How about that?

[lumineaux]

If you haven't had occasion to go to Google today, you should.  It's Martha Graham's birthday and there's this amazing little bit of animation for the Google logo.  Yes, it starts out with what looks for all the world like a constipated nun at first, but it quickly becomes clear that those are dancers spelling out "Google."   For some info on the animation itself:  http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/browbeat/archive/2011/05/11/google-celebrates-martha-graham.aspx

 
Martha Graham was one of the leading lights of modern ballet, revolutionizing American ballet from the 1930s onward.  And yes, I knew this without looking it up (although admittedly, not the dates of her prominence).

In looking up the specifics of Martha Graham's career, I found a great quote attributed to her by Agnes de Mille in de Mille's biography of Graham.  I thought it would have some resonance for some of the folks here in my corner of LJ Land:

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open."

de Mille, Agnes (1991). Martha: The Life and Work of Martha Graham. NYC: Random House. p. 264. ISBN 0-394-55643-7.
 

Comments

[katnboots.livejournal.com]

I think I'm grateful that none of the email quotes made it into this post.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

That discussion is best given the seal of the confessional among the Sisterhood ;-) I only posted about the Google thing because I thought the quote attributed to Graham was inspiring.

[katnboots.livejournal.com]

That discussion is best given the seal of the confessional among the Sisterhood ;-)

What a lovely name for our badge. :-)

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

I really need to find someone who can make us all Sisterhood badges to wear. Hrm.

[felis-lupus.livejournal.com]

Ryan Woodward (the guy who did the doodle) also animated a lovely song by The Weepies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBk3ynRbtsw The video is wonderful... the 'Making Of' film is pretty neat too. I recognized his animation style the moment Google popped open this morning.

[bds-duncan.livejournal.com]

I had noticed the animation, but didn't make the connection with Martha Graham. Thanks.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

I didn't equate the dancers with Martha Graham when I first saw them. If you click on the Google logo, you get an explanation of what that particular day's design is supposed to represent. When I saw that it was honoring Martha Graham, all became clear.

[bds-duncan.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I never knew that about the Google logo. I merely assumed it was an every changing graphic.

Learn something new every day.

[beckishadow.livejournal.com]

Usually, if you mouse over it, it will say what it's for. If you click, you get search results on the topic of the doodle.

[beckishadow.livejournal.com]

I put her autobiography on my wish list yesterday.