D. A. Turner, FRSA D. A. Turner, FRSA

NYC50zn60z

In hues of red, in shades of blue,
Mark Rothko's Seagram Building imbues
A sense of depth, of mystery and mood,
An exploration of color's interlude.

His canvases are vast, his strokes are bold,
A master of abstraction, we are told,
He weaves a tapestry of emotion and thought,
A symphony of color, in which we're caught.

His Seagram murals tower above,
A testament to his vision, his love,
Of color and its power to move,
To stir the soul, to inspire, to prove.

In a world of steel and glass, his art,
Brings depth and meaning to the heart,
A glimpse of beauty in a concrete world,
A respite from the chaos, unfurled.

So let us pause and contemplate,
The beauty that Mark Rothko did create,
In his Seagram Building masterpiece,
A canvas of color, that will never cease.

=======

In the key of B flat,
With rhythm and grace,
Comes the sound of a genius,
Thelonious Monk's embrace.

His fingers on the keys,
In a syncopated flow,
Jazz that's uniquely his,
A style that's sure to grow.

"Straight, No Chaser" he called it,
And we know what he meant,
No frills or fancy twists,
Just pure jazz, unspent.

From "Blue Monk" to "Ruby, My Dear",
His compositions never tire,
Monk's music lives on,
His legacy, forever inspire.

So here's to Thelonious Monk,
A jazz icon of his day,
May his music continue to play on,
Forever and a day.

=============

On the road, we traveled far and wide,
With a generation, so beat inside,
Our minds and hearts sought a different beat,
One that would make our souls complete.

We yearned for freedom, for a life less constrained,
For an escape from society's mundane,
We found solace in words, in jazz, in art,
In the pulsing rhythm of our heart.

Kerouac led the way, with his wild tales,
Of hitchhiking, jazz, and whiskey trails,
He captured our spirit, our restless soul,
And gave us permission to lose control.

We roamed the streets, seeking our place,
In a world that we struggled to embrace,
But together we found a sense of belonging,
In our quest for truth and belonging.

We danced to the beat of our own drum,
Challenging the status quo, feeling less numb,
And though our movement may have passed,
Our spirit lives on, our legacy to last.

So here's to Jack and the Beat Generation,
For inspiring a timeless liberation,
For reminding us to never give in,
And to always stay true to our own kin.

==========

Notes

The Rothko Seagram Building refers to a series of paintings created by the American artist Mark Rothko for the Four Seasons Restaurant in the Seagram Building in New York City. The commission for the paintings was awarded to Rothko in 1958, and he completed the works in 1959.

The series consists of seven large-scale canvases, each measuring approximately 9 feet tall and 5 feet wide. The paintings were designed to be displayed in the Four Seasons Restaurant, which was located in the Seagram Building, a modernist skyscraper designed by the architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson.

The Rothko Seagram Building paintings are considered to be some of Rothko's most important works, and they are often cited as an example of the relationship between art and architecture. The paintings were intended to create a contemplative atmosphere within the restaurant, and they were designed to complement the modernist architecture of the Seagram Building.

In 1961, Rothko withdrew the paintings from the restaurant, citing his dissatisfaction with the commercialization of his work. The paintings were eventually acquired by the Tate Gallery in London, where they are now on permanent display.

============

"Straight No Chaser" is an important composition by Thelonious Monk because it is an iconic example of his unique and innovative approach to jazz. Monk was known for his unconventional style of playing and composing, which incorporated dissonance, angular melodies, and unexpected rhythmic shifts. His music was often characterized by a sense of playfulness and humor, as well as a deep respect for the tradition of jazz.

"Straight No Chaser" exemplifies many of these qualities. It is a bluesy tune with a memorable melody and a distinctive rhythmic feel. The tune features many of Monk's trademark harmonic and melodic ideas, such as unexpected chord changes and quirky intervals. It is also notable for its driving, swinging feel, which is a hallmark of Monk's music.

In addition to its musical significance, "Straight No Chaser" is important because it has become a jazz standard, recorded and performed by countless musicians over the years. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its appeal and the influence of Monk's music on the jazz tradition as a whole.

============

On the Road" is an important book for several reasons. It is considered a defining work of the Beat Generation, a literary movement that emerged in the 1950s in the United States. The Beat Generation rejected mainstream values and sought alternative forms of expression through literature, poetry, and music.

The book was written by Jack Kerouac and published in 1957. It tells the story of Sal Paradise, a young writer who travels across America with his friend Dean Moriarty, a charismatic and free-spirited figure. The novel is based on Kerouac's own experiences traveling with Neal Cassady and other Beat writers, and it reflects the Beat philosophy of rejecting societal norms and seeking freedom and self-expression.

"On the Road" had a significant impact on the Beat Generation and on American literature in general. It became a bestseller and helped to popularize the Beat movement. The book was praised for its spontaneous and unstructured style, which was seen as a departure from traditional literary forms. It also captured the spirit of the Beat Generation, with its emphasis on experimentation, individualism, and a rejection of materialism and conformity.

The novel's influence can be seen in the works of other Beat writers such as Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti, as well as in later generations of American writers. It has also had a broader cultural impact, inspiring musicians, filmmakers, and artists. The book's themes of freedom, self-discovery, and nonconformity continue to resonate with readers today, making it a classic of American literature.

===============

Oh Yoko Ono, your Grapefruit so sweet
A work of art, a masterpiece complete
Each page a universe, a world of its own
A journey through your mind, into the unknown

Your words like music, a symphony of thought
A meditation on life, on all that is sought
You ask us to imagine, to see beyond the veil
To embrace the unknown, to set our hearts to sail

Your Grapefruit so simple, yet so profound
A source of inspiration, a treasure found
A reminder of the power of the mind
To create and dream, to leave limits behind

Thank you, Yoko Ono, for your Grapefruit so dear
For showing us the way, for helping us steer
Toward a world of beauty, of hope and light
Through your words, our imaginations take flight.

===============

Yoko Ono's book "Grapefruit" is important for several reasons:

It was a groundbreaking work of conceptual art: "Grapefruit" was first published in 1964 and was one of the earliest works of conceptual art. It challenged the traditional idea of what art could be by presenting a series of written instructions for conceptual pieces rather than traditional art objects.

It influenced the Fluxus movement: Ono's work was closely associated with the Fluxus movement, which was an international network of artists, composers, and designers who rejected traditional forms of art in favor of experimental and interdisciplinary practices. "Grapefruit" was a major influence on the movement and helped to shape its ethos and approach.

It paved the way for feminist art: Ono's work has been recognized as a precursor to feminist art, which emerged in the 1970s. "Grapefruit" challenged the male-dominated art world by presenting a female perspective and using everyday objects and activities as subject matter.

It continues to inspire artists today: "Grapefruit" remains a seminal work in the history of conceptual art and continues to inspire artists and writers today. Its impact can be seen in the work of contemporary artists who use language, instructions, and everyday objects as a means of artistic expression.

Overall, "Grapefruit" is an important work because it challenged traditional notions of art, influenced a major art movement, and paved the way for new forms of artistic expression.