This past week most of the U.S. was baking in a heat wave. Here in Chicago, it was 108 with the heat index. Not only was it hot, but the air was downright thick and soupy to walk through. When you wake up at 5:30 and you step outside to get the paper and break out in a sweat, it's hot. You couldn't even cool off in the lake, the water there was 78 degrees.
Whenever the mercury rises and people say stupid things like, "Hot enough for you?!".....seriously my only options I have to reply are to say "No, I'd actually like it to be as hot as Venus..no, wait the surface of the sun!" or to punch them in the face. Well, I can't actually punch people in the face, so you just nod and smile and say something stupid like, 'Yeah...its really something".....
I was thinking (which is very hard to due in the heat, I have no idea how anyone in the 1800's managed anything in wool and hoop skirts with no air conditioning and Ice tea)....what the thermometer would look like if it was visual instead of numerical.
If you want a visual representation of the week, this is pretty much what it felt like. Anything over 90 is pretty much going to melt your face and maybe your watch.
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| Salvador Dali- "Persistence of Memory" |
Most of the time in the summer it just feels like this....
It's hot, but hey, upper 80's are nice after a winter of freezing your butt off and shoveling snow.
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| Mark Rothko- No. 8 |
When the weather is in the 70's to low 80's it's tolerable enough to go outside, maybe have a picnic, go out on one of the many lakes in the area.
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| Auguste Renior- The Boating Party |
In the late summer, early fall the temps are in the 60's to 70's, pleasant harvesting weather.
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| Pieter Bruegel the Elder- Harvesters |
Spring is normally marked by 60 degree weather, maybe some 50's, either way it feels warm after a long winter! What other painting could better represent Spring???
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| Sandro Botticelli- La Primavera |
One of the nice things about living in a state that has seasons is watching the leaves change color. I still collect leaves and iron them on wax paper to ship to friends who are less fortunate and don't get to experience the bright colors of fall. But, when the leaves start to turn, it's a sure sign that the weather will be turning colder too...
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| Ando Hiroshige- Maple Leaves at the Tekona Shrine |
Then it happens...winter comes! It's fine at first, 40s and 30's aren't totally unbearable and you get snow. White, fluffy, untouched, first snow.
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| Ansel Adams- Half Dome Apple Orchard Yosemite |
Anything below that and you just might freeze in place; especially when the wind chill hits those below zero temperatures!
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| Alberto Giacometti- Walking Man |
So, whenever you are feeling the heat, just take a look at some art to beat the heat!
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