Here in Minnesota, we have a lot of lakes. I know, I know, who would have guessed? It’s true, though. And in the summer, Minnesotans go… to the lake (a lake, any lake). We spend all fall, winter, and early spring fantasizing about the day it will be warm enough to go to the lake without piling on a million layers of clothing.
As that day draws near, let’s write those fantasies down, shall we?
Harry Callahan, Lake Michigan, 1953. Photograph. Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL.
Alex Colville, Dog and Priest, 1978. Acrylic polymer emulsion on hardboard. National Gallery of Canada.
Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek, from The World We Live In series. www.gebhart.dk
This week, let’s write something that involves a car. Maybe a mysterious midnight drive? A car that holds all of one’s possessions? Someone forced to take a car-nap? Oh, the possibilities…
Weegee, Leaving at Midnight from Police Headquarters on My Strange Mission, 1940s. Photograph.
Alex Colville, Main Street, 1979. Acrylic on masonite. www.alexcolville.ca
Vivian Maier, Untitled (New York, NY), Undated. www.vivianmaier.com
This week I retreat to a family cabin for a much-needed getaway. Said cabin revolves around one charming piece of construction: the fireplace, built by our great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather, and grandfather. It’s still chilly enough there to warrant building a fire all evening, every evening.
As I sit in front of the flames this week, how about you wax eloquent on a fireplace of your own? Here are three images which should sufficiently spark your imagination.
Alex Colville, Untitled (Dog and Fireplace), 1950. Graphite and gouache on watercolor board. Collection of the Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University.
Morris Louis, Saf Dalet, from Veil series, 1959. Acrylic on canvas.
René Magritte, Time Transfixed (La Durée poignardée), 1938. Oil on canvas. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
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Yoohoo! Yes, you! This week is online Open Mic! Which means you should submit your work-in-progress poetry or prose piece today or tomorrow (deadline is midnight Tuesday night). If you do, then you’ll get feedback from your fellow writers during the 24-hour wild workshopping on Wednesday!
Spring is finally, slowly, arriving. Which means we Minnesotans are beginning to finally, slowly, go outside. After months of being cooped up in our warm caves, we’re finally able to stretch our legs and venture out beyond the open door.
This week, let’s write about those open doors: your character is standing before the threshold, deciding when to cross it. Does he or she take those steps?
Edward Hopper, Rooms by the Sea, 1951. Oil on canvas. Private collection.
Zhijie Sui, Untitled from the Odes of Chen series. Photograph. www.tacasui.com
Still from The Tree of Life film. Directed by Terrence Malick, 2011. Fox Searchlight Pictures.
