Stairs - Hungary

Here's a stair from Hungary.
It's a year since The Hungarian trip. I made the trip with an old friend of mine.


I remember drinking bull's wine in the deep dark celler of Gyor hill side.

I remember reading "Keep the River to the Right" while I was an Artist in Residency in Hungary.

Photos

stairs

Posted on 6.19.2002 at 12:00 AM

Panonhalma

Panonhalma


Oh crystal blue chemistry
the flames cook under spoon
the sulfur smell of matches.

On my monastic pilgrimage to Panonhalma,
the butterflies companied my walk up the hill.
It was a good omen.
Some were sulfur yellow,
the nectar crystal blue.
I know what they did that day,
playing hooky with their buddies.
I offer them cigarettes but they flew away.

Before that they were bland moths.
Now they are dangerous with their beauty,
shimmering caliper wings that makes me
ache for my own.
That’s why I left everyone, to hide in this hill walking towards the abbey, the sweat pouring on a long hot summer
Sacred day on hallow grounds.

Posted on 3.1.2002 at 12:00 AM

The last day of the Zenieskola was a sad. Mel plays sad music on the piano while I pack the remains of my studio into a box. Everyone had left for Budapest except Mel, Miwako, and me. We moved from table to table at a restaurant on the lakefront. It started to rain. We headed in door. The patio’s umbrella squeaks. We moved again. Finally settle down to Vitamin salads. Most of the restaurants have a shortage of greens. It was hard to find a good salad. I try spaghetti Bolognese at many restaurants. The best was at Lucifer’s. On my Birthday, Daniel and I went there for diner. I was disappointed that no one else was coming to diner with us.

Daniel Atyim, Mel, Carrie (Mel’s friend), and I spent our last days on Margit Island riding a four-person bicycle in the park. The contraption looks like something that came out of “The Flintstones”. It has a bell. We ring it and wave to passers by.

English was his fourth language he often said. They were going to ride together to Tihany. I was my idea to rent the bikes and peddle to the Abbey. I decided against it. Probably because Langelo was going to be there. After awhile I try to avoid him.
Melissa and Carrie had their paintings published in “New American Paintings”. They are from the Midwest, Iowa.


My candle burns at both ends,
It will not last the night,
But ah, my foes, and ah, my friends –
It gives a lovely light
-Edna St. Vincent Millay quote found on august. 2, 2001

Dan lived in New Mexico. That’s where Joel Peter-Witken lives. Dan somehow met Joel’s brother, Jerome, who teaches at Syracuse University. Dan met with Jerome, showed him the portfolio and got into the school.
Dan and I sneaked up to the attic of the zenieskola. Dan found some thin slate pieces. Later he would go up to the hill to painted the landscapes.

Bus

http://images.ofoto.com/photos231/4/95/69/29/64/0/64296995403_0_SM.jpg

The picture above has my name on it. It's a Bus in Hungary, Balatonfured.


This morning, a girl with a sketch book. I asked to look at it. She drew this beautiful skull. Oh she's in my mind now.

I try to meet interesting people on the bus. I've met Julie, a DA.

The sound affect has infected my groove...tremolo.

Saw the Starn Twin's photograph of a Moth drawn to the light in a magazine.

Posted on 6.21.2002 at 12:00 AM

Farmer's Market Near the Red Church

At the farmer’s market I bought a pair of sandals and shorts. Jenine wanted me to go to the film store with her because she was afraid that the boy who had been stocking her would show up again. Days before, she allowed him to buy her an ice cream cone. She gave him her false telephone number but told him where she is staying. The next day he called the zenieskola and came to the gate. Later I found out from Szusanna that he was sick in the head. On our walk to the film store Jenine asked me what my dream girl would be. After we bought film from the sweet girl behind the counter who spoke Queens English, complete with accents, I told Jenine that was the girl I would marry. Jenine like her too.

Posted on 8.23.2001 at 12:00 AM

Margrit, originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

The stairs series: flickr stairs series.

The last days of our Residency before leaving.

Margit Island
Margit Island - Our last day in Budapest, we rode a four-person bicycle on Margit Island. This contraption was equipped with a bell. The night before we danced at Capella Café. I saw a cabaret show.

Every once in a while I would get flash backs of the awful meals at the Cafeteria of the Balatonfured.

I comb through the bookstores in Budapest and managed to find ‘Winter Nights’ Poems of Joszeph Attila and a work of Palinsky’s ‘The Desert of Love’. These are good companion on the eight-hour flight home, which was like an exercise in Zen.
I retreated into several days of self-imposed exile in Budapest just to see the city on my own.
At the lake, I went to Szusanna’s work place. The invited me to their tiny apartment for lunch. It was a ten-minute walk through a forest park. On the way, she touched a tree to feel its energy or noticed a patch of tiny what mushrooms. I also met her boyfriend, Attila. He did not speak English. I asked Szusanna about the poet Attila. We made a paprika salad on her balcony. Beyond rooftops, we could see the Lake and Tihany. We spoke about spiritual matters. She had a book of pictograms. One of the pictures is of Buddha’s foot with a conch shell that preaches to the masses. We were trying to think of a word. It came to me several days later. The word was: Euphoria!

I wonder what made us go. We wonder if our worth was any good to merit a residency. What made her choose us? Was it a case of first come first served or did she truly made a selection? Angela had doubts. Her packed arrived and immediately, she received an email of acceptance.
Posted on 6.23.2001 at 12:00 AM

,b
GATE, originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

Budapest Hungary
Artist Residency
July 2001

Lake Balaton

I saw the full moon reflected off of Lake Balaton last few nights ago and it was breath taking. I started my birthday at a bar where two beautiful Hungarian girls sang happy birthday to me. A group of us went to Vesprem by bus half hour away. We got paint and art supplies, saw the museum of modern Hungarian art and climb the look out tower to see the city of Vesprem from above. Then we rode the bus back to the school. I got a phone call from Mom, which made it, extra special. She talked about Dan and Andy's visit. I took a nap and went to diner with my roommate at a pizza place, which had spaghetti. We walk back around ten o’clock to see fire works and lights from the sky. Someone called from the balcony to let us know about the light show. We gather there and they surprised me with a cake and specially made presents.
That was neat! I enjoy it so much. I even got a good night kiss on the lip from one of the girls, a friend at the residency. That was unexpected. The good thing is that we all seem to get along here, which makes it great. I do work hard some times too. Everybody does. But we also play. There are many talented artists here. I woke up at 5 one morning for the quiet work environment. Its peaceful here sometimes there is loud wind and pleasant night rains. The lake is a color of sap green and seems still sometimes especially from Tihany. All in all I'm quiet content.

Posted on 7.10.2001 at 12:00 AM

Tihany

July 14, 2001 Saturday - Zenieskola
Night. When was the second group trip to Tihany? The days are so mixed up. That day the construction guy welded the candlestick for me. I had found a tube steel and two yellow square candles. I made a drawing dated July 6. The drawing, without any text, conveyed enough information for him to fasten the steel together according to my design with minor revisions.
When did I wake at five to start the Gate painting? And the pale sap green painting of the Lake Balaton?
I could not distinguish Sopron from Gyor, until I got there.
Last night at diner, the grill on the hill, I brought up the subject of Borge. The story circular Ruin resonates within me being among the ruins and monasteries. I told them the story of the Circular Valley by Paul Bowls. Pannonhalma monastery collapsed and was restored many times.

Posted on 7.14.2001 at 12:00 AM

July 10, 2001 - Zenieskola
Last night, the artist threw a surprise birthday party for me out in the balcony. Jenine gives me a goodnight kiss on the lips. Strange lights swirl about the sky. Fireworks exploded in the night. A few days ago the full moon reflected on Lake Balaton. We spent the day in Vesprem. Angela brought me a cake with a little mushroom on top. We climb the spiral stair, looked across the city of Vesprem. There are many ocher yellow walls. The church spires against the blue sky and voluminous white clouds. I began to make postcards and sending them to myself. A night of Amstel beer, several tequila shoots. The shoots are measured in one skull to two-skull increment in the shoot glass. I made a drawing of the skull and globe. The sunset orange rays shooting up the church light glow. The Danube glows a satin ribbon like the delicate bridges that crossed the river. Masons lay cobblestones in spiral patterns. The farmers market full of people we walk though cemetery gates. Twisted wrought iron on the stone. A sculpture hopes plastic flowers. Up on the attic yellow light falls on post and beams. Cobwebs dust rising from shuffle feet.
Cross-sections of windpipes throat valves. Men and women spoke in the language of the Oracle of Delphi.

sopron church in Hungary, originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

Field Trip

Birthday Party

July 10, 2001 - Zenieskola
Last night, the artist threw a surprise birthday party for me out in the balcony. Jenine gives me a goodnight kiss on the lips. Strange lights swirl about the sky. Fireworks exploded in the night. A few days ago the full moon reflected on Lake Balaton. We spent the day in Vesprem. Angela brought me a cake with a little mushroom on top. We climb the spiral stair, looked across the city of Vesprem. There are many ocher yellow walls. The church spires against the blue sky and voluminous white clouds. I began to make postcards and sending them to myself. A night of Amstel beer, several tequila shoots. The shoots are measured in one skull to two-skull increment in the shoot glass. I made a drawing of the skull and globe. The sunset orange rays shooting up the church light glow. The Danube glows a satin ribbon like the delicate bridges that crossed the river. Masons lay cobblestones in spiral patterns. The farmers market full of people we walk though cemetery gates. Twisted wrought iron on the stone. A sculpture hopes plastic flowers. Up on the attic yellow light falls on post and beams. Cobwebs dust rising from shuffle feet.
Cross-sections of windpipes throat valves. Men and women spoke in the language of the Oracle of Delphi.

Posted on 7.9.2001 at 12:00 AM

attic2, originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

the attic

white floor, originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

our back yard

funeral, originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

offerings

Paloczi Horvath Adam

July 3, 2001 Wednesday - Zenieskola
The music school, which was once a manor house belonging to Paloczi Horvath Adam. There are castles to be explore – Loczy and the look out towers. The lawn has trees to sketch. Trees with fruit, nuts, and spikes. Yesterday morning I met Uri a pianist playing beautiful music with out music sheet. He spoke German and promised to bring me a catalogue of his artwork. I am writing from my dormer window. Vocalized music emanates from the window below. I was able to play around on the piano in the studio. The trees land on the ground and make a graphic representation of music notes. Inspired by Music is a work that I’ve done for the show when I get back home.

Posted on 7.3.2001 at 12:00 AM

yellow stair, originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

Sopron, or Budapest -Hungary Residency
35mm contax f2 shot at f2

like the exposure on this.
Love the camera Contax G1.

More stairs photo here: flickr.com/groups/26422974@N00/pool/49136729@N00/

Zenieskola
The music school, which was once a manor house belonging to Paloczi Horvath Adam.
Our works were inspired by music. We did our paintings at the Frence Janos Zenieskola (music school).
Every morning, a piano player plays music. At noon, he would go to draw portraits of tourist for money.
We heard these notes and waves of sound that would be incorporated into our artwork. I made a sculpture that look like a musical instrument. We try out composition on the black board lined for musical notation.
At night I would listen to Schubert’s piano pieces and “Death and the Maiden”. Memories are pressed between these notes and later released here at the lake.
The zenieskola has a rhythm of its own. At noon the trumpet player toots his horn. Arias emanating from below my dormer window along with the morning bird calls.
In the evening, the xylophone players practice his monotonous simple pieces that drove us crazy. Busloads of musician from Belfast play at the lakefront. Musical instrument transported in strange shaped, and ominous color through the Iron Gate. Men came by in mopeds and bicycles. The ever presence of owl hoots near the studio. At night the warm winds rattle the thin tiles. Sometimes there would be silence that accompanies the setting sun against the Red Church.

I meet sz at the park near the lake. Later I vomited into the fountain.

Budapest

Fri, 29 Jun 2001 08:37:46
I am at the school and love it so much already. I was alone only for one day in Budapest and met the other artists. Everyone is from the states and we seem to be getting along just fine. There was a gallery opening and diner get together. We will go to a trip in July 12 for one day of spa. We will exhibit on July 20. I will be back to Budapest July 26 at the same dorm but different room.
I am writing from a public library a block away. The school is conveniently located.
It is very safe and quiet at the school. We have a beautiful room.
Each room has a piano. I share a room with a guy that I have meet at the dorm. Our breakfast and lunch are provided at a restaurant, which was included with room and board so that was very good. I am excited about the work that will be published in catalogues and advertised in newspapers.

Posted on 6.29.2001 at 12:00 AM

Margit Island

Margit Island - Our last day in Budapest, we rode a four-person bicycle on Margit Island. This contraption was equipped with a bell. The night before we danced at Capella Café. I saw a cabaret show.

Every once in a while I would get flash backs of the awful meals at the Cafeteria of the Balatonfured.

I comb through the bookstores in Budapest and managed to find ‘Winter Nights’ Poems of Joszeph Attila and a work of Palinsky’s ‘The Desert of Love’. These are good companion on the eight-hour flight home, which was like an exercise in Zen.
I retreated into several days of self-imposed exile in Budapest just to see the city on my own.
At the lake, I went to Szusanna’s work place. The invited me to their tiny apartment for lunch. It was a ten-minute walk through a forest park. On the way, she touched a tree to feel its energy or noticed a patch of tiny what mushrooms. I also met her boyfriend, Attila. He did not speak English. I asked Szusanna about the poet Attila. We made a paprika salad on her balcony. Beyond rooftops, we could see the Lake and Tihany. We spoke about spiritual matters. She had a book of pictograms. One of the pictures is of Buddha’s foot with a conch shell that preaches to the masses. We were trying to think of a word. It came to me several days later. The word was: Euphoria!

I wonder what made us go. We wonder if our worth was any good to merit a residency. What made her choose us? Was it a case of first come first served or did she truly made a selection? Angela had doubts. Her packed arrived and immediately, she received an email of acceptance.

Posted on 6.23.2001 at 12:00 AM

soldiers, originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

arches
sopron?