David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.

24 July 2009

emptiness cuts diamond

paper/scissors/rock
emptiness cuts diamond

In the 2007 exhibition
projection-space
[When SpaceCanvas is asked to repaint itself... ]
at Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne, one of the offerings was priced at "a diamond". ( click image below to enlarge )

The death of a master diamond cutter therefore is something to be duly observed at this address.

Antonio Bianco : nomen est omen : the Italian word bianco translates to English as white or blank : In the beginning was the word and the word was made diamond : LOGOS/HA HA

Antonio Bianco, Who Teased Luster and Light From Diamonds, Dies at 57

"Among master diamond cutters, Mr. Bianco was a quiet eminence. He was known in particular for his ability to look at the dull, shapeless surface of a rough stone and discern the finished diamond gleaming within, waiting to be liberated..."

"For Mr. Bianco, cutting a large diamond was a protracted courtship that could take nearly a year. Before he began cutting, he spent months studying the stone, slicing and polishing tiny “windows” along its exterior so he could peer into its heart..."

Click here for the full obituary at The New York Times