Rauschenburg Memory

Last evening, I learned via the TV news that Robert Rauschenburg had died. In the early 90's, Sue Rose and I were in Dallas, visiting Sue's mom in Highland Park. She told us that Rauschenburg was Artist In Residence at the SMU Meadows museum, and had installed a small, but wonderful exhibit of his recent works. We walked into the museum and were delighted to see the artist speaking to a large group of highschoolers. We learned from a teacher standing nearby that this group had dyslexia. Rauschenburg talked about his own dyslexia and how he'd overcome this. He spoke about his method of creating art; i.e.how he would collect while walking, discarded items that he found interesting within a certain area of Manhattan, and then base his piece on one or more of those items.
Many of the works in the exhibit used photo transfers. After his talk, I asked him how those were done, and he was so helpful in talking about various solvents, papers, et al. We also chatted and laughed about his stay at the highly rated hotel, was it River Oaks?, how he'd left the patio doors open only to find that a whole swarm of insects then invaded. I asked about his home on Captiva, and he described his artist's Paradise; that he'd greatly enjoyed his world trek, but was so glad to come home to Captiva. He even graciously signed the exhibit catalogue. A charming man, a superb, ground-breaking artist; he'll be missed.

Robinson Film Center: "In Bruges"

Last May, Ira and I were walking on the cobbled streets of Bruges. So when today we noted that the RFC was showing "In Bruges", we headed downtown. It was our first time in the Center and we were so impressed: by the ease of buying tickets, by the lovely foyer and small lounge, by the so comfortable theater seats and the theater itself.
We enjoyed the film, though I think if I'd counted, the word "f_ _ _ing" was used at least 100 times. We relived our tourist experiences of the ancient, dark Church of the Blood, the magnificent Guild Square, Town Hall, several cathedrals, and St. John Hospital amid other ancient buildings on the canal/river, the swans, St. Elizabeth's beguinage and the park. The acting was superb and the characters well-developed. I really did sympathize with the 2 protagonists, both killers for hire.

Spaceart at ARTSPACE

Poison Ivy Warning

About 2 weeks ago, I stopped at a backyard flower bed to pull up some small emerging weeds. I usually remind Ira to wear gloves, long sleeves when he's gardening as he's highly allergic to poison oak and ivy. I've never had poison ivy, but sure enough, I now have a poison ivy allergy. Dr. Resneck said that when the plant is just emerging, the toxin is strongest.....so BE CAREFUL. After a shot of Kenalog?, a cortisone-based med, I'm no longer itching, scratching, red and blotchy.

HISTORY PAGE TURNERS

Dr. Cheryl White will be the facilitator for a new History Book Club at the Broadmoor branch library. The first meeting will be on July 21, 5:30 pm to 6:30pm. The discussion and lecture will focus on "Her Majesty's Spymaster: Elizabeth 1, Sir Frances Walsingham and the Birth of Modern Espionage" by Stephen Budiansky.
On Monday, Sept. 15, same times as above, Paul Dickson's book, Sputnick, The Shock of the Century, will be discussed. Several copies of these books are on loan at the library. Hope to see you there.

PLANETS: Don't miss it

Last night's reception was rather dazzling w. guests later attending the Robinson Film Center's gala opening or the Symphony's Ocular Odyssey, the latter being part of this arts collaboration. Bill Joyce in a Kentucky Colonel suit! And there were those of us heading for Cinco de Mayo at Festival Plaza. The works, from Nadine Charity's evocative visual poem melding aging w. the Holst music of Saturn toThomas Little's attractive front-window title mural,are extraordinary; I wish we could "travel" it so that we could crow about our exceptional local talent.
Look at Jane Heggen's bright kaleidoscopic painting relating to Holst's Uranus section; Don Alexander's amazing, beautifully crafted work re Mercury that moves, changes; Michael Herold's huge inflated spheres on which are projected a variety of imagery and Laura Noland Harter's sky box adorned w. feminine constellations and peek holes to witness moving, abstract shadows. Mary Louise Porter's sensuosly painted rotating large box set below 4 marvelous paintings evokes the music of Venus, and Bill Joyce's triptych of Mars is a nostalgic work re childhood stories of Orson Welles' infamous Mars radio show and the stories of a planet that had canals and little green men. Its a marvelous show...don't miss it at Artspace.

A Friend's Warning

Yesterday's news stories focussed on the many tornados throughout the South. At noon, while preparing lunch, my phone rang. My friend, Gloria Lessler, who lives in New York, called because she'd just seen on her TV, a report that a tornado was heading to Shreveport. I did put the TV on and listened to the reports of a tornado that had touched down in Canton, another in Siloam Springs, and warnings of one near Carthage. The storms were moving east, but thankfully our area just had a few heavy downpours. This morning's newspaper reported a number of deaths in Arkansas. I am so fortunate to have a friend like Gloria. Thank you.

Last session re: Elizabeth at Broadmoor Libray

Dr. J.Lake managed to make a long list of contemporary books re Shakespeare and religion interesting enough so that I was ready to stop at Barnes & Noble on my way home.

Dr. Cheryl White completed her tale of the life of Elizabeth in her later years. She felt that with the passing of many of those that'd been close to her, that the Queen was lonely; that she was a vain woman whose heavy white leaded make-up covered the ravages of smallpox and age. She spoke of the problem of the queen not specifying an heir, and told the story about her last 3 days when Elizabeth was ill and would not go to bed as she said that when she did, she'd die (and she did).

A History Book Club, with Dr. White as "leader" will begin in July at the Broadmoor Library. The first book to be discussed is one about Frances Walsingham, Elizabeth's spymaster. Please call the library for more information.