by this American artist are on display. My room even had a signed Turrell print on the… Continue reading Turrell’s Light
Category: Ma
The Space Between
After a cuppa at Wise Owl Cafe in the University’s Walter Science and Engineering Library, discovered The Toaster, a room filled with freely available maker gear, including 3D printers, Cricuts and LEGO. Resisted the temptation then walked to the School of Architecture where students were presenting their portfolios displayed on large panels. It was then… Continue reading The Space Between
Imagining Art
Getting rid of stuff before we moved into our present home has given me a new appreciation of uncluttered visual, mental, temporal, and aural space. I’ve gained capacity to think and imagine with fewer distractions; I can prize the space between things rather than the things. The Japanese have a term for this: ma, negative… Continue reading Imagining Art
Living Without Paper Documents
Many of the ideas on Pinterest to organize paperwork would not look terribly out of place 100 years ago. Pinterest often seems dedicated to buying stuff and filling space. This makes me anxious: I’ve come to appreciate the calmness of empty space, absence of stuff, ma, the space between. This is how we organize paper:… Continue reading Living Without Paper Documents
Less is More
“Less is more” is famously the motto of architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969). The idea is to reduce design to its necessary elements. Less famously, Mies picked up the phrase from his teacher, architect Peter Behrens, in Berlin around 1910. Behrens is considered to be the first industrial designer. In the 1930’s Mies… Continue reading Less is More
Empty Spaces
Closed on our apartment, started filling the empty space.
Ma: The Space Between
Posted Ma: The Space Between.
Ma: The Space Between
A torii (traditional Japanese gateway), and steps receding into the distance to an unseen temple, exemplify the Japanese concept of ma, the space between. The gate frames space. The steps provide space in time to prepare the mind. As I read around, there are many definitions of ma, but not one easy definition. The concept… Continue reading Ma: The Space Between