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Saturday (Day 97): Just a Little Rain at the Meridian Line
The Meridian Line is an imaginary line which runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. By international convention it runs through "the primary transit" instrument (main telescope) at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England.
We were hoping for a brighter day, but wouldn’t let the drizzle dissuade us. After walking through the park and up the steep hill to the Observatory, we took turns taking pictures of each other standing in two hemispheres at once.
We made our way through the time museum in the observatory before heading back down the hill. As we reached the base, we were called over by a group of Brits playing rugby, who needed a few more people for their team. The guys dropped down their stuff and joined the game while Krista and I talked to the girls who were also watching. We ended up playing beach volleyball with them until the guys were tired out and ready to head back home after a once in a lifetime London experience.
This afternoon, Matt invited me to see one of the shows featured as part of the SPILL Festival – a festival of theatre much like CPT’s own SPRINT Festival. Interestingly enough the production, A Forest, was created by a company mentored by CPT’s TONIC program.
"The play explores myth, money and magic. It is a provocative fairytale for grown-ups where skin is turned into wallets, straw is spun into gold and where storming off alone can mean the difference between life and death. Originally commissioned by Tramway, Glasgow, A Forest was developed in residency at Camden People’s Theatre, and funded by Arts Council England, London."
It’s hard to describe the show .... but I think I saw a glimpse of the power and a beauty in, the importance of experimental theatre.
The play was composed almost entirely of story-telling and supplemental images created by the actors themselves. Although there were themes running through the production, it was truly up to the audience to find meaning in the show.
It's a unique experience in today’s culture, to provoke thought, to wonder without boundries. It struck me as the antithesis of the educational system with which we are engaged - where so frequently there is a "correct" answer - one preferred method by which to analyze a poem - only one acceptable style in which to write a short story.
Achieving this "freedom of perception," requires a different sort of energy. While liberating and refreshing, I have to say that the resulting confusion isn't all together satisfying. Did we actually see the same thing? What was it that we saw? How is it relvant to our lives?
Sunday (Day 91): So Sad
Alex, Tuche and I spent Sunday in Hyde Park and the National Gallery before she headed back to Prestbury. The swans didn't seem to interested in our offerings. They came close to see what, maybe who we were, but they didn't eat much.
We toured the Gallery, which houses "one of the greatest collection of European art in the world."
Which city houses the greatest collection? New York, DC, Chicago, Philadelphia? Paris, Florence, Berlin, Vienna, Rome? My favorite so far has been Paris, but I digress.
Tuche and I picked our favorite paintings. I wonder if they say somthing about our future careers? Tuche wanted a picture of "Christ Driving the Traders from the Temple." It's attributed to ElGreco. One of my favorites was "The Supper at Emmaus" by Caravaggio. After all, you do know what they say about the source and the summit.
I was so sad to see Alex go. You could say that it's strange that no matter how much time passes between our visits, we always seem to pick right up where we left off. You could also say that it's wonderful! If things work out, maybe she'll be able to meet me in Bath this weekend.
