Why an eye?
To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.
- Charles Darwin
A couple of months ago I assisted in my daughter's 2nd grade classroom for the ever anticipated "Cow Eye Dissection Day!" Every kid it seems looks so forward to that day, it's almost like the last day of school. An eye doctor spent a few minutes showing us volunteer parents how to use the scalpel to do the actual dissection (kids weren't allowed to use the sharp objects), and then we were set to go!
It was really pretty simple. I carefully cut away the surprisingly tough cornea. Removed the iris and then the vitrium all to the oohs and aahs of the 4 students at my table. I must admit that I felt pretty cool having the kids watch me in awe.
We then easily removed the lens. The teacher had given us a piece of a newspaper on which we could place the lens so that we could see how it worked. It was amazing! This little blob of clear material actually magnified the letters on the newspaper. Incredible! I've not stopped thinking about this since.
We continued to work to find the optic nerve and then let the kids touch the parts and notice the intricacies of this organ. It really was fun.
I was in awe. It was a wondrous thing to be a part of. And that's the point. We can say all sorts of things about what each part of the eye does. We have an abundance of information on the eye as well as every other piece of a living body. The thing works without me really thinking about it at all, and what we forget oftentimes is how interconnected all those parts are. They aren't "parts" at all, it goes deeper than that.
But I kept asking myself, why. "Why an eye?" Why an organ like this one and not another model? Yes, I know that the optic nerve transmits information via light that we "see" to the brain. Indeed! But why? Why does the eye exist the way it does? Most cows, after all, seem to be born with the same basic eyeball that works (usually) in this miraculous way. I love the science of it. It's fascinating. But I can't explain why we have this kind of eye as opposed to some other.
The quote from Charles Darwin above is well known. Many folks argue about what he meant when he wrote it. But I'm not writing this post to say anything about Darwin's faith. As much as Darwin relied on reason, I still think what made him the thinker he was was his wonder at what he saw. It doesn't mean we nominate him for sainthood, but we do join him in his wonder at what he observed with eyeballs of his own which enabled him to see . May we all see with just as much wonder and take joy in the surprise along the way!
On scrap paper
Priming
Ron Davis
Veni Sancte Spiritus
The link above is to a video for which I was the concept artist and co-producer. I've included some images I took on my phone of the process. Take special note to the credits, a film or video is true collaboration (music, images, editing, text, etc.).
The actors were amazing given that they had olive oil poured on their heads and apparently it stings the eyes a bit (who knew?).
Craig & Bryan are photographers who do incredible work, see http://www.craigwatsonphotography.com
At St. John's Episcopal in Grand Haven - Zoe Thompson was a joy...she's way up front on the steps.
In the woods at Rosy Mound, Bethany Cramer was incredible.
Craig Watson doing what he does best
Bryan Bosch, hat backwards = serious stuff happening
St. Nicetus
St Nicetas distinguished himself by his charity, he always helped the poor, he lodged travelers in his home, he cared for orphans and widows, and he interceded for those who had been wronged.
http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/05/28/101553-st-nicetas-the-bishop-of-chalcedon
Relics in Grand Haven
Devotion & Heartbreak
"Devotion to any particular place now carries always the implication of heartbreak."
- Wendell Berry
Collaboration
We are inevitably collaborators.
Every creature...
"Every creature has an inherent right not to be completely understood."
- Wendell Berry
Views from the sketchbook
Scheming
Details
I always enjoy paying close attention to the "details" of a work of art.
Delayed spring...
This has been a long winter, but the other day after kids' soccer practice the dark and wet silhouettes of the trees were intriguing.
We Don't Have Tsunamis #1
This is one of the pieces on display at the Theatre Bar in Grand Haven through the month if April.
Ink, powder tempera, & gesso on foam.
48" x 14 3/8" x 4 1/4"
Listening
"The fundamental attitude of the believer is of one who listens." - David Asselin, S.J.
Tsunami
New work in progress...
