Artsy Summer: Norton Simon Museum

Once upon a time, I told a friend who was visiting the Norton Simon Museum for the first time which was my favorite painting there. That friend immediately Googled the image and sent me an email about it, which left me very disappointed: I felt they had robbed themself of the experience and exuberance of seeing it live. Which is why I won't divulge which painting it was (though I will say that it's a Van Gogh), and also why I decided to delete all the photos I took of specific paintings when I went last week: you'll have to go there yourself.

The Norton Simon is my favorite local museum. The last time I was here was January, during their Hiroshige exhibit, which was very, very well done. I've also come here to see classical music performances (unfortunately, I missed Yoshida Kyodai). Helps that it's about eight minutes from where I live.

The only reason I don't have a membership is I'm not completely sold out on the entire collection, the entire lower level of which is Asian statues -- or chunks of buildings or temples -- that I'm just not that into. The paintings and bronze statues, though: amazing. Here's a shot of my favorite area, which I could just wander about or sit in for hours. An impressive collection of impressionist art; including a substantial number of items by Edgar Degas. Maybe you recognize his ballerina sculpture there?

Since deleting the pictures I decided to take a self-portrait, though I did it mostly to capture the warm combination of wood and limestone (travertine?) flooring. The porousness of the stone and the wood texture soften the hard edge or coldness often associated with stone, especially such large expanses of it. It's also a very indoor-outdoor look, reflective of our local climate. This is to file under 'dream house inspiration.'

Almost as important as the collection is the building in which it's housed (although in the case of the Getty Center, the grounds trump the collections, IMHO). The Norton Simon building is very classic. I am particularly fond of its rounded corners and the Rodin sculptures and sycamore trees that lead into the main entrance. Can't see it too clearly here, but I like how the 'Burghers of Calais' are lit up, along with the museum's interior.

Here's what Wikipedia tells us about the building:

[it] was completed in 1969, designed by Pasadena architects Thornton Ladd and John Kelsey of the firm 'Ladd + Kelsey'. The distinctive and modern curvilinear exterior facade is faced in 115,000 glazed tiles, in varying rich brown tones with an undulating surface, made by renowned ceramic artisan Edith Heath.

Yes, as in Heath Ceramics. Even better. I'm glad I looked that up!

I tried to make my way around to get up close to 'The Thinker,' which is at the street-facing side of the museum, but any entry point looked closed off (plus, it was dark by this time). Heading back to my car, I walked by what I thought an amusing sight. Call it art to shine a light on... space.  It's a cool tree lamp, though.

Admission is free the first Friday evening of each month. Hop on over when you get a chance; you'll like what you see.

Running progress

This is what I typically eat after a run: caprese salad (stay alive, little basil plant!) and TJ's soup (not just great for brunch!). Simple and healthy.

Tonight I'm adding a mojito to celebrate a particularly triumphant run. After having progressed from three five-minute runs (three minutes walking) to two eight-minute runs (five minutes walking), I'd been hitting a wall with the single 20-minute run. The most I could manage at each attempt was 12 minutes. That discouragement, along with hotter days--which mean I don't leave immediately after getting back from work, which in turn means I am less likely to get out the door at all--gradually increased the days between my runs.

Until today. I'd left my sunglasses at my brother's place and decided that I'd run over to retrieve them. I did a ten-minute warmup walk and then ran. For 22 minutes straight--huzzah!

I'm feeling very proud of myself indeed, pumped to keep running, and very deserving of the mojito by my side. Cheers!

Oh, BTW, I signed up for that half marathon after all.

Pizza!

My brother has gotten really into making pizza lately. At yesterday's family dinner he taught us how it's done. I got to roll out and work the dough, shape it, add toppings, slide it into and take it out of the oven. It was fun! And delicious! Here's what I ended up with:

Yes, plain ol' pepperoni. Call me conservative, I don't mind. :)

Giving green

The other weekend we spent a few hours at MyKo's parents' place, checking out their recent remodeling job (beautiful!). Due to the construction, household items had to be boxed up and stored outside. I spied a lamp that I offered to buy from them, and Mama MyKo said, "You can have it! Please, take it!" She even tested whether the electricity still ran (it did!) and put it in a bag for me. It's *exactly* the type of desk lamp I've been searching for, too: vintage, gooseneck, conical. The plusses are its fantastic green color and its funky fiberglassness. I love the texture created by the filaments.

As we were in the backyard already, MyKo and I started rummaging through some of the boxes and found lots and lots of treasures, especially in my weakspot: ceramics and housewares. Mama MyKo has so many sets of unique Japanese dishes -- the likes of which are, sadly, no longer made. It was a boon for us, though, since Mama MyKo was more than willing to send many of those hardly ever used goodies into new, caring homes. MyKo filled up two boxes with complete sets of plates (prompting her to remove items from her already scant bridal registry), various serving trays, and special Japanese cups; I managed to step away with a few pieces, too. The theme: green.

In addition to the lamp, Mama MyKo let me have a beautiful Japanese teapot with wisteria and butterflies; three teacups with a camellia pattern, and a tupperware for keeping vegetables (there's a net-type thing inside), long enough to hold the daikon I regularly pick up at the farmers market.

Such passings-along seem more and more common these days as our parents start to downsize and move out of the homes we grew up in. Sorting out a house full of stuff after 25+ years seems a daunting task for many, but I happy offer my services. I love cleaning and clearing out and organizing. When it comes to friends' homes -- like MyKo's, a couple months ago -- objects found at the bottom of drawers and the backs of closets often ring nostalgic. And with our parents' homes there are so many mementos and memories. I love a good history and a good treasure hunt. I'll be back, Mama MyKo!

Pika-pika

It's belated, but I hope you had a good Independence Day, reader!

I had a very busy yet fun-filled long weekend: working, celebrating two birthdays, and deciding to see fireworks at the last minute, after an Independence Day spent in serene solitude.

Here's a screen shot-cum-collage from my iPhone, because the pics look better smaller. It took a brief moment for the camera to focus on the bursts of light, but in the lifetime of such subjects that amount of time proved too long to get a clean shot. Not bad for a smartphone camera, though, which is why it's my go-to these days.

[pika-pika]

Don't tell my DSLR I said that.

Artsy Summer: Tim Burton @LACMA

A thread of emails from early spring was taken up again, leading us on a trek over to the Mid-City for a gander at Tim Burton @LACMA.

Uhm, why did we go, like, the second weekend it opened?! The experience was both amusement-park-line-esque as well as moblike (once we got into the exhibit)--not exactly ideal. I was actually turned off being among the hoards of people herded through the several spaces full of Tim Burton's sketches, films, costumes, and other media.  It wasn't fun to squint at works behind two or three people, but that's more a commentary on the layout and traffic flow logistics than the works themselves.

Though I am somewhat skeptical of high school or college notebook doodles being elevated to art by simply framing and captioning them, I admit that I enjoyed the exhibit.  The progression of Tim Burton's work, from his early days drawing cartoons for various City of Burbank campaigns to being an animator at Disney, demonstrate how increasing experience and success allowed him to develop his personal style and pursue his own projects. I even bust out my little Moleskine and started sketching again. And what better evidence of an exhibit's success than its ability to inspire?

We had a bit of time to hang out at the rest of the huge LACMA campus.  Tons of art and collectibles notwithstanding, I was delighted by the profusion of Eames shell chairs out and about:

And this interesting installation.  I was reluctant to enter but was obedient to MyKo, who wanted a photo.  I cracked a smile just for her shot, but kept my lips pursed and eyes closed as much as possible.  A guard was on duty next to the installation, mostly to make sure the kids weren't swinging from or getting entangled in the strings.  Interactive art can sometimes be dirty. 

Though Tim Burton was great, the true highlight of the trip was the company.  Thanks to Mini for organizing.  

This outing was an inadvertent start to my Artsy Summer, which replaces last year's picnic project.  This year it will be museums. And art.  And gardens.  And plays.  And films.  And new places.  And air conditioning.  For a bit of respite on these hot, suddenly summer days.

Been brunchin'

Kicked off the leisure days of summer with a simple brunch, held at my bro's while he and his fam were away on vacation.

The setting: backyard, under the sail.

Table: white cloth; mixed chairs; round woven place mats; white plates; blue cloth napkins; glasses for water; flutes; rosemary sprigs.

Menu: tomato roast pepper soup with sprigs of fresh thyme; this sandwich with cornichons; individual servings of yogurt in mason jars, with fruit, brown sugar, agave, granola and nuts; mimosas.

[photo courtesy of d.]

It was a quiet morning and the five of us, some new to each other, carried on a varied and delightful conversation. It was indeed a lovely segue into summer! Additionally, it was more hospitality practice for yours truly. I like a homemade but not backbreaking menu--no shame about ready-made elements; thank you, TJ's--so that I can sit down and enjoy the fruits of my prep work and the company of my company, instead of slaving away the entire meal or running back and forth between table and kitchen. I'm too lazy.

Brunch is a good meal because there's time in the morning for prep, it's a sweet/savory mix of food, and the meal concludes without having dominated the day. I look forward to hosting similar brunches in the weeks and months to come. Maybe even out in my little outdoor space--which means I need to pick up a couple more place settings (capacity is four at the moment).