Edward Hopper at the Whitney Soon

"All I ever wanted to do was paint sunlight on the side of a house."
Edward Hopper

Hopper lived in Greenwich Village over 50 years in the same walk-up apartment. He ate every meal at the same neighborhood diner (remember the painting?). His wife said he did not like change much.
Upon his death, she gave 3,000 of his paintings to the Whitney Museum which is currently remodeling an area just for Hopper.
He hated children so there are no children in his paintings. And he will be remembered for sunlight on the side of a house.
More to come- Linnie

Shakespeare in the Park--Next Generation

Papp's daughter, Miranda (yes, from The Tempest) hosts delighted friends at the Delacorte Theater

Joseph Papp, founder of The Public Theater would be proud of his daughter, Miranda, and the current production of The Merchant of Venice. She brought friends, pictured, and Al Pacino brought the crowd. At 70, Pacino does a nimble gigantic performance. Seats in the center are full of celebs and contributors. All seats are free, thanks to Joe, and no thanks to Robert Moses. But that's another story...

The set worked well and the cast almost magnificant. With lowered music volumes, more restrooms and concessions it would be the Perfection of Central Park.

Reviewed in The New Yorker July 12 and 19, listed on page 8 this week.

Summer Art Museums---Not so Hot

Hot thin crowds; Hot thin exhibits

Is it possible, Met? 10 exhibits running simultaneously, as well as the permanent collection. From Picasso to Hipsters, from Italian drawings to American fashion, from King Tut's funeral to photos of handball players.

Sounds like a formula for success?

Not.

Spend your money on the Frick showing 75 years of collecting.

Avoid the Brooklyn Museum of Art, also doing American women's fashion with another Andy Warhol splash.

Go to Brooklyn for the Rodins in the lobby, FREE. Pictures in the August issue of Traditional Home magazine.

Frick is pricey but worth it. Met and BMA are suggested donation--you can get in for $1.00 without hassle.

More to come- Linnie

Who's idea of Summer is this?

No, it is not Brooklyn. Or Ocean City! From The Clark, permanent collection.

Book Sale in Stockbridge

All over New England the local libraries are purging and fund raising. Summer used book sales run the gambit of price and value. Thanks to a stop in Stockbridge on the way to Tanglewood, I have the Riverside Complete Chaucer. Hot stuff for summer.

Call around and find some affordable reads, to keep!

More to come- Linnie

The Clark--- Mixed Experience

I just saw the exhibits in Williamstown, Mass at the big deal museum.

Short of it---old is great, new is not. Here's the reoprt card:

Parking, signage and access D-

Picasso and Degas C-

Permanent Collection A+

Original Facility A+

New Wing D-

Volunteers A

Gift Shop B

The featured exhibit, Picasso and Degas, is advertised in most New England and art periodicals. High expectations lead to a small 5 room exhibit, 1/3 on floor one and the remainder on floor three. Honestly. The best of the exhibit is owned by the Met and the Clark. Not enough depth for the intent of compare/contrast.

In between is John Constable in the other room on floor one. You can't make this up!

At the other end of the spectrum, the Permanent Collection is staggering--every Impressionist you can think of, strong broad European examples, 9 centuries of medieval to modern religious paintings, George Washington by Stuart Gilbert, and silver, sculpture, ceramics--

 all exqusitely lighted, hung and presented in an easy to navigate layout in a great natural setting.

Worth the trip. But not for the hype.

Guess who?

Rembrandt, Constable, and Balzac in marble--new acqusition

Kitchen Fix: After and Before

 

Cheap Improvement!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks goes to Deb Chessari and the Re-Max crew of West Hartford, CT.

Their advice was to de-clutter to the Max!

A no cost fix that I am grateful for daily!

See my January 27 blog entry for the "Before" or here is it, to the left.