Labor day labors

Posted on September 6, 2010 by ruthek

It's been a beautiful weekend, the best one all summer–sunshine, cool breezes. I walked about a mile on Saturday, then two and a half on Sunday. This morning I went back to my health club to work out. Rehab was closed, so you can tell how dedicated I am. Unfortunately, my afib kicked in; I was wiped out all afternoon, never got out to another beautiful day. I feel better this evening after taking a long nap.

I'm so inspired by the Japanese art class I printed out all the readings and I'm slogging my way through them. Most of it is way over my head. I vaguely remember something about Hegel from college, but never read any Foucault or the other two guys. The class is about space in Asian art. I understand a lot about space in art, but I"m not at all sure about the readings. I'm anxious to get to the class tomorrow, find out if anyone else understands this stuff.

After making several flag books and a few single page books I'm back to work on my garden book. I think I've got about 250 pages already, mostly photos. I'm thinking about another trip to Japan, probably April or May. I don't know how this will work with my afib or all the blood tests, but I've got a little time to work on it.

This week is Rosh Hashanah. I wish you all a happy, healthy, peaceful new year.

Back to school

Posted on August 31, 2010 by ruthek

My new semester started this morning with another cooking class: Food from Africa. We got some information about vegetables grown in Nigeria, then a demonstration of how to prepare and fry plaintains, and finally, a chance to taste the results. I love these classes even though I seldom cook–just enjoy watching someone else do it. And eating the results, of course.

I'm taking another Japanese Art History class that met for the first time this afternoon. This one is called Space and Place in Asian Art. Sitting there, thinking about the use of space in Japanese art, I realized my likes and dislikes of Japanese gardens had to do with the use of space. The gardens I didn't particularly like had huge, broad lawns. The ones I loved made use of densely designed space. I am anxious to see whether I can refine my ideas as the class progresses.

Speaking of cooking, you who know me will be amazed to hear I cooked something tonight. In a weak moment, probably five months ago, I bought a package of frozen swordfish steaks from Trader Joes. You can tell how anxious I was to cook it. Finally, I knew I had to do it, or else throw it out. I browned the fish on both sides on top of the stove (an old electric with burners that slope at various angles). Then five minutes in a 450 oven to finish it. Doused with lots of lemon juice, it was good. Because of the way they were packaged all three pieces had to be cooked at the same time. Now I have one very large piece and one small piece left over. You know some of this will be thrown out. This is why I don't usually cook.

Home again

Posted on August 11, 2010 by ruthek

Drove back on Sunday with Robin, Steve and Charna. Happy to be back and not moving. I've been going to the rehab. They never weighed me, but I haven't gained anything. Amazing! Ordered my new glasses, working on Photoshopping images, but otherwise don't have much ambition. Too hot again.

Here's a Photoshopped picture of Charna:

From this original:

Eventually, I'll put up another slide show with all my New York images.

Two weeks, already

Posted on August 5, 2010 by ruthek

Spent most of yesterday with Renee. The chiropractor told her to do more walking, less sitting, so we went out for several walks during the day: grocery shopping, lunch out, finally ice cream. You can tell where our heads are at.

About 5:30 i left her and went down to the Center for Book Arts to hear artists talks about the current exhibition. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening; I guess you could call it talking shop. I was not Robin's mother or Charna's grandmother or a heart patient: just another artist. This is the kind of interaction I'm not getting in Pittsburgh. There probably are events like this. I just haven't found them.

Later in the evening Charna came from Chicago. Robin and Steve are driving in today. The party is tonight.

Continuing New York

Posted on August 3, 2010 by ruthek

Saturday I met up with Sybille again and went to the Jewish Museum to see the Curious George exhibit. It's amazing to know these people went through so many terrifying episodes to leave Europe during the Second World War, but still retained their imagination, creativity and the ability to appeal to children.

Later in the afternoon I went out to New Jersey to visit with Robin's friends, Ron and Ilana. Two of the guests write art criticism for an online journal called Art Critical.com. They specialize in contemporary art, not exactly my cup of tea, but it was fun talking with them. I went from being Robin's mother to an artist in my own right. Very nice.

Sunday morning, for the first time in several years, I went to a street fair on Columbus Ave. There were some vendors I had not seen before, and of course, my old favorite: Mozzarepa, another guilty pleasure.

Love the lady's dress and hairdo.

Renee came home on Sunday afternoon in terrible pain. She had fallen during the night and hurt her back. I helped her unpack then went out for dinner with another friend.

Monday morning I met Mary over at MOMA to see the Matisse, then a nice visit over lunch. Finally, it was time for the appointment that brought me to New York: my contact lens optician. I will have new lenses when I get home and I have prescriptions for two different pairs of glasses, one pair to use without the lenses, one to go over the lenses. I went back to the apartment and brought dinner in for the two of us.

Renee is feeling better today. I went looking for papers for bookmaking, again, and actually found something I liked and could afford. Lunch was at an Indian buffet on 56th St. where I sat in the window and looked at this strange old building that fronts on 57th. I'm always fascinated by these seemingly forgotten bits of real estate in very high-priced areas.

After much walking I limped back to the apartment; a satisfying day.

More New York week

Posted on July 31, 2010 by ruthek

Again I'm playing catchup. I've been too tired to write in the evening and too busy in the morning. Today, I won't leave the apartment until 11:30.

Wednesday afternoon, I went out to Riverdale. Although I've driven through, returning from work on days when the highway was completely tied up, I never stopped. I went to visit Evy, a member of the stitching group I belonged to in New Jersey. She and two others were our Manhattan contingent. Evy is a musician and a collector of strange and interesting things. She calls her apartment a mini-museum.

We spent time talking, looking at all the stuff, listening to music. In the evening, Ellen and Pearl, two more members of the "stitch" came to see me. I miss our Sunday evening get-togethers, so thoroughly enjoyed this evening.

Thursday, before meeting Sybille at Grand Central, I went over to the main branch of the New York Public Library to see the Declaration of Independence. I was particularly interested this year after tutoring Abdul to get his citizenship. I'm sure I learned more than he did. Someone should start a program to have all of us "natural born citizens" help immigrants get citizenship. It might make us all smarter and more appreciative of our status.

With a little more time to wait I went to the Transit Museum in Grand Central where they had a wonderful exhibit about art in the subways. For fifty cents I bought a booklet showing pictures of the art in all of the stations. Maybe someday I'll try to see all of it.

Sybille and I had lunch at a lovely Moroccan restaurant then walked through Bryant Park and spent some time listening to the piano player. It's lovely and strange to have a piano in a park.

Friday the humidity finally left us and it was a beautiful, sunny day. I went to Chelsea to Printed Matter bookstore (not what I had hoped), then to ET Modern, a gallery opened recently by Edward Tufte, who has published wonderful books on presenting information in graphical form. He has now become a sculptor, and I'm still trying make some sense of what he is doing; sense, that is, in terms of being works of art. Oh, well.

I finally got up to the High Line, an old freight railroad line that has been beautifully converted to a public park. I only walked about four blocks of it; having already walked miles before I got there. But, I will return.

My afternoon ended with tea and a long visit with Jacqueline, my photographer friend from Kyoto. She's still photographing Japanese temples and gardens, and I'm still wishing I could go with her.

Day Six, New York

Posted on July 28, 2010 by ruthek

I meant to post every day, but can't seem to stick with it. Here's what happened in the last few days. On Sunday evening, I went out for lobster dinner with Barbara. I haven't had lobster in years, and I loved it. It's probably another one of those things I shouldn't have. Not because of the lobster, per se, but the butter. I was good, didn't use the extra quarter pound they gave us melted, but, nonetheless, there was butter on the lobster.

I'm so tired of the shoulds and shouldn'ts. Eating has gone from being a source of pleasure to just another maintenance thing. I'm hoping losing weight will make my legs feel better, choosing mobility rather than pleasure, but I've decided that when I'm 80, not so long from now, thin or fat, I'm going to eat cheese, fruit, bread and ice cream, exclusively.

Back to NYC: Monday the weather was decent, humidity was manageable, nice breeze, so I opted to walk around and do a little shopping. I took the subway down to 34th St., then walked up Sixth Ave., and visited all the bead stores. No, I wasn't looking for beads. I was looking for interesting fibers I might use for book binding. That's where my head is these days. I didn't find much, but it was a lovely walk ending in Bryant Park, one of the great places in NYC. Then some bus riding, more walking in the East Village, finally a nap back at the apartment, then dinner with Rose.

Bryant Park pics

I am fascinated with the thing at the top. No idea what it is.

I like the way those curves work together.

Yesterday I met Phyllis at the Met. We started at the Picasso show, which I thoroughly enjoyed, then went to the American Woman, a Costume Institute spectacular. The thrust of the show was to equate women's independence with fashion–obvious nonsense, but a good show. Ended the day with dinner with Julia, at a nearby Indian place.

Another Second Ave. subway pic. I've never seen a machine like this.

The rain is here

Posted on July 25, 2010 by ruthek

And I managed to get back to the apartment before it began. The heat and humidity have really gotten to me, so I'm enjoying this brief cooling off. I didn't do much yesterday; met Jody for coffee for an hour, then an hour at the Strand Bookstore (air conditioned now, thank goodness), a small trek through the farmer's market at Union Square then subway back uptown. Not what I originally intended, but easiest by far.

This morning I went to the Met and spent many hours enjoying their air conditioning. In fact, some of the galleries were freezing, but I have no complaints. The East Asian wing, my favorite, was closed until 11. While I waited I took some pictures of the wonderful arches in the oldest part of the museum.

I found a new Tang dynasty horse I'd never seen before.

This wonderful embroidery, symbolizing longevity, was in a show about Chinese Birthday celebrations. The blue grid is a reflection from the ceiling.

I went up on the roof to briefly warm up and found this huge bamboo construction. It made me think of a roller coaster.

Sitting in the new installation of art from New Guinea I was amused to see several family groups come over to these masks and imitate the open mouth expression in their pictures.

I tried to go to the Picasso exhibit, but it was so crowded I just walked out. Here's my last look at the Met as the crowds poured in.

Day One – New York City

Posted on July 23, 2010 by ruthek

The thing about living on the 28th floor is the lightning is right outside, not above you. Fifteen minutes ago I returned from a short walk. It was still hot and very humid, felt like walking in water. Now the skies have opened up, thunder is almost continuous, lightning is right here and lights from the cars reflect off large pools of water.

I arrived in NYC very early this morning: about 1:30 am, after an extra long trip on the Mega Bus, the one that advertises fares as low as $1. It wasn't the price that I found so enticing: it was the wi fi. I had this idea I would be able to use my computer throughout the entire trip. It didn't work that way. I was able to get connected, but through most of Pennsylvania there was no internet access. (Not much phone access, either, when you get right down to it.

The bus had trouble leaving Pittsburgh because of some kind of demonstration so we were most of an hour late before we really got started. The bus was OK for a bus, but trains are better: more leg room and walking space.

Now for the price: I've been planning this trip for a long time. When I first looked at the bus, I could have booked the round-trip for $3 ($1 each way and 50 cent service charge each way). By the time I made sure Renee wouldn't be here (so I wouldn't be walking in and waking her at 1 am), the price had gone up: $8 for the entire trip. Then Julia called and said she was making a birthday party for David and herself on the day I was leaving. Would I postpone my departure. Sure. That cost another $5. Then Robin asked why I wasn't coming home in time for Shabat dinner, Charna would be there. That change cost an additional $15 or $16. I think I've spent about $30 for these tickets: still a big bargain.

Ah, but we're not finished. Steve wants to come to Julia's party and Charna would like to come to New York (she's still in Chicago). I think Robin and Steve will drive, Charna will fly from Chicago, and we'll all go back in the car. Fine with me. I'm not sure I want to get back on that bus.

After a very late start, I spent most of today walking around the city. Work on the Second Avenue Subway still has the neighborhood torn up. I went to the Center for Book Arts and saw two great shows. Mage, you would have liked the poetry books. Not chap books, but wonderful ways of combining words and graphics. The other show had several pop-up books and other books with cuttings. They have artist talks on the next two Wednesday evenings. I may try to get back there. I took some classes there while I was living here. Wish I could do it again.

Back home

Posted on July 6, 2010 by ruthek

just in time to do laundry, get a blood test, visit the doctor and get ready for another trip: New York in about 2 weeks. But…let me finish the last trip. After the wedding we picked up Charna who was returning from Peru (I am amazed at how international my family has become), then Robin and Steve dropped me off at Betty's and took Charna and the car to the south side of the city: no more parking problems. Betty and I went to dinner with her son and daughter-in-law to celebrate her birthday. Here is a picture of Betty and me at dinner.

On Sunday we went to the Art Institute to see another show about Louis Sullivan. This seems to be his year. This show had some of his wonderful drawing and mostly photographs of demolished buildings. Fortunately, several excellent architectural photographers concentrated on Sullivan's work before the buildings were destroyed.