JaZzArt en València

Comenzare diciendo que he visitado, en varias ocasiones, La Sagrada Familia en Barcelona, y es una autentica maravilla. Dentro y fuera, es arte hecha piedra, piedra hecha arte y un templo para quedar totalmente maravillado. Obra de Gaudí diseñada en 1882. A este gran arquitecto catalán, nacido en Reus (provincia de Tarragona, Catalunya) en 1852, se le conoce como un gran modernista. Bueno se dice que es el máximo representante del modernismo catalán y tendrán razón. El modernismo se dio en Catalunya entre finales del Siglo XIX y principios del Siglo XX y se regó por todas las artes y disciplinas artísticas, siendo la culminación de la Renaixença, donde se revalorizo la lengua catalana y fue un periodo de esplendor económico, social y cultural.

Para Gaudí habían cuatro pasiones: la arquitectura, la naturaleza, la religión y el amor a Cataluña y su arquitectura las refleja todas. Barcelona esta llena de obras de Gaudí y además siete de sus obras han sido declaradas Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO: 1984 el Parc Güell, el Palacio Güell y la Casa Milà (también llamada la Pedrera); 2005 la fachada del Nacimiento, la cripta y el ábside de la Sagrada Familia, la Casa Vicens y la Casa Batlló en Barcelona, junto con la cripta de la Colonia Güell en Santa Coloma de Cervelló.

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I will start by saying that I have visited, on several occasions, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and it is an authentic wonder. Inside and outside, it is art made into stone, stone made into art and a temple which will amaze you. It was Gaudí’s work designed in 1882. This great Catalan architect, born in Reus (province of Tarragona, Catalonia) in 1852, is known as a great modernist. Well, it is said that he is the maximum representative of Catalan modernism and they will be right. Modernism took place in Catalonia between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century and spread to all the arts and artistic disciplines, being the culmination of the Renaixença, when the Catalan language was revalued and it was a period of economic, social and cultural splendor.

For Gaudí there were four passions: architecture, nature, religion and love for Catalonia and his architecture reflects them all. Barcelona is full of Gaudí’s works and seven of his major works have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO: 1984 the Parc Güell, the Güell Palace and the Casa Milà (also called the Pedrera); 2005 the facade of the Nativity, the crypt and the apse of the Sagrada Familia, the Casa Vicens and the Casa Batlló in Barcelona, along with the crypt of the Colonia Güell in Santa Coloma de Cervelló.

Antoni Gaudí fue arrollado por un tranvía (el dia 7 de junio 1926) cuando se dirigía a la iglesia de San Felipe Neri donde iba diariamente a orar. Como no llevaba encima sus documentos, e iba con ropa vieja y desgastada, fue confundido por un mendigo y no fue atendido de inmediato. Un Guardia Civil fue el que llamó un taxi para que lo condujera al hospital donde murió tres días despues.

Como siempre fue un hombre muy religioso y de vida ascética, han propuesto que sea beatificado y el proceso fue iniciado en 1998 por el arzobispo de Barcelona, Ricard Maria Carles. El proceso lo autorizo la Santa Sede en el año 2000 con el decreto nihil obstat. Gaudí entonces pasa a ser considerado siervo de Dios, el primer paso hacia la beatificación.

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Antoni Gaudí was run over by a tram (on June 7, 1926) when he was heading to the church of San Felipe Neri where he went to pray on a daily basis. Since he did not carry his documents, and was wearing old and worn clothes, he was confused for a beggar and was not immediately attended. A Civil Guard Agent was the one who called a taxi to take him to hospital where he died three days later.

As he was always a very religious man and of ascetic life, they have proposed that he be beatified and the process was initiated in 1998 by the archbishop of Barcelona, Ricard Maria Carles. The process was authorized by the Holy See in 2000 with the nihil obstat decree. Gaudí first becomes God’s servant, the first step towards beatification.

GRACIAS – CHEERS

Any hidden meanings or symbols here?

I had always liked some of their songs that I had heard as «oldie-goldies» over the years. Then I went to see Jersey Boys and I could not get their songs out of my head and I realised what a great band they truly are. They were formed, of course, in Newark, New Jersey (a city I visited many times as I had relatives there), in 1960. And they have become one of the biggest selling bands of all time, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

The band started out with Frankie Valli on lead vocals, Bob Gaudio on keyboards (tenor vocals); Tommy DeVitto on lead guitar (baritone vocals); Nick Massi on bass (bass vocals). Joe Long replaced Massi in 1965, and from then on there have been many changes to the line-up. Frankie Valli is the only original remaining member. The original members (as a band) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999, the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2017 and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2024. That is pretty awesome.

Bob Gaudio has been the band’s major songwriter. He composed most of the big hits of the band together with Bob Crewe, the band’s producer.

Hope you enjoy listening to this great American band…

CHEERS

Así me imagino que deben lucir un rey y una reina, elegantes y señoriales como las majestades que son y que nos representan. Y no es porque sean españoles, pero creo que son los reyes mas fenomenales de Europa, los que mejor lucen, los que mejor visten.

Las dos fotografías oficiales fueron hechas por la fotógrafa norteamericana Annie Liebowitz y pertenecen a la colección del Banco de España.

La reina Letizia lleva un vestido de gala espectacular que fue cedido por la Fundación Antoni de Montpalau. El vestido y el chal rojo, los dos son de Balenciaga. Además Doña Letizia no lleva ningún atributo de reina.

La vestimenta fue elegida por la Casa Real. Don Felipe luce regiamente con su uniforme de gran etiqueta de Capitán General del Ejército de Tierra. Sin cetro y sin corona, pero con autoridad, tranquilidad y serenidad, nos mira su majestad.

Se le pago a la fotógrafa 137.000 euros. Las joyas pertenecen a la Casa Real.

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This is how I imagine a king and queen should look, elegant and regal as the majesties they are that represent us. And it’s not just because they are Spanish, but I believe they are the most phenomenal royals in Europe, the ones who look the best, the ones who dress the best. Although all Royal families are awesome.

The two official photographs were taken by the American photographer Annie Leibovitz and belong to the collection of the Bank of Spain.

Queen Letizia wears a spectacular gala dress that was provided by the Antoni de Montpalau Foundation. Both the dress and the red shawl are from Balenciaga. Additionally, Doña Letizia does not wear any royal attributes.

The outfit was chosen by the Royal House. King Felipe looks regal in his full ceremonial uniform as Captain General of the Army. Without a scepter and crown, but with authority, calmness, and serenity, His Majesty gazes at us.

The photographer was paid 137,000 euros. The jewelry belongs to the Royal House.

GRACIAS

Sul ponte sopra le acque azzurre che corrono tranquille,
guerrieri, sacerdoti, principi e re
fluttuano nelle molecole
che danno vita all’acqua,
che crea il fiume
e dà vigore ai riflessi.
Fantasia
come il fumo delle mie Gitanes,
dà vita ai personaggi
che rappresentano,
che recitano la mia poesia,
che ci coinvolgono nel gioco chiamato storia
che non finisce mai
o che forse un giorno,
quando la luna abbandonerà il nostro cielo terrestre,
farà…

Poesía visionaria y apasionada que aprecié mucho y, como puedes ver, traducida al italiano. Gioielli Rubati. Saludos desde Italia.

ON THE BRIDGE

On the bridge over blue waters running peacefully,
warriors, priests, princes and kings
are floating in the molecules,
that give life to the water,
that creates the river
and gives movement to reflections.
Fantasy,
Like the smoke from my Gitanes,
gives life to the characters
who represent,
who recite my poetry,
who engage us in the game called history
that never ends,
or that perhaps one day,
when the moon abandons our earthly sky,
it will…

(Francisco Bravo Cabrera)

GRAZIE – CHEERS

Flowers for me?
Lovely lady, flowers?

They come from lands
that seem dark, forgotten, ominous,
where not a single rose blooms,
where birds have lost their melodies,
where the sea rips through the sand
and these you place in my hands,
in my lapel?
Them I’ll treasure
one brief moment,
for I firmly do believe
you have a hatred of flowers,
these flowers you give to me.

She was born in Germany (1877), a painter and photographer, she formed part of the Blue Rider group (Der Blaue Reiter) created by Kandinsky in 1911… She would have wanted to study at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste München (Munich Academy), but at the time it was not open to women artists so she studied at an art school for women… From 1903 she lived with Kandinsky (although he remained married until 1911). She lived in the Das Münter-Haus in Murnau with Kandinsky and there had many meetings with all the avant-guarde artists of the time and where she played an important role in the creation of the Blue Rider group.

Artistically she developed her own abstract style with brilliant, unmixed colours and powerful lines and geometric forms all separated by a thick, black line. She was a founding member of the Neue Künstlervereinigung München (New Union of Artists of Munich) which was started by Kandinsky and included the most important members of Der Blaue Reiter.

Now let us take a look at her work…

As you can clearly see Gabriele was not an abstract painter at all, at least not if judged by these paintings you see here. No matter how much abstract is in some of these canvases, they are all figurative.

CHEERS