Totem Mask

Working with my hands, in this case, creating art from clay, "mud," helps me focus on the "here and now," while gaining satisfaction through the act of creation.

I've enjoyed the hands-on experience of ceramics at my local City College "Lifelong Learning" enrichment classes.

For my project in a class challenge assignment, and as a result of my attraction to American Indian spirituality, I created this "mask," modeled after designs of those of Northwest American Indians.

Fashioned from a medium bodied clay (containing a moderate amount of sand), this mask was bisque fired, then highlighted with enamel paint.

Bottom line: we all possess a unique ability to express ourselves.

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* This post updated from its original which appeared on Primate's Big Adventures.

Photo Credit: Connard Hogan

Moon Squared

I've found the creative act of drawing to be soothing, as well as rewarding. I don't expect to rival Van Gogh, though I do find satisfaction from expressing myself in this way.

A few years ago, when examining an aerial photo of an abandoned Indian village along a dry river bank (Anasazi, perhaps), the remaining building walls formed a grouping of rough squares, and an idea emerged.

What if all we could see were the walls from above? Since that time I've created a number of drawings using that theme.

This moon drawing is eighth in the "Moon Squared" series. If you've not seen one of my "squared" drawings before, look for the pun!

Hint: I have an engineering bent.

Bottom line: You possess the ability to create, too. (We humans are hard-wired that way.)

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* This post updated from its original which appeared on Primate's Big Adventures.

Photo Credit: Connard Hogan

Joining the Penguins

Bottom line: We humans are hard-wired to explore, rivaling the curiosity of felines. (Better yet, we can do more with what we discover because we have thumbs.)

Using my thumb as Janet and I explore a tiny portion of Antarctica.

As a boy I never thought I'd visit the places I've been in my lifetime, certainly not Antarctica! I worked to keep mt expectations within reason, according to my thinking. A trip here, a trip there added up . . . and then I found myself in Antarctica. Though some might call it "a dream of a life time," I'll keep truckin' as long as I'm capable. Forward thinking, that's the orientation to develop.

My wife, Janet, and I have enjoyed traveling the world together and over the years have taken a number of cruises.

I'd nurtured the dream of a trip to Antarctica for a few years and though a splurge, when we discussed travel to the southern continent, we decided to "go for it." We chose Hurtigruten (Norwegian) for this cruise over the Christmas/New Year holidays '18-'19 and haven't regretted that decision.

Our ship's captain navigated us around the worst of approaching bad weather on our two crossings of the Drake Passage, considered the most dangerous waters in the world. Then, we toured a portion of the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Using "zodiac boats," staff transported us to and from our island visits and for close-up inspections of ice formations and animal activity, such as feeding whales. We toured research stations. We visited several Adelie Penguin colonies, during their hatching/fledgling season, where we enjoyed close encounters . . . if the penguins so chose.

They weren't disturbed by our presence.

Roughly, the Antarctic Circle became our southern most latitude.

At times I looked at the stark horizon of ice and mountains and longed to trek to the pole, to go and be where Amundsen, Shackleton, Scott and Ross had gone, and where only a few of all humanity has ever been.

The best part of travel for me is witnessing the wonders of the world firsthand, meeting different people, learning about other cultures, and most of all experiencing my shared humanity and living existence . . . as an earthling.

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Photo Credit: Connard Hogan