Tony Cragg: Seeing Things

Tony Cragg: Seeing Things is a collection of thirty pieces of sculpture at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas. Seeing things, indeed. These hard to miss dramatic pieces of wood, stone, bronze, and more are fantastic. Mr.Cragg's first exhibit was in 1979, and he's still exploring shapes, materials, and concepts - stretching the boundaries of space and form.

Kids would have a blast if they were allowed to crawl through this sculpture. It was tempting.

Mr.Cragg: What I think is important for me is something different: a sculptural quality that doesn't emulate time.....there is some sense of passage, there is a sense of flow, there is an intuition of flow in the sculpture.

and another view. It had been a gray dreary day, but our time at the Nasher was sunny, adding reflections, extending the flow of the piece with shadows.

I love the energy and movement in his pieces. I would not get tired of viewing his work. Indeed, each angle offers a different way of seeing things.

2012: Reflections of 2011

The final issue of Time magazine for 2011 features their choice for Person of the Year. This year it was the protester. I read the articles and admire people who have such conviction that they'll risk life and limb for what they feel is right. I admit to having a very calm middle class upbringing, a Norman Rockwell childhood, and no need to protest. Oh, I complain about mundane stuff, but I've never felt the urge to put myself on the line for justice.

So, the protests of 2011 are not over, and I'm sure some new ones shall arise. I'll watch and read from the sidelines.

On another note from 2011, here are a few quotes from artists and celebrities who passed away:
Amy Winehouse/singer,songwriter - lyrics I tread a troubled track/My odds are stacked/I go back to black
Jack LaLanne/fitness expert - "I can't die. It would ruin my image." He made it to 96.
Sidney Lumet/director - "He knew exactly what he wanted to see, and when he saw it. He didn't question it. He didn't look back through his lens. That was it. That was the shot."
Geraldine Ferraro/politician - "American history is about doors being opened, doors of opportunity for everyone...as long as you're willing to earn it."

Gil Scott-Heron/poet and musician:
You will not have to worry about
a dove in your bedroom, the tiger in your tank
or the giant in your toilet bowl
The revolution will not go better with Coke
The revolution will not fight the germs
that may cause bad breath
The revolution will put you in the driver's seat
The revolution will not be televised

Hello 2012

2012 is the year of more technology. Here's Ray's interpretation of his media room ceiling courtesy of his iPad2 kaleidoscope photoshop program. The Anaheim souvenir rally monkey (only one) hangs from the light fixture. However, with some stylus maneuvering, Ray created art (and gave me permission to use it - yes it's gonna cost me (!))

2011 proved challenging as I published my book on Smashwords and Amazon. I'm very technologically inhibited, but my goal is to keep learning, pushing buttons, and keeping up with social media, publicity, and promotion.

It is a zoo world. But like the tales in my book, I shall conquer my fears, work on my author page, seek outlets for my work, and try to update my website . WordPress, so far, is winning. (Easy to use? I don't think so.)

If it all works, I achieve more booksignings and sales. Another resolution for 2012, is to work on my next collection of humorous essays. I'm a few chapters in and there are plenty of laughs in store.

I wish my fellow writers - Ann, Sharon, Rich, Arly, Bonnie, Sheryl et al TWW - an excellent 2012.

Happy Writing (and publishing) and technology!

Fashion: Jean Paul Gaultier

Way out there exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art - The fashion world of Jean Paul Gaultier. The man had a vision even as a young boy influenced by his grandmother in France, or digging through her drawers and creating a bustier for his teddy bear.

Whether it's futuristic designs for movies like The Fifth Element, or costumes for Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour, Gaultier's designs are unique, eyepopping, and distinctive. The couture aspect is demonstrated with the amount of hours noted to complete a piece. Sequins, feathers, lace, etc. are hand stitched, appliqued, or woven into intricate patterns for his seasonal themes.
I got a kick out of the cammo/wild hunter theme - oh yeah, I could see my husband in those outfits at his deer lease.

The museum exhibit is a fabulous experience. The mannequins' faces are animated - thus they pout, blink, and appear alive. It's disconcerting at times, yet fascinating. Step out of this world and into the future that is now - see Jean Paul Gaultier's exhibit through February 12, 2012.

C'est magnifique!

Book Review: The Marriage Plot

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides won the Pulitzer. Whee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was excited to pluck it from the library stacks. Wow - how could it NOT be on a special list...like you had to make an effort to get it? Well........

I admit I had to skim. Boring......at a lot of chapters. I hated most of his characters - they were self-involved jerks.

Guess I'm just not freakin' literary enough. Sigh.

Here's a paragraph from the jacket: With devastating wit and an abiding understanding of and affection for his characters, Jeffrey Eugenides revives the motivating energies of the Novel, while creating a story so contemporary and fresh that it reads like the intimate journal of our own lives.

I don't think so. Most of the people I know are not dolts like these whiny-ass wieners. The writing is quite good and the general flow of the book is fine. And I understood whatever symbolism existed. Yes, I got the underlying current and the overlying blah-blah. It was all of the stuff in between that did not engage me.

I liked the line on p.136 It was as if the entire city of Paris had agreed to abide by a single understated taste. I could picture what he meant and I liked the understated implication. Good stuff there. There are a lot of rich moments like this as far as description.

However, our "heroine" Madeline is an idiot. Plain and simple, she doesn't make good choices. Maybe that's the point, but it's rather sad. I'd love to hear another person's opinion, besides the Pulitzer Prize committee. Then again, I read awesome reviews, so I'm in the minority.

Go ahead. I dare you to read The Marriage Plot and LOVE it. Please convince me I'm wrong.

Merry Christmas Cards

Lots of Grinches report that Christmas cards are a thing of the past. Too expensive. Too time consuming to prepare. The post office is a dead letter black hole. Well, I say Bah Humbug! Isn't it nice to see a cheery red envelope in your mailbox?

I send out approximately sixty cards. Addressing the cards, I think of the people - friends or family - and reflect on this tradition of best wishes, good cheer, and a hearty hello.

In return, we receive cards, across the miles, filled with notes, news, and a connection.

Here's a homemade card from my cousin Jen. Absolutely delightful!

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Kids are growing up, Rangers were in the World Series (that was a big theme this year in Texas), and a year is chronicled with smiles.

Merry Christmas!

Movie Review: Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

The opening credits of the American version of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo are some of the most original, hottest, best I've seen since James Bond movies. Truly - the howl of a Led Zeppelin tune and the swirl of black is amazing. Trust me. You'll be drawn into this movie. Kudos to David Fincher, the director. I'll start with saying this movie is hard R - do not allow any children near the theater. Violence, sex, adult themes abound. That said - I've read the books (trilogy), seen the Swedish films (excellent with subtitles), and now I give this version a huge thumbs up.

Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is a journalist, currently on the outs due to a scandal. However, he's hired by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to investigate the forty year old murder of his niece, Harriet. The Vanger family is a mess - rich with Nazi history and no family member talks to each other even though they live on the same island. Trust me, there are issues. Martin Vanger (Stellan Skarsgaard) runs the business now and oh, is he twisted. Finally, Lisbeth Salander, our girl with the tattoo, piercings and goth hair (Rooney Mara in a transformational role) is a computer genius with social issues. There's so much more to her story - you have to read the books and see the movie.

The Swedish countryside is cold and forbidding. The search for a murderer is unrelenting. The performances are riveting. Girl With The Dragon Tattoo has many layers and is well filmed, well acted, and just really really good. No, not a happy Christmas family picture. But, if you want to think, feel, and experience a film - this is the one. Read Stieg Larsson's trilogy and see the movies. Quality abounds.