Seeing Stars

NGC 4038/39

New Horizons

The telescope that lets us see our past…
​I admit that I am an outer space nerd.  I was delighted to see the images from the new James Webb telescope this week. I get a thrill viewing them, even though I can understand them only as an enthusiast and an artist, not an astrophysicist.  I have been inspired by the images from the Hubble telescope for decades, and in fact they have formed the basis for what I feel is some of my best work.

​I have displayed these astronomical images in Los Alamos and at science fiction conventions, and they have proved popular with collectors.  I have several Original Collages available which feature cosmic images, and they can be viewed both on my website and my Etsy shop StarArtbyDeco.  In honor of the historic release of the galactic images, I am going to offer these framed originals at an insane discount: 50% off the price as listed in the Etsy shop, for a limited time, if you buy directly from me not Etsy.  I will run this sale from July 14, 2022 to August 24, 2022, which coincides with the Perseid meteor shower.  View the collages and contact me here to negotiate the sale.

Hop the Pond

​I had more than a mind-trip to the stars in June when I traveled to the UK for further explorations. Traveling with my sister, we took a train (with high tea) to the Lake District and did some vigorous hiking up and over rocky peaks and around placid lakes. We saw lots of lovely sheep, including Harold the clever one; all told, we did about 120 miles in rented boots! We visited Mackintosh sites in Glasgow (including tea in the Willow Rooms), the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.  I did research ahead of time, so we selected a day when the low tide was favorable to accessing the island.  An unexpected rail strike had us shifting our plans to leave Scotland a day early, and so we had an extended time in Canterbury.  

​We visited the Cathedral and paid respects to Thomas Becket’s site of martyrdom, as well as his relics which are in the humble Roman Catholic church across the street from the imposing cathedral. We attended Evensong twice to hear the Canterbury Choir lift their voices in the Quire. As a history geek, I savored the Roman museum, as well as the site of the ruined Augustine Abbey, St Martin’s (the oldest church in England), and St Dunstan’s, the resting place of the head of Thomas More. We also got to the seashore – Broadstairs’ Botany Bay and the oyster beds in Whitstable. We enjoyed good tea and friendly faces wherever we went, and most surprising – sunny balmy weather every day! I even got a suntan.
The full moon rose during our first week but frankly we didn’t have much time for stargazing, as the nights were short and dawn came early.

Bop

​But speaking of stars… 
​The strangest trip by far I have been on in the recent weeks was an unexpected journey. In mid-May, I was settling in my favorite chair one evening, and my chair bumped a bookcase which caused it to wobble and send the contents of the top shelf to cascade upon my head. Including a large, framed print of Van Gogh’s Night Café (too bad it wasn’t “A Starry Night”, lol!).  I stayed alert in the aftermath, grateful that a small bronze faun missed my head. Blood was easily swabbed, but the ensuing concussion lingered and slowed me down considerably.  I am still building up my stamina.

I hope you are having a lively, colorful summer.

I love to hear from you.

Peace and Love,

Deco

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