by Sandy | Sep 8, 2007 | Blogroll, Culture
Luciano Pavarotti
(October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007)
Began his successful career in the 60’s and sang at opera houses all over the world.
Already famous for his rendition of what would become his musical signature, Giacomo Puccini’s aria, “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot, Pavarotti gained additonal fans by participating in the televised “Three Tenors” concert held on the eve of the 1990 World Cup final in Rome with fellow tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and conductor Zubin Mehta.
He seemed to enjoy what he did so much!
I appreciated that. Thank you Mr. Pavarotti.
http://www.lucianopavarotti.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luciano_Pavarotti
by Sandy | Aug 22, 2007 | Art, Blogroll, Culture, Museums

That special season of 1967 again. This time the “Summer of Love” will be celebrated in the city where it actually took place 40 years ago, San Francisco, and with the “Pop art icon” of that era, Pete Max.
Often described as “psychedelic”, 50 of Max’s bright, colorful pieces will be on view at the de Young Museum. The museum is located in Golden Gate Park, the site of a multitude of “love-ins”, face painting extravaganzas, and “Grateful Dead” / “Jefferson Airplane” free concerts.
The perfect place for the 40th anniversary – from August 31 – October 28, 2007
For more info: de Young Museum
Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
Phone: 415.750.3600
http://www.thinker.org/deyoung/index.asp
by Sandy | Aug 19, 2007 | Blogroll, Culture
Ok, ok, I admit it. I watch them – but, usually only 2: “Top Chef” & “Project Runway”.
Both of these shows were discussed recently in a “New York Magazine” article called: “The Near Fame Experience”. It was *revealed* that these shows often manufacture the “reality”. Noooooooo!
The winners don’t always win and the losers don’t always lose, it’s just a matter of who can make the most of the 8 to 10 weeks of the TV high tension exposure. The participants got an opportunity to compete, display their skills and meet some people who make a good living doing what they themselves want to do – but, now what? What would I do/ who would I be/ what would I have at the end of it all? And, could all this stress be parlayed into a job – really? Fun, vicarious questions.
Whether on the small screen or in their living rooms, you get the feeling that these contestants behave/react with the same underlying motivations that they would on any challenging day. People always tell you who they are eventually, but these people do it while strapped to microphones. Not always pretty.
In either show, it is so interesting to see: Who will be the “sabotager” or the “sabatogee”? Who’s got the “poor me” story? Who’s got the “ya gotta be strong to be standing at the end” routine? Who self destructs? Who can ramp it up? Pres. Nixon’s Attorney General, the husband of Martha Mitchell, said prior to the Watergate conflagration, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. That can be impressive.
Yes, I like “Top Chef” & “Project Runway”. Besides being fascinated and entertained with what contestants can do with some sprigs of rosemary and buffalo meat, or some pipe cleaners and a garbage bag – there can also be life lessons. In reality, *we* are truly amazing.
BTW 1 – My favorite version of the “what were you thinking?” question: judge to aspiring “Top Chef”- “Did you taste this before you sent it out?”.
BTW 2 – I am beginning to get into the wedding/theme cake competitions on the “Food Channel”. Wow, some of these are over 3 feet tall and weigh a ton. Besides watching the creation of these huge, marvelous sweets, the drama increases when the baker has to lift the cake and move it to the presentation table. Will it withstand the move or will it slip from their hands?? Intense.

by Bob Martin | Aug 14, 2007 | Art, Artist, Creativity, Culture, Learning
I am most likely the least positive thinking person in my family and feel sometimes overwhelmed with all the happy thoughts going around here. But it works, it does make a difference to the people you come in contact with. Cybel’s post today on Auntie Carrie illustrates how little you need to do in order to bring some joy to someone’s life.
by Sandy | Aug 9, 2007 | Blogroll, Culture, Museums
The 1967 “season of love” lasted about a summer and ½ but its one of those events, like the real “Woodstock“, where just too, too many people say they were there.A time when the word “psychedelic” was used for everything – from songs to food. The entire decade left a treasure trove of great music, colorful posters, art work, patch work leather/suede hand bags and the names we still know, Warhol, Avedon, Hendrix – the “Summer of Love” lives on. (Classic rock stations still play: IN A GADDA DA VIDA, by Iron Butterfly – “In a Gadda Da Vida hooooney, don’t you know that I looo-oove you” – I think that’s what he says?)
Art, film, video and music – all part of the exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art ‘til Sept 16, 2007.
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
New York, NY 10021
General Information: 1 (800) WHITNEY

“Hippies on the Corner of Haight and Ashbury”, Gene Anthony, 1967
by Bob Martin | Aug 6, 2007 | Art, Culture, Events, Museums

Tempe Center for the Arts
The City of Tempe Arizona has been under going a change to its skyline. The new Tempe Center for the Arts’s structure is an eye catcher as you drive east or west on the state highway 202.
Inside the center, there is a combination of the elegance of natural wood, glass, steel and concrete and reminds me of the lofts and galleries of New York’s Chelsea and Soho.
One of the features at the new building will be a 3,500 foot gallery, featuring the works of local artists.
