A beautiful Thursday at the Getty Center

This exhibition demonstrates how Messerschmidt's intriguing heads are linked to the 18th and 19th centuries fascination with expression and "passions". Messerschmidt created the Character Heads between 1770 and his death in 1883.  The head depicted in this poster is called "The Vexed Man".  The names were assigned after the artist's death.  It is carved in alabaster.  The sculpter was active in Austria.  He suffered from mental illness and expressed feeliings through his 69 portrait busts. 

A view though the Oak Trees to the hill above the Getty Center.

This a detail of the painting"Spring" painted in 1894 by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Dutch active in England.  He lived from 1836-1912.  Although set in Roman times, the painting alludes to the Victorian custom of sending children into the country to gather flowers on May 1.  This painting creates a beautiful Hollywood like celebration of Spring but denies the reality of May 1st as a day, even in the late 19th century, when violent workers' demonstrated on May Day against the injustices of the work environment.. 

"Sunrise" by Claude Monet, French 1873.
This is a good example of the popular Impressionism style.

"Houses at Bougival (Autumn), 1870 painted by Camille Pissarro, French, 1830-1903.
The description states that in this unpretentious suburban scene, Pissarro evoked autumn through a palette of cool grays, muted greens, and mellow browns.

The full view of "Spring"

"Hermitage Garden, Maison Rouge, 1877 by Camille Pissarro.  The densely packed style used by Pissarro with a great amount of detail requires intense concentration and study which Pissarro believed his paintings deserved.

"Modern Rome-Campo Vaccino, 1839, by Joseph Mallord William Turner, English 1775-1851
This new acquisition by the Getty shows Turner's beautiful sky and the modern life in the Roman Ruins.  The life includes people living among the ruins with the live stock grazing at the bases of ancient columns.

"Autumn (Dejanira)" 1872-73 by Gustave Moreau, French, 1826-1892.
The description states "Shown here is the centaur Nessus abducting Dejanira, the wife of Hercules.  On the distant cliffs, Hercules aims the arrow that will kill Nessus."

"Ray K. Metzker (born 1931) is known for finely crafted black and white prints that probe photography's expressive potential through multiple and composite images, high contrast, and selective focus."  The exhibit is divided according to his works in Chicago in 1956-59 when he was a graduate student at the Institute of Design in Chicago, Europe, 1960-61, Early Philadelphia, 1962-64, and Composites, 1964-84 as seen in the above poster.  His other works are set in Atlantic City, New Mexico, and back in Philadelphia 1996-2009.

Wednesday Roaming through Norton Simon

The Norton Simon museum offers delights at every turn.

"St. Joseph at the infant Christ" by Bociccio, Giovanni Battista Gaulli, 1539-1709. The dad gets to hold and admire the son who he will raise and provide. Proud Papa!

"St. Francis in Prayer" 1638-1639 by Francisco de Zurbarian (Spanish,1598-1664)
St. Francis of Assisi was a mystic and poet who founded the Franciscans.  He is portrayed meditating on the suffering of Christ.  The description says that this focus of the artist is in keeping the with Counter-Reformation aesthetics as defined by St. Ignatius of Loyola who prescribed directness and realism in the representation of religious subjects.

"David Slaying Goliath", 1616 by Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577-1640).
The description refers to the painting depicting the point that David is about to sever the head of his adversary.

"Christ Crowned with Thorns", 1633-39 by Matthias Stom (Dutch, 1600-1651)
The description refers to how Christ was mocked by the soldiers, who called him "Kin of the Jews."The scene is lit by a single candle for strong contrasts of light and dark.  Note the taunting expressions of the soldiers and the vulnerable yet solemn resolve of Christ.

R&B at Pinocchio's in Pasadena

'twas rocking and rolling up on Lake Street Saturday night. Great room with good Italian food. The group, The Lovers with a Blues singer, Marguaret Love were great...felt like New Orleans.

Pasadena Pops at City Hall Plaza

Jason Alexander was the M.C. for the Pops concert honoring Marvin Hamlisch who died this summer. He was the current Pops conductor who we enjoyed at the June and July concerts at the Arboretum. Larry Blank was the conductor for the tribute concert. We arrived to the music from Chorus Line "One" (by Hamlisch) sung by a chorus from JPL along with the John Brinegar Singers. Later Valerie Perri and Lisa Vroman, Broadway performers. sang songs from the "great American song book.
My favorite was a duet of "Happy Days are Here Again" Barbra Streisand style. Jason sang also ... Nice job with your new hair.
The singers returned for "What I Did for Love" finale plus "this ones for Marvin" "Memories Light The Corners of You Mind".

Sang Yoon at Zoloco Public Square

Father's Office restaurant owner, Sang Yoon, was at Grand Park to talk about the secrets to his success with Evan Kleinman who for 27 years was the owner chef of Angeli Caffe and is on KCRW radio's Good Food show on Saturday mornings.  Evan does a great job of interviewing and bringing out the best in her guests.  Sang Yoon offered some of who he is and how he approaches his craft and business.

Sang Yoon was born in Korea but left with his parents when he was one.  He grew up living in several countries and eventually Brentwood.  Much to his parents concern, he opted to go to chef school after he graduated from high school.  In his first chef school he rebelled to the formalities....the chef's hat worn in classes and eventually was asked to leave.  He then went to C.I.A. in New York...they didn't require the chef's hat in classrooms.  However he "enhanced" the Eiffel Tower in an ice sculpture (into a phallus) and was asked to leave.  After a stint as a chef at Michael's in Santa Monica, Chef school in Paris...while learning cooking and dining in Italy and Spain, he took over a small bar in Santa Monica, My Father's Office.  He added a tiny kitchen and a burger.  Father's Office was previously known for its good beers and he added to it. He "treats beer with great respect".  Evan also described him as a "Hobby Engineer" in that he tinkers and invents ways to improve his kitchen and food production.  He referred to his kitchen as a manufacturing site where good food is prepared hundreds of times a day to precise specifications..

He later opened My Father's Office in Culver City in the Helms Bakery facility.  Later he added a test kitchen across the alley where he can create.  His business is called a "Gastro Pub" which is described as having the elements of a neighborhood pub with good food...the beer and food are equally important.

Evan asked him about his burger.  He said that he started by evaluating what he liked best for each element of a burger...bun, meat, sauce, etc. and put it on a spread sheet...Microsoft Exel.  He likes the taste of French Onion Soup and put some of the elements in his burger.  He also was inspired by dry aged beef...chuck...which he now does in a special room for his restaurants.  Evan asked "why no ketchup".  He said that when he first opened he forgot it and when asked he got mad and said "no way" to ketchup.  Besides he said that in England they used a mayo type sauce for dipping French Fries and he likes that better. About his "no substitutions" policy he said he design a dish to be a particular way and refuses to make changes. 

Next door in Culver City is Lukshon, an Asian themed restaurant named after the Yiddish word for noodles.  He had an "adopted" Jewish grand mother who he greatly enjoyed.  He said that she would take him to Chinese restaurants where she ordered pork.  Her reason:  "God can't see us here". 

He talked about his favorite beers which are mostly Belgian style.  He said they are food friendly.  He named two California breweries that he liked:  Russian River in Santa Rosa (likes their sour beers) and Lady Face in Agoura.

He described himself as A.D.D., and an Incessant Tinkerer who sometimes has "Analysis Paralysis". 

It was a beautiful night at Grand Park with good wine and beer provided by Silver Lake Wines.  Randy was there and talking with Evan....I see a radio interview coming up soon.

"Liberal Arts" the Movie

Being a fan of Josh Radnor ("How I Met Your Mother" star) I went to his new movie "Liberal Arts" on Monday.  It roughly follows some of his life...Kenyon College in Ohio...is the site for the movie with beautiful pictures of the college and town.  He graduated from there and said he hated leaving.

In the movie a 35 year old character played by Josh returns to Kenyon to pay tribute to his "second most favorite professor".  During the movie there is talk of always feeling like a 19 year old when life seems hopeful and magical...but the sadness that one realizes they are not 19 anymore.  He kind of starts a relationship with a 19 year old coed...but wakes up in time to realize that his life needs to move on.

I enjoyed the film that Josh wrote, directed, and co-produced.  Catch it quick.

"The Voting Wars" at Aloud at the LA Library

"The Voting Wars:  How do we Move Beyond Partisanship and Polarization - or Should We?" was the theme of the panel discussion with author Rich Hasen (The Voting Wars), Connie Rice (attorney), Leslie Berestein Rojas (Emerging Communities Reporter, KPCC) moderated by Marty Kaplan, director, Norman Lear Center, USC Annenberg.  A representative from the O.C. Young Republicans did not show.

Rick Hasen is also at U.C. Irvine.  He stated that the Republicans and Democrats are polarized...there is no overlap of moderates in the House and the Senate....the moderates have either retired or became more extreme.  He said that campaigns are run with "no holes bared".  He is expecting post election litigation as suits have already doubled in the last few years.

Hasen said there is some voter fraud in the absentee voter counts...but hardly none in voters impersonating others.  Not one election has been stolen this way.  The voter I.D. laws being proposed is aimed at a problem that does not exist....it is designed to suppress voting by the poor.  He said that 750,000 people in Pennsylvania don't have government issued photo I.D.s.  The court has set the law back to the legislature and said that they need to figure out a way to get I.D.s to people.

He said that a close election could result in people going to the streets to demonstrate against voter repression and perceived fraud.  Election officials are praying "Lord, let this election not be close."  There is concern in Ohio about long lines at the polls because of reduced voting hours.  If the polls close with long lines of people waiting....there will be trouble.

He also said that if the Republicans loose this election, there may be a fight in the party with the moderates trying to take back the party from the Tea Party folks.

Connie Rice said that there use to be bipartisanship like when Tip O'Neal and Reagan ...over a few whiskys... came together for the better good.  She said that Obama's promise to bring both sides together was naive...but we were hopeful he would inspire unity.  She said the Republicans pledged to do nothing to help the president and to get him out of office.  Shee said the sides are like gladiators trying annihilate each other.  She is concerned that the Republicans are now resorting to voter suppression since that can't change the minds of minority and poor voters.

Connie talked about Romney's comment on the 47%.  She said that here is "Mr. Cayman Islands tax shelter...I won't show you my taxes" talking about the 47% "freeloaders".  She said the elite have "gamed the system" and passed laws to their advantage.  These are Mitt's colleagues.  "They played casino capitalism and tanked our economy."

She said that it is likely that voters will take to the streets because there is a racial hostility/exclusion/suppression being felt.  "The opposition to this Black President feels racial...setting up racial paranoia."

She said she can only imagine less partisanship if there is some kind of "Armageddon".

Leslie Berestein Rojas said that the Dream Act started out bipartisan but the conservative "red meat" base backed themselves into a corner.  She said that the Republican constituency is aging and dieing off.  They fear the minorities will take over and this is forcing them to panic and use extreme means to win.

Marty Kaplan said that people are sick and tired of the bickering but they are so polarized they can't stand hearing the other sides opinions. He said that we need standard laws on how to run elections in all states and that a national nonpartisan election panel should be appointed to come up with uniform rules.

How did this country get so far to the Right?  Media's influence...fever pitch spread of information...some not true.  There is a rebellion to fact checking on the Right.  Facts matter...we need to insist on reality and not making up an alternate reality.

Moreau's Solome at the Hammer

On Thursday, I roamed back to the Hammer Museum in Westwood for a stroll through the exquisite permanent collection and to Gustave Moreau's Salome special exhibit.  The Hammer has two famous paintings by Moreau:  "King David" (1878) and "Solome Dancing before Herod"  (1876).

The special exhibition devoted to "Solome Dancing before Herod" consists of 50 works including related paintings, drawings and preparatory studies drawn from the collection of the Gustave Moreau Museum in Paris.

This famous painting caused quite a stir when it was displayed in Paris in 1876.  It depicts the biblical story of the daughter of Herodias, whose seductive dance before her stepfather/uncle, Herod, persuaded the aging king to grant her the head of John the Baptist.  She danced at the request of her mother, Herodias, who wanted to silence John the Baptist from railing against her incestuous marriage to Herod, the brother of her murdered husband.

This story was also the theme of a one act opera "Salome" written by Richard Strauss based on Hedwig Lachmann's German translation of the French play by Oscar Wilde.  I saw this opera in Stuttgart in 1963 and was amazed by the dance of Solome where she declares her love and kisses the severed head of John the Baptist which she carries around on a silver platter. 

The paintings and drawings by Moreau are very interesting.  He used amazing detail in his drawings that cannot be seen in the ornate paintings.

"Solome Dancing before King Herod"

Moreau's "King David"  (detail)

Changing the Mechanics: How Bikes are Transforming the Way L.A. Moves

Wednesday night's Center Scene program at the California Endowment was an interesting and hopeful discussion about how our city may change. 

Manal Aboelata, Program Director at the Prevention Institute led the panel.  She is an advocate for public health and the elimination of health disparities. 

Dick Jackson, PhD, UCLA Public Health, opened by saying that Americans have gained 25 lbs. in the last 25 years and week need to create more health environments.  He said the formula is simple:  Cheap Food is bad Food; Good Food is more expensive.  He said there are price supports for bad food.  The incidents of diabetes is going up increasing health care costs and lowering quality of lives. 

He also said that we need to design cities for healthy activity like walking and biking.  However, the petrochemical companies don't want this.  He challenged us to get win-win-win solutions. He said we need to focus on walking and biking to improve health.  He doesn't own a car but finds it challenging to get around L.A. on a bike and buses.

Allison Mannos, community specialist at L.A. Alliance for a New Economy said that the low income minority families are the most affected.  They are surrounded by liquor stores to by food rather than supermarkets with health alternatives.  They often can't drive...accidental environmentalists.

Eric Bruins, L.A. County Bicycle Coalition, has been advocating for the small amount of money set aside for bike lanes and paths as a result of Measure R.  They are planning for 40 miles of new bike routes per year.  He and others said that the planning for this was not moving ahead until the Mayor fell off his bike.  He said we need to normalize biking.  The greater density of bicyclist the more drivers will become aware and considerate of bikers.  He referred to cities like Amsterdam.

The panel also encouraged more bike education in schools, reaching out to businesses and institutions to make them more bike friendly.

Eric said that they are hoping to put bike lanes on Venice Blvd so that one could ride from near downtown to the beach.  They are also looking at Sepulveda.  He encouraged people to attend neighborhood councils and advocate for bicycle access.

Information was shared on CicLAvia on Sunday October 7th Where streets will be blocked off for safe, fun, car-free spaces for walking, bicycling, skating, jogging, and seeing the city in a whole new way.  Check out www.ciclavia.org.  The closed streets will be 7th from near MacArthur Park to Spring to N. Broadway to Boyle Heights, to Expo Park.  Sounds fun.  Time to get the bicycle dusted off and put air in the tires.

Ken Price Sculptures at LACMA

A retrospective of Ken Price's work opened at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art last week.  It is fitting that this exhibit be shown now as Ken Price died in February of this year and worked up to the time he died of Cancer at the age of 77 in Taos, New Mexico.  The exhibit is designed by a friend and noted architect, Frank Gehry whose description of Ken's work is written on one of the walls:  "Ken's work has a sense of clarity and an unself-conscious sense of humor.  It speaks volumes; it speaks of pleasure and love, and speaks of beauty without bravado."

The description states:  "A Retrospective traces the development of Price's sculptural practice from his luminously glazed ovoid forms to his suggestive, molten-like slumps, positioning him within the large narrative of modern American sculpture."  It is organized with his most recent works first going back in time.

I found the bronze and clay creations triggering various emotions from somber to joy to peaceful.  His colors combined with amorphous shapes are intriguing.  His works are on display in the Resnick Pavilion until January 6th.

Resnick Pavilion

"Bells Congo" 2003, on Banner outside the pavilion

"Underhung" 1997

Sculptures with Cubist influence

Exhibit phots by Fredrik Nilsen

"Molten Lava" 2004

"Snail Cup" 1968

"Crater of Fire" 2004

"Zizi" 2011 is one of his last creations.

Zocalo Public Square at LA's Grand Park

"Will Downtown Ever Work?" panel discussion led by Christopher Hawthorne, LA Times architecture critic. Answer: Downtown is already working.

The panel members were Alice Kimm, urban planner with John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects, urban planner Melani Smith of Melendrez Design Partners, Xefirotarch architect Hernan Diaz Alonso, and Rios Clementi Hale studios, Tony Paradowski, a landscape architech and one of the lead designers of Grand Park.

Several people commented that that downtown works, but needs good schools for the children growing up there.  The comments about Grand Avenue were that it is taking a long time to develop (the rector set like parking structure across from Disney was built as a temporary parking ramp in the 1960s') the buildings are so massive with long walls, some with interior courtyards, that it makes it unfriendly for pedestrians walking on the sidewalks.  The street is so wide that it is a barrier. 

Melodi Smith said that we must design street plans with more connectivity but it has been a challenge to coordinate with D.O.T.  However, there is hope there under new leadership.  There is also tension between public and private land owners.  A street car is under review that would go on Broadway between 11th and 2nd.  A covering of the 101 Fwy is being discussed between City Hall and the Cathedral.

Heran Diaz Alonso said that his favorite thing about L.A. is that there is no favorite thing.  There are many desirable areas and elements of the city.  He said density is a good thing that makes cities more diverse and tolerant.  He encouraged more building and increasing the density of the downtown population.  The district structure in the cities is sometimes a barrier.  There is a need for more centralization of design.

Christopher Hawthorne made the point that L.A. will never be like New York, Paris, Chicago and other cities, but that is a good thing.  The multiple cities structure of L.A. is an asset.  L.A. is looking to city designs in Asia and South America for ideas for developing "complete streets". 

Beer and wine were provided by Silver Lake Wines at 2395 Glendale Blvd. with one of the owners pouring the tasty beverges.  He said they are also operating the store on Raymond in Old Town Pasadena.

LA Phil Bowl Finale

Bramwell Tovey led the LA Phil in two concerts with super-stars of the violin this week. On Tuesday, Sarah Chang played Bernstein, Zev Yaroslavsky narrated Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait," the orchestra played Gershwin's "Cuban Overture" with great performance from the percussion section and "Billy the Kid Suite" by Aaron Copland.  On Thursday Itzhak Perlman played Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major, Op.35 and the orchestra played Brahms' Three Hungarian Dances and Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 in G major. Op 88.

It was the last of the Phil at the Hollywood Bowl for this summer.  They begin at the Disney Hall in two weeks.  Twas a great summer!

Thirty-one year old Sarah Chang in a beautiful dress playing melodies from "West Side Story" like "Maria".

Amazing violin sounds under the leadership of Martin Chalifour, Principal Concertmaster.

Zev, our County Supervisor and distinguished narrator of Lincoln's words.

Bramwell Tovey, conductor, provided enjoyable English wit, and did a beautiful job leading the orchestra.

Itzhak plays with great emotion and intensity that is reflected on his face as well as the violin.