New work: Above and Below 3 & 4; Book Recommendations

Above and Below #3
16" x  16" painted paper collage on paper

Above and Below #4
16" x  16" painted paper collage on paper

I think these are the last two pieces in this series of four different ideas about atmosphere. The inspiration came from my drive through a valley where I live. As I drove up and down the hills to get home I caught glimpses of the sky and the horizon line. I could see different layers of colored air, most likely due to all of the particulate matter in the air and whatever else happens scientifically in the atmosphere to make those colors. And even though I was thinking about the colors that I saw on my trip, I was also reminded about the land and the sky, how they meet and what can be seen when that happens.

In the next couple of days I hope to move on to some other ideas. I have had a chest cold though since about Wednesday or Thursday so I haven't been totally focused on things. Everything in good time I guess.

In the meantime, if anyone is interested I have a book recommendation. Two actually because the subject matter of each book dovetails together nicely. The first is by Loren Eiseley and is called The Firmament of Time. Eiseley was a naturalist and anthropologist living during most of the twentieth century (he died in 1977). He wrote eloquently about natural processes and scientific discoveries, wondering aloud about mankind's current path of progress. Historical events and the key findings of scientific figures are woven together with Eiseley's reflections to give us a picture of how geology came to be and it's intersection with religion and history. 

Eiseley's book can be read along with a book by David R. Montgomery titled The Rocks Don't Lie: A Geologist Investigate's Noah's Flood. This book brings the reader up to date with current thinking about the age of the universe and how life came to be, all filtered through the prism of past and current scientific findings deftly interwoven with and juxtaposed against the biblical interpretations of Noah's flood. Whatever your thoughts are about creationism and evolution, this book  is an enlightening read.

OK, thanks for reading and commenting.

Libby