Thursday, 27 October 2016

The reading stopped at Bloom's utterance:

— Was she? … it was as she lived there. So, Spain. (16.1420)

Catherine Meyer sends a contribution for this blog. She comments: 

Last Thursday we read a long passage about the murder of Parnell, the court-case and all the dirty laundry washed in public about Kitty O’Shea and Parnell's affair. We didn’t read many pages but there were many attenders, some of whom had to sit beyond the row of tables, so that I had an inviting view of them. Here is a sketch.

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2016

Thursday, 20 October 2016

The reading stopped at: “Sheer force of natural genius, that. With brains, sir” (16.1215)

Catherine Meyer's post-reading paintings reflect several themes encountered there, including the “untasteable apology for a cup of coffee” (16.1141). Thank you, Catherine, for letting us show your work!

1

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2016

2

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2016

Thursday, 13 October 2016

The reading stopped at: “a single one of her sons” (16.1009)

Thursday, 6 October 2016

The reading stopped at: “would confer a lasting boon on everybody concerned” (16.747)

Catherine Meyer sends her artistic contribution, a painting she made right after the reading. It shows a scene from the cabman's shelter where the sailor, who hasn't seen his wife for seven years, is talking to Stephen and to Bloom, who is in turn thinking of Molly as his belladonna. Catherine writes: 

If you look at the picture you can see a nude that provides the “light” with her pale skin and is looking through the window wearing a black hat . The sailor, Stephen and Bloom are sitting at the table. The sailor is showing his tattoo of Antonio, who is either cursing his mate or laughing at a yarn, depending on whether the sailor pulls his skin or not.

When I sat back to look at the finished painting I was pleased to see that what is given centre stage shows a clear narration of the situation, while the background consists of a depiction of hidden hints.

 

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2016

Thursday, 29 September 2016

The reading stopped at: “A friend of mine sent me” (16.471)

Catherine Meyer sends a painting she made to illustrate the last session and adds an explanatory note:

Again the picture of an interior space is set up.

As I was going through my pile of old drawings (to get some inspiration) I found a sheet of paper showing a crowd of people hanging around. Immediately I imagined the scene where Bloom and Stephen  entered the cabman’s shelter. That’s how I work. I painted over the previous scene but left the „old“ colours and some of the lines and added with strong strokes the table and the people sitting around it.

The so called cup of coffee and a roll of some description are already served – but Bloom still has to push the cup gradually nearer to Stephen so that he can take a sip. In the background the face of a streetwalker glazes through the door under a black straw hat.

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2016