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.

Roxanne’s Birthday Party

Posted on July 21, 2010 by ruthek

I've been in a number of classes with Roxanne, but we really got to know each other when she showed up in my blog class, and I realized she was one of the most good-hearted people I have ever met. She and her husband are both amazingly kind and well-intentioned. When I found out that Roxanne had never before had a birthday party I knew I had to attend, even though I had two other places I was supposed to be. I arrived late, but I got there in time to sing with Roxanne and was pleased that I managed it.

I'm on my way to New York tomorrow and will be there about two weeks. I've already made plans to meet with friends and go to exhibits. Of course, I'll be posting from there.

A little more country and the big city

Posted on July 1, 2010 by ruthek

For more pictures and stories about our “art camp” in Door County, see Jan’s blog and Sandy’s blog. Anita has a brand new blog where you can see her work.

Sandy sent this wonderful thank you note: Special thanks to Anita for all her hospitality and the use of her home and studio. Special thanks to Kathy for her hospitality. I'm sorry you weren't up to all we did, but it was good being with you. Because of you we know about such glorious places as the Garden Gate and got to dine on such good asparagus.

Special thanks to Ruthe for all her help putting the blog together…..and especially this year adding Picasa to my computer. What a blessing that was in doing this blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And thanks to Ruthe also for all her excellent instruction on the books, and for the "Paper in Three Dimensions" book. Thanks to Jan, our worthy Best of Show, all the blood, sweat and talent who kept everyone laughing.I'm a richer woman for the experience of last week. Loving you all, Sandy

At breakfast with Eli this morning I said I would not want to move back here. Walking downtown afterwards I could feel the power and energy of the city and realized I still loved it. The sun was shining; lots of people on the streets; the city looked wonderful. Once I knew every building, every alcove and alley. Now there are many surprises. Walking toward the Daley Center I stopped to take a picture. Someone came over to me and said the Stanley Cup was there. I could stand in line to have my picture taken with it, or just take a picture of it. It’s there, somewhere, behind the Picasso sculpture.

Walking near the Chicago River and the Opera House.

Wabash Avenue with Chicago's Trump Tower in the distance.

My destination was the Cultural Center, one of my favorite places. I saw an exhibit of jewelry made with handmade paper by Arte Papel Oaxaca. Unfortunately there was no catalog, they wouldn’t let me take photos and there is only this one article I could find on the web. I’d love to show you more, or better, I‘d like to go and be part of the collective.

An exhibit about Louis Sullivan, the architect, was also very interesting; lots of photos and information.

A newly created space within the Center is Project Onward, a studio and gallery for artists with mental and developmental disabilities. There was a lot of good work and a lot going on within the studio. I was much impressed.

Back to the big city and cell phones, traffic and noise

Posted on June 26, 2010 by ruthek

This is our last morning in Door County. It's been a great trip. Not only have we all been productive,

we went to a wonderful play (Tom Stoppard's Heroes) visited two spectacular gardens and spent some time at Kathy's house in the woods. Only Sandy, Jan and I came up this year; Sue couldn't make it. Kathy joined us part of the time, but she hasn't been well and didn't have energy for all of it. So this year it was three of us and Anita, our hostess.

We went back to the Garden Door, the master garden we visited last year, but the really spectacular treat was Overbeck's, a nearby private home and garden. This is a living work of art; the garden and the house being embellished with mosaics, stained glass and carved wood in amazing, tasteful ways, not at all exemplified by that website.

Between the book workshop last week and art camp this week it's been the best two weeks I've had all year. Nothing like a little stimulation to make me forget all of my health problems. My week in Chicago should be equally good.

On the road

Posted on June 21, 2010 by ruthek

Sunday June 20

Another beautiful, sunny day. Yesterday was a nostalgia trip. Some of my visits in Chicago concern the here and now, but often they dip back into the fathomless past. I spent the night with Joan, Richard’s cousin. I’ve known her since I was 20, and even though I am no longer Richard’s wife, she remains my cousin. We deal with the here and now, but the past sits just behind an open door. We talked non-stop, all through dinner and on to a visit to Linda and Tom, who live in a house filled with art. Tom is an amazing, highly productive artist. I ache for him, that he does not get more recognition.

I am sitting in Joan’s kitchen watching the birds at the feeders, the squirrel under the feeders cleaning up seeds the birds dropped and a chipmunk that steals seeds and darts away.

We went to see more of Tom’s art: sculpture being installed on the Purdue campus;

Linda, Joan, Ed and Tom

a wonderful mosaic with 150,000 tiles at Andrean High School.

I am overwhelmed by this man.

More talk, then into Chicago with traffic as bad as I’ve ever seen it. If this happens on Sunday, what must Monday be? I made a quick, unsatisfying stop at Paper Source, then out to Arlington Heights to meet with Sandy and Jan over a wonderful dinner. We looked at the books from the workshop, which inspired Sandy to add more tools and materials to the supply we are carrying. Tomorrow morning, after quick stops at Trader Joe’s for snacks and Office Depot for more paper, we’re off to Door County.

Monday

The drive to Door County was largely uneventful–only about 10 minutes of heavy rain as we left Illinois. We arrived about 3, unpacked the car visited over lemonade and then another show and tell for Anita and Kathy. We are now suitably inspired and ready to go to work tomorrow.

Playing catchup

Posted on April 11, 2010 by ruthek

I apologize for the hiatus and promise I'll try to do better. Mostly it was laziness; to a small extent it was income tax. I got so little money last year I get a refund from the feds and only owe the state a very small amount. I use an online service called TaxSlayer. It's very easy and I was finished within a couple of hours. It would be even easier if I was more organized. I was waiting for one form that never came and the other envelopes got shuffled into a pile with lots of other stuff. By the time I found out I didn't need the missing form, the required ones were out of sight and out of mind. Then, of course, I had to find last year's tax, also out of sight and out of mind. It's a great relief to have it all out of the way.

So I'll tell you what I didn't write about: first, the Seders in New Jersey and New York. We were with friends in NJ. The hostess is from Israel, her family originally coming from Iraq. It was a little different from our usual ritual and very interesting. Our kids were still in Chicago–no holiday from college, but the two sons of the host family were there, along with one girl friend. This is very much a family holiday–these friends are just like family. Our New York Seder was with Steve's family on Long Island, again a little different and very nice.

I had my yearly mammogram last week, no results yet. I wasn't going to do it this year, based on someone's (a government health service) recommendation of every two years for women over 75. After Alice's experience, I decided to go ahead with the test. I should have a result tomorrow or Tuesday.

The snow is finally gone, the weather has been mostly wonderful, although not while I was in NYC. There I got wet and froze–didn't have proper clothing with me.

I bought the camera but have had it only two days. I promise a report in about two more days.

Here is the tulip tree welcoming spring.

One last bit of snow. This picture was taken on March 25 after many days of 70 and 80 degrees. The snowpile was created when they shoveled the snow off of the top of the building (parking garage at CMU). Originally it was almost as tall as the building.

It's finally gone.

Snow day 13

Posted on February 17, 2010 by ruthek

Still snowing. I admit to being obsessed with the snow, but I do have other things in my life, I think. Yesterday I wasn't so sure. My neighbor, David, is obsessed with Gigapans. You remember those photos you can zoom in on and see amazing detail. Last October, he and some friends went to the top of Pittsburgh's tallest building and shot four Gigapans, 360 degrees, 1000 photos in each. Now he's been trying to get those four huge photos stitched together. I helped him stitch together a quarter size version which you can see here. He insists the full size version will be better; he's nothing if not persistent. So he found someone with a computer with 64 GB of RAM. I didn't know such a thing existed. Unfortunately, it doesn't have Photoshop on it. I started the day with a meeting and lunch with David and friend. I think we have figured out a new procedure that we may, or may not, try later this week.

Back to the snow in my life. After lunch I walked, using my walking stick but still somewhat perilously, over to the Frick art building at Pitt to go to the preColumbian art class I've been auditing. Although the pavement was clear around the building there was no clear entry from the street, only those single file/foot paths where you have to put one foot in front of the other. I don't do those. I went to the library across the street, where I was supposed to meet one of my students. My phone was running out of juice so I had it turned off (it was a really bad day). When I turned it on I found a message from him begging off. Again, navigating the really awful unclean pavement, I made my way to the bus stop where I finally had to climb over one of those snow hills to get on the bus.

After a cup of tea at home I took the car out of the garage, almost didn't make it up the driveway (remember I'm from Chicago; I'm supposed to understand this stuff), and went to Whole Foods and got pears, tomatoes, spinach, a papaya and a lot of other stuff.

This morning I had to go downtown. The bus was half an hour late. I now flag it down standing in the street. There is no way I'm going to stand on the mountain at the bus stop. My neighbor at the corner of Penn and Murtland ought to be ashamed. His pavement won't be clean until May at this rate.

Do you wonder that I've become a little crazy?

100 Books Before I Die

Ruthe Karlin

Category Archives: Friends