It’s no coincidence that we celebrate Valentine’s Day and National Condom Day on February 14th. If you are looking for love use a condom when you love so you can continue to love for a very long time. If you plan on staying home to spend time with those you already love have a wonderful day celebrating why you love each other. And remember…no matter how you love, or whom you love, or if anyone else understands your love…today of all days, love the one you’re with.
It is almost Valentine’s Day and I am being inundated with overpriced roses, candy-colored plush animals, and a multitude of heart-shaped sugars. I’ve never been a ‘show me you love me with a present’ kind of person but I absolutely unashamedly LOVE to give tokens of my affection all year long. How about you? Not sure what to give that certain someone in your life? Here are a few ideas if you are looking for a way to say ‘I love you’ on February 14th (or any other day of the year).
One of the great benefits my job affords me is the ability to become a more active viewer and participant in our local art scene. Earlier this week I got to take part in a private showing of Nick Cave: FEAT at Nashville’s Frist Center for Visual Arts… Continue reading “Nick Cave Project…”
To the 2018 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles,
Thank you AND Congratulations.
A Lifelong Fan
For the past few days I’ve been doing a deep dive into Palm Beach and Boca Raton architecture as a by-product of reviewing “Addison Mizner: The Architect Whose Genius Defined Palm Beach” by . I was drawn to the subject having spent a number of years living in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and lower Miami Beach, where I was surrounded by the beautiful Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial-influenced homes you can only find in South Florida… Continue reading “It’s a very very very fine house…”
I have been a fan of football, and the Philadelphia Eagles, for a very long time. Growing up, I never wanted to be a cheerleader but to this day I dream of being out on that field, protecting my quarterback as he throws one deep into the end zone for the winning touchdown. I did play vicariously through my sons, both of whom started in pee-wee leagues and finished at college as O-line hogs. And yes, for them I was definitely a cheerleader (often to their embarrassment).
As for the Eagles, the team has had a true Cinderella year. When the pundits wrote them off after Carson Wentz’s season-ending injury the team kept playing like the first-class athletes they are and never missed a beat. They truly are the personification of ‘there is no I in team’. As I write, they are 6 days away from suiting up against the Patriots to play for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. and while they prepare in Minneapolis I am busy preparing too. Normally, I am all about the traditional wings/nachos/chips & dips/beer refreshments but this year I am all about the Philly Spread (and I don’t mean offense).
I plan on serving Frank’s Soda (a classic Philly soda from my youth), Yuengling Beer (for those who can’t handle the Wishniak), authentic Philadelphia soft pretzels (left over from my holiday visit to Philly), Italian hoagies, steaks wit’ wiz, pork and broccoli rabe sandwiches, crab fries (a la’ Chickie and Pete’s), assorted Tastycakes and Luigi’s water ices. I won’t be able to replicate Formosa’s rolls for my sandwiches but can authentically replicate just about everything else I will serve.
What about you? Will you attend a Super Bowl party or watch from your couch? Are you pulling for another Tom Brady miracle win or, like me, rooting for the underdogs and a game for the ages? Here’s hoping I’ll be singing Fly Eagles Fly next Sunday night. E. A. G. L. E. S. Eagles!
*Fly Eagles Fly
I’ve been feeling guilty about all of my unfinished projects, which I rediscovered while cleaning our computer/music/craft room (aka: The Pit). Among the projects squirreled away in various boxes I found:
The ‘Blues for Allah’ jacket is part of my long-running series of *Tribute Jackets© which I have been painting for many years. I replicate iconic rock album covers onto the backs of Levi’s denim jackets as a way of honoring the awesome artwork which contributed to some of the best rock music – and bands – of all time. My **Basmati Bag Backs© start with burlap rice bags, which I elaborately embroider before affixing to a Levi’s jacket.
I have come to believe these half-completed creations are ’blocking my blessings’ and am determined to complete at least a few of them so I can free some of my mental creative space for new projects I am excited to begin.
I think I will start with Basmati Bag #2, which is a present for my big sis. True story, I was ¾ of the way finished with this jacket when I lost my workbag containing the two embroidered front yokes during one of my travels. That pissed me off so much I put the project aside for what is now approaching 2 years. High time I took it out of the box it has been living in, dusted everything off, and got busy. Progress updates will be forthcoming…
I just celebrated another birthday and had a really great time. Since the date fell on a Friday – yeah Capricorns! – I turned my day into a 72-hour celebration instead.
My actual birthday was spent receiving calls from my loved ones who each sang me ‘Happy Birthday’. On the way home from work I took a detour to see ‘I, Tonya’ (which was fantastic). I came home to some snail mail cards and a beautiful bouquet from my son and his girlfriend. Funny story there – unbeknownst to my son, the florist was his 3rd grade teacher who was thrilled one of her students was sending flowers to his momma. My day ended with the perfect gift from my husband – a SpaFinder gift card (Tiba NU here I come).
Saturday saw me working on the ‘Who Am I?’ project with artist Ashley Mintz. That evening, my husband and I got dressed up for a four-course dinner at The Melting Pot. Fondue appetizers, fondue lobster, shrimp and steak, and fondue desserts, all benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank as part of Nashville Restaurant Week. Yum!
And Sunday? Well, Sunday was football playoff day and my team – the Philadelphia Eagles – romped their way to a Super Bowl berth! I’ve been waiting a long time for my Iggles to have a season like this and they have not disappointed me (or the rest of their fans) yet. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the next year of my life…
Part of my deep dive into ‘all things Andy’ led me to the legend of Studio 54. Opened in 1977, the club quickly became world-famous for its celebrity guests, hedonistic atmosphere, and flagrant drug use. The club served as a second home to Warhol and his stable of Polaroid ‘one-name’ celebrities like Liz, Mick, Elton, Dali, Bowie, Liza, Truman and Jackie. Big stars to be sure, but to my way of thinking no one was more beautiful and happening than 54’s three ‘it’ girls: Bianca, Jerry and Diane.
To this day I still think these women remain as beautiful, intelligent and relevant as they appeared back in the day. Bianca was the exotic one, married to the King of Rock and always holding court at a VIP table. Diane was the sly bohemian, running her dress empire by day and surrounded by powerfully rich men at night. Jerry was the wild-spirited Texan never far from a bottle of bubbly or fun.
I can’t think of a modern day equivalent to Studio 54, but if such a club existed I can easily picture Bianca regally sitting there while Diane discusses business and art with the Davos set and Jerry flirts and laughs the night away, all while wearing the following…
I was excited to attend last Thursday’s reception for ‘Famous (and not-so-famous): Polaroids by Andy Warhol’ at Vanderbilt’s Fine Arts Gallery. Ever since I learned of the show’s opening I’ve been doing a deep dive into all things Andy. I had forgotten how much Warhol’s work influenced my own art or my fascination with him as the penultimate commercial artist. From his days as an illustrator in the 1950’s to The Factory in the 60’s through to the late 80’s when he was arguably the King of Pop (Art) Warhol was always there before everyone else knew there was a ‘there’ to be.
My earliest memories of Warhol stem from his odd physical appearance; that thatch of white blonde hair and the paler-than-white skin demanded my attention. He looked weird and shy and just a little unhinged, and yet he exuded an intelligence and sly wit that drew me (and countless others) in and left me eager for more. His use of repetition in his silkscreens and Polaroids shaped my own fascination and use of nine’s in my own work. I also share his obsession with all things Hollywood and celebrity. I’d even go so far as to argue there would be no Kardashian Kulture without Andy and his Superstars paving the way first.
Warhol was a gifted artist and brilliant visionary who even in death remains way ahead of his time. Did you know:
The ‘Famous (not Famous)…’ show left me wanting more. More Polaroids, more silkscreens, more stories…more Andy. I’ve got a trip to Pittsburgh planned for the spring to deliver some upholstered furniture to Stephanie Tripier Design for revamping, and will make time to visit The Warhol Museum to see more of Andy’s works. Maybe I’ll even have Stephanie cover a chair in Campbell’s Soup Cans or multiple Marilyn’s as my own sly homage to Andy: a wink to his art I hope he would approve of.
The Grey Goddess 