Haiku

I've been advised by my creative coach to try my hand at haiku poetry. The standard form is 5 syllables/7 syllables/5 syllables, which is no easy feat when you are asked to address universal issues in the three piddly lines. Here are a few that I've come up with:

walking briskly smears
luscious oils from silver tubes
a streaky night sky

lushly verdurous
myriad of species move

with fluid music

hip makes figure eights
in a warm sea of summer
dolphins undulate

Okay, so the last one doesn't really qualify because it has a rhyme in it. I'll keep trying.

Sandro Chia

I had the good fortune last night of deciding to make the trek to Chelsea to attend the reception of an artist that I have long since admired. His name is Sandro Chia and he is a part of the Italian Ne0-Expressionist movement that began in the 80's. I remember poring over pictures of him in his studio with his many rows of Maimeri tubes, painting his idiosyncratic figures in strange settings. The pictures have become more simple over time, or perhaps deceptively so. The surfaces show lots of reworking and are all quite developed, even on the works on paper. What I enjoy most is the childlike innocence the images project, as well as the exuberant color choices. I was quite taken. He was standing outside with his Italian posse and I decided to go congratulate him and introduce myself. It is always special to be able to grasp the hands of the artists one admires. Filled with inspiration, I went home to paint, and freely I did. Thank God for Chelsea!

Makeovers

These days, I’ve been interested in the notion of a makeover and just how radically we can change our self-image. The shows “What Not to Wear” and “Oprah” leave me stunned when they transform the most non-descript looking people into gods and goddesses. It’s quite an emotional journey for everyone since old habits must die, yet, the exhilaration of the aftermath is just undeniable. On Oprah, a scraggly bearded man who looked like the Unibomber before, became the most gorgeous specimen of a gentleman afterward. Lately, a black-suited funeral home director changed into a Hollywood starlet with the help of a haircut, new haircolor, make-up and Donna Karan gown (pictured above). I was floored and elated. The truth is, such changes affect everyone positively and comprise some of the more uplifting moments on t.v. these days. Now, I wonder what I could do to spruce up my image. Why not go the extra nine yards just to see what would happen?

Gotta Have Park

What would New York be without the oasis known as Central Park? Each time I walk through it, I breathe in the cool air, ever so thankful to commune with nature after a long day. This park, so thoughtfully designed and expertly crafted, is a work of art in living form. Truly a testament to the wealth of talent in New York, I stand in awe of the multivarious parts and delicious details that make it such a treat. Hail to those who have created this masterpiece that I am so proud to call our own!

Impromptu

What is it about 19th century Paris that captures my imagination? The top hats, the tailored frocks? The film "Impromptu" is about a group of friends who are artists, writers, and composers centering around the unlikely match of the frail Chopin and cross-dressing Georges Sand. With Eugene Delacroix, Franz Liszt, and Alfred de Musset completing the circle, this band of bohemians give creativity such a rarefied air of savoir faire that I cannot help to want to join in. Whether or not this portrayal of the time is accurate, it still delights, and that is enough.

A Monk by the Sea

Caspar David Friedrich captures my state of mind these days - cool, solitary and yet, complete. What a state of calm and lovely repose that one can find within. I take refuge in that wherever I go and whatever is happening around me. Can you feel it too?

Jitterbug - Dancing with the Stars

As a recent and accidental "Dancing with the Stars" viewer, I lucked into two great dance performances this past Monday. I don't mind if I ever see the show again because the jitterbug routines of Derek and Brooke and Cody and Julianne literally got me on my feet to cheer. I was so revved up. What energy, exuberance, fun and light-heartedness! I was ready to sign up for my first class. It reminded me of all the 50's inspired stuff I've enjoyed in the past: Grease, Happy Days, and Doo Wop. Yes, I am admittedly a goofball.

A Room with a View

Last Sunday, I found an old VHS copy of this Merchant-Ivory film at my local flea market and had to buy it. It had been years since I seen it and it had always held a special place in my heart. A recent viewing reminded me why. This was a time where a certain quality of life was the norm - a genteel appreciation for beauty, a slowness in the pace of life. Travelling to Italy to see the Giottos at Santa Croce and to breathe in the Tuscan country was common for a certain set. Enlightened yet light-hearted conversation was easy. As in the credo of George Emerson: joy, love, and beauty meant something and was worth shouting about whilst standing in a tree. And in the end, of course, it is true love that conquers all.