Stop during the drive down the Shenandoah Valley
![Suspended Together by Saudi Arabian artist Manal Al Dowayan
[A]n installation that gives the impression of movement and freedom. However, a closer look at the 200 doves allows the viewer to realize that the doves are actually frozen and suspended with no hope of flight. An even closer look shows that each dove carries on its body a permission document that allows a Saudi woman to travel. Notwithstanding their circumstances, all Saudi women are required to have this document, issued by their appointed male guardian.
The artist reached out to a large group of leading women from Saudi Arabia to donate their permission documents for inclusion in this artwork. “Suspended Together” carries the documents of award-winning scientists, educators, journalists, engineers, artists and leaders with groundbreaking achievements that gave back to their society. The youngest contributor is six months old and the oldest is 60 years old. In the artist’s words, “regardless of age and achievement, when it comes to travel, all these women are treated like a flock of suspended doves.” (via Colossal)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzb8sv4hdF1qzp827o1_500.jpg)
Suspended Together by Saudi Arabian artist Manal Al Dowayan
[A]n installation that gives the impression of movement and freedom. However, a closer look at the 200 doves allows the viewer to realize that the doves are actually frozen and suspended with no hope of flight. An even closer look shows that each dove carries on its body a permission document that allows a Saudi woman to travel. Notwithstanding their circumstances, all Saudi women are required to have this document, issued by their appointed male guardian.
The artist reached out to a large group of leading women from Saudi Arabia to donate their permission documents for inclusion in this artwork. “Suspended Together” carries the documents of award-winning scientists, educators, journalists, engineers, artists and leaders with groundbreaking achievements that gave back to their society. The youngest contributor is six months old and the oldest is 60 years old. In the artist’s words, “regardless of age and achievement, when it comes to travel, all these women are treated like a flock of suspended doves.” (via Colossal)
from ‘On The Nile’ by Augustus Hoppin, 1874. (via BibliOdyssey)
by Léo Fontan (via Dark Roasted Blend)
The Figs and Mountains of Izmir || Off the Road (Smithsonian)
Why do I love mountains? Because they’re there. Wait—no. That’s a weak answer. Here’s why: Mountains transform worlds. One may travel thousands of miles horizontally in any direction and see little or no change in the landscape; pedal across Siberia, and it remains Siberia from Finland to Kamchatka. But travel just 4,000 feet vertically, and the world around you rapidly transforms. Climate zones come, and they go. The tree fruits vanish as chestnuts and pines appear, and thrilling views open across the widening vista. Boredom, which rules the flatlands of sea level, dissolves, and while blubbery cows may graze listlessly in the hot, dreadful valleys, in the cool air of the summits and passes are sleek wild horses, bears and wolves. There are even parts in southern Turkey where an afternoon’s ride can take you from muggy, subtropical banana groves into a landscape resembling tundra. How incredible is that?
Surprise parade after brunch on Sunday. NYC
Observers, Empire State Building. NYC
View south from the Empire State Building. The only other time I’d ascended was November 2001. Then, smoke still billowed from the World Trade Center site. The memories and emotions were sharp. NYC
Spire of the Empire State Building, NYC.
View north from the Empire State Building. NYC
View from the Empire State Building. I get vertigo, so I kept looking out instead of down. NYC
Starry Night at MOMA, NYC
