Photographer Craig Blacklock's Unique Look at Lake Superior

It's well known that the natural beauty of the Northland has been a magnet for artists, writers and photographers for ages. Craig Blacklock is one such photographer captured by this beauty. His work has been captivating fans for a generation.

Blocklock began as a fine art major at UMD, but his interest in photographer preceded those college years. His father Les Blacklock had already made a name for himself here as a respected photographer and environmentalist.

There are any number of photographers in this region who have been captivated by the raw beauty of our natural world. Each has a personal vision. Each strives to transcend the norm to create personal statements impregnated with their own DNA.

Escheresque

Blacklock's current show, now on display at the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth, titled Within the Waves--A Work in Four Movements. Though nature is the fundamental subject matter of his lens, Blacklock has manipulated the captured images by "diving in" to deeper spaces within the images, transcending representation.

The abstract imagery allows viewers' imaginations to build their own interpretations. Some of the work reminded me of early Picasso. Others brought to mind landscapes, water slides, the contents of petri dishes and the stunning imagery of M.C. Escher. The work is on display through September 28 with an artist talk slated for August 8 from 5 to 7.

Here's a look at some of the variety in Blacklock's current show at JNG.

These last two above bring to mind imagery
by surrealist photographer Man Ray.

Related Links
Read the full press release about this exhibition here.
Blackrock Gallery: https://blacklockgallery.com/

Intrigue and Illusion in War-Torn Vienna: Graham Greene's The Third Man

I discovered Graham Greene through a somewhat unusual path. I was on a quest to see all of Orson Welles' films. This proved to be an impossible task, but it did introduce me to a number of fine films, one of them being The Third Man, starring Welles along with Joseph Cotton, Trevor Howard and Alida Valli. I have never tired of the film with its Graham Greene DNA. 

Compelling plots, complex characters and atmospheric settings are all hallmarks of Graham Greene's novels. Recurring storylines revolve around universal themes--betrayal, corruption, moral failure, dignity, faith and redemption. 

While researching for this review, I learned that Greene himself had experience in the film industry previous to seeing his books translated to the silver screen. He worked as a film critic and wrote screenplays, which gave him an understanding of the cinematic medium and connections within the industry. (Ah, connections!) His experiences undoubtedly made it easier for his works to transition to film.

He was also one of several British writers who served in the British Secret Service (M6). This experience provided a level of authenticity to his writing. [Other well-known authors who were spies include Somerset Maugham, John LeCarre and Ian Fleming, creator of what is now the James Bond franchise.]

* * *

Graham Greene's novella The Third Man is a moral labyrinth as complex as the underground waterways of its setting, post-World War II Vienna. First published in 1949, it's a gripping tale of intrigue, deceit, and moral ambiguity. The story revolves around Rollo Martins, a hack writer of pulp Westerns, who arrives in the war-torn city at the invitation of his childhood friend, Harry Lime, superbly played by Welles in the film. Upon his arrival, however, Martins learns that Lime has been recently killed in a mysterious car accident.

Martins's initial grief quickly turns to suspicion when he hears inconsistencies in the various accounts of Lime's death. Determined to uncover the truth, Martins embarks on an investigation that leads him through the divided and corrupt city, encountering a host of intriguing characters, including the enigmatic Baron Kurtz and the weary British police officer, Major Calloway.

The novella masterfully captures the atmosphere of Vienna, a city struggling to recover from the devastation of war. Greene’s depiction of the bombed-out buildings, the black market dealings, and the pervasive sense of distrust and desperation adds a layer of realism and tension to the narrative. The setting is not just a backdrop but a character in its own right, reflecting the fractured and morally complex world in which the story unfolds.

As Martins delves deeper into the mystery of his friend's death, he discovers that Lime, far from being the innocent victim he imagined, was an illegal racketeer selling diluted penicillin on the black market, resulting in numerous deaths. This revelation forces Martins to confront the stark difference between the idealized image of his friend and the harsh reality of his criminal activities.

The novella's title refers to the elusive "third man" who was reportedly seen at the scene of Lime’s accident but whose identity remains unknown. This mystery propels the plot forward and symbolizes the hidden layers of truth that Martins must uncover.

The character of Harry Lime, charming yet deeply flawed, embodies the blurred lines between good and evil. Martins' disillusionment and loss of innocence resonates with readers and film buffs alike.

In the end, The Third Man is not just a thrilling mystery but a profound commentary on human nature and the consequences of moral compromise. Greene's vivid prose and intricate plotting keeps the pages turning, leaving readers to ponder the complexities of friendship in a world marked by chaos and uncertainty.

Books That Made a Difference in My Life: Anthem

I was introduced to the writings of Ayn Rand through my grandmother, an avid reader with a rich, vast collection of books. The first Rand book I read was The Fountainhead, a novel about an architect out of step with the herd, who prioritizes individualism, integrity and creative freedom over collectivism, conformity and pandering to others' expectations.

The story was so engaging that I followed up with Rand's novella Anthem, to subject here today.

The book is written in diary form, a challenging form because it limits the viewpoint to the observations of our narrator/observer. (I attempted to write the middle section of my novel The Red Scorpion as a diary.)

The book place in a dreary future. The main character is Equality 7-2521, most of whose diary is written in first person plural "we" because the word "I" has been banned. It is only late in the story that he begins using the word "I." Once he discovers this word, he understands how corrupt and evil collectivism is. Anthem is his ode to the word "I."

In this future world people are not allowed to be alone. Like Winston in 1984, he keeps a forbidden journal in a hiding place, which in this case is a subway tunnel from the Unmentionable Times. He writes by candlelight where he comes to sense he is different from others. The first sentence in Anthem is potent: "It is a sin to write this."

Anthem shows what happens when free thought and individuality are strangled. The ruling council of the collective has convinced people that being alone is the worst crime a person can commit and in this manner we are dehumanized.

Our hero's breakthrough comees when he finally discovers the forbidden word and declares, "I am. I think. I will." 

Now that you are free, what will you do with this freedom?

* * *

"Let us flood our cities with light.
Let us bring a new light to men!"--Equality 7-2521

 

Throwback Thursday: John Lennon's "Mind Games" and His Spiritual Quest for Peace

The power of the Beatles' breakup was such that when they each went their own way many of their fans followed all of them. I was one, purchasing all their first solo albums and several that followed from Paul and John. Mind Games was John Lennon's fourth album after the breakup, released in the fall of 1973 while I was on a semester break from college. The captivating cover art was itself memorable. The following year the title song from the album went gold as a single. This single is the topic for this blog post.

In the early 70's John Lennon's songs were very open about his inner struggles, his conflicts with family, relationships and religion. A previous album captured his explorations with primal therapy as one method of dealing with this inner pain. To some extent this candor in his songwriting is what made these albums so riveting.

Songs have hundreds of ways of introducing themselves. Sometimes it's a guitar lick after which each of the other musicians joins in. Sometimes they join in one at a time and build layers to form a backdrop for the vocals. Sometimes it's the snap of a drumstick blast, as in Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone." Sometimes it's a syncopated drum intro like the Stones' "Honky Tonk Women." In this case, the shimmering, scintillating tapestry of sound is full and flowing from the start, producing the sensation of entering a timeless stream that has no beginning and no end, the wheel of life as it were. Three notes, one sustained and the other two stepping up with a leap to the third, over and over and over. At the song's end this musical backdrop carries on, doing that "ritual dance in the sun."

In 1963 Eric Berne published the best-selling Games People Play, introducing the popular culture to the concept of transactional analysis. A few years later session musician Joe South produced his one and only mega-hit in a song by the same name. "Oh the games people play now, every night and every day now, never meaning what they say, never saying what they mean."

John Lennon offers a different take in this one, foreshadowing a concept that would re-emerge in his song/album Double Fantasy.

In the movie Yellow Submarine we find Lennon quoted as saying, "It's all in the mind, you know." The extreme version of this philosophy embraces the notion that reality as we know it is all in our minds. That is, there is no objective reality but only a projected reality. Lennon's behavior, however, did not affirm this solipsist view but reflected an ongoing concern for the world at large, a commitment to peace and love.

The song "Mind Games" was itself written in the late 60's before the Beatles parted ways, originally titled "Make Love, Not War." The inspiration for the song came from another book about games called Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space by Robert Masters and Jean Houston.

The line "Yes is the answer" is an acknowledgement of the artpiece by Yoko that originally brought them together. Too often, as Eric Berne documented, the games we play keep us apart. John Lennon's appeal is for us to play a different kind of game that brings us together.

Mind Games

We're playing those mind games together
Pushing the barriers planting seeds
Playing the mind guerrilla
Chanting the Mantra peace on earth
We all been playing those mind games forever
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil
Doing the mind guerrilla
Some call it magic the search for the grail

Love is the answer and you know that for sure
Love is a flower
You got to let it, you gotta let it grow

So keep on playing those mind games together
Faith in the future out of the now
You just can't beat on those mind guerrillas
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind
Yeah we're playing those mind games forever
Projecting our images in space and in time

Yes is the answer and you know that for sure
Yes is surrender
You got to let it, you gotta let it go

So keep on playing those mind games together
Doing the ritual dance in the sun
Millions of mind guerrillas
Putting their soul power to the karmic wheel
Keep on playing those mind games forever
Raising the spirit of peace and love

Back in Nashvlle: Nevada Bob Recording "You Can't Finish What You Don't Start"

Almost Wordless Wednesday 

Nevada Bob, back in Nashville to record his sixth CD,
"You Can't Finish What You Don't Start"

With Charlie McCoy

With Ricky Skaggs

Vince Gill... Pure Prairie League, Eagles

Nevada Bob wth his special friends, Wyland and Charlie McCoy

A song Wyland wrote for the new CD

"There's no place like home."

 Read Nevada Bob's story 

50 Years with the Wrong Woman,

a sentimental rancher's loving tribute
to the girl of dreams.

PHOTOS COURTESY GARY FIRSTENBERG

Biden Announcement Re-Affirms the Influence of X

I believe it was an article in Politico that nudged me to take an interest in Twitter. This was early 2008 I believe. The article pointed out how journalists were using the social media platform to see what was happening and what's trending. It wasn't long before Twitter became my "go to" for following global events.

The terrorist assaults in Mumbai during Thanksgiving weekend later that year demonstrated the power of this new medium. As the horror unfolded people were Tweeting their S.O.S. distress signals to the world,

The power of Twitter and Facebook for disruption has been extensive as well. The two social media cites have been used to organize protests, spread information and to mobilize coups, overthrowing the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

During covid, Bob Dylan released "Murder Most Foul," from his epic Rough and Rowdy Ways, Dylan's first album of original songs in eight years. The midnight tweet reverberated around the world. A week later he followed up with "I Contain Multitudes."

And so it is that big news can break without leaning on traditional media. While yesterday's tweet by Joe Biden surprised many, utilizing the platform X to announce his stepping down from pursuing a second term, it was not without precedent.

If you're a writer and are not part of the X, formerly Twitter, community... what are you waiting for?

"The Man" by Irving Wallace Is as Relevant as Ever

I believe it was in Civics class my freshman year that we were assigned to read The Man by Irving Wallace. Though I didn't know it at the time, Wallace was a bestselling author most notable for his political fiction. This novel, published in 1964, made such impression on me  that I recall the story and some of its scenes to this day. To a certain extent it has served as a lens through which I view the political games played in Washington D.C., and why so many of us are suspicious of the media's motives or reliability,

The central character is Douglas Dilman, a quiet and unassuming President pro tempore of the Senate who finds himself thrust into the highest office in the land after a series of unforeseen events leads to the sudden deaths of the President and Vice President. By default Dllman, for better or worse, becomes the first African American President of the United States. From the outset he faces unprecedented challenges, both from within the political establishment and the society at large.

Dilman is a reluctant leader who becomes a symbol of hope and change. Kermit Madigan, his chief antagonist, is a Senator who represents the old guard and embodies the entrenched prejudices, deep-seated racism and resistance to change that Dilman must confront. (EdNote: The book came out the year after Dr. Martin Luther King's March on Washington and before the assassinations of Malcolm X, Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy.

There are also a diverse array of secondary characters, each representing different facets of American society, from loyal aides and family members to political adversaries and ordinary citizens.

What remains fresh in my mind are the lengths to which President Dilman's enemies will go to discredit his character, including fabricating a bogus rape charge.  And the media goes right along with it, amplifying every aspect of this preposterous story.  

Wallace highlights the harsh realities of racism in America. Through Dilman's experiences, he hammers home the societal attitudes that African Americans have faced, both in politics and everyday life.

The novel examines the nature of power and the burdens of leadership. Dilman's ascent to the presidency forces him to confront his own doubts and insecurities, while also dealing with the expectations and prejudices of others. (I'm curious what kinds of doubts and insecurities President Biden and former president Trump wrestle with at the end of the day when they kick off their shoes.)

The Man underscores the potential for change and progress in society. Dilman's presidency, though fictional, serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder that progress is possible, even in the face of overwhelming odds. I'm curious how many of our 1960's classmates imagined that we would see a black president in our lifetimes,

I remember the book being engaging and accessible. Complex political scenarios and social issues were understandable and compelling. His writing kept me hooked  from start to finish, though I was too young to appreciate how he achieved this effect. I only know that it made an impact on me and I've had it come to mind numerous times while following Beltway politics over the years.

What books did you read in school that have remained relevant for you or opened your eyes in one way or another?