Roger Ebert Didn't Fear Death

LIFE, LOVE, WONDER AND LAUGHTER

Roger Ebert passed away recently and although I'm saddened for our collective loss I was reminded of an insightful quote of his which I filed into my impermanence notes a few years ago.

"I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear. I hope to be spared as much pain as possible on the approach path. I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think of death as the same state. What I am grateful for is the gift of intelligence, and for life, love, wonder, and laughter. You can't say it wasn't interesting. My lifetime's memories are what I have brought home from the trip. I will require them for eternity no more than that little souvenir of the Eiffel Tower I brought home from Paris."

 -Roger Ebert, 2010

"In addition to being sharp, funny, insightful, interesting, opinionated, informed and complex in his writings he was also fair." -Pete Hammond

Roger Joseph Ebert (June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013 was an American journalist, film critic and screenwriter. The Chicago Sun-Times said he "was without question the nation’s most prominent and influential film critic," and Forbes described him as "the most powerful pundit in America". He was both the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize, and the first to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Top 10 Irish Proverbs for St. Patrick’s Day

In anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day I’ve compiled a top ten list of Irish proverbs from the thousands of quotations, poetry, prose, toasts, sayings, blessings and other expressions that originate from literary prodigious Ireland.  I've matched up some of my black and white Irish photographs from the Between Heaven and Earth portfolio for your visual indulgence.

10.
Nuair a fhásann a craobhóg deacair go bhfuil sé deacair a twist é. Bíonn gach tosú lag.
When a twig grows hard it is difficult to twist it.  Every beginning is weak.

9.
Dá fhaid é an lá tiocfaidh an tráthnóna.
No matter how long the day, the evening will come.

8.
Meileann muilte Dé go mall ach meileann siad go mín.
The mills of God grind slowly but they grind finely.

7. 
An rud is annamh is íontach.
What is seldom is wonderful.

6.
Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir.
Time is a great storyteller.

5.
Na daoine teacht agus dul, ach na cnoic fós.
The people come and go, but the hills remain.

4.
Bíonn súil le muir ach ní bhíonn súil le tír.
There's hope from the ocean but none from the grave.

3.
Uaireanta lá amháin athruithe gach rud; uaireanta rud ar bith athrú bliana.
Sometimes one day changes everything; sometimes years change nothing.

2. 
An rud a líonas an tsúil líonann sé an croí.
What fills the eye fills the heart.

1.
Folaíonn grá gráin.

Love is blind.

Bonus Irish blessing:

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you. 

Click here to see all of the photos in the Between Heaven and Earth collection.

Sláinte!  

RMG Exposed Auction 2012 - Part 2

I'm pleased that my photograph, Dunluce Castle, was selected as one of ten pieces in the live auction portion of the RMG Exposed fundraiser event that took place on Saturday November 10. Is was exciting to watch the fast and furious bidding on it.  Additionally, there were 32 outstanding photos in the silent auction. There was standing room only.

Dunluce Castle is the second to the screen right of Waddingtons's auctioneer Stephen Ranger.

Thanks to Juror's Dorette Carter, Erin Elliot and Gary Greenwood for choosing such a strong selection of work.

RMG Exposed is The Robert McLaughlin Gallery's annual fundraiser. Over the past two years, they have raised funds that support their education and programming initiatives, benefitting students, at risk youth, families, teens and other community members. In addition, this event raises awareness of contemporary photography.

Musical entertainment was provided by The John Lennard Quartet. Sponsors include RBC, Stephen Bulger Gallery, Pikto, Robert Aldsworth's Photo World, Concrete Contemporary Auctions and Projects, The Framing Guys, The Albis Group, Harex and Durham Region.

THE ROBERT McLAUGHLIN GALLERY
72 Queen Street, Civic Centre
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z3
905-576-3000 

RMG Exposed 2012

My black and white photograph, Dunluce Castle, has been selected to be part of the The Robert McLaughlin Gallery RMG Exposed Auction Event on Saturday November 10th, 2012.

Dunluce Castle, Antrim, Northern Ireland, 2012
archival pigment on photo rag

RMG Exposed is our annual fundraiser. Over the past two years, we have raised funds that support our education and programming initiatives, benefitting students, at risk youth, families, teens and other community members. In addition, this event raises awareness of contemporary photography.Tickets are now available for purchase online! Please visit www.rmgexposed.com to purchase and learn more.

About the RMG

THE RMG: MODERN + BEYOND

The largest public gallery in Durham Region, the RMG occupies an inspired 36,000 square foot building designed by world-renowned architect Arthur Erickson. Featuring a Permanent Collection of over 4000 works of art, four galleries of diverse & changing exhibitions, vibrant programs, Arthur’s on the 4th event space, gallery shop, library, and two art & education studios, the RMG is located in downtown Oshawa beside the main library and City Hall.

RMG Statement of Purpose:

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is dedicated to sharing, exploring and engaging with our communities through the continuing story of modern and contemporary Canadian art.

Learn more about the RMG:  www.rmg.on.ca

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THE ROBERT McLAUGHLIN GALLERY
72 Queen Street, Civic Centre
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z3
905-576-3000

CanPhoto.net – Bret Culp Discovers Beauty In Impermanence

CanPhoto.net, the Canadian Photographers Network, has published an article about my book, The Beauty Of Impermanence.

CanPhoto.net is a great source of Canadian focused photographic information and inspiration.  Photographers can benefit from networking, mentoring and resources that the site offers.  If you know of anybody who would be interested, please tell them about the site. If you have any news, videos, information, images from exciting new projects, etc, that you think should be featured click here.

Absorbed In Stillness, Cheltenham Badlands, Caledon, Ontario, Canada, 2006
archival pigment on photo rag

The concept of impermanence can represent many things to many people. To some, the acknowledgement that nothing lasts forever may induce feelings of futility, for others a fear of change, but for Bret Culp there is beauty in impermanence.

Culp is a Toronto photographer who seeks out scenes of the ephemeral nature of the world and through his iconic black and white photographs he conveys the beauty that exists in the impermanent.

Click here for the full article.