Time for a Schubertiade

Schubertiade (1868) by Moritz von Schwind

Franz Schubert is my favorite composer. He has influenced me more than any other creative genius, in any of the arts or sciences. No works of art resonate within my mind with the potency of his music.

Why? There are too many reasons to articulate in a coherent and accessible manner, but I think it can be boiled down to two main points: Romanticism and Melody.

Schubert's Romantic style fully embraces the wandering and dark musings of the imagination. However, he maintains Classical tightness and eloquence, avoiding the overblown excesses that weigh down the work of later Romantic composers. For Schubert, all of the passion and inspiration of the Sublime can be articulated, with effectiveness and efficiency, into a tightly structured, highly melodic song

As regards melody, it is through this that the Romantic narrative is expressed. Moreover, these tales of sound and emotion have the narrative purpose at their core, as their premise. Sometimes the story is vague, simply a progression of emotion, and, sometimes, it is direct, programmatic in design. In either case, one can't listen to this music within being drawn into Schubert's narrative mindscape.

Portrait of Franz Schubert (1825) by Wilhelm August Rieder

I could go on endlessly about these two topics, as well as countless other aspects of Schubert's music. However, in celebrating his birth date, born 1797, I think it is only fitting to let his music make its own case.

Hasta La Vista, Baby

Detail from Jody Watley's 1987 self-titled album

When it comes to the R&B dance divas of the '80s or '90s, one of my favorites is Jody Watley. In terms of technique and variation, I'd say that she was the best.

Sadly, she never gained the popularity of her peers, such as Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston. That's a pity, seeing as how she was more experimental in incorporating diverse dance music traditions, from freestyle to New Jack to downbeat. I guess that mix of style might have been the problem, making her music a tougher commodity to market.

Regardless of the lack of long-lasting chart-topping fame, I still regard her as one of the defining voices of R&B dance.

Jody Watley in 1990

Anyways, let's wish Jody a Happy 53rd Birthday!!!

Beavis and Butt-Head Are Not Role Models

Beavis and Butt-Head in Kevin Kirkpatrick's Dill Hole on view at CoproGallery


Don't try this at home. ;-)

I don't normally visit CoproGallery. It's a mighty cool place, but the exhibits generally aren't my thing. So, when visiting Bergamot Station, it's toward the bottom of my "must visit" list. Normally, I run out of energy before getting to it.

While strolling around Bergamot this week, I happened to wander over and decided to have a viewing. There were plenty of fun hardcore "lowbrow" works on display, but my attention was immediately caught by this sculpture of Beavis and Butt-Head by Kevin Kirkpatrick. It takes the express train down into the Uncanny Valley!!!

You almost expect to hear "Fire! Fire!" or "Uhhhh. . . this sucks! Huh huh huh."

2012 Weekly Wrap #3

Detail of Tiny Demons (2011) by Jon Flack, on view at the Torrance Art Museum

Similar to Week #2, this week had a modest rate of production, but good things are in the works. ;-)

The topics were again clustered into Art, with five of the eleven posts. Music had two. And, because of our "long weeks", we double dipped our Friday Flowers. Yeah, I need to slightly up my rate and throw in some variety. With so many interesting topics to consider, it seems a shame to overly focus on just one or two.

However, I'm happy with the overall feel of this blog. Certainly, Paideia can get seriously artsy from time to time, but, in the general outlook, the mix is good. Most importantly, I'm having fun.

Detail of Vase with Dragon (c.1890s) by Adachi Kinjiro

Let's look at the eleven posts.

We had five art posts. Birthday celebrations were given for Jeff Koons and Claes Oldenburg. I attended two Opening Night events, the Torrance Art Museum's "To Live and Paint in LA" and the Norton Simon Museum's "Hans Memling: Portrait of a Man". Finally, I gave an update on my recent activities in regards to the Pacific Standard Time activities.

For music, there were two posts. We had a bittersweet birth date celebration for the recently departed Etta James. Then we threw a Mozart-fest, in celebration of the great composer's birth date.

Two Friday Flowers graced our "week". Rhododendrons were matched with the poetry of Edward Hirsch. Later, the poetic nonsense of Lewis Carroll paired up with some colorful Snapdragons. ;-)

Our one dedicated literature post celebrated the birth date of Edgar Allan Poe with images and videos regarding his poem, "Annabel Lee".

Finally, the Year of the Dragon has begun!!!

And that's the Weekly Wrap.

The art of Jeff Koons on display at the Broad Contemporary at LACMA

Enjoy!!!

Why is a Giant Lipstick on Tank Tracks?

Giant Pool Balls (1967) by Claes Oldenburg

Oh, I used to despise Claes Oldenburg, as I would see his Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks on a near daily basis.

It wasn't that I thought that all art should be serious, although that was my general bias. Rather, it's that art ought not to be overtly silly. Soft sculptures of hard objects, giant versions of small items, and tank-like lipsticks, these are all goofy ideas, too absurd to regarded with respect.

But age has brought me a more laidback attitude, an appreciation for the playful and cheeky. I now look upon Oldenburg's work with fondness, both for its distinct aesthetic and for how it marks my maturity as an art enthusiast. ;-)

Giant Soft Ketchup Bottle with Ketchup (1967) by Claes Oldenburg

During the Pacific Standard Time activities, I've been able to see quite a few of Oldenburg's works. So, in celebration of his birthday, born in 1929, here are a few photos of works that I've recently seen.

Friday Flowers: Year of the (Snap)Dragon

Antirrhinum: Red Snapdragons


Jabberwocky
(By Lewis Carroll)

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought--
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.


Yeah, I'm in a whimsical mood tonight. ;-)

Taking the theme of dragons, I decided to celebrate Lewis Carroll's birth date, born in 1832. It's not my normal type of poetry selection, but Jabberwocky is an interesting change of pace. The occasional dash of literary nonsense is a good thing.

Antirrhinum: Orange Snapdragons

Likewise, the snapdragons earned another Friday Flower appearance as part of the draconic theme. Additionally, I had a whole bunch of photos from a recent trip to the Huntington Gardens that I wanted to share with you all.

Cosi Fan Tutte

Posthumous Portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1819) by Barbara Krafft

In my youth, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was second-to-none my favorite composer. From his great choral works, such as the Requiem, to his operas, especially Don Giovanni, and across his instrumental repertoire, I could not get enough of his music. It was an inspiration.

Over the years, my adoration for Mozart's music has remained steady, although I've gone through fads where another composer would become my favorite. And, to this day, I am still enthralled by certain pieces, though familiar, seemingly ever fresh, graceful, and gallant.

Through music, Mozart takes us on a grand tour of human emotion, from playful irreverence to prideful damnation, from courtly elegance to profound religiosity.

Unfinished Portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1789) by Josef Lange

So, on the occasion of his birth date, born in 1756, let's listen to some music.

Portrait of a Man

Portrait of a Man (c.1470-75) by Hans Memling, on exhibit at the Norton Simon Museum

I was able to attend opening night for the Norton Simon Museum's showcase of Hans Memling's Portrait of a Man, on loan from the Frick Collection. This show will be running until April 30, 2012.

I'm not big on Northern Renaissance art, but Memling is interesting. He certainly transcends the flesh, capturing the subject's personality or mental state. The portrait on view is well worth checking out, subtle but compelling. And the other Memling on view, Christ Giving His Blessing, which is a part of the permanent collection, is also quite excellent.

Here are a couple photos from tonight.

The exhibit spotlights Memling in context with other 15th century artists.



Opening Night for Memling's Portrait of a Man


Enjoy!!!

Pacific Standard Time: Update #7

Pacific Standard Time Logo

It's been over a month since my last update, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been chasing down PST events. ;-)

We're halfway through the event's run, with many shows closing, but new exhibits opening. I went to give a farewell view to some of my favorite shows, such as the Hammer's Now Dig This! exhibition on LA's African-American art scene. As I was giving a final viewing to some of these artworks, melancholy came over me. So many of these works are hidden away in museum vaults or in private collections, I don't know if or when I'll be able to see them again.

For example, Ed Kienholz's Five Car Stud was created about 40 years ago, but has hardly ever been on view. What are the chances that I'll get to see it again? Likewise, all the lesser known minority artists rarely get shown. I know that one of the purposes behind the PST event is to alter the situation, to reveal the hidden treasures of the early LA art scene, but changing the established bias in the understanding of modern American art is a long-term project.

Although a strong counter-narrative is being proposed, such a fixed "history" is hard to shake, especially as many East Coast experts have so much invested in the current narrative.

Detail of Booster (1967) by Robert Rauschenberg

In any case, it's been fun and enlightening. I finally got to see the show at the Getty, which was awesome! I even got to attend a short talk on George Herms' assemblage piece, The Librarian. At another visit to the Norton Simon Museum, I attended a "spotlight" talk on John Baldessari's Fallen Easel. Likewise, the Hammer featured Maren Hassinger's River. I definitely appreciate these focus talks, brief though they may be, which enable me to benefit from the expertise of the curatorial staff in developing a deeper appreciation of the works under review.

All I Could Do Was Cry

Etta James was born on January 25, 1938.


It's always sad to celebrate the birth date of somebody who has recently passed away.

Since her passing last week, there has been much written about Etta James, her unforgettable voice, and her distinct place within the development of modern American music, specifically blues, R&B, and jazz. I don't think that I can add anything significant to the praise that has been heaped upon her memory, but I can express my admiration and appreciation for her music.

I can think of no singer who could combine such soulful passion with a rich sense of warmth and comforting smoothness. Smoky or sweet, gentle or lush, dark or delightful, Etta James could wind the passions into her music with unrivalled skill, her voice resounding into the depths of our souls.

Etta James from the cover of At Last! (1960)

So, let us consider her legacy and give thanks for the beautiful music that she had given us over the decades.

Year of the Dragon

Circle of Zodiac Heads (Dragon) by Ai Weiwei

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

I decided to celebrate by showing a few of my favorite dragons that I've seen over the last year. I'll keep my eyes open for more to share, as a running blog theme, over the course of this year. ;-)

Imagine: If Only There Were Dragons by Kent R. Kraber

Seiryu: Blue Dragon by Yoskay Yamamoto

Enjoy!!!

To Live and Paint in LA: Opening Night

Opening Night at the Torrance Art Museum's exhibit "To Live and Paint in LA"


Just a brief post.

Yesterday night was the opening for "To Live and Paint in LA" at the Torrance Art Museum, featuring the work of about thirty Los Angeles-based artists. The premise is to explore a broad sampling of emerging and contemporary painters, through which one may discern various styles and aesthetic trends that characterize the creative vibe of today's Angeleno art scene.

I was only able to pay a quick visit and snap a few shots, but there was a good range of styles, with many distinct artistic voices. It's my hope to pay the TAM a return visit in a few days and take a good, long appraisal of the exhibit.

Many are the pieces that caught my eye; I'd like to share them with you. ;-)

Detail of Les Femmes D'Alger #14 (2011) by Asad Faulwell

Enjoy!!!

Banality & Kitsch

Italian Woman (1986) by Jeff Koons


Let's wish Jeff Koons a Happy 57th Birthday.

I've put up a few posts over the last year featuring his work. That's not because he's really a favorite of mine, but, rather, because LACMA has an awesome selection of his works. Seriously, as an avid enthusiast of Los Angeles museums, how could I not share with my readers the entertaining works on display in town? After all, somebody Googles up "Balloon Dog" images every week or so. ;-)

A while back, I found Koons' work to be totally devoid of artistic value. Sure, they were entertaining with Pop reference or crass boldness, but, beyond the chuckle or moment of bemusement, there was nothing deeper than a brief sensation. His works were shallow.

St. John the Baptist (1988) by Jeff Koons

I've since changed my opinion. I still find his work to be amazingly shallow, but I think there is artistry in provoking a laugh. It takes a certain type of genius to put a pig and a penguin with St. John the Baptist. Is it kitschy? Yes. But it's also playfully creative, imaginative.

There's a talent in designing the sensational.

Friday Flowers: Rhododendron

Rhododendron: Vireya

Uncertainty
(By Edward Hirsch)

We couldn't tell if it was a fire in the hills
Or the hills themselves on fire, smoky yet
Incandescent, too far away to comprehend.
And all this time we were traveling toward
Something vaguely burning in the distance-
A shadow on the horizon, a fault line-
A blue and cloudy peak which never seemed
To recede or get closer as we approached.
And that was all we knew about it
As we stood by the window in a waning light
Or touched and moved away from each other
And turned back to our books. But it remained
Even so, like the thought of a coal fading
On the upper left-hand side of our chests,
A destination that we bore within ourselves.
And there were those--were they the lucky ones?-
Who were unaware of rushing toward it.
And the blaze awaited them, too.


I love the easy flow and conversational quality to Edward Hirsch's poetry. Some poets construct real tongue-twisting verses, which may be awesomely profound to read or hear performed, but are a total pain to actually recite. Hirsch has a natural talent at forming poems that almost leap off the tongue with a effortless elegance.

Rhododendron: Vireya close up

And what of the rhododendrons? Well, although I was at the Descanso Gardens to see the camellia show last weekend, I couldn't pass up photographing these pretties while I was there. ;-)

In a Kingdom by the Sea

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809.

We can't let the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birth date go by without marking the occasion. ;-)

A master of the macabre, Poe could weave dread and despair, madness and mystery, into the very words of his poetry and stories. The cadence of his writings hint of a mental state on the verge of hysteria, building to a frenzy of gothic romanticism as the narrative concludes. His works always give a wild thrill of terror, a haunting glimpse of the bizarre.

Yes, Poe does get a bit overheated and verbose from time to time, but I feel that's part of his charm. His excess is an expression of his authenticity. As a writer, he gets so caught up in the work that he loses control; the dread and sensation that he creates is felt first by him.

Annabel Lee (1910) by John R. Neill

As usual, I have a hard time picking my favorite work by Poe, but "Annabel Lee" is my choice for today.

2012 Weekly Wrap #2

Olivia Newton-John in the video for Physical (1981)

This week's wrap has eleven posts, a modest but consistent output. ;-)

We went heavy on the Art coverage with five entries, but, considering that three of them featured art gallery reviews, I'm good with that. One of my main goals for Paideia is to offer information about the Los Angeles contemporary art scene. While big museum shows and world famous artists may get reports in traditional news sources, the smaller and less popular exhibits fall between the cracks of the major journals. So, three posts per week is my small contribution to the generation of a "citizen journalism" arts coverage.

I'm still having a hard time juggling my free time between exercise and blogging. I'd like to get back to around two posts per day, but my schedule is tight. Honestly, I'm happy to have been hitting a reliable one per day rate of production. It is my hope that I can improve my rate over the next few weeks. I'm aiming for 40+ posts for the month of January.

Let's look at our stories.

Figure for Landscape (1960) by Barbara Hepworth

Five posts were dedicated to Art, including three gallery show reviews. We checked out Esao Andrews' haunting exhibit "Nowhere" at Thinkspace. Danielle Nelson Mourning's self-reflecting photographs in her show "Ordinary Time" at Taylor De Cordoba were considered. Then, we admired the places portrayed in Kenny Harris' "China" at Koplin Del Rio. Additionally, we celebrated Barbara Hepworth's birth date with some photos of her sculptures at the Norton Simon Museum. Finally, we considered a couple neo-classical sculptures on view at the Huntington Museum.

Musical topics received three posts. Getting stuck in traffic led my mind to think about some classic LA music and the Muppets. Our Monthly Dance Party returned, reaching all the way back to 1967 this time around. And we listened to the smooth tunes of Sade in celebration of her birthday.

Our Friday Flowers were Iceland Poppies, accompanied by the poetry of Robinson Jeffers. Then we visited a camellia show at the Descanso Gardens. Pretty!!!

Finally, we marked Internet Blackout Day in opposition to SOPA with the Day the LOLcats Died. ;-)

It was a good week.

Kermit the Vampire Frog attacks Vincent Price during an episode of the Muppet Show.

Thanks for reading!!!

The Day the LOLcats Died

If you somehow haven't heard anything about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), take a moment to read up on it. This blog utilizes plenty of copyrighted material under Fair Use, for educational and informative purposes. I don't know if the media corporations and their paid lackeys in Congress can be stopped, but I think this issue merits an advocacy post.

Speak up before the Internet dies.

Thanks for reading. ;-)

Passages and Thresholds

Detail of Crouching Tiger Monastery I (2011) by Kenny Harris

Each place has a presence, a spirit built up over the ages, formed by the experiences and events that have occurred therein. It is a goal of architectural painters to discern the soul of the structure and express it with clarity, using only the setting and space.

This is the approach taken by Kenny Harris in his exhibition "China" at Koplin Del Rio Gallery, which runs until February 18. Inspired during a recent trip, this show attempts to capture the unique nature of the various locales visited, from the posh colonial "Peace Hotel Shanghai" to the tranquil spirituality of the "Crouching Tiger Monastery" series. Through the nuances of light and space, along the lines of perspective, the enduring character of each place is revealed.

Although there are no people within these works, leaving the places to speak for themselves, without the clutter and bustle of habitation, the imprint of humanity is visible in each piece.

Detail of Zhouzhuang (2011) by Kenny Harris

Like classic images from the Dutch Golden Age of art, Harris explores the conceptual dichotomy between indoors and outdoors, where the delineations contrast and where they overlap. These images make one consider the emotional significances existing within such spaces, as well as the liminal or transgressive aspects of going from one type to the other, especially as it pertains to sacred or elite grounds, such as a monastery or the Forbidden City.

There's a Quiet Storm

Sade Adu; photo from Diamond Life (1984)


Helen Folasade "Sade" Adu was born on January 16, 1959.

I adore her voice, dark and soulful, smooth but passionate. Her gentle articulation subtly expresses great emotional intensity. Her songs are inviting, beguiling, and seductive, pulling the listener into an aural whirlpool of primal emotions, love and sorrow and hope.

I've occasionally debated the style of music that Sade performs? Is it smooth jazz? Or is it soul? How about the generic "Adult Contemporary"? I still haven't found a genre or niche into which I can fit her music, which I think is a good thing. The music has hints of many styles and influences, but doesn't conform to standards.

I'm the type of person who likes to label things, work them into a fixed scheme of types. Yet, I can respect and admire the artist who creates a unique and distinct type of expression.

Sade Adu; photo for the Best of Sade (1994)

So, the style of music that Sade performs is simply the style of music that Sade performs. ;-)

Empress of Winter

Camellia: Pink Perfection


The camellia season has begun, starting with a show at the Decanso Gardens. Over the next two months, nearly every weekend will feature a flower show somewhere in Southern California, from Kern County in the North to San Diego in the South and out in the Pomona Valley to the East. Yeah, we love our camellias out here in SoCal.

As a flower of Western fashion, the camellia was queen during the early to mid-19th century, but it fell out of favor in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, leaving it with an "old-fashioned" reputation. For most of Europe and the USA, it still trails dahlias, orchids, roses, and tulips as symbols of glamour.

But California is a Pacific Rim civilization. As with the other great cultures along the Pacific, California recognizes within the camellia a special splendor, a floral elegance both refined and bold.

Camellia: Tama Peacock

And that's why we are blessed with two months full of camellia celebrations. ;-)

But, although I'll be visiting many a show, we aren't transforming Paideia into a Camellia blog. I'll try to keep a healthy mix of flowers going for our Friday showcase.

Unveiling of the Present

Detail of The Trees Pt. Reyes, CA October, 2011 by Danielle Nelson Mourning

Introspection, self-reflection, the conscious consideration of personal identity requires the perceiver to discern the essential qualities of the subject, as distinct from external elements. Given how influential environmental factors are in the shaping of our Self, how does one delineate the essential from the accidental? How can you isolate your Actual Person from your Experienced Person?

The philosophy of consciousness has filled up many tomes over the centuries, with countless arguments and nuanced doctrines. But, where words seem ever inadequate, sometimes images convey ineffable observations about self-identity. Danielle Nelson Mourning takes up the challenge in her exhibit "Ordinary Time" at Taylor De Cordoba Gallery.

These self-portraits form a stark series that captures the subject with intense authenticity. These blunt expressions of Self are granted context by photos depicting places or objects, things that may have shaped but are not of the subject.

The Reckoning (2011) by Danielle Nelson Mourning, mirrored glass

There is always a temptation to make the Self into an Other, a reflection in the mirror, so as to put it under analysis. But this is a mental fabrication, an illusionary construct. Only by an immediate and unfiltered awareness can the Self be perceived.

Do these photographs attain that realization? I don't know; only the artist can answer this question. However, I do feel that these images are pared down to the essentials, striking in their raw accessibility.

Dance Party: January

Image from Incubus' video for "Anna Molly"

It's been a while since we last celebrated with a selection of songs from over the last four decades. Well, we're starting the year off strong with lots of fun music. ;-)

I've pushed back the start date of our tour of yesterday's songs to 1967. In terms of popular music, that's where my familiarity starts to kick in. Yeah, that's definitely before my time, but I know this music fairly well because it was where my parent's album collection more or less started.

For me, the music of the '70s have realtime memories associated with them, albeit distant and dim, but the music of the late '60s don't have a strong connection, in my mind, between song and society. Nevertheless, I figured it would be fun to expand the range of our monthly festivity.

Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way" became a Disco classic.

Let's get this party started!!!

In a Lonely Place

Detail of Nowhere (2011) by Esao Andrews


The forlorn realm of solitude, among decrepit wrecks and empty desolation, is where the lonely people dwell, sometimes in the form of anthropomorphic animals and sometimes as ghostly visages emerging from darkness; this sad and quiet place is called Nowhere, a region that transcends physical space, a state more of the spirit than of the body.

Esao Andrews' exhibit "Nowhere" at Thinkspace Gallery gives us a powerful view of this lonely place. With evocative colors and haunting composition, this exhibition insinuates a dark Romantic aesthetic into the viewer's mind. The icy regrets, the shadowy abandonment, these poignant sorrows linger like specters within the paint.

And yet, there is undeniable beauty, a sublime quality that empowers these works. "Nowhere" inspires a dreadful fascination.

Detail of Polished & Powdered (2011) by Esao Andrews

I especially admire the play of color that contrasts the muted shades of Nowhere, like a promise, a beckoning hope, of better and brighter times to come.

Friday Flowers: Champagne Bubbles

Iceland Poppy: Scarlet Champagne Bubbles


Still the Mind Smiles
(By Robinson Jeffers)

Still the mind smiles at its own rebellions,
Knowing all the while that civilization and the other evils
That make humanity ridiculous, remain
Beautiful in the whole fabric, excesses that balance each other
Like the paired wings of a flying bird.
Misery and riches, civilization and squalid savagery,
Mass war and the odor of unmanly peace:
Tragic flourishes above and below the normal of life.
In order to value this fretful time
It is necessary to remember our norm, the unaltered passions,
The same-colored wings of imagination,
That the crowd clips, in lonely places new-grown; the unchanged
Lives of herdsmen and mountain farms,
Where men are few, and few tools, a few weapons, and their
dawns are beautiful.
From here for normal one sees both ways,
And listens to the splendor of God, the exact poet, the sonorous
Antistrophe of desolation to the strophe multitude.


Robinson Jeffers was an aesthetic leader of the early environmental movement. His poetry is both harsh, with scathing critiques of human destructiveness, and gentle, to the grandeur of nature. In one of my favorite of his poems, The Vulture, Jeffers even imagines the sublimity of being devoured by the namesake bird and becoming a part of its avian splendor. For certain, he was a true believer in ecological interdependence. ;-)

Iceland Poppies: Yellow Champagne Bubbles

And what of the Champagne Bubbles? Well, I figured that we would start the weekend off with a rich diversity of colors.

Another Day in LA

Lunchtime traffic on La Cienega

Not much to say tonight. It's been a long but satisfying day, going to LACMA and seeing a few art galleries at the Miracle Mile.

I've been working some exercise into my daily schedule, which is great in terms of health and weight management, but it definitely cuts into the free time that I allocate to writing this blog. My schedule needs to be retooled to accommodate these competing demands on my free time.

My plan for today was to put up a current gallery art exhibit review, but I'm too tired tonight to do a respectable job. Maybe tomorrow. . .

Kermit the Frog Billboard

Tonight is for relaxing and recharging the batteries for an exciting weekend. ;-)