Irving Penn Centennial – Metropolitian Museum of Art

This is a show following the trajectory of one of America’s most iconic photographers. I was able to admire his perfection in spare elegance,  as I observed his inquiry changing the language of fashion photography,  finding the authentic core of portrait subjects,  examining the topography of the female nude and capturing the essence of the other in foreign locals. I knew the facts of this photographer. They paled in comparison to the  visuals.

Metropolitan Museum – Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons : Art of the In-Between

Tourists and New Yorkers sprouted cell phones, indulging in selfies. Even though many treated the show as a cabinet of fashion curiosities, I hope it stimulated, causing a questioning of the norm. The reaction of the audience to this fascinating show was as interesting as the show itself.

Introduction the Jewelry design – Kean University

15 weeks with the extraordinary Jennifer Crupi, an inspiring, kind patient instructor.  In Fall 2016, I rushed from home to Kean University on Wednesdays for 5 hours of instruction and then dashed off to teach at Parsons in the late afternoon. On Thursdays I headed to Kean for 5 hours of open studio. The bug had bitten me.

Penland School of Crafts June 26 – July 8

Artful Eating Utensils with Boris Bally and Seliena Coyle was a wonderful intensive two week dip into the world of small metal craft. This was my first real exposure to the joys of metal work. I admire Boris’s fluid craft skills and his obvious joy in materials and making.  I feel privileged to have accomplished jewelers Pamela Argienti and Phil Renzo join us as classmates and generously share their expertise. I learned I absolutely had to learn more.

 

The Houdini Museum

As I purused a sea of Intenet newsletters my eye stopped on a small article in Timeout.

Six little known New York museums. A knowledgable New Yorker I had at least heard of most of the museums in my hometown.

Somehow I had missed the vest pocket sized Houdini Museum residing in the lobby of a magic shop on the third floor of a building across the street from Penn Station and above Sbarros.

This little gem is a quick visit and curiousity. Stop by. This is the second biggest Houdini collection in the world. The largest resides in Las Vegas with David CopperField.

Who knew?

On The Town

This show was one of the most quintessential New York movies. I am a died in the wool New Yorker, so a special place in my heart welcomes the nostalgic exuberance of this Broadway revival. There is dance, wonderful dance that harks back to the original Bernstein “Fancy Free”. The staging includes a fun use of digital animation. It just made me happy.

Pearl

The David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center

Beautiful, artful dancing, a light storytelling pantomine. The story of Pearl S. Buck is blended with  into the elegant evocative beauty of a classic Chinese poem Within innovative simple scenery we were able to appreciate the skill of of the Zhenhing modern dance company  .I was afraid i would be seeing an unclear cacaphony. Instead I was swept away in by the skill of the modern dancers from Zhenjiang, China.

Sinatra An American Icon

Lincoln Center Library of Performing Arts

My mother loved Frank Sinatra. He was the embodiment of the music of a generation. From Big Bands to solo, duets and running his own label, he had amazing longevity. The exhibit talked not only about his life, but about his place in the world of music.He was a marker for his time crossing back and forth between the different worlds of theater, movies and music. I saw viewers carried back to their childhoods.I remembered his music wafting through my life and got a taste of those other times.

 

Folk Art and American Modernism

The Museum of American Folk Art

I have long enjoyed the naive beauty to be seen in works of American Folk Art. There is a clearness that comes from a lack of formal conceits. It creates a directness that reaches right into to my graphic designer’s soul. This exhibit that exposes the connections between early collectors, patrons and modern artists was eye opening for me.There were portraits, frakturs, rugs, quilts, advertising and sculpture. I had never known anything about the WPA project that created an archive documenting design. As I explore the world of craft. I want to know more.

A walk in the past

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Yesterday I walked in Shakespeare’s garden, sat on a tranquil pond in a Japanese Teahouse, saw one of the largest living collection of rosebush species and that was before I entered greenhouses that let me view the marvel of the Bonsai and then took me to the Tropics, the Desert and the Rainforest.  Voices in many languages blended with the lush greenness.

I came here many Sundays as a child. I was on 52 quiet acres in Brooklyn, a green oasis.  What a peaceable way to find refreshment.