Ode to September: Chronicles of Art and Autumn Days with a Tom Hardy Waxwork [September 2024 Retrospective]
Do you remember The 21st night of September? Love was changin' the minds of pretenders While chasin' the clouds away. Hey, hey, hey Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember? Ba-dee-ya, dancin' in September...
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I have been doing a retrospective since October 2023 as a way to reflect on the month, and for you to get insight into my life in a calmer, gentler way than looking at reels of me walking the dog, or of every meal I’ve eaten, posted on Instagram. This is a self-contained retrospective, designed to keep distractions from social media at bay. It doubles as a personal diary, allowing me to reflect and perhaps find amusement retrospectively. I think readers might find it intriguing to explore the daily life of an artist. I would love insights into Tracey Emin’s daily routines, the meals she enjoys, and her everyday activities.
Step with me into September!
I’ve decided to add a historical fact under each date just for bants.
Let’s begin…
1 Sep
(On this day in 1939 - World War II begins.)
In my life: I started buying DVDs in rebellion against streaming services charging for a lot of 80s films!
And if you missed it…
2 Sep
(On this day in 1666 - The Great Fire of London starts.)
In my life: I was awarded an Art Cabbage certificate!
3 Sep
(On this day in 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the American Revolutionary War.)
In my life: A random graph from one of my posts.
I also chased up the Crix Gallery proposal. To be honest, I have no attachment towards this happening as Memento Vivere is my priority.
4 Sep
(On this day in 1886 - Apache leader Geronimo surrenders to U.S. federal troops.)
In my life: I posted a huge poetic rant on work:
5 Sep
(On this day in 1975 - Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, attempted to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford.)
In my life, I watched You Bet at work over lunch.
6 Sep 1995
(On this day in 1995 - American professional baseball player Cal Ripken Jr. played in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking Lou Gehrig's record for most consecutive games played, a moment celebrated with a lengthy standing ovation).
In my life, a gorgeous moment:
7 Sep
(On this day in 1533 - Queen Elizabeth I of England is born.)
In my life, I posted Weekly Art Practice Number 35
8 Sep
(On this day in 1565 - St. Augustine, Florida, is founded, the oldest continuously inhabited European-established city in the continental United States.)
My mate Lee and I spent hours playing video games as kids. He’s bought himself one of these NES Classics!
9 Sep
(On this day in 1776 - The Continental Congress names the new American nation the "United States.")
In my life, my baby sister’s wedding!
10 Sep
(On this day in 1813 - The United States defeats a British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie.)
In my life, I played mini golf at work (it does have some perks). Engineers built the mini golf course.
11 Sep
(On September 11, 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's record by playing his 2,131st consecutive baseball game).
In my life, I posted a part two to work is weird:
12 Sep
(On this day in 1959 - The Soviet Union launches Luna 2, the first spacecraft to reach the Moon.)
In my life, I ate this for lunch. It doesn’t look the best, but most of my mates have a Tesco meal deal. I have steak and dolphinwahs potatoes [yes, I know it’s Potatoes au Gratin (Dauphinoise)].
13 Sep
(On this day in 1501 - Michelangelo begins carving the statue of David.)
In my life, I saw this Madame Tussauds Ad. Please share your thoughts… (It’s pretty odd if you really look).
14 Sep
(On this day in 1814 - Francis Scott Key writes the poem "Defence of Fort McHenry," later known as "The Star-Spangled Banner.")
In my life, I posted Weekly AP 36:
15 Sep
(On this day in 1835 - Charles Darwin reaches the Galápagos Islands aboard the HMS Beagle.)
In my life: I’ve been seeing this in terms of buying things to get a quick, fleeting sense of pleasure.
16 Sep
(On this day in 1620 - The Mayflower sets sail from England.)
In my life, I watched this DVD. To anyone reading this. WATCH IT!!!!! It’s inspirational.
17 Sep
(On this day in 1787 - The U.S. Constitution is signed in Philadelphia.)
In my life, it is my sister Elise’s 30th Birthday and my old friend Grant’s birthday.
And I took a screenshot of
.
18 Sep
(On this day in 1978 - The Camp David Accords are signed.)
In my life, I shared three paintings that you haven’t seen before. Well, you might have by now!
19 Sep
(On this day in 1991 - Ötzi the Iceman is discovered in the Alps on the border between Austria and Italy.)
In my liffffeeee, It's now or never. I ain't gonna live forever. I just want to live while I'm alive…
I sold my shorts on eBay. My legs are basically the same as his.
20 Sep
(On this day in 1519 - Ferdinand Magellan sets sail from Spain in an effort to find a western sea route to the Spice Islands.)
In my life, my daughter is getting stronger every day!
21 Sep
(On this day in 1981 - Belize gains independence from the United Kingdom.)
In my life, I posted Weekly Art Practice 37!
22 Sep
(On this day in 1862 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issues the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.)
In my life, my future looks bright!
23 Sep
(On this day in 1846 - Neptune is first observed but not recognized as a planet.)
In my life, my sister passed her driving test, woohoo!
24 Sep
(On this day in 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his Hijra from Mecca to Medina.)
On this day, I found out something interesting that you’ll too, find interesting.
Did you know that if a picture’s creator died over 70 years ago, you can use their artwork for profit or edit it how you see fit? For example, you can sell Mona Lisa prints if you wish. Make sure you treble check if it’s out of copyright if you do use anything.
”In the UK, copyright for photographs generally lasts for the life of the creator plus 70 years. If the creator is unknown, the copyright lasts for 70 years from the end of the year in which the work was created, or if it is made public within that time, 70 years from the end of the year the work was first made public.
After this period, the image enters the public domain, meaning it can be used without needing to obtain permission or pay any licensing fees.”
25 Sep
(On this day in 1513 - Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches what would become known as the Pacific Ocean.)
On this day, in this post, I talked about adoption trauma through art.
26 Sep
(On this day in 1960 - The first televised debate takes place between presidential candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy.)
In my life, I drew a sketch of me and my daughter. Taken from a reference photo of a Whatsapp call we had, her little face lit up!
27 Sep
(On this day in 1822 - Jean-François Champollion announces that he has deciphered the Rosetta Stone.)
In my life, I took a selfie at work, we’re not allowed to take photos at work. That shows how much of a rebel I am. I look tired, deeply tired, but I am feeling very well.
28 Sep
(On this day in 1928 - Alexander Fleming notices a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory, discovering what later became known as penicillin.)
In my life, I posted this:
29 Sep
(On this day in 1829 - The Metropolitan Police of London, later known as Scotland Yard, is founded.)
In my life, my wife and I had a pampering session on a Sunday evening. Does it remind you of anything? Well, it’s the opposite really, isn’t it? The mask wouldn’t stick on my beard.
30 Sep
(On this day in 1938 - The Munich Agreement is signed by Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy.)
In my life, I wrote down 20 meals with my wife on scraps of paper intending to make meal prep easier. We choose meals that we don’t need recipes for. Give it a go yourself, pick out 7 per week and there are your meals for the week.
I hope you’ve had a wonderful September too.
Love to you all,
P.S. Please share for positive vibes that’ll come back to you instantly.
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OH!!!!!!!!!! What a fabulous style of post, SLART - I absolutely love this! Really cool! 🙌
I love this. What a lot of work! Fascinating interplay between the universal and the personal. So many more thoughts you've inspired--but I'm tired!