Chinese Art

At the Boone Gallery of the Huntington Gardens and Library in Pasadena, through July 13

Shen Zou's "Xie An's Excursion on the Eastern Mountain" 1480, Ming Dynasty

Jin Nong's "Plum Blossoms" 1736 Qing Dynasty

Weng Tonghe's "Calligraphy of the Character Hu (Tiger)" 1890 Qing Dynasty

Wan-go H. C. Weng's detail of "Elegant Gathering at Laixi Residence" 1986-1990 

Art treasures displayed are masterworks collected and passed through the Weng family for six generations.

Art and Apparel

After spending a major part of my life trying to excite others about the appreciation of art, it is a thrill when I see merchants helping in this cause.    I have rarely seen it done so well as when I walked into the new J. Crew store at Malibu's Lumber Yard shopping center.  Every display featured a book by an artist or artists.  

Garibaldi Gold

The garibaldi gold, California's protected state saltwater fish swims in the aquariums that dot the public space at the new shopping center.  Garibaldi golds swim off of Malibu's coast.

Malibu's Lumber Yard

If you need nails, paint or a saw you won't find it at the newly rehabilitated Malibu Lumber Yard.  It has the same name, but it is now a chic shopping center.  And, not just any shopping center, it emphasizes spaces which invite public participation in fun, festivities and lingering.   It's emphasis on "green" made it natural to open during the surrounding Earth Day celebrations.  

Tommy Tune

Tonight, at 70 years old, Tommy Tune played Pepperdine's Smothers Theater for the first time. His accolades reach as high as high 6 foot 6 inch  frame.  There are Drama Desk Awards, Tony Awards, Astaire Awards, Society of Directors and Choreographers and Lifetime Achievement Awards, and, even our country's highest honor, the National Medal of the Arts.  It should have been no surprise that he could dance, sing and act so that I wished it never to be over.  

Halleluah Junction

When Salonen conducted this past weekend after  his 17 years as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra he left a legacy that was vastly broadened . Other artists, such as John Adams, Frank Gehry and Bill Viola helped him create his artistic visions.  *My thanks to Mary-Laure for introducing me to this  autobiographical book about the genius  of Adams.   

Nancy's Birthday

Fran came to the dance class, before Nancy's birthday celebration, in this colorful skirt.   She did her version of "West Side Story," now being revived on Broadway, for my camera.   Nancy gets her wish!

Into the Arms of Puskin

It was a privilege being in the company of the author at our monthly book group meeting.  With elegance, this book of poetry charted memories of time spent with her young children in St. Petersburg.  The administrators of the Fulbright program where she was a senior scholar had great pride when the result of her work there won the 2007 T. S. Eliot Prize.  

Farmer's Market to Holiday Table

Finding all the freshest ingredients at the farmer's market made the simply prepared Easter dinner for two special.    

Happy Easter

In 1993 we went with a museum group to Russia.  When there we saw the exquisite beauty of the Faberge eggs such as this copy called "Lilies of the Valley."    

Surfers

Living here makes one realize how connected we all are.  When there is a storm in, say, Borneo.., the ocean kicks up, to the delight of the surfers. 

It is such a beautiful sport.  As the sun comes up, we frequently see them waiting in the water...

The surfers always know when a storm is coming.