Shades of Grey and Lilac: Lilac Gray One of the Top Ten Spring Colors

Shades of Grey, 2015.Grey is a colour that always seems on the eve of changing to some other colour (…). So we may be perpetually reminded of the indefinite hope that is in doubt itself; and when there is grey weather in our hills or grey hairs in our heads, perhaps they may still remind us of the morning.”
G. K. Chesterton: Alarms and Discursions, 1911, p. 144

Pantone, probably best known for their Pantone Matching System (PMS) and their PMS Color Guides, recently published their “PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2016”. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute™, says that “colors this season transport us to a happier, sunnier place where we feel free to express a wittier version of our real selves.” According to the report, Lilac Gray is one of the ten must have spring colors. Being one of the neutral colors of the spring palette, Lilac Gray still is a color with a twist as a hint of lilac joins the classic gray.

Following up Pantone, Jessica Swagman—a Michigan based wedding and event planner—presented Lilac Gray in her blog as one of the 2016 Color Trends especially for weddings. She put together a collage of photos featuring Lilac Gray and included my photograph “Shades of Grey” from the “Shades of Grey and Lilac”-Collection.
<!–As Lilac Gray is trending, please feel free to watch the collection’s slideshow again; it does come with Aaron Howard’s wonderful music. And should you still doubt that spring will ever arrive, this should let you find hope again!–>

Skies of Love: New Collection, New Photographs on byGabrieleGolissa.com

Bright and Blurry, 2015.“This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment.
First, to let go of life. In the end, to take a step without feet;
to regard this world as invisible, and to disregard what appears to be the self.”

Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (Persian philosopher, 1207 – 1273),
from „The Works of Shams of Tabriz“

Isn’t that what we are all looking for: love? True, deep, and endless love making us happy all over? Well, whether you have already found your other half or are still searching, I hope you will enjoy the new photographs I have just uploaded. I called the collection Skies of Love. There you will find pictures full of love and passion as the evening sun has turned the clouds into an ardent red. As the sun set, the colors changed into tender shades of violet.

Limited edition prints of these photographs are available as original photo prints under acrylic glass, as HD metal prints, and as canvas prints in different sizes. Please see photographs for details.

<!–And do enjoy the slideshow! It comes with one of my favorite love songs which is of course by Aaron Howard: “Always Been Yours” from his latest album “Hearts on Fire”.–>

Update on: Music—Aaron Howard

Guessing Clouds: T. Rex, 2015.Individually, we are one drop.
Together, we are an ocean.”

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927)

I am overjoyed that Aaron has given his permission for me to play his music here on my website! You can now listen to his wonderful music while watching some of the gallery-slideshows. Just click on the Slideshow-button when you are in one of the following galleries:

Blue Skies with Aaron’s „Children Grow“ and
Shades of Grey and Lilac with Aaron’s „Long Way to Go“

So go ahead: watch, listen, and dream along!

Thoughts About the World as It Is… or Could Be (3): Music—Aaron Howard

Running, 2015.(…) music heard so deeply
That it is not heard at all,
but you are the music
While the music lasts.”

T. S. Eliot, The Dry Salvages, 1941, V

So much is happening right now that I don’t get around writing about my photography anymore. But I will come back to that, I promise, I already have a few topics on my mind. And I really have to share this with you, my latest addiction. It is music and one singer/songwriter in particular: Aaron Howard. I’ve been listening to his songs almost without pause for the last few days. As I said, addiction. But his music is simply wonderful; songs of life and love. When I listened to Aaron’s songs for the first time, they already seemed so familiar to me. I don’t know if it’s the melodies, the lyrics, his voice—probably the whole package—, but his music goes straight to my heart. Even when I am not actually listening, his music is still with me when a line from his songs suddenly crosses my mind or I catch myself humming one of his melodies. I hope Aaron will continue writing and singing and simply making wonderful music. I believe nobody can sing the way he does without it coming from the depth of their heart.

So, be sure to check Aaron’s music out. You can listen to his latest album “Heart on Fire” on his webpage. And if you like what you hear, and I am sure you will, please spread the word and like/follow him on Facebook and Twitter. Aaron’s songs would also make a great Christmas present for a friend or a loved one; you can download his music or buy a hand-signed CD from his webpage. Go on, listen and enjoy!

Thoughts About the World as It Is… or Could Be (2): Peace

Imagine: Pace, 2015.Imagine all the people, living life in peace…
You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one,
I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.”

Imagine, John Lennon, 1971, from the album “Imagine”

Naïve I was, dreamer I am. Improving the lives of people where there is need has become just another item on the to-do-lists again. When facing the realities of terror, nations respond with violence, again. The attackers won. Why do we obviously still believe the use of violence would lead to less violence? Why do we think others should follow rules we do not follow ourselves? Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in the right of self-defense. But there is a difference between self-defense and self-justice.

Last summer, a young man killed nine people in a church in Charleston, South Carolina. As different as this shooting was from the recent shootings in Paris, they are all acts of violence and terrorism. What struck me most in the aftermaths of these horrible events was the response of the people. In Paris, Davide Martello set up his piano—adorned with a peace sign—outside of the Bataclan theatre and played John Lennon’s “Imagine”. In Charleston, people showed forgiveness towards the attacker and unity when faced with an attack intended to divide.

Using violence is not a sign of strength, using violence is a sign of weakness. Strong are they who respond with love when facing evil.

Frieden—Hépíng—Mir—Pace—Paix—Pax—Paz—Peace—Salām—Shalom