Review

“I Paint My House” by Margaret Courtney-Clarke is a collection of photographs of African women decorating
their homes. In addition to pottery and textiles, there is a South and West African tradition of painting the outside of the house with bold shapes and bright colors. The women express themselves and can document family history through their art and design.

“I Paint My House” is actually a book of postcards. But, the murals and decorations are so vibrant and alive, I haven’t mailed any. (I don’t want to tear any of the cards out.)

BTW- Margaret Courtney-Clarke has also produced coffee table sized books filled with her photographs of the bright geometric designs of Berber and Ghanaian women.

The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, CA Presents

Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future

Sept 27 - Jan 4, 2009

Talented and curious, da Vinci has been acknowledged as mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor and architect.

200 items including paintings, models, drawings and inventions will be on view.

Tech Museum of Innovation
201 South Market Street

Film remakes - why?  If it ain’t broke, why “fix” it?  The classic movie in question is “The Women” - from the 1936 play written by Clare Boothe Luce, and then the 1939 screenplay by Anita Loos.

The original, directed by George Cukor, is great fun, with Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard, and a whole slew of other terrific actresses. Any attempt to update, revamp, revisit, recreate the magic of this clever, witty film - about a husband who strays and how his wife handles the betrayal - is fraught with danger. The audience (me) may come away with a feeling of disappointment.

Yes, the scenario is still a familiar one, unfortunately, and the situations may seem dated, but the story is also about friendship among “women”, not girls, women. (The concept did not originate with “Sex & the City”.) Some of the aid/advice given is successful, some disastrous, but, that is what makes the movie entertaining.

The current remake of “The Women”, directed by Diane English, comes to theaters in September, 2008. The stellar cast includes, Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith. I’m hoping whatever was done to bring this story into the 21^st century, that it still remains a great story for adults and it still makes me laugh.

BTW - In 1956, the movie was made into a musical called,  “The Opposite Sex” with June Allyson playing the wronged wife.

“George de Forest Brush: The Indian Paintings”

National Gallery of Art in DC, September 14 –January 4, 2009

George de Forest Brush, (1855-1941) born in Tennessee, taught at Cooper Union and the Art Students League in New York.

In the 1880s , he lived among the American Indians of Montana and Wyoming (Arapahoe, Shoshone, Crow) and did a series of paintings, 20 of which are on view here. The paintings were all posed and done in studio, but they still capture a period of time in our past.

George de Forest Brush, 9/14-1/4/09

National Gallery of Art

4th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC

(Image:“The Indian and the Lily”, 1887)

Johannes Vermeer, (1632 –1675), whose work is considered an example of “Dutch Baroque” painting was born in Delft, the Netherlands. During the 17^th century, the merchant middle class of Holland grew rich due to the increase in trade and used their excess money to become patrons of the arts. Their wealth not only supported Rembrandt and Hals, but, also lesser known artists of the time such as Vermeer.

The museum has assembled 3 paintings for the exhibit, “Officer and Laughing Girl”, “Mistress and Maid” and “Girl Interrupted at her Music”. All are examples of Vermeer’s favorite themes – the middle class in domestic situations.

Frick Museum
1 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021

(Image: “Mistress and Maid”, 1666, oil on canvas)

Runway Layout

My first working experience was in the New York Fashion Industry, 7th Ave as it was called. I don’t think we thought of it as an industry.

I got to meet people like Richard Blauner, (who gave me two ties from A. Sulka) Jerry Silverman, Herbert Sondheim and others. I was one of the first to see the original dresses and coats as they came back from the Paris Fashion Shows.  In other words - I was in shipping. But none the less, I still admired the beauty of what I was seeing.

This painting is a layout of a series of paintings having to do with fashion for a show this winter.

While taking a break from the Olympics, I discovered a great “travel” show on a local PBS channel. I have always loved visiting new places, but have not seen as much of the world as I would like, so I enjoy the assorted travelogues and adventure programs found on TV. The Emmy nominated “Grannies On Safari” is hosted by 2 entertaining ladies, Pat Johnson and Regina Fraser.

This series of 30 minute episodes began in 2006 - South Africa, Japan, Korea, Morocco. The latest programs will explore Uruguay, Poland, and cruising in the Caribbean. We watch Pat & Regina, African-American women of “a certain age”, meet and greet the locals, sample food, interview artists and entertainers and even try on hats. Their show gives the viewer insight into culture, landmarks and beautiful scenery. Depending on the location, the ladies have ridden camels, traveled by canoe and rickshaw, all done with humor. We have a good time on these visits thru them.

You can tell that the “Grannies” are used to being on the go, (they have been to more than 80 countries between them), and both are very easy and comfortable exploring the unknown. Fun.

“Grannies on Safari” on your local PBS stations

There will be another revival of this ground breaking musical as a celebration of its 50^th birthday.  Previews will begin at the National Theatre in Washington DC on 12/16/08, the same theater where it first opened in 1957. It will then move on to Broadway in March 2009.

I love “West Side Story” and I love that I can revisit the ‘61 film on DVD, on CD and at the occasional theater revival. Based on Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”, it was transplanted to the 50’s west side of Manhattan with music by Bernstein, lyrics by Sondheim, choreography and direction by Robbins. 

On its Broadway opening night, Sept. 26, 1957, there was a question as to whether this musical was a hit or a miss. Neither the critics nor the audience were sure of what they had just seen. But in its existing 50 years, it has proven itself to be the perfect meld of dialogue, music and dance. A supreme example of the Broadway musical, “West Side Story” is a successful vehicle for a much used, tragic scenario. 

Many of the songs, “Something’s Coming”, “Maria”, “America“,  ”Somewhere”, “Tonight”, are still being heard today at weddings, song recitals and Jazz venues. Some are universal love songs, but others are just fun - “Dear Sgt. Krupke”, “I Feel Pretty”.

(”When you’re a Jet you’re a Jet all the way - from your 1st cigarette ‘til your last dying day…”)

A) Quick wash
B) Add a little color
C) Define shapes
D) Just a bit more detail
E) Some lights and darks. War by B. Martin (c) 2008

War is not a unique thing. There is always a war going on and there are always faces that show a universal despair.

This is not a political statement, but war is just dumb.

Italian still life artist Giorgio Morandi, 1890 - 1964, will be showcased at The Met starting September 16. Included will be over 100 paintings, water colors and etchings. (Some paintings reflect the influence that Cezanne had on Mr. Morandi’s work)

Giorgio Morandi, 9/16 - 12/14/08

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
New York City, NY

http://www.metmuseum.org

( “Still Life”. 1938. Oil on canvas)