MoMA - Motherwell.

Elegy to the Spanish Republic – 108, 1965-67

"Motherwell described his Elegies to the Spanish Republic series as a 'lamentation or funeral song' for what was lost in the Spanish Civil War of the late 1930s. 'It seemed to me that something beautiful and marvelous had died, at least temporarily, in that conflict,' he said. All the works share a visual motif: black ovals wedged between black rectangles. The compose the central chapter in the artist's career; between 1947 and 1968 Motherwell created more than 100 works in the series."

The Little Spanish Prison, 1941-44

Personage, with Yellow Ochre and White, 1947

"The thick, encrusted surface of Personage reveals that Motherwell created it through countless applications of thick paint. Describing his working process during this period, the artist wrote, 'I begin painting with a series of mistakes. The painting comes out of the correction of mistakes by feeling. I begin with shapes and colors, which are not related internally nor to the external world; I work without images.'"

I really enjoy Robert Motherwell (American, 1915-1991), and especially that description above. Exactly.

MoMA - Picasso.

Les Demoiselies d'Avignon, 1907

"The result of months of preparation and revisions, the painting revolutionized the art world when first seen in Picasso's studio. Its monumental size underscored the shocking incoherence resulting from the outright sabotage of conventional representation. Picasso drew on sources as diverse as Iberian sculpture, African tribal masks, and El Greco's painting to make this startling composition. In the preparatory studies, the figure at the left was a medical student entering a brothel. Picasso, wanting to anecdotal detail to interfere with the sheer impact of the work, decided to eliminate it in the final painting. The only remaining allusion to the brothel lies in the title: Avignon was a street in Barcelona famed for its brothel."

This was a gasper for me. I'm pretty sure I've seen it before, but then it shows up surprisingly, and wakes me up inside.

NYC Trip – MoMA.

Even though I literally gasped many times when I turned a corner and was front and center with the real thing, paintings I'd only seen in my art history books, this is what struck me most on my first visit to the Museum of Modern Art: A class of about 12 6-year-olds sat in front of this enormous Pollack painting, and enthusiastically raised their hands, eager to give their take on what was happening on the canvas. It was as beautiful to me as the art itself.

Oh... New York, New York!

My weekend in New York is approaching quickly! Ruth and I have come up with quite an agenda, but we've agreed to let the weekend play itself out a bit naturally too. Here are a few things I'm looking forward to:

MoMA!

Very excited to see "Abstract Expressionist New York". I've never been to this museum either and I can't wait to check it out. I've probably mentioned it before, but art museums can be a little overwhelming for me. I tend to have sensory overload after about an hour or two. I prefer to browse quickly, and stop and really spend time with just a few pieces that catch my eye.

A visit to the Hotel Chelsea.

After reading Just Kids, I decided I just want to go sit in the lobby for a minute. I think it's completely renovated or something, but I don't care. I feel like you'd still be able to soak up some of the spirit of the artists, writers and musicians who lived there at one time or another. And check out these amazing rooms? Geez! We'll walk around and pop into some of the Chelsea galleries, too.

Brunch at Balthazar.

I'm not going to lie. Ruth and I like to spend a lot of time planning our meals. Brunches and dinners make a perfect day of eating out if you ask me. Yes, I've already looked at the menu. Yes, I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to order.

And, I get to cross one off The List.

Drawing by James Guilliver Hancock.

Random Field Trip.

On my way to the movies the other night, I happened to notice windows full of chandeliers. It was dark at the time, and full stories of the building were lit up and it just glowed with these ornate hanging light crystals. So I decided to walk by the place (it's like 3 blocks from my office). It's open to the public. The space is huge. I want to say there were four floors filled with these hanging light fixtures.

I'm not really a chandelier-kinda girl, but something about seeing rows and rows of them struck me as really beautiful. Then once I was inside, I had to wonder, Who's in the market for these? How do they choose one over another? There were at least 8 people working in there with no customers?

It was funny to notice how some were really amazing. Even the small ones could be intimate and beautiful. I have a new appreciation... but I may have to go back to take a shot of my initial view from the street at night because actually, that's where the real glowing magic happened for me.

Happy New Year: The 2011 Version.

I've spent the last week or so thinking of goals for 2011. Thanks to sitting in seminars taught to me by Bob T. during age group swimming, I definitely recognize the importance of verbalizing, writing and visualizing goals in order to accomplish them. You may recognize some of these from previous lists, but I think 2011 has a lot going for it for seeing some of this stuff happen.

Ok, so here's a few things* I have been thinking about lately:

1. Rent a cottage on Geneva Lake for a week this summer. I miss it and love it and can't imagine how I'd feel to have a week off spent on the lake. Pure heaven.

2. SAVE some cash. I mean really. For once.

3. Remodel my bathroom. Also includes a week-long staycation so I can "help". I have folders of images saved but with ALL the options out there, it's so hard for me to make firm decisions. I have narrowed it down to black & white with green accents. I desperately want a tub I can take a bath in without freezing to death. And I want some intricate, small floor tiles.

4. Re-learn print-making. I definitely did this in art classes at school but I haven't done it since. I really enjoyed making those linoleum block prints. And I remember liking a lot the process of carving them, the way that material felt... And most? The smell! It may also facilitate my deep desire to put some paste ups around the city when I am feeling really adventurous and bold. (I'm dying to do this!) Watch the first artist Swoon in the documentary Our City Dreams.

5. New York! I missed NY in 2010 and it's just not acceptable not to get there once a year. Along these lines, I need to get to Philadelphia at some point. Both easy to do if I just plan a long weekend... But in direct conflict with goal #2.

6. The Gym. I'd like to break this goal into 1/4'ers. Like shoot for 3x/week January – March. I think it will help to have some things planned along the way, like signing up for the Shamrock Shuffle. I'd really like to get into a couple of yoga classes as well.

7. My yard. I basically spent a day or two on it at the beginning of this past summer and then just let it fall apart. I'd like to plant a tree. Then expand the border to make it more organic in shape. I'd like to create a green wall around my backyard that will eventually overflow with leaves for some privacy. I'd love to start the development of a really surprising hidden wonderland.

8. Field Trips. I am still dying, DYING to get a tour of that quarry in my neighborhood. In the winter running errands, I have the most amazing views of it through the empty trees and I don't know why, but I think it's SO COOL. I am also completely fascinated with the Illinois Brick operation I drive past on my way to work. I don't know what it is I find so soothing about the enormous piles of cement chunks-turned-to-cement rocks-turned-to-cement pebbles-to cement powder... And then when it all runs along conveyor belts and gets put onto train train cars or river barges... I am obsessed with watching the whole operation.

*This is a work in progress.

Image of a bathroom at The Soho Grand in NYC designed by William Sofield, 1996.

Missed the opportunity to post a couple.

On our way to the Midwest Crossfit Sectional, we did do a little cultural and hit the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, IL. No pictures allowed! But this one counted. For real when we walked in at a distance I thought these people could have been those "live mannequins" you sometimes see. They were fake, actually. Try not to notice, but I'm wearing my sweatpants jeans... Don't judge!? I was in the car for over 5 hours and wanted to be comf.

For fun here's the classic from our arrival at the designated Crossfit Hotel.

Art Institute, Part Three: Just the space.

We had to wait a while to be seated to lunch so we walked out onto the patio on the third floor by the restaurant and imagined how wonderful it would be to sit out there listening to a concert at the pavilion below in the summertime, having cocktails and/or dinner and just generally enjoying a leisurely evening.


The new Modern Wing is so linear and white, with a backdrop of scenery that is both modern and classic, traditional. We split our entrees, Michelle's a whitefish encrusted in almonds with grilled fennel and some kind of potato puree, mine a small piece of steak cut into six bites, topped with a poached egg and greens, swimming in some kind of sauce. Michelle had a beer and I had a pomegranate lemonade, and we ended the meal with coffee... And then ordered a frozen chocolate and nugget mousse with chopped salted peanuts throughout on a plate of caramel, described by the waiter as a frozen Snickers bar. Hello?

Two more pieces I enjoy:

Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

Art Institute, Part Two: Hanne Darboven.

So I think my favorite in the Modern Wing is Seven Panels and Index by Hanne Darboven, 1973. Difficult to photograph – it's under glass. The first time I saw it, I went home and googled her. I don't know, then I really loved her completely.

An excerpt from one article:

"Anyone who visited her at her family's estate just south of Hamburg has a story to tell--about, for example, her cohabitation with Piephans, the canary, and the various Mickeys, several generations of identically named miniature goats. Each morning at 4:00, Hanne would bring them the same type of cookie. She worked until 11:00 A.M., then granted one hour when she could be visited or reached over the phone. Regularity, discipline, austerity, asceticism and obsessiveness were among her idiosyncrasies--both in her work and her life--since she regarded 'being and doing [as] one.' "

Via DB Art Mag.

I mean, she kept miniature goats? Named them ALL Mickey? How awesome is that? And she smoked, made no apologies for it, and apparently continued to do so until it ultimately killed her last year. One thing I read was that if she was awake, she was smoking. What a unique person. Making thousands of annotative deliberate hand written collections, her work apparently fills barns and buildings on her family's estate.


The majority of the piece at the AI looks like sheets of ledger paper with a cursively written "u". Filling whole pages, all with distinct yet seemingly random meaning.

With the google search I came up with a pic of the artist:

Via When the Helicopter Comes.

All the links provided offer more information, but for still more, click here.

Art Institute Day.

I took the day off to recuperate since we'd been gone all weekend, but instead of doing laundry, grocery shopping and cleaning the house, I met Michelle for lunch and some art at the Art Institute. It's FREE all month and you're crazy if you don't take advantage of that. I might just go one or two more times! It's sweet cause you just walk right in, like you're going to the library. Also, it felt like it's too bad it isn't just free all the time.

Of course then we spent 2/3 of our time there having lunch at Terzo Piano. It was like we were breaking the rules or something, treating ourselves to such a nice afternoon. It was really fun.

Then I got to go back and take pics of some of my favorites in the Modern Wing. This Cy Twombly is one. Here's a little blurb about it. I love when I hear people hate on his stuff, like they did today, because it has the complete opposite effect on me.

Click to enlarge all images.

Francine Turk with Elizabeth.

One of our many stops Friday was at Chicago Art Source. I was curious to see the work (and price points) of the wonderful local artist, Francine Turk. I had an unrealizable pipe dream of maybe joining my brother in surprising our mother with one of her stunning horse drawings for Christmas.

Alas, none of these items will fall under the Christmas tree this year, unless our Dad gets on board, which is highly unlikely. Regardless, I loved seeing them in person. I also loved watching my friend see them for the first time, and have her own (thankfully) positive reaction.


Art is such a funny thing. And when, why and what we love about what we see, is fascinating. I got an immense pleasure/satisfaction watching Elizabeth's face on entering this gallery. She looked so happy, and I was so grateful that she was obviously moved.

It's funny to me too, to think of how once I feel confident going into these places, how much my experience will change. It's still a very self-conscious activity for me, and I think the more familiar I make it, the more I will ultimately get out of it, once I can on-the-spot ask the questions I have, and get answers I can only wonder about, hopefully from people who want to talk. For now, I am just happy I'm pursuing these interests of mine, and get to witness the beauty first hand, no matter how awkward it makes me feel in the process.

All images from Chicago Art Source website, a minimal selection. I enjoyed some of the others we saw much more, so stop in for a look. The exhibit ends October 31.

Cy Twombly.

I was in Philadelphia last weekend for a wedding and I treated myself to a visit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the adjacent Perelman Building across the street.

I'm a dummy and left not my camera, but the battery that goes in it, sitting in the charger, so I'm a little sad I didn't get any shots of the space, steps, and massive Calder mobile "Ghost" that hangs in the Great Stair Hall.

I had been looking forward to seeing the Matisse and Modern Art on the French Riviera exhibit the most, and also the Modern 20th Century Chair exhibit, but I was completely blown away by the Modern and Contemporary Art wing. More specifically, the Cy Twombly "Fifty Days at Illiam" display in Gallery 185.



It was my favorite room in the whole place. I know this kind art is not for everyone, maybe not even most people, but I just love it.

Here are some other sources for viewing that I found a little easier on the eyes than the PMA website.

Shots around New York.

John Derian's shop, Hugo Guinness flower negative print. Bulldog bag.

Von's. 3 Bleecker. Sauvignon Blanc, "Sewn-ya... Soto-my-yor".

High Line Park. Garg.

Yellow and grey. Color combination that reminds me of our lake house from the 1980s.

Er, Manhattan Bridge from DUMBO.

More DUMBO.

Equality. Even with aliens.

Beautiful blues, reds.

Hot. Subway.

Yeah, you're not supposed to take pictures in here, but I couldn't help
this one. I didn't use a flash?
The Guggenheim.

Ruth's kitchen window. Daisy. Bruce.

New York was fantastic. Don't really feel like writing about it. Man, I love it there. So much to look at. Next time I go, three full days instead of two. Ever since I did the i55 shots and cropped them to squares, I've been really enjoying that format. Keeps everything uniform, and gives me a bit more control, but I can't decide if it's cheating or not. Bruce's eyes are so cool. They have a deep blue ring around the pupil, then a bright green one to finish them off. Beautiful.