Leonardo

Leonardo Da Vinci – beyond brilliant man. Artist, sculptor, architect, inventor, imagination extraordinaire. This genius is beyond adjectives and description. Yet, author Walter Isaacson, in his opus – Leonardo Da Vinci– brings the man alive in amazing detail.  This book is heavy – both physically and linguistically. This is a rich book – the publication is beautiful: lovely presentation, rich reproductions of paintings, and dense printing – nice pages. This is not a cheap book and I advise buying the official hardcover. It’s worth the investment.

Cover blurb – Leonardo’s ability to combine art and science, made iconic by his drawing of what may be himself inside a  circle and a square, remains the enduring recipe for innovation. His life should remind us of the importance of instilling, both in ourselves and our children, not just received knowledge but a willingness to question it – to be imaginative and, like talented misfits and rebels in any era, to think different.

That’s the key to this fascinating book – question. Leonardo woke up thinking outside the box. Every day was an experiment – whether art, sculpture, defense weapons, flying, and any scientific properties, he conducted experiments, kept journals, and asked questions.  Optics, math, perspectives in art, autopsies – you name it – he dug in deep to find answers.  Every page of this book is filled with extraordinary research on a man who affects life today. Isaacson’s writing keeps the reader engaged and amazed. Contemplate the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and more. Just wow…….

L is for Leonardo Da Vinci – the man, the book – explore and learn more………and just say wow.

Roaring Genius

I treated my husband, Ray, to a Fort Worth birthday. Lunch at Lucille's (he had chicken fried steak & eggs brunch), then we greeted this T-Rex with a roar for a tour of the newly refurbished Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. Plus, Adrenaline Rush at the Omni Theater proved exhilarating. Museums are a fabulous source of information, plus people watching - all imperative for a writer of fiction, poetry, or non-fiction.

A dinosaur topiary is only one of many attractions welcoming you to a day of learning and plenty of wow.

Special exhibit on Leonardo da Vinci is exceptionally well done. When one looks at the time line of his life and what he did from 1452 to 1519 ...well, obviously my lazy butt hasn't done enough. Art - a little painting called the Mona Lisa is more than most artists could hope to achieve. But, wait there's more - how about drawings that show automobiles, cranes, pulley systems, arched bridges, and human flight?

Mad dreamer in his day? Perhaps, and yet this genius artist and inventor is relevant five hundred years later and inspires scientists and artists alike. It is amazing to watch children turn cranks and learn physics properties and ask for more.

Flight is the ultimate dream. In Adrenaline Rush, we see a group create a parachute based on a Leonardo design. It had never been tested before. Will the principle of seven yards of material work? I won't blow the plot line - go see for yourself. Treat yourself to a day of questions, learning, and insight into a genius. Fort Worth Cultural District is the place to be on a Saturday.