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Staying at the General Palmer

2009-07-23T09:23:00.008-05:00

"Could we be any closer to the trains?" the exclamation went out from Mitch. Yes, it was pretty exciting to drive up the the General Palmer Hotel in Durango and discover that the beautiful historic hotel was right next to the Durango and Silverton Railroad. There are experiences in your life that you will never forget, and riding the Durango and Silverton is definitely one of them. Staying at the General Palmer was the whipped cream and sprinkles on top of our sundae. The Victorian hotel, named after General Palmer who co-founded the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, is beautifully appointed. And our stay there was made all the more pleasant by the friendly staff.

When we opened the door to our room, an adorable teddy bear greeted us on our lace covered bed, and our room filled with comfortable period furnishings, literally faced the open tracks next to the depot so we were able to lower the window sash and enjoy the sounds of the steam engine as we unpacked.

Durango, is an adorable town, and I felt right at home there. After supper we picked up some tea and cookies in the lobby and headed to the veranda just outside our room and watched the sun go down and the train crew put the engines to bed. --Ruth Mitchell

Cumbres & Toltec Just Ride It

2009-07-16T14:09:00.008-05:00

Living life with style and grace is on my list of top priorities. This includes following your passions (within reason of course!). One of the joys of my long-time relationship with my husband of 30 years has been sharing our interests. Mitch is passionate about trains as you frequent readers know. On our recent trip out West we spent 3 days riding live steam engines. First departing from Chama, New Mexico and riding the Cumbres & Toltec up to Antinito, Colorado. As a testimony to my devotion to "the one I love" I spent the night in Antinito, as he was clear that he wanted to ride both ways. And after sharing my feelings for the only hotel available clearly and on several occassions, I was informed that I might adopt a new attitude!

I must say I was viewing the next day as rather redundant as we would be riding back on the same track we had covered going up. It didn't matter the trip was so beautiful, often reminding me of Switzerland, that I found the trip back to Chama just as pleasant. In fact I suffer from quite a healthy case of vertigo, but the ride was so thrilling and the scenery so beautiful, I reconcilled myself to the fact that if I did die, there could be no better place than on those trains.

Side note: upon meeting one of my husband's train buddies later in Denver, the gentleman exclaimed, "you must be the most patient person on earth!" when Mitch introduced me as his wife. "Why yes, I said, "funny you should mention that, you don't know how many people have told me that before."

Enjoy the Privacy of Hacienda Del Sol in Taos

2009-07-15T13:39:00.005-05:00

I’ve had the opportunity to stay in some pretty nice places through the years, but Hacienda Del Sol in Taos really does a great job of conveying the feeling of the area with its 11 individually themed rooms and suites which are furnished in décor unique to the Southwest region. The tranquil setting consists of four adobe buildings situated on more than an acre of land that backs up to 95 thousand acres of Taos Pueblo land. The original adobe structure onsite dates back to 1804. Taos Mountain, considered sacred by the Pueblo Indians, provides the stunning backdrop to the Hacienda's intimate central garden.

I was a little worried that we might not be conveniently located to the downtown area, but we were just a short drive away, and there was a great casual pizza place, Taos Pizza Out Back, practically across the street where we ate one night.

Yes, you can find romance here, a respite from the grind in an artistic setting that will inspire you. Our room featured a bath with hand-painted Mexican Talavera sinks and tiles, but what set it apart was the artistic expression found in the layout of the tile. Blue flying bird tiles in the shower were grouped to instantly bring to mind a real flock of birds. A detail I will not soon forget. There were also some Native American artifacts displayed in the room giving historical relevance to our stay and made us feel not as if you were being “lodged,” but as if we were actually staying at a friend’s house. Owners Gerd and Luellen Hertel have done a wonderful job.

Other amenities that we unfortunately did not get to partake in include complimentary state-of-the-art health club privileges with tennis and racquetball courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, yoga, and aerobic classes. WI-FI is currently available throughout the Inn. Because of our busy schedule we did not get to enjoy the sumptuous breakfast that comes with your stay. But I know we’ll be back soon, it was too lovely there not to return.
While the Inn has been highly lauded by USA Today and Sunset Magazine, such high accolades are only dressing once you’ve spent just one night here, and your own remonstrations will be what passes the word along. Enjoy--

Rafting the Racecourse

2009-07-09T18:05:00.015-05:00

We knew it was going to be fun, but I didn't realize just how much fun we'd have floating "The Racecourse" on the Rio Grande. I was so excited I got us there an hour early. I thought I'd never hear the end of it but, Mitch was very gracious about waiting at the Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center on Hwy 68 in Pilar, New Mexico, just a short drive south of Taos.

I've always thought of the Rio Grande as a slow, meandering river, but at this point in its location it is fast, and occasionally furious. The river originates as melting snow high in the Rocky Mountains, and through thousands of years, the raging spring floods have carved a deep, remote and beautiful canyon across the Taos Mesa, which in 1968 was designated by Congress the nation’s first Wild and Scenic River. Our guides with Los Rios River Runners were experienced, informative and kept the class III float exciting, but at the same time, instilling a sense of safety in us during our downstream journey.

We received lots of instruction, and our life vests were checked for tightness by the main guide. Then when we again instructed specifically on rowing techniques and safety by our raft guide, Brian. We were also instructed on what to do, should the raft overturn, which did not happen. Mitch and I had opted to wear shorts, not bathing suites, and while we got soaked, I think this was the best option for us.

We chose the half-day trip on "The Racecourse," which proved to be exhilarating and challenging. I don't think I would have wanted to step up any higher than a Class III float. Los Rios River Runners also offer full day floats and overnight camping floats with meals provided.

After we landed down stream we were provided a snack while the crew loaded the rafts back on the trailer before taking us back up to Pilar. Tortillas and salsa never tasted so good!--Ruth Mitchell

Hotel La Fonda de Taos

2009-07-06T21:06:00.008-05:00

We spent a delightful night at Hotel La Fonda de Taos, located right on the square in Taos. With over a century of colorful history it is the only hotel on the plaza. I selected it because of the famous art collection which the hotel is known for. It has also been a popular gathering spot in recent decades for writers, artists and film celebrities such as , Judy Garland, Georgia O’Keefe, Tennessee Williams, Robert DeNiro, Dennis Weaver, Dennis Hopper Peter Fonda, Julia Roberts, and numerous others. But even much earlier it was a place for artists to gather.

Back in 1898, two young artists, Ernest Blumenschein and Bert Phillips, broke their wagon wheel just north of Taos on their way to Mexico. “Blumy” road into town on horseback with the broken wheel. He was so inspired by Taos that he ended up staying. The two artists founded the Taos Society of Artists.

Where did they hang out? The Hotel La Fonda de Taos of course, and many of their paintings ended up on the walls. Thus began the tradition of the hotel as an art center, a tradition that continues today with the Gallery La Fonda located in the hotel lobby. A later owner, Saki Karavas, a serious art collector, kept the tradition of the La Fonda as a center for the arts. Karavas was also a big fan of D.H. Lawrence and owned several first editions of his literary works. When Frieda Lawrence died in August of 1956 her estate, which included the Lawrence “Forbidden Art” paintings, passed on to her then husband Angelino Ravagli. Later that same year Angelino sold them to Saki .

Our room was true to the pueblo revival style with modern amenities. We had a truly authentic Taos experience!--Ruth Mitchell

Two for Taos

2009-07-06T18:10:00.009-05:00

We've been having so much fun, its hard to keep up the blogging, but better late than never. After leaving the arts mecca of Santa Fe, we headed north to Taos, where we spent two nights at two very special Inns. I will write them up separately as they both deserve a focus in themselves. Taos has its own flavor. There are many, many galleries and stores, but the scene is somewhat more laid back if that is possible. The store keepers were very clever and diverse in their presentation, and while the square is not as lovely as it could be--too much concrete, too little green--the surrounding nooks and crannies of the town were filled with flowers, outdoor dining and delightful music.

We ran into a group, called "The Missing Parts" and pulled up a curb to listen awhile. I had to buy one of their CDs of course. It says on their website they are "an acoustic, instrumental trio from Tucson, Arizona. They play all original music inspired by Balkan, Russian, Klezmer, Flamenco, Tango, Classical, Heavy Metal, Southwestern, and Spaghetti Western melodies and rhythms. On the afternoon that we were blessed with a free concert they also had a young man play a creatively enhanced scrub board and and a fiddler. But here is what I know about the trio, thanks to their website.

Douglas Francisco, a native of East Tennessee, has musical roots in both Blues and Heavy Metal. He plays a the dobro, also called the lap steel or slide guitar, usually in an open D minor tuning. His original style is entirely self taught.

Brian Hullfish (the cellist) hails from the dirty part of Eastern New York. His musical roots run deep into American and Irish folk music. He plays with his eyes closed, like he’s singing, and if you are lucky, you might catch him grinning insanely when it’s sounding good.

Paul Wright, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, plays an original, intensely percussive style of acoustic guitar inspired by Flamenco, Tango, Balkan, Russian, Indian, and Heavy Metal chord progressions and rhythms.

The bottom line is we have been listening to the instrumentally eclectic music all through the Rockies..."Rocky Mountain High."--Ruth Mitchell

Pecos Pueblos

2009-07-04T23:32:00.005-05:00

Just before we arrived in Santa Fe, we took a little detour to the Pecos National Landmark. Mitch took this really nice shot of a bunker like habitat, that I refused to climb down into. (There were signs all over the places that said to watch out for rattlesnakes.)

As this blog entry is a few days delayed, I have forgotten where I got the following information, but it was so nicely presented, I am cutting and pasting it exactly as I found it in my notes. My apologies to the author for not giving attribution.

At midpoint in a passage through the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the ruins of a Pecos pueblo and Spanish mission share a small ridge. Long before Spaniards arrived this village commanded the trade path between Pueblo farmers of the Rio Grande and tribes who hunted the buffalo plains. Its 2,000 residents could marshal 500 fighting men. Its frontier location brought both war and trade. At trade fairs Plains tribes—mostly nomadic Apaches—brought slaves, buffalo hides, flint, and shells to trade for pottery, crops, textiles, and turquoise with the river Pueblos. Pecos Indians were middlemen, traders and consumers of the goods and cultures of the very different peo¬ple on either side of the mountains. They became economically powerful and practiced in the arts and customs of two worlds.

Pecos Indians remained Puebloan in culture—despite cultural blendings—practicing an ancient agricultural tradition borne north from Mexico by the seeds of sacred corn. By the late Pueblo period, the last few centuries before the Spaniards arrived in the Southwest, people in this valley had congregated in multi-storied towns overlooking the streams and fields that nourished their crops. In the 1400s these groups gathered into Pecos pueblo, which became a regional power.

A Spanish conquistador described the pueblo in 1584 set on a “high and narrow hill, enclosed on both sides by two streams and many trees.” The hill was cleared of trees. “It has the greatest and best buildings of these provinces and is most thickly settled.” The people had “quantities of maize, cotton, beans, and squash,” and the pueblo was “enclosed and protected by a wall and large houses, and by tiers of walkways which look out on the countryside. On these they keep their offensive and defensive arms: bows, arrows, shields, spears, and war clubs.” Like other Pueblo groups the Pecos enjoyed a rich culture with inventive architecture and beautiful crafts. Their elaborate religious life, evidenced by many ceremonial kivas, reached out to the nurturing spirits of all things, animate and inanimate.

Fine-tuned adjustments to their natural and cultivated world rested on practical science infused with spirituality. By story and dance tradition-bearers conveyed the knowledge and wisdom of centuries past. Individual, family, and social life were regulated via a religion binding all things together and holding balance, harmony, and fitness as the highest ideals. But ideals did not always prevail. Warfare between Pueblo groups was common. The frontier people of Pecos had to be vigilant with nomadic Plains Indians, whose intent—trade or war?—could be unpredictable. Neighboring pueblos saw the Pecos as dominant. The Spaniards soon learned that the Pecos could be determined enemies or powerful allies.
Before the Spaniards
First to settle here were pre-pueblo people who lived in pithouses along drainage's about 800. Around 1100, the first Puebloans began building their rock-and-mud villages in the valley. Two dozen villages rose here over the next two centuries, including one where Pecos pueblo stands today. Sometime in the 14th century the settlement patterns changed dramatically. Within one generation small villages were abandoned and Pecos pueblo grew larger. By 1450 it had become a well planned frontier fortress five stories high with a population of over 2,000.
Land and Life
The land around the pueblo was a storehouse of natural products the Pecos knew intimately. They used virtually every plant for food, clothing, shelter, or medicine and turned every part of the game they hunted into something useful.
Farming supplied most of their diet. The staple crops were the usual trio of corn, beans, and squash cultivated along Glorieta Creek and the area's many drainage's. Water was as important to the Pecos as to us. They built check dams to slow the runoff of rain and grew their crops where topsoil collected. Yields were apparently considerable. In 1541 Coronado found the Pueblo storerooms piled high with corn, a three-year supply by one estimate.
Trade
Location, power, and the ability to supply needed goods made Pecos a major trade center on the eastern flank of the Puebloan world. Pecos Indians bartered crops, clothing, and pottery with the Apaches and later the Spaniards and Comanche's for buffalo products, alibates flint for cutting tools, and slaves. These Plains goods were in turn swapped west to other pueblos for pottery, parrot feathers, turquoise, and other items. Trading could go quickly or take weeks. Rings left by tipi's set up for long spells of bartering are still visible in the area. Uneasy relationships between Pueblos and the Plains tribes made hostilities a continual threat. The rock wall circling the pueblo, a relic from trading days, was too low to serve a defensive purpose. It was probably a boundary other tribes were not allowed to cross.

Santa Fe A Second Time

2009-06-29T22:09:00.007-05:00

Last year about this same time, I had the good fortune to visit Santa Fe, New Mexico. Now on another trip out West this year, we also spent a rain spitting afternoon that mellowed into sunshine in this beautiful historic town. The town was packed, and parking was a nightmare, but fortunately, being Sunday we were able to park in the government buildings parking lot. Shopping and art viewing in Santa Fe are just primo, with more than 200 galleries and over a dozen museums.

The region's rich heritage includes the influence of New Mexico's rich Spanish Colonial heritage and Native American arts are also deeply rooted in the region's history. Artists from the pueblos and tribes of New Mexico produce highly prized works that reflect their ancestor's traditions, but there is also a flourishing contemporary art scene.

One of my favorite things to do is to cruise the promenade at the Palace of the Governors (ca 1600) where the Native Americans display their jewelry wares.

This summer's events include:

*The July Spanish Market celebrates traditional handcrafted works by 250 Hispanic artists. The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market brings more than 100 folk artists from 40 countries to the world's largest market of its kind, also in July.

* The prestigious Santa Fe Indian Market, held every August, is Santa Fe's largest event, with more than 1,200 artists from 100 tribes.

Santa Fe museums include:

Museum of Spanish Colonial Art
The Museum of Spanish Colonial Art is the newest museum on the Santa Fe scene and features objects from throughout the Spanish Colonial world, housed in a historical building designed by John Gaw Meem. Converging Streams: Art of the Hispanic and Native American Southwest exhibition opening events are from Noon to 4PM Saturday June 20. Arts Alive! all-age hands-on art making on selected Wednesdays. www.spanishcolonial.org

Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
At the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, encounter Native cultures and artifacts of the Southwest from ancestral to contemporary, in exhibits drawing from more than 70,000 works of art and material culture. New exhibitions in 2009 include Native American Picture Books of Change and A River Apart. For a complete listing of events please visit http://www.indianartsandculture.org/calendar

Museum of International Folk Art
To experience the color and excitement of the world's cultures, go to the Museum of International Folk Art and see an unparalleled collection that includes toys, textiles, household goods and religious art. New exhibitions in 2009 include Dancing Shadows, Epic Tales: Wayang Kulit of Indonesia and Writing With Thread: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities. Find out more on line www.internationalfolkart.org
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Cadillac Ranch Then and Now

2009-06-28T22:40:00.006-05:00

Amarillo—
We marvel at the miles and miles of flatland as we leave Texas. Last night I got to see the Cadillac Ranch along the historic Rte 66. I have been fascinated by this public art work since I first heard about it sometime in my sophomore year of high school, but I’ve never been to Amarillo other than passing through in a snowstorm on my way to a ski weekend.

Conceived and executed by Stanley Marsh II, the helium millionaire who owns the dusty wheat field where it stands, this funky artistic statement was created by Marsh and The Ant Farm, a San Francisco art collective. Back in 1974, they assembled 10 used Cadillacs of a vintage from 1949-1963, a time when some of the campiest designs exhibited garish winged tail fins and buried them halfway leaning at the same angle facing west as the Cheops’ pyramids.

In 1997, encroaching development forced Marsh to move the entire assemblage two miles further West. In my mind the vast flatness of the terrain and the immensity of the field itself, contribute to the statement. Since 1974, visitors have been openly welcomed, and the once sleek lines of the classic cars have nearly become indistinguishable as the sleek Detroit designs succumb to the elements. In fact if it were not for the heavy coats of spray painted graffiti, the cars might have melted into the giant Texas landscape by now. In 2005 the Cadillacs were painted pink in a tribute to breast cancer victims.

We found a few choice shots of the cars, particularly the undersides, where we found both a gargoyle and steerhead skeleton on the same undercarriage.--Ruth Mitchell

Meet Me at "The Clock"

2009-06-25T06:45:00.002-05:00

Everyone in New York City has at one time or another met someone at "the clock" in Grand Central Station. Now when in San Francisco, you can meet at "the clock," in the lobby of the Westin St. Francis, the "Grand Dame" of Union Square, thanks to a $40 million transformation of the historic hotel, which opened in 1904.

The famous Great Magneta Clock, which originally made its debut in the hotel lobby in 1907, has been restored to its rightful position as focal point of the lobby which now boasts a look that is at once historic and new.

Soothing shades of chocolate brown and cream permeate the space, complemented by reproductions of the lobby’s four original beaded globe chandeliers. Plush hexagonal-patterned carpeting reflects the intricacies of the original wood-carved ceiling. Just off of the Main Lobby, the 1906 grand staircase has been restored to showcase the original pink marble stairs.

The Main Lobby also features award-winning chef Michael Mina’s first-ever cocktail lounge, aptly named the Clock Bar. Designed by Rockwell Group, the 1,260 square feet, 55-seat Clock Bar features a warm, elegant environment with a dark palette and luxurious materials including rosewood walls, black burned wood floors, and rich leather banquettes and lounge chairs in blue and chocolate brown. The central focus of the space is two columns clad entirely in hand blown champagne and amber colored glass with ticker clocks showing the time in cities around the world. Complementing the traditional aesthetic of the adjacent Main Lobby, the bar is adorned with a reproduction of the original ceiling molding.

History aficionados will take delight in the fact the history of The Westin St. Francis is now being showcased in six brand new museum-quality display cases designed by Bill White, curator for San Francisco’s de Young Museum. On display for public viewing in the Tower Lobby, each chronological case is filled with historic treasures such as photos, menus, china, guest ledgers, and much more.

Approximately $12 million was invested in the transformation of the 614 guestrooms and common areas in the Main Building. Led by San Francisco-based Kevin Joyce Design, guestrooms bridge the world between the old and new with a fresh sophistication complementing the classically beautiful 1906 architecture. Subtle textures and a neutral color palette of ecru, bronze and dark brown tones blend with the traditional curved high ceilings, ornate moldings and crystal chandeliers. Guestrooms boast custom-designed classic dark wood furniture topped with gold and silver granite, luxurious bronze-patterned carpeting, light-colored wall coverings with a unique “hammered” appearance, velvety chaise lounges, contemporary abstract artwork, signature Westin Heavenly Beds™, 37” flat screen televisions and ergonomic desk chairs. Hallways and common areas have been refreshed with a fusion of present-day and classic San Francisco - contemporary furniture and plush carpeting are juxtaposed with time-honored black and white historical photography of the hotel and San Francisco.

So, say chocolate martinis at 3 then an early dinner?--Ruth Mitchell

More on Alex, Er, Shred Begley Jr

2009-06-24T09:28:00.010-05:00

Well, the San Francisco Air Guitar Championships are almost upon us, they will be held this Friday and Saturday at The Independent in San Francisco. Once again, defending his Title as the San Franciso Bay Area Champion and Number 3 Air Guitar master in the world is my son-in-law, Alex Koll aka "AWESOME" Mr. Shred Begley Jr. Take a look at the video.

KTVU interviews Alex in his full costume and leads off the segment by mentioning he is a "mild-mannered married man" by day, and show him in very clean-cut mode with a beautiful wedding shot of he and my daughter Erin. He is so effective in his role as Shred Begley Jr., that if I didn't know it was Alex, an immensely talented comic, film editor, and producer, I would think they might have picked up a local character off the street to perform.

Aside from the Air Guitar Nationals this weekend, Alex has a busy summer ahead. He has a headliner position at the Purple Onion in San Francisco coming up. The Purple Onion is where many great comedians got their start including the Smothers Brothers.

The television interview of Alex's alter ego (Shred Begley Jr. even has his own myspace page) takes place in Alex's office and includes Tullie, our grand dog. We wish Alex all the luck in the world, and do hope he doesn't literally "break a leg" during his athletic Air Guitar performance.

You can read more about Alex's career at alexkoll.com.--Ruth Mitchell

'Tis the Season for Travel

2009-06-22T10:16:00.005-05:00

Corbusier Villa Stairwell, Poissy, France - George Wittenberg

Art is in the fabric of our lives, and when we head out to Santa Fe and Taos next week, you can bet we'll pack in as much art as we can finagle. (What a great word!) Something you might find handy is ArtForum's extensive search and find arts calendar, as you plan your upcoming trip.--Ruth Mitchell

The Internet Never Ceases to Amaze Me

2009-06-20T07:59:00.008-05:00

You know, I can still remember when an Internet specialist came to my place of work in the '90s, and was explaining the benefits of the Internet and how it was going to change how we live and work. Back then there wasn't much on the Internet except how to build a bomb, or some other really renegade stuff. Now I use the World Wide Web blithely to shop or look up anything I want. Wikipedia is especially helpful to me on a daily basis.

When blogging first came on the scene I mocked its necessity, and didn't see the value. Now it has revolutionized journalism, and I am joyous over some of the positive changes, but of course there is always drawbacks to everything. Like how much misinformation does get out there as well.

Another shocker has been social networking. I thought of it as even more vanity press, but this morning I had a revelation. It seems that people will often write some of their deepest thoughts and share them openly on a social network where you could talk to them for hours, and never get quite a depth of conversation.

Just like blogging that is now an important part of our website, Facebook is now an element in our corporate fabric. It is not only a great way to stay updated with the activities of our artists as well. I am awed this morning at the diverse and complicated mixture of "friends" I now have. There is Lorraine Benini, who is not only a great supporter of her husband's art, but a wonderful promoter of all artists. I just found out she knows movie great James Earl Jones

There is Alex Koll, an up and coming comic. He will be part of the Montreal Comedy Fest this summer and is also soon to headline at the famed Purple Onion in San Francisco. We're pulling for him to defend his title as Mr. Air Guitar of San Franciso as well.

There is a young woman I know, who shared her gratitude for her children and wonderful husband. And there is a whole generation of nieces and nephews who are staying in touch, across the width of the nation, and I get to be a part of that.

While there are issues to contend with, we can use the Internet for good. And I hope you too are enjoying the benefits of such a widespread form of communication. We hope you are participating in Creative Consumerism™ and we'd like to assist you in any way we can.--Ruth Mitchell

Above: "Extreme Flowers" - Digital Painting by Pavel Rehurek

Mysterious Silver Cuff Bracelets

2009-06-19T10:39:00.005-05:00

A number of years ago, my daughter, who worked in the jewelry business at the time, gave me two very attractive, yet simple silver cuff bracelets. In the warm summer months when my wrists are not covered with sleeves, I almost always have them on. Over the years I have had so many women come up to me and ask me where I got those bracelets. Yesterday at the grocery store, a woman, who was quite busy checking out people stopped me cold and asked me where I got my bracelets. I told her my daughter gave them to me, laughed and shrugged my shoulders and told her to try the Internet. I didn't even get her name.

Duh, I sell jewelry right? It really bothered me that I hadn't been able to help her, so when I got home, I searched to find some similar silver cuff bracelets I could sell to all those women who admired mine. While I didn't come up with exactly the same bracelets, I found several that I really like. I think you'll like them too.--Ruth Mitchell

National Endowment for the Arts Releases Surprising Data on Art Participation

2009-06-16T12:58:00.005-05:00

In the June 15th release of a report by the National Endowment for the Arts revealing the results of a 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, there are some interesting patterns, which emerged.

The disappointing news of the report is that American audiences for the arts are getting older, and their numbers are declining. This means we are not reaching, nor are we educating, our children with the life-enhancing experience of the visual and performing arts.

Although the 2008 recession likely affected survey responses, there are persistent patterns of decline in participation for most art forms. Nearly 35 percent of U.S. adults – or an estimated 78 million – attended an art museum or an arts performance in the 2008 survey period, compared with about 40 percent in 1982, 1992, and 2002.

According the to NEA's recent report:

Attendance at the most popular types of arts events – such as art museums and craft/visual arts festivals – saw notable declines. The U.S. rate of attendance for art museums fell from a high of 26 percent in 1992-2002 to 23 percent in 2008, comparable to the 1982 level.

Between 1982 and 2008, attendance at performing arts such as classical music, jazz, opera, ballet, musical theater, and dramatic plays has seen double-digit rates of decline. Audiences for jazz and classical music are substantially older than before. In 1982, jazz concerts drew the youngest adult audience (median age 29). In the 2008 survey, the median age of jazz concert-goers was 46 – a 17-year increase. Since 1982, young adult (18-24) attendance rates for jazz and classical music have declined the most, compared with other art forms.

Forty-five to 54-year-olds – historically dependable arts participants – showed the steepest declines in attendance for most art events, compared with other age groups.

Educated Americans, the most likely group to attend or participate in the arts are participating less than before. College-educated audiences (including those with advanced degrees and certifications), have curbed their attendance in nearly all art forms. Ballet attendance for this group has declined at the sharpest rate – down 43 percent since 1982.

While these numbers are disturbing, there is an interesting uplift in art interest via the Internet and mass media. It is no surprise to hear that nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults went online for any purpose in 2008 survey, and of those adults, nearly 40 percent used the Internet to view, listen to, download, or post artworks or performances.

Thirty percent of adults who use the Internet, download, watch, or listen to music, theater, or dance performances online at least once a week. More than 20 percent of Internet-using adults view paintings, sculpture, or photography at least once a week.

And while this is good news, it is still disturbing to garner from the NEA's report that more Americans view or listen to broadcasts and recordings of arts events than attend them live (live theater being the sole exception). Classical and Latin or salsa music were the most popular music categories (with 40 and 33.5 million viewers/listeners, respectively), and 33.7 million adults reported listening to, or viewing programs or recordings about books/writers. The same number (33.7 million) enjoyed broadcasts or recordings about the visual arts.

If you would like to download the full report, click this link.

Kaws Captivates

2009-06-15T15:12:00.005-05:00

Artists, including the great Masters, have been using icons for centuries to visually bridge the gap of language and create instant mental shortcuts. Religious symbols, fruit and the naked female body, to name a few, have long been used by artists to convey meaning. Now we have Kaws, aka Brian Donnelly, a young and very successful Brooklyn artist who has the attention of the up and coming generation in a way that predecessors such as Peter Max and Andy Warhol did with visually stimulating pop icons. His work--punctuated with familiar territory such as Mickey Mouse, the Smurfs, the Michelin Man and The Simpsons, who of us after all hasn't been captivated by puffy characters sometime in our lives--is very popular with the Japanese, and at one glance you can understand why, though it might be somewhat more difficult to articulate.

Add to that his notorious start as a graffiti artist, and his involvement with mass produced vinyl figures and you have a recipe for a massive following of young at heart, and heavy of pocket book. He is also adept at self promotion, a recent public exhibit included rows of sculptures of his own head bearing his own iconic ball cap in bright colors. Have you felt the Kaws yet? See more of his work here. Enjoy--Ruth Mitchell

Early Rise 2008 Acrylic on canvas 40 x 40 available at Gering & López Gallery 730 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY

Artist Ildikó Kalapács Featured in The Pacific Northwest Inlander

2009-06-09T08:00:00.005-05:00

Hungarian born artist Ildikó Kalapács was recently written up in The Pacific Northwest Inlander by writer Ann Colford. Ildikó has a new show going (see details here) Below are some excerpts from that article.

Ildikó Kalapács laughs easily and often, and when she laughs, the joy-filled sound bursts forth, breaking open and inviting you to join in. Her home studio is filled with light, and her work is striking for its bright and vibrant colors.

But the layers below the sunny surface are more complex.

Kalapács (say “kahl-uh-PAHSH”) grew up in Hungary, in the mid-sized city of Szeged, during the 1960s and 1970s, when the country was under the influence of the Soviet Union....
Not surprisingly, her work explores identity — both cultural and personal — and the layers of memory, experience and storytelling that we use to forge an identity. She opens “Domestic Patterns,” a solo exhibition of sculptures and paintings, this week at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery. The human body figures prominently in her work, and each piece — whether two-dimensional or three — is built of layers and patterns.

The sculptures are the heads of women — real women, Spokane women — created life-size from clay as the models sat for her. Each gray or beige head is adorned with medallions and ribbons from Hungarian folk culture: some ribbons are embroidered in rich blues and reds, some are jewel-toned satins emblazoned with words and even poems. The faces are intimate and individual, yet their eyes are closed — they invite contemplation, not communication. Resting on their sides or backs, the heads look vulnerable, even tragic perhaps. The colorful ribbons may be full of life, but the faces are definitely in repose. Kalapács likens the heads to recovered bits of sculpture from antiquity...

Kalapács selected 14 women to be models for the heads, and she chose women who would be open to sitting for an hour-plus while she studied their faces in intimate detail. “These are my friends, very dynamic women,” she says. “I tried to select women who are very progressive, like I am, and also who’d feel comfortable sitting there for me, because sometimes I’d get up in their face.”

The models range in age from 23 to 59, ... the past is right there, etched in laugh lines, worry wrinkles, sun damage and the distinctive characteristics of genetics.

“I have a different concept of beauty,” she says. “I like strong women — I mean, physically strong women. Or [faces with] quirky characteristics. Even in ugliness, I see some beauty.”

The 14 heads rest in the center of the gallery; surrounding them, 14 paintings hang on the gallery walls. Each painting has layers of images, integrating bold, primary colors, decorative patterns, words — in English, Hungarian, Russian and Japanese — and the human body, whether in paint or in formal photographic portraits.

The colors and patterns stem from Kalapács’ deepest memories, from growing up in Hungary during the Soviet era, living in gray, seemingly featureless concrete-block apartment towers that Kalapács playfully calls “the rabbit holes.” Amid the bleak sameness and conformity, people sought out splashes of color — in gardens, in cut flowers, and in the intricately embroidered ribbons and dresses of traditional Hungarian folk dancers.

“When I grew up, even if you didn’t have money, you bought some cut flowers with your last pennies, because it brought some brightness in your life,” she says. “The flowers would be on your kitchen table, and you look at it, and you feel good.”

“[The heads] are physical fragments, and [the paintings] are cultural fragments,” she reflects. “Visually, the sculptures and paintings are opposite, but they’re two parts of me.”

“Domestic Patterns” by Ildikó Kalapács will be on display at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St., from June 5-26. Gallery hours: Thursdays-Fridays from 11 am-5:30 pm; Saturdays from 11 am-4 pm. Opening reception: Friday, June 5, from 5-9 pm. Call 462-5633.

See full article here:

Source URL: http://www.inlander.com/content/arts_culture_ildik%C3%B3_kalap%C3%A1cs_kolva_sullivan_gallery

Andrew Jackson Pollack Checks In

2009-06-08T10:13:00.002-05:00

Just a quick update. Things are beginning to get hot here in New Orleans. As gallery and other orders are slowing down - we are keeping busy with the start of our yearly Glass Camp program at the New Orleans School of Glassworks. This is for 10-17 year olds, and is a lot of fun. We will be making lots of beads and animals and other small glass items all summer long. Along with the print and metal department, we are hoping for a fun and creative summer. We are still looking for donations of soft glass scraps and old tools and such, as well. Please call the school at 504-529-7279 to register or for more information.

For the rest of the summer the family is going camping for a week then to Atlanta for Tiffany's and my engagement party. Next March is getting closer and closer!

Also, I am still on the lookout for empty wine and vodka bottles with funky shapes, colors, or labels. New Orleans is still lacking a glass recycling program - other than Tulane University's Glass Studio and myself. Not good!--Andy

"Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

2009-06-02T08:45:00.017-05:00

I've always loved the work of Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin. As a post-impressionist artist he sought to distinguish his work from the popular art movement of his predecessors, but an examination of his life experiences also reveals much about the direction his work took. For instance, as a child he lived several years in Peru. This culture was to greatly influence his art and his later life decisions.

One of his most famous works (pictured above ) is titled, "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? It is a complex composition painted while he was living in Tahiti where he went to live after leaving his Danish wife and five children behind in Coppenhagen. His works of that period are filled with exotic portrayals of the native population characterized by exaggerated body proportions, animal totems, geometric designs and stark contrasts as well as
quasi-religious symbolism. The cultural elite of Europe were enthralled with the images of raw scenes from faraway places, and this style of art became known as Primitivism.

Art historian and critic Sister Wendy Beckett describes the work like this:

"This is Gauguin's ultimate masterpiece - if all the Gauguins in the world, except one, were to be evaporated (perish the thought!), this would be the one to preserve. He claimed that he did not think of the long title until the work was finished, but he is known to have been creative with the truth. The picture is so superbly organized into three "scoops" - a circle to right and to left, and a great oval in the center - that I cannot but believe he had his questions in mind from the start. I am often tempted to forget that these are questions, and to think that he is suggesting answers, but there are no answers here; there are three fundamental questions, posed visually.

"On the right (Where do we come from?), we see the baby, and three young women - those who are closest to that eternal mystery. In the center, Gauguin meditates on what we are. Here are two women, talking about destiny (or so he described them), a man looking puzzled and half-aggressive, and in the middle, a youth plucking the fruit of experience. This has nothing to do, I feel sure, with the Garden of Eden; it is humanity's innocent and natural desire to live and to search for more life. A child eats the fruit, overlooked by the remote presence of an idol - emblem of our need for the spiritual. There are women (one mysteriously curled up into a shell), and there are animals with whom we share the world: a goat, a cat, and kittens. In the final section (Where are we going?), a beautiful young woman broods, and an old woman prepares to die. Her pallor and gray hair tell us so, but the message is underscored by the presence of a strange white bird. I once described it as "a mutated puffin," and I do not think I can do better. It is Gauguin's symbol of the afterlife, of the unknown (just as the dog, on the far right, is his symbol of himself).

I cannot but wonder why the artist used the dog as a symbol of himself, but I love that he did, interjecting himself in this form, in more than one of his works. I also would have loved to have been a fly on the wall on the day that Gauguin's fellow artist Vincent Van Gogh lost the lobe from his left ear. Some historians think that the ear was actually sliced off by Gauguin with his epee, during an argument between the two. Others contribute Van Gogh's mutilation to a seizure.--Ruth Mitchell

Setting Sail to Sydney

2009-05-28T07:39:00.007-05:00

Photo by Mondayne, courtesy Flickr

If I ever get to Australia, and I'm pretty sure I will, the first place I'd like to see is the Sydney Opera House. It just might be one of the most innovative architectural structures built in my lifetime. Indeed, Danish architect Jørn Utzon, was awarded the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honor, in 2003 for his work on this magnificent building.

Now, a new form of art is enhancing the iconic structure located on Bennelong Point in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, a structure built in three stages beginning in 1959 and ending in 1973. The building itself has become a canvas for the artwork of music producer Brian Eno as part of a sound and light festival in the city. Eno's "77 Million Paintings" has also been shown at the Venice Biennale and the Milan Triennale, as well as in Tokyo, London and San Francisco,

Educated in fine arts, Brian Eno became known in the 1970s with his band Roxy Music which he co-founded with Brian Ferry. He has since produced records for Talking Heads, Ultravox, U2 and Coldplay.

The Sydney Opera house is being illuminated by his audio-visual work which uses "self-generating software" to manipulate 300 of Eno's drawings. He says the display is designed to provoke "visual ecstasy" and "heightened calm." With a canvas like the Opera House, I know it has to be spectacular.

Sydney Opera House chief executive Richard Evans said giving permission to project the work onto the sails was "not done lightly." He was quoted by BBC news as saying. "We're not coloring the opera house, we're actually kind of taking the art of the opera house and raising it to a different level."

The show lasts until June 14th. Now would be a good time to go to Sydney.--Ruth Mitchell

Go Ahead Click the Button

2009-05-22T12:51:00.004-05:00

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Recently our favorite trend setting stock market guru, Warren Buffet, announced newspapers were going the way of dinosaurs and would no longer be a viable investment. Anyone in publishing has known this for quite some time and I’m pretty sure Buffett has too, but it gives us a chance to explore the phenomenon we are now faced with as we all begin to adapt to building our own reliable newspapers with our favorite news sources through RSS feeds. No longer do we depend on a responsible neighborhood youth to deliver our news to our doorstep. Even our favorite local television station now refers us to their website for the latest detailed information. Information doesn’t have the luxury of downtime while it is produced and this can lead to uncured or inaccurate information to make its way more readily into our living rooms and our minds. The good news is that electronic publishing can be edited with the click of a button as well, so it is important to build some consistency to our consumption of information.

And part of our newspaper has always been the features: our favorite columnist, the arts and culture sections, sports and society. A well rounded newspaper has features to it. It even has advertisements, and while sometimes we view this as a necessary evil, it is the ads which can direct us to that sale so we can get that pair of shoes for half price, we’ve been eying.

And while the news is important to keep up with, what we find of interest, what we collect and, how we spend our leisure time says so much about us.

We invite you to click on the big orange button now, and let us become a regular part of your life. Go ahead, you know you want to do it.—Ruth Mitchell

Art Deco Delight

2009-05-19T18:59:00.017-05:00

Our friends at the historic New Yorker Hotel in Midtown Manhattan inform us the 43-story Art Deco classic has undergone a comprehensive, $70 million restoration. The hotel, designed by the architectural firm of Sugarman and Berger opened its doors on January 2, 1930, the same year the Chrysler Building opened and just one year before the Empire State building, both Art Deco designs.

The Art Deco movement was a popular international art design movement from 1925 until 1939. Based on mathematical geometric shapes, the art movement was widely considered to be an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism, influencing the decorative arts such as architecture, interior design, industrial design and the visual arts. Ironically, the movement was also influenced by a variety of primitive cultures including Africa, Aztec Mexico and ancient Egypt.

When the New Yorker first opened its doors on Jan. 2, 1930, it was the largest hotel in Manhattan with 2,500 rooms. In addition to the ballrooms there were ten private dining "salons" and five restaurants employing 35 chefs. The barber shop was one of the largest in the world with 42 chairs and 20 manicurists. There were 92 telephone operators and 150 laundry staff washing as many as 350,000 pieces daily.

The New Yorker Hotel quickly gained popularity by playing host to “Big Bands” of the classic era and became the hotel of choice for many of society’s rich, famous and powerful leaders including Spencer Tracy, Joan Crawford and even Fidel Castro. The inventor Nikola Tesla spent the last ten years of his life in near-seclusion in Suite 3327 (where he also died).

Today, the New Yorker Hotel, located at the corner of 8th Ave and 34th Street, features spectacular panoramic views of midtown Manhattan from its 39th floor dining lounge. Diners get a sweeping view of landmarks such as the Chrysler Building to the north, the Empire State Building and One Penn Plaza, due east, and lower Manhattan, due south. This magnificent hotel will celebrate its 80th birthday next year.--Ruth Mitchell

Introducing Joanne Monks

2009-05-13T08:04:00.004-05:00

The colored pencil as an artistic tool is getting much more attention these days. Now available are non fading pencils such as pastel pencils, wax pencils, charcoal, graphite, color, oil and others. With a background in architectural drafting, artist Joanne Monks is a natural for this medium and we are pleased to showcase her beautifully detailed work on buyoutsidethebox.com.

A long-time resident of California, Monks has lived in Sonoma County since 1993, and is an exhibitor in ARTTrails, a program of the Arts Council of Sonoma County. The annual event, now in its 23rd year, is Sonoma County's largest and most visible arts event.

We invite you to explore Joanne's work now!--Ruth Mitchell

What is Your Non-Traditional Wedding Story?

2009-05-05T14:17:00.006-05:00

June is almost upon us, and there are lots of brides, grooms and mother-of-the-brides scurrying around to make the wedding of a lifetime come to fruition. There is a great interest in making the wedding individualized to each couple's visualization and that means there will be more non-traditional weddings than ever before. Many of our customers purchase something from buyoutsidethebox.com for a unique wedding present, and we are proud of our role in being a non-conformist gift registry for brides and grooms everywhere. On each purchase page of an item you have the ability to add that item to your wish list. In this way you can use buyoutsidethebox.com as a gift registry.

And now that we have a social networking capability, we hope you will sign onto our social network and tell us about your wedding, your dreams, your hopes and your desire for your perfect wedding day. Tell us you story of your non-traditional wedding. It makes for interesting reading, but it also gives other people ideas for making their wedding day memorable. Click on the items pictured for more details. Or check out these links: hand-blown bottle stoppers, saki sets, kitchen gizmos and art. Remember there are no shipping costs at buyoutsidethebox.com. Enjoy and let us hear from you.--Ruth Mitchell

Complex Logos Convey Hidden Meanings

2009-05-02T13:55:00.001-05:00

We recently came across this interesting article on logo design and thought you might be interested in information about some very clever designs. Some of the logos will be familiar to you, and others you will never have heard of. Enjoy--Ruth Mitchell