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Date Completed: 06/26/98 In my mind, I ended up calling this piece The Beauty of the Bean, although from the start I recognized the triteness of the title, and gently but firmly cursed myself for being so obviously influenced by the weak-coffee-soaked Starbucks culture. In my defense, however, I must say that during the time when I worked on these "mandala" works, it was never in a Starbucks establishment. Rather, I always tried to patronize the on-campus coffee shop at Fuller Theological Seminary, called Higher Grounds until it changed hands and became Cafe Terra Firma, or a locally-owned shop in Old Town Pasadena called Equator. |
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Date Completed: 06/28/98 The Equator, the coffee shop on which Equatorial Meditation is based, was a regular hangout for my wife, her colleagues and, occasionally, me. It stayed relatively quiet during weekdays, even in the evenings, although by "quiet" I mean it was possible to get a beverage and a place to sit, while the decibel level was always far beyond Starbucks standards, as was the music, selected by Equator workers themselves. There was even a sign: "If the music's too loud, go to Starbucks!" If you ever want to catch a glimpse of the actual place without actually visiting Pasadena, CA, you can rent A Very Brady Sequel. A brief segment where several Bradys are out on dates was filmed at Equator. |
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Date Completed: 07/002/98 Stamina is a piece I did as a sort of homage to a long-time favorite beverage of mine. Referred to as "breakfast of champions" by my wife and myself, it's been useful throughout my adult life for getting through certain sleep- or energy-deprived times, as is hinted at in the picture. I was introduced to the beverage as a way of life by my fencing teacher/mento/friend, and I have rarely been long without it ever since. |
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Date Completed: 07/01/98 I did this piece during an extended outdoor lunch with my wife and a couple of friends. As well as integrating elements of our surroundings, such as the sturdy outdoor table in the paved quadrangle, complete with a drain, the sunshine and the windows above us reflecting the sky, I integrated things having to do with the cupcakes I'd baked fresh to bring with me; the twelve-hole cupcake pan, the nigh-antique oven, the sturdy countertop mixer. I brought the cupcakes wondering whether they might taste alright, since I was a little worried that the margerine I had used might have been a little past its prime. While they tasted alright, I still mentioned my concern to our friend Leon, a minister-in-training at the time, and he suggested that I call this piece The Shroud of 'Gerine, an obscure reference to the Shroud of Turin, a relic which some people believe to be the actual burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth. |
