Muse/ique on a Monday Evening

On Monday, May 4th we enjoyed a night with "Rain Drops Falling on My Head," (no rain but chilly night at the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena), "House is Not a Home," "Look of Love," "Close to You," "One Less Bell to Answer," and other Burt Bacharach favorite tunes.  This was produced by Rachael Worby, Artistic Director of Muse/ique.  Performers included Lemar Carter, Shelea Frazier, Deron Johnson, Clara Kim, Ian Martin, Gabby Moreno, Chris Pierce and Jo Whang.  Billy Childs came up from the audience to sing and play "What's It All About Alfie."

Here are a few photos of the great evening:

Roaming in L.A.

There is so much to enjoy in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.  Here are a few pictures of what I enjoyed during the past week:

Happy Poppies at Huntington Gardens in San Marino

Favorite painting:  "View on the Stour near Dedham," 1822 by John Constable, British, 1776-1837,  "I should paint my own place best," Constable told a friend of this painting of his native Suffolk, England.

From the social realism school of Courbet and Millet, Jules Adolphe Aime Louis Breton, French, 1827-1906, painted "The Last Gleanings," in 1895

Donald Crockett conducting the Xtet, a new music ensemble, in a concert at LACMA's Bing Theater.(Photo by Lawrence K. Ho, L.A. Times).

On Wednesday night I attended a concert "Celebrating Los Angeles" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art that is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the museum.  The performances were by Xtet, Angel City Corale, Members of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Martin Chalifour, concert master of the L.A. Phil.  The work celebrated composers who created their music in L.A. including Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky, Morton Lauridsen, David Newman, Mitch Glickman and Steven Stucky.

On Saturday we enjoyed a walking tour of historic L. A. by a volunteer from the Los Angeles Conservancy.  This is a photo of the L.A. Subway building on Hill...yes there was a subway in L.A. in the early days.

The lobby of the subway building, now the entrance to loft apartments and a party scene. 

The Subway Building elevators

The Million Dollar Theater Building on Broadway and Third with its beautiful architecture.

A Close Up

Yes some wild dancing by the sculpted figures above the buffalo heads on the building.

Railing detail, inside walls and floor of the Bradbury Building at 04 Broadway built in 1893 by draftsman George Wyman from the original design by Sumner Hunt.  Below are more photos from the building.

A mural across the street from the Bradbury Building shows Anthony Quinn dancing on the same tiles inside the Bradbury.

Behind the building is a quiet courtyard with a tribute to Bridget "Biddy" Mason, Grandma as we was called.  She was born a slave in Georgia in 1818, and walked with her owner and others of his slaves to Los Angeles with their Mormon owners.  Since California was a free state, Bridget Mason and others were freed in San Bernardino.  Robert Smith, her owner, planned to move back to the slave state of Texas and take Mason with him, but she escaped with the help of friends and traveled to Los Angeles.  Mason worked in L.A. as a nurse and midwife, founding member of the First African Methodist Church, the city's first black church which was founded in her home at this site.  She is an honoree of the California Social Work Hall of Distinction for her service to individuals and the community.
Above is a photo of her and her signature X as she couldn't read or write.   She died in 1891 and buried in an unmarked grave in Boyle Heights.  Later a ceremony attended by the mayor of L.A. and members of the church she founded was held and the grave was marked with a tombstone.  

On Sunday, we roamed through beautiful gardens thanks to "Open Days."  Here are some of my photos of natures' paintings.

Working Through Tragedies last Tuesday

On April 28th, I attended a program sponsored by the California Endowment featuring Elizabeth Alexander, Yale professor, poet and writer.  The program was about writing to heal from trauma and tragedies.  Dr. Alexander was featured at President Obama's 2009 inauguration, reciting a poem she wrote for the occasion.  She has writing a book entitled "The Light of the World," a memoir about the sudden death of her husband two years ago.  She wrote the book about their love and 16 year relationship, his life, recipes, and their children as a part of her healing and working through her grief. She read from the book and discussed the healing process through writing by hand on paper which she described as more emotional, physical, with feelings coming out of your body.

The program also featured staff and youth from "Inside Out Writers."  This program was founded in 1996 to work with youth in juvenile halls in Los Angeles as well as with youth after their incarceration.  Three of the youth read about their lives, trauma, self hate, and hope.  They stated that writing is a life line, it takes courage to tell who you are.  The youth also express through art, dance, music, and poetry.  One stated that painting is a miracle.

Dr. Alexander stated that we grieve the loss of love and it is important to share, give to others and move the pain outwards.  "Extreme circumstances take us to the core of who we are...Writing stabilizes us when we are feeling upside down."

Other important messages from the evening include:

.  Vulnerability is a position of strength.
.  The grief process isn't easy and it shouldn't be.
.  When I have to get it out, that makes the pen move.
.  We all must bare witness to the art of baring witness to pain and trauma.
.  It is important to acknowledge that writing and expressing feelings is hard but is important...one needs to keep doing it.

I am now reading Elizabeth Alexander's book and feeling her love and her pain.  I recommend it because it is a beautifully account of pain and loss to which we can all relate.

One can learn more about the work in the juvenile halls through their web site:  insideoutwriters.org

LACMA 50 Promised Gifts of Art

On Thursday I visited the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to view the new promised gifts on the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the museum.  The museum art collection has grown enormously in a relatively short period of time.  This has been due to the gifts and bequests of art from the Los Angeles community.  Below are photos of some of the new promised gifts being shown in a special exhibition.

"Camitte the Hair Fixer Is Doing Ceolo's Hair," 1940s by Clementine Hunter, United States, 1886/87-1988, oil on paper promised gift of Gordon W. Bailey.

"Christ Blessing," 1480-85 by Hans Memling, active Flanders, 1430-1494, oil on Baltic oak panel.  Promised gift of Lynda and Stewart Resnick.

"Crucifixion with Madonna and Saint John the Evangelist," 1360 by Taddeo Gaddi, Florence, 1300-1366, oil and tempera on panel.  Promised gift of Suzanne Deal Booth.

"Portrait of a Gentleman, 1670-75 by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini, Rome, 1596-1680, marble.  Gift of the Ahmanson Foundation.

"Two Women in a Garden," 1872 by Claude Monet, France, 1840-1926, oil on canvas.  Future gift of Wendy and Leonard Goldberg.

"Flying Mercury," probably 1580s by Giambologna (Giovanni da Bologna), active Florence, 1529-1608, bronze.  Promised gift of Lynda and Stewart Resnick.

"Two Marilyns," 1962 by Andy Warhol, United States, 1928-1987, silkscreen ink and pencil on linen.  Promised gift of Jane and Marc Nathanson.

"Who Do We Trust," 1990-99 by Herbert Singleton, United States, 1945-2007, carved and painted wood bas-relief.  Promised gift of Gordon W. Bailey.

"The Plague of Death in Egypt," 1970's by Josephus Farmer, United States, 1894-1989, carved and painted wood bas-relief. Promised gift of Gordon W. Bailey.

"Los Angeles," 1960 by Fred Ludekens, United States, 1900-1982, off set lithograph.  This and the three below are gifts of Martha and Bruce Karsh.

"Southern California," late 1950's by Stan Galli, U.S. 1912-2009, offset lithograph.

"California Beaches," 1923 by Maurice Logan, U.S. 1885-1977, offset lithograph.

"California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego," 1935 by Sam Hyde Harris, England, active U.S., 1889-1977, relief print.

The Duke's Surfboard.

"Before the Mirror," 1911 by Kees van Dongen, France (born Netherlands), 1977-1968, oil on canvas, loan and promised gift of The A. Jerrold Penenchio Collection.

"Jane Avril:  Profile of a Woman," 1893 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec," France 1864-1901, oil on board.  Loan and promised gift of The A. Jerrold Perenchio Collection.

"At the Concert:  The Song of the Dog," 1875 by Edgar Degas, France 1834-1917, gouache, pastel and monotype on joined paper.  Loan and promised gift of Perenchio Collection.

"Nude Study for Little Dancer, Aged 14," modeled 1878-81, cast 1928, bronze, by Edgar Degas.  Promised gift of the Perenchio Collection.