With the snows melted away, I find myself rambling around the garden in awe of the first sights of spring. It must be the re-awaking of our part of the country after a long, colorless winter that drives my desire to photograph these tulips.  They are the first amazing bursts of color and form to arrive on the scene, and I find their vibrant hues and delicate petals irresistible.

Over the past three years I have shot photographic studies of spring blooms starting with tulips and daffodils.  The show starts with the blossoming of the magnolias and dogwoods, and climaxes with the abundant fruit trees in our area—notably apple and cherry—and various perennials like bleeding heart.

Here’s a quick look at a few of my tulip images. Watch for a bounty of blossoms as the rains and warm weather take over, and come back soon to see more spring blooms.

If you like to photograph flowers this site offers a few tips and inspiration.

Chag Sameach!

Kitchen and cabinets crafted by Woodmeister Master Builders.

Paul Matisse is a “Sound Sculptor” among many other things.  He makes long, tuned,  cylindrical bells with beautifully mechanized hammers.  When struck these bells emit a low pulsating sound that you both feel and hear for many minutes.   You’ve probably seen (and heard) his work.  If you’ve ever gotten off the Red Line in Cambridge at the Kendal/MIT subway stop, his Bells hang between the tracks (Kendall Band Pythagoras musical sculpture) and are actuated by large handles on each side of the platform.  There is also the Bell for the National Japanese-American Memorial to Patriotism in Washington DC, The “Musical Fence” at the Decordova Sculpture Park, and “The Olympic Bell” for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.  This Bell that I was hearing is his latest.  It is temporarily set up for testing alongside his studio.

A commission for the Chateau La Coste Vineyard in France it will grace the grounds that are being transformed into a  Study Center, an Art Center, a Restaurant, Amman Hotel & Spa, and finally, a very large Sculpture Park. The architects on the project are Tadao Ando, Jean Nouvel, Frank Gehry, Renzo Piano, and Jean Prouvé.  The park will have sculptures or installations by, among others, Guggi, Turrell, Shannon, Calder, Miyajima, Bourgeois, Gillick, Sugimoto, Scully, Serra, Tunga, and Goldsworthy.

Matisse describes this latest bell.  “My Bell is one of the commissions for the park.  It is a heavy aluminum tube about twenty feet long that rests horizontally across the tops of two supporting columns, some twelve feet above the ground.  A centered rope hangs beneath it. Pulling on this rope puts four heavy hammers into motion; pulling several times in succession is enough to send them upwards where they all strike the Bell simultaneously.  After the impact, the high cylindrical bell makes a marvelous sound, a deep vibration that is quite wonderful both to hear and to feel. (For the musical among you the Bell’s note is a 2F, the second F below middle C, ringing at 87.3 Hertz)  After it sounds, it goes on and on for a long and satisfying time. ”

Matisse has named it the “Meditation Bell”.  On the exterior the “Meditiation Bell” is beautifully sleek and simple in form.  Hidden  in this design are the mechanisms and tunings, so complex they took 3 years and many revisions to perfect.  The hammers are so wonderfully balanced it takes very little force to set them in motion.

Yesterday was a send off party for the “Meditation Bell”  It is being crated and shipped to it’s new home in France this week.  What a wonderful experience to ring this beautiful sculpture – machine – bell  at Matisse’s studio!    You never know what you’ll find in a small New England town.

This amazingly detailed and timeless house was constructed by Rosebeck Builders. Traditional in its inspiration, the home sits back from the ocean on a rolling bluff, commanding wonderful views of Chilmark.  Gauther Stacy created an interior design that beautifully balances with the homeowners’ love of antique clocks and scrimshaw.  Can’t get much more New England than that!

Also check out this amazing residence that Andrew Cohen Architects designed just west of Boston.

The second page is my photo as well.   Fantastic house in Lincoln, MA built by Merz Construction and designed by Andrew Cohen Architects. It was featured in Boston Magazine.