On our Sunday morning walk, snow-dusted Mount San Jacinto while it was 70 degrees in the valley. We passed a large residential lot in a quiet neighborhood, overflowing with exuberant sculptures crafted from found objects by the homeowner. The bright colors and fanciful shapes stood in stark contrast to the understated elegance of Twin Palms, the Frank Sinatra house, just a block away.
Category: Create
Remembering the Bauhaus school, 1919–1933
A morning lecture on the Bauhaus school and its demise under National Socialism offered a stark warning about politically dictated aesthetics. This is especially relevant now, as our Administration insists on architectural styles for federal buildings reminiscent of those mandated by Germany’s 1930s leadership.
Valentine’s Day at the Palm Springs Art Museum
A rose graced our lunch table today at the Palm Springs Art Museum between exploring two galleries. A morning highlight was a James Turrell installation whose work I first encountered on Naoshima Island, Japan, and whose outdoor installation at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis I only recently discovered. After lunch, I smiled at a piece by artist John Dickinson, which “takes care of any pomposity” a room might possess.
What’s the purpose of having law?
It was too cold to walk, so I pedaled an exercycle while being unchallenged by my Japanese serial drama. Keito, the central character, is a highly ethical reporter working for a weekly tabloid that covers corrupt politicians and other scandals. As she uncovers yet another case with mitigating circumstances, she asks, “What’s the purpose of having law?”–A good question for the times we live in.
Tibetan shrine room at the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Today, we visited the Tibetan Shrine Room, a temporary exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Buddhist artifacts are arranged as they might be found in an affluent Tibetan home. Buddhism’s emphasis on kindness to others is a valuable lesson for our times.
Reimagining common spaces in a digital age
Retreating from the cold wind, I sought refuge in the skyways. Here, I’m walking through the Central Library, a place I rarely visit since I primarily borrow e-books online. My mind drifted to the stunning Mediatheque in Sendai, Japan, designed by Toyo Ito. I enjoyed a Sunday afternoon there, sheltering from an inbound typhoon, experiencing how libraries can be reimagined and be relevant and popular in the future.
First encounter with an 88-foot loon
Rode the LRT to St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood, then walked to get a haircut. Along the way, encountered a loon (our state bird) with an 88-foot wingspan in front of the Minnesota United soccer stadium. This was unexpected. I learned it was designed by an artist from Scotland, a country devoid of loons.
A winter’s night with Nordic composers
Drove from heated garage to heated garage for a Minnesota Orchestra concert of music by Nordic composers. There were nods to hygge, which was fitting with temperatures staying in negative territory for a few days. We’re not leaving our building again until Wednesday.
Tonight: The Heart Sellers at the Guthrie
Walked over to the Guthrie to see The Heart Sellers, a play that plays on the title of the 1965 Hart-Celler Act. This landmark legislation opened up immigration to non-Europeans and gave priority to immigrants with STEM skills. In the bittersweet play, set on Thanksgiving 1973, two immigrant women, one Filipino and the other Korean, yearn for a sense of belonging.
Chamber music at Orchestra Hall then art in the chamber at Brit’s Pub
After an afternoon of Nordic chamber music with members of the Minnesota Orchestra at Orchestra Hall, we crossed the road to Brit’s Pub which we haven’t entered in over five years. After Scotch eggs and beer, we were ready to head home, me via the loo. I was glad to see the loo artwork has survived and been augmented over the decades.