Treguna, Makoidees, Trecorum, Sadis Dee

When I was little, my brothers and I use to drag our parents to the armor room.



Now, apart from some hints of nostalgia and fond memories of Bed-knobs and Broomsticks, it's petty dull.


The same goes for Bed-knobs and Broomsticks if you were wondering.

Actually, one of my favorite areas recently got re-done.



I liked it better before - plus some foliage, minus a 'cafe' - but I will admit this lady looks much nicer in the sun.



I suppose two years living abroad ruined the awe of the Japanese 'garden' for me. Now I'm more interested how the ancients were also taking lessons from 'How to Draw' books.




I seem to have also become an admirer of fashion in the classics.




The expressions in this one are almost as extravagant as the costumes.



While he is looking rather chic in his crimson robes and lace gown, this fellow caught me eye as the inspiration for one of my favorite Bacon paintings.





And in case you were curious, the cats here are far superior to the ones found at the MoMA.



And now you know where Walt Disney got the idea...

MOMA

Took my second tour ever of the MOMA yesterday (last time was for a Chuck Close exhibit). My brother David was in town and invited me out to see the Tim Burton exhibition. I'll save my thoughts on that for a future post. For now, let's just enjoy some art.



Rauschenberg, a personal favorite. It's in the textures and the way the frame transforms everyday objects and vice-versa.


View of a blonde bombshell from Rauschenberg's bed.


More mix of the dimensions. Not as interesting as ol' Robert's, but fun to photograph.


These boys seemed particularly taken with Lichenstein. For some reason, I was amused enough to take a picture of it.


One of my favorite Picasso pieces. I guess I'm a sculptor at heart. One of the other six reproductions is in Philadelphia, where I first saw it.


Stern looking gentleman.


Last time I was here (for a film screening, not a tour) they were setting this fellow up. View from above remains the most impressive.

Next time, my musings on Tim Burton, Batman and Elliot Cowan.

In a Wonderland they lie...

Got lost in Central Park this past weekend.

Well, only slightly lost. Problem is, my knowledge of the park is limited to the few years of my childhood I spent touring the museums almost every other weekend. I'm familiar with Strawberry Fields, the pond and, of course Alice.


When we stumbled across this last Saturday, it was the first time I'd seen it in almost ten years (maybe more).


It's funny how nostalgia works. Ever since being back State-side, I've thought many times about stopping by to see if it was still here (although, really, I knew it was; more like if the magic it held for me as a kid was still here).


And while seeing it again was nice, I guess the combination of rain, age and the fact that I was wearing a dress changes a lot. I remember climbing all over it when I was younger, the triumphant moment when I finally was able to pull myself on top of her head.


Best I can do now is enjoy it for what it is: a public sculpture. Fortunately, I've always loved bronze statues of this sort. And again, the funny thing about nostalgia is how it can bring along new with the old.


Not far from Creeft's Alice, we came across another fixture inspired by Carroll's story which I had never seen before. In fact, I may have walked right by it if I hadn't recognized the image of Alice's unusual croquet mallet.


Several of the characters are recognizable - the Hatter, of course, with Alice to the left.


But most of the characters Roth chose to depict are more obscure. Sure, everyone knows the Cheshire Cat, but not everyone is familiar with characters like his human, the Duchess or Old Father William.


Anyone remember the Gryphon? His counterpart, the Mock Turtle is, unfortunately, absent.


I'm pretty sure this is a parrot from the Queen's court. And you can just barely make out the nose of the little dog Alice met shortly after a bite from the mushroom.

In a way, I actually like this piece more. It's probably age and the years of art history and appreciation. I like the stylized designs; it seems to do Carroll's characters more justice. But who knows how I'll feel ten years from now? Ever drifting down the stream...

Red fish, blue fish...

As promised, here's the most recent update in my 'How to Make a Music Video (for the Handsome Family)' Series. This past weekend, I accomplished two things.

One - ran around Manhattan scouting fish markets and taking reference shots. I popped into the Essex Street Market but mostly wondered about Chinatown.




The Essex Street Market is nice and suitable for our needs, but I can't help but feel there's a better, more perfect location out there somewhere.


Chinatown is just scary. Amazing fish, but still scary.






Trust me, I've had some fun times out in Chinatown, poking around shops, getting ice cream and hearing horror stories involving chickens and electronic tic-tac-toe games. The environment, while being really wonderful for a documentary style shoot, would probably just end up as a headache-inducing nightmare for anyone trying to actually set up staged shots. Plus, 3 out of the 4 markets were mean to me.


These guys weren't though!




He let me take all the pictures I wanted and even posed for me! Not really useful, but fun none-the-less.


They even had mackerel, the star of our show. Which brings me to Two - character and some rough armature sketches.


Drew these up Friday, scanned and colored them in Saturday. We're trying to keep the fish semi-realistic without it actually being mistakable for a real fish. The heads will most likely be replacement, with the gills hiding the 'match-line'.


Vegetables with obvious Muppet influences. No eyes, though. Once again, as close to realistic as possible.

Free(-ish) Stuff!

I've got a trunk full of fluff!


Why? Can't tell! But I can tell you how it got there.

In a stroke of genius I decided to avoid the traffic jam at the Holland Tunnel by turning up 52nd St. (it may have been 51st, but are any of you really going to check my facts?). As luck would have it, there on the sidewalk was a disguarded leather sofa, freshly dumped complete with gutted cushions. In a split second decision I pulled over, put the car in park and began racing back and forth across the street, throwing as much stuffing as I could in the boot.

I also have a bag full of socks!


Why? Again, can't tell but I'll bet it has something to do with that fluff...

Flea Circus

Popped in the flea market on 25th St. yesterday half-heartedly in search of mounted fish and blue dresses. Came up empty-hand in both areas but still had a fun time snapping pictures (please excuse any blurriness; most of these were taken with my cellular telephone).


Freeze! NYPD!


I don't know what's worse, the empty blackened eye-sockets or the wire wound around it's neck...


As the granddaughter of a noted family doctor, I had my fair share of strange 'doctor/patient' themed gifts. Luckily, I missed this one.


Blue dog...


I don't know. Maybe I'm seeing things but this image just looks a bit un-wholesome to me.


Enough said.

One booth had these great wood pieces, designed, carved and painted by David Kirk before he hit it big in children's book industry. Each was signed and dated. If I happen upon them again, I might just pick one up as a gift for the new children's library my mom will be moving into.


These two caught my eye first. Opening the drawer would trigger the eyes and teeth to move.


Great bank. The eyes and mouth would open when you pulled on a bone at his feet. Coins go in his mouth. Try this on your own dog to get the some expression.


If I had more money, this might have come home with me. But, alas, spending was limited. First of two purchases...


I know what you're thinking, how 'Sex in the City' of me. I've never successfully sat through an entire episode of that drivel. My second purchase was a bit less superfluous.


The illustrations by Wallace Goldsmith were what caught my eye first. The writing is fun to boot.


Most pages are printed on watermarked paper, too, which makes for a nice effect.


The End.