Happy 2016

Team wonder | wander | women wish to extend our New Year 2016 greetings to us all!

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. 

I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, 
and don't forget to make some art - 
write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. 

And I hope somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself. ~ Neil Gaiman

year end bang

For the first time in 38 years we are blessed with a Christmas full moon as the gate of 

Winter Solstice is flung wide open. 

The 2015 Christmas Day Full Moon occurs at 3:11am PST, 6:11am EST, and 11:11am GMT. 

follow your bliss

This title and phrase has become both waved banner and clarion call for many these past years.

Few know its origin or care to track it to its source. Yet "follow your bliss" is a living philosophy that resonates deeply with  countless multitudes - both spiritual and secular. 

all I want for Christmas

With the holidays upon us it is challenging to not get swept away in the flurry of spending in both effort and expense. 

How to keep the season's cheer without turning into Scrooge and how to keep the spirit of 
giving  alive and well without going broke or berserk. 

At wonder | wander | world we encourage an appreciation for the true power of capacity building gift giving. 

Advent Season is here

It is unknown when Advent or the preparation for Christmas first began. 

Advent Wreath

Some may even claim it goes back to the time of the Twelve Apostles or that it was founded by Saint Peter himself. 

solidarité symbol

Ever wonder about the origin of the "Peace for Paris" symbol that has gone viral in the wake of the recent bombing tragedy?

Peace for Paris by Jean Jullien - 14 Nov 2015

Here at wonder | wander | world we did. Especially since we adopted it as our own - to express our feelings and our hope.

188 Galerie featured NYC art for Nov 2015

“Constructing Manhattan from the Razor’s Edge” by Christina Lihan 

The artist's cut-outs in thick white paper - cut and creased in razor sharpness - reflect the brightness and energy of the city, bright lights and tight walkways, an expansive sky above and compressed movement below. 

Catch it while you can! Aug 15 to Jan 16. Read all about it here. 

Guy Fawkes Day : NOV 5

November 5 is an annual commemoration to observe Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night, Firework Night and Gunpowder Treason Plot Day. 

Burning Guy Fawkes effigy.

Happy Halloween! lovely bones

This weekend wonder | wander | world celebrates another turn of #WheelofLife - #Samhain #AllHallowsEve #Halloween. 

188 Galerie Halloween 2015 window display

Courtesy of 188 Galerie and their limited edition handmade silkscreen prints from Charles Lahti Studio and #lahtipopup - let’s make merry and have a blast. 

Brooklyn Bridge Park

October weather has been gorgeous and turned into the best time to visit the newly opened Brooklyn Bridge Park. 

Located on Brooklyn's waterfront under the Brooklyn Bridge and across from the southern tip of Manhattan, this gem of a park offers breathtaking views of the New York City skyline across the East River. 

Visitors can stop and gaze at the postcard-perfect sights of New York City while sitting on the park's steps or picnicking on its grass. 

Brooklyn bound

A friend from our tropical home was here visiting for a few days from the UK. Being water babies we were both happy as clams on the East River Ferry - off to traipse through Williamsburg and Dumbo in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City. It used to be and still feels much like a full fledged city with approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. If separated from the rest of NYC, Brooklyn would be the fourth most populous American city.  

Brooklyn is currently enjoying a period of expansion and affluence not experienced since before World War II. 

buried treasure & lost identities

Whether looted by Ferdinand Magellan or Ferdinand Marcos, the Philippines has been pillaged by its conquerors for countless years. Yet it still has the second largest gold deposit in the world. 

Some exquisite works are now on exhibit at Asia Society in New York City - Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms is a bittersweet testament to a rich culture and the greed that hounds it.

Washi Paper at 188 Galerie

In the center of SoHo, on the busy street of Lafayette is a specialty paper boutique that is like Alibaba's treasure cave for paper aficionados. The place is called 188 Galerie.

188 Galerie window display

To celebrate the autumn season the galerie is showcasing a carefully curated selection of Japanese washi papers.

Decorative washi paper for sale at 188 Galerie

Read more about it here and be sure to drop by their place at 188 Lafayette Street in New York City.

Joseph Cornell: glow in the dark

A few weeks ago I took a close friend to the Joseph Cornell exhibition at the Royal Academy to celebrate my birthday. She knew of his work, and that he was my favourite artist. We took a few hours to get through everything - I couldn't help pointing out extra facts about my favourite works, and getting excited about hearing Cornell's own voice on the audio commentary. As we were leaving my friend said, 'You know, I can see why you like him. So many things in there reminded me of you.'

Royal Academy of Arts
Exhibition handout

shiver me timbers!

Avast, me hearties! It’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day! 

Capture of the Pirate Blackbeard, 1718 depicting the battle between

Blackbeard and Lt. Robert Maynard in Ocracoke Bay.

With Sept. 19 fallin' on a Saturday this year, that means International Talk Like A Pirate WEEKEND!

Tribute in Light

Today as the sky over New York City is illuminated by the Tribute in Light on the 9/11 Memorial site, we honor and remember our heroes.

The survivors, the fallen, those who served and all the friends and families affected in the wake of this tragedy - not just that day but through the years and hopefully all the learnings. 

Many around the world watched and were touched too on that memorable day 14 years ago. 

celebrating the fruit of our labor

Workers of the world unite!

Rosie the Riveter

We honor and celebrate the workers of the world - have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!

cARTography by Ed Fairburn

Of the many loves wonder |wander | women obsess over - pens and pencils, maps and travel, imagination and creativity - are sure to top our wonder |wander | world lists.

Anna Fisher ink/pencil, 23" x 23" approx. 

To experience them all in the imaginative cartographic illustrations of UK portrait artist Ed Fairburn are a heavenly delight! 

Paper maps are essential to his work as the geographical canvas for his detailed ink and pencil portraits. 

Planisphère Céleste - pencil on a celestial star chart.

writers and artists cross-pollinate at the Guggenheim, NYC

A week after the exhibit opened wonder | wander | women were at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue in New York City to view over 100 works in diverse mediums by 48 international artists from the Guggenheim’s contemporary collection. 

Agnieszka Kurant, The End of Signature, 2015

Storylines: Contemporary Art at the Guggenheim explores mediums and methods current art and artists are harnessing to tell their stories and expand on conventional narrative devices such as plot, character and setting. Much of these pieces are on view for the first time. 

under a copious canopy

The Perseids - an annual meteor shower that greets us at the end of each summer - are here on August 12 and 13. 

2010 Perseids David Kingham

This year is especially auspicious because  for the two nights when the Perseids will be falling the thickest we have a new moon [on August 13]. This gives us almost complete darkness against which to watch this meteor shower. 

Negros Island Summers

Summers always bring wonder | wander | women memories of long warm and lazy days of our childhood back home in Negros Island in the Philippines.

This recent article of Andrea Ang, "A weekend in Bacolod," was such a sweet reminder.

Thank you Tracie Anglo Dizon of Kafè Batwan and the Sarsa Group for a wonderful trip down our shared island paradise. 

Thank you ladies- such sweet joy indeed! 

a growing craze - coloring books for grown ups!

As promised, wonder | wander | world is featuring our own coloring book projects along with some fun colorer's groups you can opt to join. We believe it is never too late to be coloring outside the lines and out of bounds!

Art throughout the ages captures and captivates varied creative expression and emotional communication from both its creator and its viewer.

Today more than ever we seek individual and personal avenues to express our creativity and develop our creative self-expression.

Old Manila : Pearl of the Orient

Hotel De Oriente & The Insular Cigarette Factory 

[Plaza De Carlos IV, Binondo, 1898]

This week wonder | wander | world goes back in time to explore the lush and luscious land of our birth - the Philippine Islands.

'La Banca' by Felix Resurrection Hidalgo [1876]

markets of resistance redux

This time wonder | wander |world wishes to shine the spotlight on PWU's inaugural, trans-disciplinary project of the Institute for Heritage, Culture and the Arts - Markets of Resistance Redux.

Event Poster

open to possibilities

This June marks the first anniversary of wonder | wander | world. This past year we've written about our art, our projects and our inspirations.

We celebrate the occasion today with grateful appreciation for a fulfilling fun filled year of productive creativity. Thank you for coming along on this adventure as we are looking forward to future creations and collaborations.

Our egg salad recipe

dwindling desecrated destinations

Travel is a matter close to our hearts - it feeds our spirits here at wonder | wander | world.

Increased mobility and tech tools can lull and dull us to the magic and mystery of traveling to other destinations and experiencing fresh and strange delights.

A recent article by a perceptive daughter of close friends has brought up this recurring rub and reminds us to love, honor and respect all with closer attention to the wake we make.

getting over gender roles

With Father's Day coming up wonder | wander | world shares Kristina Manllos' article, "Fatherhood goes beyond Football."

Gender roles are getting a makeover on both sides of the divide. Women are more empowered and empowering. Men are less macho and more mothering.

double entendre

when is a double entendre intended and what is its intention?

which dualities are revealed and relived in duplicate meaning?

what meanings are evaluated in multiple evolution?

who are implicated in implied interpretation?

why replicate reviled revulsion in riotous repetition?

[Originally posted on Change Warrior] 

i need a guide - don't we all

Today's featured blog site - I Need A Guide - is yet another favorite here at wonder | wander | world.

paying tribute to Jess Aiko [not Ayco]

In today’s blog we pay tribute to Jess Aiko [not Ayco] and his art - highlighted in “Fugue Frolic: A Retrospective of Filipino Modernist, Jess Ayco” at the Balay ni Tana Dicang in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. Forming a central part of the VIVA ExCon's 13th biennale, the exhibit ran from November through January. 

Late as this post is wonder | wander | world wishes to recall this stellar Renaissance man and acknowledge his all encompassing artistry - former resident artist of our hometown Bacolod in Negros Occidental [Philippines]. 

of myths & legends

Taurus New Moon occurs on Sunday, May 17th at 9:13pm PDT and on Monday, May 18th at 12:13am EDT/ 4:13am GMT.  

“A Taurus New Moon is an especially fertile time to plant a seed of a new thought, a vision, a plan or a goal. Plant a literal seed to symbolize your plans and then nurture them to help them grow strong.” ~ Cathy Pagano 

wonder | wander | world honors the wisdom in astrology. It is informative and helpful - providing insight into self realization and actualization. 

mother memorial

Every day should be Mother’s Day. 

Mother's Day is a modern celebration honoring one's own mother, as well as motherhood, maternity, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers at home, in the community, in our society. 

Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo to all barrios worldwide - Ole! Ole! 

Although a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the US Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States.  

Terry Pratchett Tribute: Words Can Change Our World

On 18 February 2009, over a year after he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, one of the world's favourite fantasy authors became Sir Terence David John Pratchett, OBE. On 12 March of this year, Sir Terry (or Pterry, as many of his fans know him) passed away in his home in Broad Chalke (a very Discworldly name), Wiltshire, England.

Sir Terry's coat of arms, from File 770.

Sir Terry inspired a few generations of writers and artists with his fictional universe of Discworld, a planet shaped like a disc carried on the back of four elephants on top of a giant turtle. Far-fetched as the world seems, the people who lived in it were very real, rounded characters who contained whole worlds in themselves.

alternate reality at its best : My Modern Met

Welcome another fave of ours - My Modern Met. 

Early in our wonder | wander | women Facebook and Pinterest history we scoured sites for inspiration and revelation. 

We quickly drew on a list of regular favorites - from the gargantuan Colossal to quirky chic Messy Nessy - from the elegant timelessness of  This Is Paper to the mind boggling machinations of Brain Pickings. 

Easter + eclipse + enlightenment

Now is the time when the Light is rising. This return of the Light is celebrated all over the world. 

Persephony Awakening

Christians look forward to the glory of resurrection, Jews have hopes for freedom, Hindus call forth love, colors and fun. Pagans know that the Earth awakens again to the Sun’s warmth, ready to take into her womb the seeds of Life, just as each person is once again called to a new life, a new story. ~ Cathy Pagano 

so goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight

Iconic science fiction actor Leonard Nimoy passed away last February 27th.

Art by John Harris, via 70s Sci-Fi Art.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

wonder | wonder | women celebrate with the world on this day - the Feast of St. Patrick.

Empire State Building peering through the haze

Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play -
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song -
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!

HAPPY St. Patrick's Day!

Fathom Travel List 2015

#wonderwanderworld is just too happy to see that one of our fave blogs - Messy Nessy Chic - made it to Fathom's 24 Best Travel Blogs and Websites of 2015. Whoohoo! 

Photo: Courtesy of Messy Nessy Chic

Messy Nessy Chic

What we love: Nessy curates quirky travel miscellany from her cluttered Parisian apartment. Our eyes have been opened to Emilio Pucci's brief stint in airline fashion, the Tokyo subculture of '50s rockabilly gangs, and a Spanish population literally living under a rock.

Last seen: appreciating Burkina Faso's architectural designs, checking out the Japanese rockabilly scene.

Nessy travels for the nostalgia, always looking for places and corners of the world she could imagine herself living in a past or future life. 

crate bar & kitchen

Crate Bar & Kitchen - a truly Bacolod-ian food destination. Which is saying a lot if you know just how much we love good food in Bacolod!

Read the full story at http://wonderwanderwomen.blogspot.com/2015/02/crate-bar-bakery-kitchen-millennial.html.

provincial progress

One of the best benefits #wonderwanderwomen have had is that we grew up in a bucolic little coastal town in the Philippine Islands.

Although we have since relocated to other countries, it's always a treat to return home to visit friends and family.

Home truly is where the heart lies. 

San Carlos Solar Farm

http://changewarrior.blogspot.com/2015/01/east-meets-west-and-vice-versa.html