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You can call me SL, this is about living.  |
"Feed Yer Family" combo, Hill Country Barbecue Market Manhattan, NY from my 2012 archive February 29, 2012 Barbecue Tales My absolute junk food downfall is barbecue chips. Not any type of barbecue chips, especially not the mesquite flavor that I find too sweet, but the barbecue flavor of my childhood which is long gone. Other countries have preserved the flavor I long for, I've found the barbecue chips of my childhood in Italy, Sweden, and most recently in Turkey where they're called "Baharat Çesnili." I don't speak, read, or write Turkish but instinct told me what they were and into my shopping basket they went. And shamefully, I asked The Swede to bring me back a bag or two (or three) on his last trip there. The Swede and I found ourselves at a barbecue restaurant for dinner with friends this past weekend. We paired off, splitting the Sunday special, "Feed Yer Family" which included ¼ lb. lean brisket, one pork spare rib, one beef rib, a quarter chicken, two slices of white bread, two sides, and dessert. The meats were smokey, robust, and tender. My favorite was hands down the beef brisket. I fell into the rhythm of placing the brisket onto the meat soaked bread, then dipped it in a swirl of barbecue and hot sauce, followed by forkfuls of collard greens and warm potatoes. Rumored to be the best barbecue in New York City, the food did not disappoint. But clearly I'm not an expert. This was the first time I've had barbecue in over two years. The last time was in the fall of 2009 in Austin, Texas. A colleague and I were riding in the backseat of a taxi and were talking about the great lunch we had earlier in the day at Stubb's. The driver, who hardly seemed to notice he had passengers suddenly interjected, "Excuse me, but if you like Stubb's, then you live a very sheltered barbecue life." archives: Food |
Alexander Wang's spring/summer 2012 campaign video Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive 
Alexander Wang's spring/summer 2012 campaign video Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive 
Alexander Wang's spring/summer 2012 campaign video Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive 
Alexander Wang's spring/summer 2012 campaign video Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive February 24, 2012 See It Move I did something for the first time that isn't considered a great feat when it comes to photography or animation. I didn't capture an African lioness giving birth, and I didn't create the sequel to Finding Nemo, so Pixar won't be calling. But I did do something that gave me great personal satisfaction. I like to think I'm Google savy, so understand my disappointment when I tried to research something and didn't find any information about it. The Swede and I came across this installation next to the Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, and I assumed the installation belonged to that gallery. I didn't look for information posted and didn't bother to ask the guard who was watching over the work. I figured, "I'll just Google it." It turned out the piece didn't belong to that gallery, and Google didn't turn up any results. I wondered how that could be, an outdoor installation in the Chelsea Gallery District and not a single mention on the internet. Then I recalled one of the photos I hadn't selected to share and remembered it had text running across the windshield. I made out Wang. "Hmm, Wang...Wang...does that look like Alexander to you?" The Swede replied, "Could be." Back to Google and again, no results. I persisted and two days later found it. I noticed the text photo was almost identical to a photo I had selected to share. As I toggled back and forth between the two reconsidering my selection, I noticed the animated quality the toggling back and forth created. I told The Swede, "I'm going to make a moving picture." He countered, "You mean an animation?" "No, a moving picture, a picture moving, " The Swede, "What's the difference?" My response, "I don't know, it's just different (in my mind)." archives: Art |
feathered boots Astoria, NY from my 2012 archive February 22, 2012 "After Bill Cunningham" continued... I'm a person who enjoys repetition which often leads me to focus on a series of things. A series allows me to make connections between things over time. Inspired by Bill Cunningham, here I go with a series called "After Bill Cunningham." When you spend a good amount of time on the subway, you will find yourself doing one or all of the following: staring at your phone although you know it won't ring or receive texts because you're underground, staring above people's heads and reading the same advertisements over and over, reading something brought from home, reading something you were handed on your way into the subway, falling asleep, falling asleep on a stranger's shoulder, having a stranger fall asleep on you, holding onto a pole while standing and trying not to think about how many other people have touched the same pole, ignoring the person shouting at someone or shouting at someone not there, holding your breath, or staring at the ground. So this is where I'm at right now, staring at the ground. And inadvertently staring at people's feet. These boots caught me eye, not because I'm fond of them. But they are visually interesting and demonstrate a real commitment to one's wardrobe. If you're going to rock feathers on your feet, you are committed. archives: "After Bill Cunningham", Art |
Emanuel Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware" Manhattan, NY from my 2012 archive 
Emanuel Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware" Manhattan, NY from my 2012 archive 
Gilbert Stuart's "George Washington" Manhattan, NY from my 2012 archive February 20, 2012 Happy President's Day Most people in The United States have today off because it's President's Day. Let's honor the Presidents for allowing everyone to have a day off, thanks George Washington...Thomas Jefferson...Abraham Lincoln...John F. Kennedy...Barack Obama. The Metropolitan Museum of Art recently opened the New American Wing. The undisputed attraction is the painting, "Washington Crossing the Delaware." I must say it is completely impressive. The scale alone is something to get excited about and that gold frame. Who doesn't love a little bling bling and American history combined. It is a painting that commands your attention. The composition, the light, the expressive determination of the people. I have a serious fascination with the images of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and non-president Benjamin Franklin. I find them interesting subjects to draw; Washington with his 18th century coiffure, Lincoln with his deep set eyes, and Franklin who graces the one hundred dollar bill, enough said. The Swede and I visited George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate on a whim a few years ago while on a trip to Washington D.C. The estate was vast and we were able to tour the main mansion, where Washington died, the kitchens, stable, animal paddock, gardens, mill, his tomb, and the slave memorial. We did miss one thing, the teeth, in the museum. Why we skipped the museum and headed straight for the shop, my fault. We had a limited amount of time, and I was on a mission to find a George Washington cross-stitch kit. archives: Art, Miscellaneous |
balloons and The Empire State Building Manhattan, NY from my 2012 archive February 19, 2012 As I stood waiting to cross the street in the Flatiron District, I saw these balloons take off out of the corner of my eye. The sun was starting to set and the wind was picking up. The balloons started to float away, then changed course with the wind, up and down, side to side, a few times over, until they were gone and out of sight. The moment reminded me of a Frank Sinatra song: archives: Miscellaneous |
Damien Hirst's "The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011" Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive 
Damien Hirst's "The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011" Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive 
Damien Hirst's "The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011" Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive |
"The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011" Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive |
"The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011" Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive |
Damien Hirst's "The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011" Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2012 archive February 18, 2012 Dot, Dot, Dot (A facebook status update I posted on my profile January 23) "I just read that if you visit all 11 Gagosian galleries to see Damien Hirst's exhibitions before the shows close in New York (3 locations), Beverly Hills, London (2 locations), Paris, Geneva, Rome, Athens, and Hong Kong, you will receive a signed spot print for free. I wonder how the cost of those trips compare to the value of one of his prints." It is called "The Complete Spot Challenge." What a great idea. I wish I had done it. I'm jealous of those who have. Details remain unknown, the print won't be produced until the challenge is over. The size of the edition will depend how many people complete the challenge. The number of prints will also determine the value of each print. Perhaps Damien HIrst should create a print with 11 spots, one for each location. Perhaps I should receive a print with one dot, I visited one location. I went to the Gagosian on West 24th Street here in New York. I didn't bother with the West 21st Street location. I was cold. Weather will cloud your judgement. archives: Art |
Artist Unknown, Hunter College MFA Thesis Exhibition
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive February 14, 2012 Love is complicated and hard to define, most people can agree on that. Below is what Merriam-Webster has to say on the subject. Sounds complex because it is. Enjoy this day with those that you hold near and dear. Happy Valentine's Day, xoxo.
Definition of LOVE 1 a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates> b : an assurance of affection <give her my love> 2 : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion <love of the sea> 3 a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration <baseball was his first love> b (1) : a beloved person : DARLING —often used as a term of endearment (2) British —used as an informal term of address 4 a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God 5 : a god or personification of love 6 : an amorous episode : LOVE AFFAIR 7 : the sexual embrace : COPULATION Examples of LOVE • Children need unconditional love from their parents. • He was just a lonely man looking for love. Origin of LOVE
German luba love, Old English lēof dear, Latin lubēre, libēre to please First Known Use: before 12th century Related to LOVE
Antonyms: abomination, hate, hatred, loathing, rancor archives: Miscellaneous |
Maurizio Cattelan's "All", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive 
Maurizio Cattelan's "All", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive 
Maurizio Cattelan's "All", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive 
Maurizio Cattelan's "All", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive 
Maurizio Cattelan's "All", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive 
Maurizio Cattelan's "All", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive 
Maurizio Cattelan's "All", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive 
Maurizio Cattelan's "All", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Manhattan, NY from my 2011 archive February 3, 2012 Looking Maurizio Cattelan's show at the Guggenheim is over and so is 2011. Some months seems to linger on and others fly by without notice, and January was cast into the group of the neglected. The Swede mentioned wanting to see Cattelan's show early last fall, but we didn't end up going until a bone chilling "Pay What You Wish" Saturday evening in December. I was the one who was dragging my feet, not that he needed to twist my arm to get me there, but there were other shows in the fall that had higher priority. But then I overheard, "Everything is hung from the ceiling". I typically avoid all forms of reviews, from critics, friends, or otherwise when it comes to exhibitions, movies, and books. No exceptions, not even for "Kung Fu Panda 2" which my six-year-old nephew had seen and began to reiterate once I told him I had not yet seen it. I stopped him and stressed that I didn't want to know what happens. He then proceeded to tell me everything that doesn't happen, "Po doesn't die...He doesn't"... The Swede opens "The New Yorker" each week on its arrival in our mailbox and heads straight for the movie and art reviews. I, on the other hand, read reviews after the fact, not wanting to be subconsciously influenced by someone else's opinion. So, as I walked into the Guggenheim, I had very little expectation. I was greeted by every piece of work Maurizio Cattelan has ever made, minus one whose owner declined to lend the piece, hanging from the Guggenheim's rotunda. I immediately ditched The Swede (who kindly didn't mind being ditched while getting our tickets) and started looking. It was overwhelming, an eye full and a neck full (a reminder I need to exercise and stretch more). We made our way up through the spiral ramps of the museum, stopping every few feet to look. Due to the massive number of works, they quickly began to cancel each other out, which forced me to look harder. I looked up, looked down, looked through, similar to the way one looks back and forth crossing the street, making sure that you haven't missed spotting an oncoming car. I didn't want to miss the details. The Swede and I debated about the meaning of the works and the exhibition as a whole. But that's the thing about art, it's subjective. Everyone sees something different and experiences things in different ways. By the time we made it to the top, my eyes were tired, and I left only remembering those works that really struck me. Just like reflecting on a year past, only those things that impact you follow you into the next year. And just like Cattelan's show, I had to weed out those insignificant events in 2011, big and small, that in the end don't belong in 2012. archives: Art |
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