Sunday, Monday

Posted on August 8, 2011 by ruthek

I said goodby to Renee, who should be in Ireland by now, and went down to Chinatown to a Chinese festival in Columbus Park. I expected lots of vendors, like a typical NY street fair, but I guess the entrenched vendors didn't want competition, so there was lots of gambling and game playing, cards and checkers but no mah jong, and a charming small orchestra, the Street Classical Music Ensemble. I thought I was videoing them, but can't seem to play it here. You may get to see it when I return to a higher level of technology.

I walked from Chinatown to Soho to the Film Forum and saw a documentary about El Bulli, the famous Spanish restaurant. I had heard many wonderful things about it, but after watching the film I realized I would have hated it, even if I could have afforded to go there. I love to eat, and I love trying all kinds of different foods, but this restaurant was more interested in providing emotion and excitement, not so much food. It was described as avant garde. I think avant garde food would trouble me even more than avant garde art.

This morning I went to the tip of Manhattan and walked first to the World Trade Center site. Here is what I saw–reflected in the windows of the hotel across the street.

Then actually focused on the site.

Continuing down Broadway I went into Century 21 and bought a set of three pairs of earrings for $10. I forgot to bring some with me and felt naked all week. Then I found a block full of food trucks and got a wonderful falafel sandwich, which I ate in a little park. Then I went to one of my favorite museums in Manhattan: the American Indian Museum at the Custom House. They have a great exhibit called "The Infinity of Nations"–a survey of the wonderful art produced by the indigenous peoples of the Americas. I enjoyed seeing it, but it seems to me there is great irony in producing an exhibition lauding the cultures and civilizations we have so completely destroyed.

Me and Claribel and Gertrude and Etta

Posted on August 7, 2011 by ruthek

Yesterday was Jewish Museum day to see a wonderful exhibit about the Cone Sisters of Baltimore and work from their collection of Matisse, Picasso and other modern artists. I was as much impressed with the sisters as I was with the art. Claribel Cone, born in 1864, became a doctor, Etta, her younger sister, was probably a lover of Gertrude Stein, before Alice came on the scene. A timeline about the family is here along with lots of information and photos of the pictures–a treasure on line.

At the invitation of the museum we took pictures of ourselves with Gertrude and the sisters. Mine is above, Renee is below.

Chicago continued

Posted on June 6, 2011 by ruthek

One of the exhibits at the History Museum was

Facing Freedom

What does freedom mean? To whom should freedom be extended? How are denied rights gained? These are some of the questions the new American history exhibition explores. Based on the central idea that the history of the United States has been shaped by conflicts over what it means to be free, this new exhibition uses images, artifacts, and interactivity to explore familiar and not-so-familiar stories from the nation’s past. From women's suffrage and the formation of unions, to Japanese internment, to a local school boycott, the exhibition highlights some of the ways Americans have struggled over the true meaning of freedom.

It's a powerful exhibit as pertinent today as its recollection of events of the past.

On Thursday we went on an Architecture Foundation tour of the Fine Arts Building, an artists' building on Michigan Avenue. I've been in the building many times, but learned all sorts of new things from the tour. I didn't know there was this beautiful courtyard on the fourth floor.

I would like to have a studio that opens into the courtyard and have tea every afternoon when the 4 o'clock low hits me.

Afterward we went to Millenium Park, the jewel of Chicago, and looked at the Lurie Garden. Chicago's motto is "city in a garden." You can really believe that here.

Friday morning I left Chicago and drove down to New Albany, Indiana, a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky, to go to Jan's opening. Here she is taking my picture. Be sure to note the wonderful banner they hung for the show.

You can read more about the show in her blog here and in the show blog here. It was a great opening and a great show. I'm very glad I went, although I hope I remember not to do two hard days of driving, back to back, again. I got back to Pittsburgh in spite of tornado warnings in Ohio and a terrible traffic backup in Kentucky.

Andy and me

Posted on February 10, 2011 by ruthek

We went to the Warhol Museum over the weekend with our visitors from New Jersey. It's not my favorite place, only rarely have I found things that interest me, but every visitor seems to want to see it. I was having a hard time explaining silk screens to one of our guests, so we all went downstairs to what they call the "weekend factory" where you can make a print from a silk screen. I also found that I could have my picture taken with Andy for only $2, a fantastic bargain considering he charged $25,000 to make your portait.

They stand you in front of a piece of green felt and you can see what the picture will look like on a monitor. The lights were in the wrong position for me, so I stood on a small stool, making me taller than Andy, but not as terrible as with the lights straight down at me. Here's the picture:

I think it looks like some of those 19th C. photos of ghosts, or astral projections. Of course, Andy is the ghost, but he looks more solid than I do. I would pay $5 to have Andy wearing one of those wild hairpieces and both of us in focus. Well, maybe the focus is too much to ask for.

Freezing rain and beautiful music

Posted on February 1, 2011 by ruthek

The rain is my excuse for staying home this morning, although I'm not sure it's even raining–just dark and dreary. Each year I'm finding it a little harder to deal with winter. It doesn't mean I'm off for warmer climes. Just more suffering. I think we are lucky here in Pittsburgh. This storm seems to be all over the country but we are seeing very little of it.

On to better things: the music. Yesterday was my first Osher class for this year, and it was fantastic. The teacher is Jim Cunningham, a host of our classical music station, WQED, who brought three members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to introduce us to the music of Erwin Schulhoff, a Czech composer and pianist. Schulhoff worked between the first and second world wars, was classified as "degenerate" by the Nazis and died in a concentration camp in 1942. Along with many other composers and musicians of the time, his work was essentially lost and only now is slowly being brought to light. Among other works we heard his concertina for flute, viola and double bass. The music was beautiful and there is something very special about listening when you are within 30 feet of the performer.

Finally — THE PAPER

Posted on December 30, 2010 by ruthek

I was determined to have it posted before the end of the year, so, I'm feeling very pleased with myself. I made the first round of revisions, suggested by Steve, and I'm much happier with what I've done. I really needed his help. You can download the paper, as a PDF file under my picture in the sidebar. Or, you can see it online at a new blog I've started on WordPress. Visit it here. I'll be using that blog from time to time and let you know about it here.

Wrap up of the week’s good classes and events

Posted on September 30, 2010 by ruthek

It's a dark, rainy, somewhat chilly morning and I don't have to be anywhere until 4 pm. I went back to bed for awhile, then read blogs and finally took a long, hot shower. Amazing what that does for all my aches. It doesn't seem to matter where the water hits me, usually on my back and the back of my neck, and all of the pains in my hip and legs go away. It's better than Tylenol, the only thing I'm supposed to take.

I've really had a busy week. On Saturday, Ivetta and I went to the SPF Expo–Small Press Festival. It was very nice to see all those publishers, but the best thing for me was the venue: AIR: Artist Image Resource. They have open studio time; I could go and make silk screen prints if I can work up enough ambition. Something to keep in mind, anyway.

We went to another festival: Little Italy Days in Bloomfield. As with most large city ethnic neighborhoods, identity is anchored more in nostalgia than in reality. It was fun, a little like a New York street fair.

Sunday night Robin served dinner in the sukkah–a Jewish holiday tradition. We had dinner in Dina's sukkah on Friday night. Miraculously it didn't rain either night–the usual sukkot event.

Monday I went to my World War I class. That one is good. We are not fighting each battle, but rather, examining possible causes. Excellent presentation. Tuesday was Japanese art history, then an open house at the Intel lab at Carnegie Mellon. I find I can understand about half of what they try to tell me.

Tuesday evening there was a lecture by Rev. Tom Johnson, Jr., who runs a school, the Neighborhood Academy, for children living in poverty. His goal, which he mostly has met, is to have 100% of his children graduate and go on to college. He explained his philosophy and his methods. I wish I had his talk written out. He's an amazing man.

Yesterday was infectuous diseases, another great class. I can't say I have any special interest in diseases, or in World War 1, but a good teacher can really capture me. That's the best part of these OLLI (Osher LIfelong Learning Institute) classes. Yesterday was also my next to last cardio rehab session. Friday is the end, but there are ways to continue and I may do it. First, I'll see if I can get religious about going to the health club.

In the evening I went on a walking tour of some of the art in East Liberty and in Mellon Park. I enjoyed the teacher and will be taking a class with her next month.

Rearranging my life

Posted on September 28, 2010 by ruthek

I'm staging my own private rebellion this morning. I was supposed to go to the African food class; went back to bed instead. This is the second of this term's classes I've bailed on. My tolerance for nonsense gets shorter and shorter. The problem is finding replacements. I don't want to sit home in front of the computer. I do too much of that already. I'm still turned on by the Japanese art history; still doing the reading. I've decided to write a final paper this semester–about Japanese gardens, of course. Then I can put it in my book.

A one paragraph statement about our final project is due today. Here is my statement:

I walk through a Japanese Garden in much the same way I walk through a museum, each few steps showing me a new view or picture to examine and appreciate. Some gardens give me more pleasure, I return to them over and over. Others don't hold the same enchantment. I look for magic in a garden, just as I look for magic in a work of art. That's the only way I can define it. Most Japanese gardens have the same elements: greenery, water, rocks, stone lanterns; yet they seem to be able to come up with infinite variations. Clearly, some are more successful than others. Some don't begin to be interesting. I propose to examine three or four stroll gardens, considered to be among the most beautiful in Japan, in terms of their use of space (mapping), illusion (shakkei or captured scenery), management of vegetation and growth, replication of famous places.

This is an opportunity to explore why I liked some gardens and not others. I am delighted with the serendipity.

Kentucky 3

Posted on September 22, 2010 by ruthek

I did more in two days in sleepy, old Kentucky than I do in a week in Pittsburgh. Raja's a great guide, and of course, it's mostly new to me. Thursday afternoon, after walking around downtown Georgetown and being introduced to one person after another, we went to a couple of art shows, then went up on her roof, had a wonderful gazpacho and strawberry rhubarb bread for dinner, then drank beer, and listened to music from the town square. Raja's roof is the only place in this dry county, you can sit outside, drink and listen to the music. Perfect after my long drive.

Dark area in the foreground is the deck with lots of flowers and bird feeders. We sat on the adjoining roof, which was in the shade while we listened to the music and talked.

Friday we went to an interesting photography show, then drove around Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky and a charming town, and finished with a veggie sandwich at Wallace Station. (3 cheeses, lettuce, tomato, toasted almonds, sprouts, bourbon mustard on whole grain bread.)

Here are some of the horses in this community that is normally (and always) horse crazy.

'Nuff yet?

All of the galleries had food and wine; I probably ate too much, and I got very tired of looking at horses.

Bet you thought this was another horse.

Haven't figured out what he was doing there. He looks permanent.

Saturday, we went to breakfast at the famous Fava's, wolfing down omelets, biscuits, home fries and frickles.

Let my mouth not forget you, Fava's famous deep fried dill pickles.

No lunch that day. In the afternoon we went to the Horse Park to the Gift from the Desert show, about the Arabian Horse. After dinner out, five of us went back to Raja's for more art conversation. (See Kentucky 1 and see Raja's blog for one more development in the flag business.)

A little more of Fava's.

And a little bit of Raja's place.

Kentucky 1

Posted on September 20, 2010 by ruthek

It was a great, busy weekend; hard to believe there was so much activity in one small southern town. It's really all because of Raja. She seems to know everyone in town and a great many people in surrounding areas, including the larger city of Lexington. The best part of the trip was all of the artists I met and spent time with. I miss that kind of interaction here in Pittsburgh. I know a lot of people/friends, but very few I share work and ideas with. Beginning on Friday afternoon, when we bumped into Anna across the street from Raja's place, it was all art.

Anna and Raja in front of a great work in Lexington

First, tea at Raja's, then the art hop in Lexington and an opening at the Georgetown art league. It was also food and wine, the best in Georgetown thanks to Carole Ann–a superb cook. More than anything, though, it was horses.

That's a horse. They were all over and came in all sizes.

That's horse country and the entire area is preparing for one of the biggest events in horse culture: the World Equestrian Games, held for the first time in the US. With the exception of two galleries in Lexington, one with the tree in front, all the galleries mostly had pictures of horses (with occasional dogs). I certainly had my fill of them that night, but there is more to come, some of it good fun.

There was good art conversation Saturday evening, also. We went out for dinner with Judy, Anne and Carole Ann, then returned to Raja's to look at my books and some beautiful books and papers made by Carole Ann (and brownies with strawberries and grapes, brought by Carole Ann, and Prosecco, brought by me).

Be sure to see Raja's blog for stories about the flag display. It was the subject of controversy all weekend.

The first person I met in Georgetown on Thursday afternoon was despairing over protests about the relative positions of the flags and the controversy continued all weekend. Raja is talking to some firemen, above, who are changing the position of the flags. This story, which appeared in the local paper, doesn't tell the half of it. Amazing what you can spend time worrying about when the sun shines and you don't want to know about anything of substance.

100 Books Before I Die

Ruthe Karlin

Category Archives: Art