Footnotes to a Conversation, May 5, 2025
“Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you’re exactly the same.” – Audrey Hepburn
Holy Wisdom
Istanbul’s Hagia Sofia (Greek for holy wisdom) church is surrounded in myth and legend. It has withstood “revolutions, occupations, riots, plunderings, and natural disasters (its construction on a base of solid rock is said to have helped it survive earthquakes). Few buildings of its age have been preserved as flawlessly and in such a complete state.” Construction of the current church got underway in 523 CE, and it incorporates Christian mosaics of saints and Byzantine rulers with Islamic calligraphy. [CNN]
The Vincent van Gogh Atlas
The story of van Gogh’s life is portrayed through sketches, photographs, and cartoons in The Vincent van Gogh Atlas by Nienke Denekamp and Rene Van Blerk. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a children’s book – this is a book that will delight readers no matter what their age or knowledge of art. I learned so much about van Gogh’s path through life, the places he visited, and the people who were important to him. I loved seeing all the photographs, and the sketches/cartoons were delightful. [Thames and Hudson]
Writing Tips from a Pro
If you’ve always wanted to write a murder mystery, here’s your chance to take writing lessons from the queen of crime – Agatha Christie. Developed using AI, academics and researchers have extracted “from a number of her writings an extraordinary array of her views and opinions on how to write. Through this course, you truly will receive a lesson in crafting a masterful mystery, in Agatha’s very own words.” [The Guardian]
Mending Our Lives
Take a break and enjoy this 9-minute stop-motion animation featuring knitted mice and bears, tangles of wool, wool hats and sweaters while knitters and crocheters talk about why they love to knit. [Modern Daily Knitting]
Plumbing & Plant Pots
If you love colour and quirky design, do take a look at work by Agostino Iacurci. I particularly enjoyed the neon cacti, the topsy-turvy garden pots, and a wall display of pipes and potted plants. [Agostino Iacurci via Kassia St. Clair]
Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.
If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.