Getting it together for the Reina Sofia

Today is Tuesday. Tomorrow there is the preview/opening of the Chuck Close Retrospective at the Reine Sofia. Today is my last chance to see a few things before it'll be time to pack my bags for Richmond. Unfortunately I'm not feeling that well. Today I met C at the Reine Sofia, we got a preview of the retrospective and we were treated to lunch in the ubercool R.S. cafe. A number of people involved in the installation of the exhibition were present - designers, curators, etc. They ordered a selection of amazing Tapas and Spanish Wines for us to share... it was a divine afternoon. I was happy to hear that the portraits of Klaus and Jed arrived from Richmond on Sunday. It was good to see a bit of Richmond in the show... and to really look at the work. I didn't know that Klaus was a monochromatic watercolor on paper mounted on canvas. Nor was it behind glass so it was much easier to apprecicate Chuck's technique that most of his watercolors. Glass gets in the way. Its a necesaary nuisance but one I appreciate bypassing whenever possible.

Afterwards we rolled upstairs and went straight to the third floor which houses early 20th C work. The center piece of the collection, in my opinion, was Picasso's Gunernica. It didn't disappoint me as Picasso sometimes can. He's one of the artists that can enrage, engage, infuriate and seduce me if given the chance. Guernica engaged, seduced, awed and inspired me. Worth the trip, really.

I tried to give the collection as much attention as I did the Prado but once again, I lost C & C and the wine we enjoyed at lunch took me for a tail spin. I think I'd be ok if I weren't fighting a bug of some sort. I looked HARD in between, once again, looking for pay phones to call C. A surprise I didn't expect were the wonderful Gris and Tapias on the third and top floors. After exhausting myself and discovering C on the third floor she gave me her ticket as she had to get back to her responsibilities. I ran into B, M, M and B before I left. They are in just in from NY and I heard their voices in the Dali room. They seem like a friendly, if jet lagged, collection of faces. Later, I met C back in the room after I stopped by the book store and picked up a few publications. I am absolutely depleted. Time for a shower.

C has been in the room for awhile, looks great and is ready to go out into the night. I don't know if I have it in me tonite. I think I'm down for the count.