Deterrence and North Korea at RAND

Tuesday night, I attended a lecture by Bruce W. Bennett on Deterrence and North Korea at the Rand Corporation in Santa Monica.  He is a senior defense analyst at RAND with expertise in strategy, force planning and counterproliferation.  He is an expert in Northeast Asian military issues.

He talked about the dilemma of North Korea.  They have anywhere from 6 to 20 nuclear bombs and are developing missiles to send them anywhere.  Our talks, threats, and sanctions haven't worked.  Their leader Kim Jong-Un is an unknown.  Until October of 2010, his public profile had been non-existent without even a photo of him since his teens.  He is associated with the disastrous currency revaluation in 2009.  This perhaps led to "saber rattling" such as the sinking of a South Korean warship and the shelling of a S. Korean island.  But with nuclear bombs, they have the attention of the world and a defense against possible invasion and take over from an outside source.  This is what Iran is wanting as well as perhaps other countries.

Bennett says that this is a time to maximize deterrence of North Korea such as posturing defenses to meet any North Korean aggression.  The concern is that a nuclear test would be seen as an act of desperation rather than strength.  He says a civil war would be disastrous for both Koreas.  He suggest that South Korea should encourage scientist to defect...dropping leaflets offering millions of dollars as a reward. 

Jazz at the Beach

Temeka Reid with a Jazz Trio performed at the Annenberg Beach House in Santa Monica on Monday evening. Temeka plays cello, Devin Hoff on bass, Najite Agindotan on drums, and Jared Mattson on guitar.
This is the site of the former Marion Davis estate designed by Julia Morgan. She designed a number of prominent buildings including W. R. Hearst's castle at San Simeon.
The jazz concert was enjoyable and mellowing. The fog crept in and we lifted into the mist.

"Why We Need High Art" at Skirball

Thursday night Zocolo Public Square presented Camille Paglia at the Skirball Cultural Center. She talked about her new book, "Glittering Images a Journey Through Art from Egypt to Star Wars." Her book chronicles the evolution of art from Nefertiti's tomb to George Lucas's creations. She describes his last "Star Wars" movie as beautiful as an Italian opera.

Camille is on a crusade to bring art to children and families and to gaze at art to discover it's depth and message instead of the quick glances if video games.

She criticized the snide tone of intellectual liberals and said the "60's voice" is being stifled by phony liberals.

Reinventing Bach at ALOUD at the Libray

On Tuesday night at the central library, Paul Elie gave a lecture about his new book "Reinventing Bach."  Violinist Ga Hyun Cho played several of Bach's works including a Chaconne which he wrote while grieving over the death of his first wife, Maria Barbara.

Elie talked about how Bach's works have been used and enjoyed over the last 300 years.  These include some of the music in the Disney movie "Fantasia," music in the movie "English Patient," Glen Gould's recording of Goldberg's Variations, Beatles "In My Life" and "Penny Lane" and YoYoMa recording with Bobby McFerrin "Air From Orchestral Suite No. 3"

Harry Shearer at the Grammy Museum on Monday

Harry Shearer of the Le Show radio show on KCRW on Sunday mornings and a voice on the Simpsons for 24 years was at the Grammy Museum promoting "Can't Take it With You" his new satirical CD with the "Fountains of Wayne".  He was interviewed by the museum director and then performed with his band.  He often plays the double bass.  His "songs" include "Celebrity Booze Endorser" sung by Harry and a "Bridge to Nowhere" sung by a Sarah Pallin like singer. 

Harry was entertaining and his musical group very talented.  About the Simpsons TV show, Harry said it has allowed him to buy a house.

Other Norton Simon paintings I liked on Monday

"Vase of Flowers," 1880-1881, by Paul Cezanne

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French,1841-1919) "Reclining Nude," 1892

Edouard Manet (French, 1832-1883) "Rag picker," 1865-70
Manet depicted contemporary social types of Paris world he viewed throughout his career.

"Nude" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1872.  Renoir painted hundreds of nudes.

"The Cicada" (1865-1875) by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (French, 1796-1875).
Note the small figure of a Cicada on the women's left shoulder.

George Lacombe (French, 1868-1926) "Autumn:  The Chestnut Gatherers, 1894
The figures are collecting Chestnuts with a religious air.

Camille Pissaro and Friends at the Norton Simon

On Monday, after lunch with Dan in the Gardens, I roamed around the Norton Simon Impressionist paintings.  I was particularly interested in the Camille Pissaro paintings as these are favorites of my friend Doug in Ohio.  I also revisited several paintings that POPed out at me.

"Landscape with Flock of Sheep" 1889 and 1902 by Camille Pissarro (1830-1903)
The description state that in pristine condition  this painting asserts Pissaro's position as the paterfamilias of the Impressionist group.  "The fluttering texture of brushwork and the luminosity of his pigment are unsullied by restoration or varnish.  This allows the subtleties of tone- - from the variations in ochres and browns in the grasses to the grays, blues and whites in the cloudy northern French sky--to conjure this simple pastoral scene."
One longs for an opportunity to walk though this pasture with the sounds of the rustling sheep and a light breeze through the grasses.

"The Boulevard des Fosses, Pontise," 1872
The description states that after seeking refuge in London during the Franco-Prussian War, Pissarro and his family returned to France in 1972 and decided to settle in Pontoise, a small town northwest of Paris where they had loved over four years earlier.  Shortly after they arrived, Pissarro created a series of townscapes that appear to explore the town with fresh eyes.  "The Boulevard desFosses os one such work, painted en plein air (outside)with and attention to atmosphere and a loose handling of paint--two signatures of the Impressionionist movement."

"View of Berneval," 1900
"This picturesque view is one of seven completed by Camille Pissarro during his visit to Berneval from July to Septemben, 1900.  Here the passage through the seaside town begins in the garden of the Grand Hotel, where Pissarro stayed.  An elevated perspective allows the spectator to stroll past the trees and scattered chalets toward the jagged cliffs that give way to the ocean in the distance."

"The Poultry Market of Pontoise," 1881
"With a surface that recalls the shimmering light and color of the Impressionists while simultaneously predicting the soon-to-unfold color experiments of the Neo-Impressioists, "The Poultry Market at Pontoise" sits at one of the many transitional moments in the work of Pissarro.  An artist was constantly challenging himself to change, Pissarro worked during the 1870's alongside Claude Monet, whose paintings were synonymous with Impressionism.  But by the mid-1880's, Pissarro had begun to turn his attention to the more structured work of the Neo-Impressionists George Seurat and Paul Signac.  For a time, Pissarro would join their cause by expanding on the technique employed in this canvas of using multiple dots of color to create a pulsating but uniform hue from afar.  The painting, with it's steep horizon and three large central figures that instantly draw the viewer into the bustling scene, was Pissarro's first major market scene, and it is one of only a small group of figure paintings executed by an artist who was most often a painter of landscapes."

The Brewery Art Walk on Sunday

Twas a nice afternoon for roaming around The Brewery, an artist studio colony on North Main in L.A.  This a collection of buildings where artist work and live and create.  Twice a year, they have an Art Walk where most all the studios are open for viewing...and buying.  They did serve beer and hot dogs...but they are not now a brewery.  I recommend it for a good afternoon outing...come early, they ran out of parking.

This smoke stack has "The Brewery" written on it and can be seen from the 5 Freeway

This work was done by Robert Morgan whose paintings I admire. A sign on the wall states:  "The images I create are the physical expression of imagination and environment.  Something as simple as a plane of color or a texture can elicit an emotional response....The images and concepts in my mind manifest as a physical expression of color, texture, and composition.  The mixture of numbers, letters and symbols of language combine to evoke feels of luck, pleasure, superstition, spirituality and history.  His web site can be viewed at www.robertmorganart.com

Elemental Unfurling by Abra Brayman

The Pledge of Allegiance Muslim style.

The U.S.C. Marching Band

Jim and I went to the warm up and pregame concert of the U.S.C. marching band...amazing music!  The game was fun too, Trojans 50, Colorado Buffalo's 6.

Dr, Arthur Bartner has led the 300+ member band since 1970

I'm always checking out the Tuba section....16 last time I counted.

Who Shot Rock & Roll

On Friday night Colleen and I went to the Annenberg Space for Photography to view a photographic history of Rock and Roll, 1955 to the present.  The exhibit describes itself as the first major museum exhibit to spotlight the creative and collaborative role that photographers played in the history of rock and roll music; a group show featuring 166 prints from over 100 photographers.  The show was organized by the Brooklyn Museum by Gail Buckland and is now off on a world tour beginning in New Zealand. 

The entertaining documentary film  produced exclusively for the Annenberg Space features nine photographers including Guy Webster who has shot hundreds of album covers including the Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, The Doors, Simon & Garfunkel and the Mamas and Papas.  In describing the Mamas and Papas bath tub photo, he said that they were all so stoned they couldn't go anywhere else so they climbed into the tub with their clothes on and he shot the photos.

The film also features the work of Linda McCartney featuring images she photographed that have been hand picked by Paul and their daughter Mary with an on-camera interview with Mary about her mother's work. The rest of the photographers featured in the film are Henry Diltz, Jill Furmanovsky, Ed Colver, Lynn Goldsmith, Bob Gruen, Mark Seliger and Norman Seeff.

Elvis Leaves Home to Perform at Russwood Stadium, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer.

KISS - Dressed to Kill, NYC, 1974 by Bob Gruen

The Mamas and the Papas, 1966, by Guy Webster

Tina Turner by Henry Diltz, 1985

Bob Dylan, "Blonde on Blonde," NYC, 1966 by Jerry Schatzberg

Jagger/Leopard, Los Angeles, 1992, by Albert Watson. 

The Rollling Stones, 1965

Elvis Presley, University of Dayton Field House, 1956, by Marvin Israel

Madonna, NYC, 1983 by Amy Arbus

Museum of Jurassic Technology

Chris and I had lunch at the historic Culver Hotel and roamed over to the Museum of Jurassic Technology on Friday.  The museum is located on Venice Blvd. at Main in Culver City.  It was founded by David Hildebrand Wilson and Diana Drake Wilson on 1988.  It calls itself "an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic."   The term Lower Jurassic is not explained.  The two story building is a labyrinth of dimly lit rooms and halls with strange exhibits that are artistic, scientific, ethnographic, and historic.  The museum describes the term museum as "a spot dedicated to the Muses, a place where man's mind could attain a mood of aloofness above everyday affairs."

The exhibits include The Garden of Eden on Wheels:  Collections from L.A. area Trailer Parks; Microminitures of Hagop Sandaljian:  A collection of micro-miniature sculptures, each carved from a single human hair and placed within the eye of a needle; Microscopic mosaics from the 19th century depicting flowers, animals, etc made from butterfly wing scales; Rotten Luck:  Decaying Dice once owned by magician Ricky Jay; Oil portraits of the dogs of the Soviet Space Program; and rotting mice on toast.

On the second floor is a Tula Tea Room, a Russian-style tea room where Georgian tea and cookies are served...a miniature  reconstruction of the study of Tsar Nicolas II from the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Then up a few steps into a bird house you can walk through...semi outside. 

Tis all very interesting and strange in a delightful way.

"Seminar" a play at the Ahmanson Theater Tuesday

Colleen and I saw the play "Seminar" staring Jeff Goldblum.  It is a comedy with disturbing elements...creative writers virtually prostituting themselves to get ahead.  Four writers pay a famous...infamous...writer $5,000 a piece to tutor them in writing.  Leonard, Jeff Goldblum, a burned-out writer, manipulates his students using what the N.Y. critic called "verbal flatulence" with each of the students attempting to impress...with their pretensions.  He shreds the egos of his students...until he discovers that the most withholding of the students is actually very talented.

The reviews range from "clever, witty and engaging" to "nippy and mean".  It is up to you to choose.

Civil War at the Huntington Library and Art Museum

Tuesday was Members' Event and Viewing at the Huntington to see and experience the Civil War exhibits.  "A Strange and Fearful Interest:  Death, Mourning and Memory in the American Civil War" was on view at the Boone Gallery with the Huntington's collection of Civil War era photographs.

"A Just Cause:  Voices of the American Civil War" was exhibited in the West Hall of the Library.  These included original handwritten documents by Presidents, soldiers, statesmen, and their families express how they define "The Cause."

An actor portraying President Abraham Lincoln recited the "Gettysburg Address" outside the Scott galleries and a trio provided Civil War era music in front of the Boone...with ginger lemonade for sipping on a warm day.

The feeling of the exhibits was of sadness and a sense of tragedy...with opposing uncompromising sides gridlocked to the point that war seemed the only answer.  The problem was that no one had any idea of how horrible a war it would be with 3% of the American population killed or injured...720,000 dead and double that injured.  Some times it seems that our current political divide is about as bad as it was in 1861.

"But what was this just cause"  Both Northerners and Southerners believed that they were fighting a just war against an enemy's unholy crusade.  Both fought with equal tenacity and spurned compromise with equal determination.  Both believed that God and the Founding Fathers were on their side."

The iris were abloom...in October!  Amazing.

After his death, Lincoln became like a Saint in peoples eyes.  This painting by Stephen James Ferris shows George Washington  welcoming Lincoln to the afterlife who crowns him with a laurel wreath symbolizing victory.  This popular depiction, which was photographed and published widely, linked the two men in the public eye.  Now their monuments face each other across the reflecting pond on the Capitol Mall.

A former slave.

This drawing shows the Southern Women reacting to the results of war.

George Washington painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1707

"Breakfast in Bed" painted by Mary Cassatt in 1894.  She lived from 1844 - 1926 and although she was an American, she spent most of her life in France where she became friends with the French Impressionists.