Today we drove over to Stockbridge to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum. It's a lovely small museum on acres of rolling lawns, and touring the rooms inspired me in many ways. I was reminded of, and loved, the fact that Rockwell simply wanted to tell stories of ordinary people in his paintings. He simply wanted to be a recorder, to set down on canvas what he saw and felt about life in America. What was interesting was that the museum also carried an exhibit of Andy Warhol prints, and the lecturer made it clear that there were significant similarities between the two artists, the most important one being that desire to capture ordinary American life -- Rockwell with images of ordinary people and Warhol with cans of tomato soup. I was inspired by our visit, from start to finish. It gave me lots to think about in my work as a poet. I guess I want to be more of a recorder than a creator, if that makes any sense.  

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This afternoon we were lucky to see another performance at Jacob's Pillow, and it was absolutely astonishing -- maybe even breathtaking. The strenuous but always graceful movements of the dancers defies description. I was mesmerized from start to finish. Wow!

* at Jacob's Pillow *