Falling Forward

As we northern Californians transition from summer into fall, we often hear that there are no real seasons here. The seasons are real, they are subtle. Brown leaves cover the sidewalk gutters, the hillsides have turned golden. There is a dry wind which adds a sense of danger because it means any small ember can erupt into a raging fire, such as the recent Yosemite "Rim Fire," burning wildlife habitat, homes built into the hillsides, and redwoods alike (the picture below was taking on August 26 at a campground about 80 miles north of Yosemite--as the crow flies).

Oh yes, we have seasons: the fire season that comes from August through October is very much a part of what all Californians know intimately.

For this season's Artist Trading Cards (hosted at ATCSforall.com, there are a number of swaps featuring the fall's festivals, including Mabun and Samhain (Celtic festivals) and Day of the Dead. I've finished cards for Mabon (May-bun). I've also finished a series on Picasso, using "Pieces of Guernica" to inspire me. Pablo's 1939 painting reflects the horror of a strafing of the northern Spanish town of Guernica (GuerNIca) which had been a stronghold of the Republican forces fighting the fascist Franco during the Spanish Civil War. The Germans and Italians joined with Franco to carry out this attack on civilians to the world's shock and horror; in many ways, it was a prelude of what would come during World War II. War, no matter where it is fed, always aims at civilians; we mustn't delude ourselves that only soldiers are the ones who are impacted by battle. Picasso really understood this.