An invitation to taste wine from the Rhone Valley and more...

November is filling up and we haven't even thought about Turkey Day. For Harry's distinctive overview of our last collaboration please visit his blog. I love living and working with a true wordsmith.

Tim Bowring's Zero Hour with Amie and Harry

This is an experiment - I've never embedded an audio file of this length and had to convert it from an aiff file.... Enjoy! I am not crazy about the widget and link but at least the interview is available and archived! Thanks, Tim!

Tim asked us questions about our various projects and our collaboration on DICTATION. Two of the art cheerleaders were on hand to support our endeavor. To see David Williams video of the event click here.

Pollak Prize Quote of the Day!

"You were soooooooo good!"
- Mandy Moore, pop singer and star of HBO's Entourage
talking to Harry Kollatz, Jr, Master of Ceremonies

Last night I collected myself and the arsenal of remedies I am taking for whatever strain of crud that's been draining into my bronchial system. I knew it would be a well worth the effort since it was the tenth anniversary of the awards ceremony for the Theresa Pollak Prize for Excellence in the Arts.

Several friends and colleagues were award recipients and then of course my better half, the Harryman, was the M.C.

I sat in the back row to avoid interrupting the show with my coughing and it proved to be the best place to take in the spectacle of artists being moved by the rare opportunity to watch other Richmond artists receive accolades.

My two favorite responses to Harry's "suave"* introductions were Jerry Donato's and Johnny Hott's. When Jerry was asked if he had anything to say he simply said "no." After the standing ovation he and Joan Gaustad received for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts he was probably speechless. Joan nearly swallowed her words with emotion.

When Johnny Hott accepted his award for Excellence as a Vocalist/Instrumentalist he walked on stage with with his lovely, if tearful, six year old daughter Odessa and said he didn't know if he would be the musician he is today or be part of the Richmond music scene if it weren't for his friend Bryan. These two acceptances both brought tears to my eyes which quickly evolved to laughter with Mr. K's laser wit. He was "on" last night and it added another level of joy to a beautiful evening at the Singleton Performing Arts Center.

The complete list of the award recipients for the
Theresa Pollak Award for Excellence in the Arts:

Photography: Georgianne Stinnett
Vocalist/Instrumentalist: Johnny Hott
Fine Art: Jack Wax
Dance: Pam Turner
Enemble: Modern Groove Syndicate **
Film: Sonali Gulati
Lifetime Achievement: Gerald Donato and Joan Gaustad
Emerging Artist: Colleen Curran
Applied Arts: Karl Green
Theatre: Richmond Shakespeare Theatre
Words: Laura Browder


The artful graphic above and the description of the Pollak Prize below are from the Richmond Magazine website:

This is Theresa Pollak posing for her bat mitzvah portrait at Temple Beth Ahabah on Franklin Street in 1913. A born and raised Richmonder, she had a full life ahead of her.

Pollak established in 1928 what evolved into Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, where she taught for 41 years. During the 1930s she founded the art program at the University of Richmond, her alma mater (she graduated from Westhampton College, now part of the University of Richmond, in 1921). Pollak’s work was often shown in exhibits and collections, and she was a lifelong student. In 1958, she enrolled in the Art Students’ League of New York and learned from abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann. Pollak died in September 2002 at the age of 103. In 1998, Richmond magazine introduced the honors named for her. Several past recipients are no longer among us: jazz violinist and educator Joe Kennedy Jr.; artist, mentor and professor Richard Carlyon; theater director Ernie McClintock and actor Mary Sue Carroll. Three Pollaks were posthumous, those for artist Esther Elizabeth Motts, editorial cartoonist Jeff MacNelly and musical enthusiast and broadcaster Eric E. Stanley. Perhaps no one honoree was more influential than Carlyon, himself a student of Pollak. He recalled in 2001, “One valuable lesson I learned from Ms. Pollak was that you can’t feign seriousness in the pursuit of art.” Or, in the words of Roger Carroll, the 2006 Vocalist honoree, “There ain’t nobody lyin’ up in here.”

*Harry's comments as described by award recipient Laura Browder
** The pianist for Modern Groove Syndicate is Mandy Moore's beau

Harry and Liz on Wordy Birds

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Waiting for the Rain

left: currently untitled version of a soon to be finished drawing on panel utilizing mixed water based media with mica and charcoal.


It will be 99 degrees tomorrow. If I were in a different place I'd go to the Byrd during the afternoon since there will be a film festival. We've seen Shrek the Third. It was fun but not even close to the original Shrek in originality. I guess they've used up all their good ideas? Anyway - it was certainly worth $1.99!

I'll be holed up in my unairconditioned studio. If it were in France somehow I'd get through it with few complaints. Here, well, old habits die hard. I am working through the heat - as well as close to 40 new drawings. It should be a busy, if sticky weekend.

The Soulful Invasion of Carytown

Last Saturday a brass band from a Church Hill neighborhood prayer group decided they wanted to blow their instruments in Carytown. Harry happened to be there to encourage them to set up close to the NYD, the Byrd, etc. It turned into a lovely street party that truly reflected the atmosphere and spirit of our neighborhood and confirmed the many reasons we choose to live in what Harry calls WOBSOC since we don't benefit from the numerous historic designations our neighboring hoods are known for. (west of boulevard, south of cary)

We were wobbly with the spirit of the night, the love of brass and the joy everyone felt that spontaneous good things can happen on our streets on a Saturday night. I shot some video of the band and crowd that I'll try to post before the end of the weekend.
*update The United House of Prayer for All People was handing out postcards this past Friday evening as they performed in the same location in Carytown. The church which sponsors these soulful musicians (and provides their instruments!) is located at 926 Chimborazo Blvd in Richmond, VA. Sunday services are at 11 am and 7:30 pm. If anything could keep me awake on a Sunday morning it would be these guys. They aren't quite a dirge band in the New Orleans sense but they come as close as one will likely get in the state of Virginia. Harry and I would second line these guys all the way to the White House but I don't know if my fellow Virginians would know to get in line behind them. It is a very different culture.

Too many things and not enough clock

taking time for the harryman

left: From the Angels and Infidels Series - a portrait of the Harryman from 2005. mixed media on paper 18" x 12"

Ahhh. We finished up our taxes on Friday night and managed to fit in a film or two of the James River Film Festival. We didn't have the time to enjoy the fest like we usually do. I was away last year and all the while the harryman has been working hard to finish editing the chapters of a forthcoming book.

He was particularly weary last week when the preface of the book arrived. It was written by A. Crawford who says that "To read one of his columns is to know what it is to go on long walks with him when, coming upon some abandoned warehouse, he stops to tell you what went on there in, oh, 1913." He theorizes how Harry may know these things but I must agree with him - only the harryman knows for sure. There were many, many kind words in the preface and I must say it inspired me and reminded me of the many reasons I've chosen to spend my life with this man.

We watched a series of films at 1708 on Saturday night and afterwards watched as another filmmaker projected his work on the surface of most anything that seemed interesting along that particular block of Broad St. The guys at the barber shop next door seemed uncertain but all in all it proved to be an interesting interlude before we walked back west towards Carytown. We stopped off at ChopSuey Books there was an anniversart celebration underway with a 24 hour bookman sale, live musiv, etc. Dug Utley has also moved the 12x12 art exhibition (12inch square art shown record bin style with name dividers, etc) to the gallery upstairs so I took time to view the collection. I'd love to photograph the series so I can share it with you folks... maybe next time.

Beauty (not) and the Beast wish you a HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

The Harryman and I took time to put together a LOOK for Halloween of 2006.
We appeared to arrive from the land of Harry Potter or King Kong but really we were just Eurotrash Fashion Victims. The thing of it is, everything we wore came from the Oliver/Kollatz Closet... um I mean Archive.

Cupid, where the hell are you? I need YOU to shoot me a remedy for the rhinovirus crud! The Harryman misses his wife so it is imperative that we go out on the town tonite.

Premature elation

Ok, NOW the holidays are over and I SHOULD be doing many things to counter the unfinished business of 2006 but I wanted to take a few minutes to count the number one blessing in my life, my Harry. We celebrated the anniversary of his birth tonite with a few folks he's known since college. We don't see them often so its really an occassion to make sure we get together and tally the zeitgeist, eat pizza and drink premium beer to celebrate a premium Harry.

There was a toast to celebrate the upcoming publication of his book of Richmond Flashbacks as well as a play he has been commissioned to write about the friendship between Tessla and Twain. (Imagine David Bowie and Hal Holbook playing Tessla and Twain since they both know the roles so well.) But I digress -

It was a lovely evening that ended on a dark note because, like all anniversaries, the most recent resurfaced... and we were reminded that last year we spent Harry's birthday at the Harvey's service and candlelight vigil at the Unitarian Church. We ran into R and L and
ended the evening with thai at Mom's Siam. A memorable birthday, yes but if we could go back and change things wouldn't we ALL, the whole community of artists and musicuans, just start partying at the Harvey's on Dec 31, 2005 and never leave? If we were up all night maybe things would have been different.

Last night DC and MN-R were there, SS of S and F, RF of R and L, PK and P and B, JJ of J and T and of course my Mom. Our tree was tilting due to the attentions of our youngest cat Flannery... perhaps the Bushmills has a little to do with it. Tomorrow it will come down after a long day of paperwork, bill paying, letter writing, research, etc, etc. Happy New Year, really; everybody!

Holiday on Ice!

Harry brought up this scene from the Marx Brother's "A Night at the Opera" during one of our Monday evening walks from the VACR. I don't remember the context of the conversation but I knew it would be the most appropriate source of inspiration for our holiday card this year. 2006 has been a long year full of tragedy and hope. I am more in the mood for Holiday Spirits than Cheer and that's not good! My husband's sense of humor is one of the saving graces of our life together... another blessing I'll add to the list. Ho, Ho, Ho!

London as a Work in Progress

Leonardo's "The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist'

Harry and I spent my birthday in London. I really didn't know what to expect from this city I was once in love with. It was a completely different experience this time with Harry by my side. His knowledge of 19th and 20th C history creates a richer context in which to experience art. The great thing about visiting the parks and museums in London is that entrance to the permanent collection is always free.

My only disappointment (other than Easy Jet's inept attempt to get us back to Paris) was the
change of locale of my favorite drawing in the world, shown above. I once visited it on a regular basis when I was teaching in Glasgow every other summer. It was in a room all by itself - like a shrine, really. It was illuminated beautifully behind a wall of glass and a little hard to find so there weren't so many distractions when looking at it. This cartoon is bigger than two doors.
It has given me so much over the years and I was so looking forward to seeing it after four years away... and they've moved it! Its lit horribly and in the gallery with the rest of the Italian art. Its across from Leonardo's painting "Virgin of the Rocks." Sounds almost like a drink which is what I needed after seeing it in its new, sterile, academic locale. Bleh.

That wasn't a difficult request since outside the National Gallery Trafalgar Square was FILLED with Irish and Guiness loving Anglos celebrating St. Patrick's Day a few days early. London was putting on a giant FREE party for its citizens with "Hot House Flowers" and numerous other Irish bands on a giant stage with large screens on either side. I've never seen Trafalgar Square full of people, much less CHEERFUL drunk people. Harry and were both kissed on the lips by one happy young man... it was a little like Mardi Gras without the beads and the exposed boobery. A little too cold for that here... it was snowing in Scotland we learned from one of the young security men who was down from Paisley.

Trafalgar Square is surrounded by hidden pleasures. Gaby's deli in one direction, the cafe below St. Martin's in the Field on one corner, the beautiful carvings in a government building along one side (pictured below)... it was a good time to be in the city. The only thing we really missed that we wanted to experience was Ben Ellis' play. We didn't anticipate the early St. Patrick's Day activities and everything was running late. Trains, our shuttle in from Luton, etc, etc. We just didn't have enough time to get to the theatre without arriving late which is VERBOTEN in the theatre. Tardiness can be overlooked in many activities but not in the theatre. Sigh. We hated missing it but we loved drinking Guiness in Trafalgar Square surrounded by great beauty and cheer.

Waiting for Harry Words

Michael Smith's creation for 1708's Wearable Art Annual Spectacle in October of 2005

One of the best things about working far from home is getting email from my husband. Yeah, its great hearing his voice on the phone but the information goes through a different filter when he writes it down and sends it through the digital abyss. I knew First Friday in Richmond was going to be a doozy and once I realized today was Saturday (yeah, I am in the land that time forot...studio world...) I've been waiting and waiting...and w a i t i n g for his "report!"

He finally sat down late Saturday afternoon to write: "First Friday was crazy last night. Looked like Chelsea. Mobs of people, had to be at least 5,000 folks on Broad and the tributary streets. The glorious weather helped. Two big events; WRIR's Year Anniversary (went for first hour, Hotel X, danced, sweated, me and four women--guys stand around holding beer--Tim said they play better when I'm there); and Gallery 5's "controversial" (to the authorities) "Disrobed show," with 15 nude models on pedestals wearing nothing else much but body paint and accessories."

"One FTP board member Tiffany was the best of them, as she established yoga poses and kept a straight face looking forward. The rest seemed rather bored, though naked. The T.D. reported 400 people but that was nuts--at least 200 in the line I stood in for a half hour! My guess is they had 1,000 people go through that old fire station. Suzanne Hall said she'd been hearing all night about the nude people at "the Firehouse Theatre" which I'm just waiting for some big mix-up to occur since the Vagina Monologues was being rehearsed that evening in the theatre. Imagine it being interrupted by hipster art goers looking for nekkid art!"

"Many police and serious looking security people were in the crowd at Gallery5. It had its ABC license pulled as the show was deemed "lewd and lascivious". Owner Tom Robinson went down to court for three hours on Friday to get it reinstated.

Tim and I finally recorded our interview together. It will be broadcast on Monday at 12:30. We were goofy, but also discussed the Inner Life and the Meaning Of Theater. "

I must say, most of the time, it's worth the wait. The great thing is I can listen to Tim interviewing Harry here in Paris on Monday night here since WRIR
has a primary and secondary stream accessible from their website! That' ll be something
to look forward to. I wish I had something to record it but that has been a problem I've spent too much time exploring during the past week.

I've been an Apple user since the 80's but this whole deal with OS X and now the new Intel chip versions of everything Apple is just too much for me. It annoys the h*ll out of me that I can buy a webcam for under 20 bucks for a PC and the only webcam that OSX supports is $150. And to really stick it to us, the only way it would be worth my while to set it up would be if Harry, another Apple user, has one too. Nada. Not gonna do it. As much as we could love camming each other and monitoring the lack of progress in my atelier or the amount of cat hair collecting on his desk, we aren't spending three hundred dollars to witness this for the next three monthes. (One month is almost over!)

Yes, there are drivers out there that will make many PC designed webcams work on a mac but the software options are few and again, none of it is supported bt Apple. I find it very annoying! The only good thing that might come out of this intel chip/Apple redesign is that there may be more compatibility with hardware and games which would open up the market for Apple and create more competition. That would be a good thing. I've had it with paying "the Apple tax" just because they aren't interested in much more than selling iPods these days.

I thought HARD about getting one before I left for Paris. After a few long waits in the Apple store I realized that these expensive mp3 players break so often that there was an editorial about it in the NYTimes today! I sat at the Genius Bar in our local Apple store long enough to witness these iPods take all the tech's time because they break very easily or don't work A LOT. (parents of teens, this is a warning!!!)

Yes, they are cool looking. Yes, you can back up your friggin hard drive on one if you get the video version and have a USB 2 on your laptop... but if the thing breaks your back up is worthless!

The other thing I've been on the look out for are cheap portable speakers for my 12" laptop that don't rely on AC. I had a set I loved that I really only used when I play DVD's on my computer but I used them once here in Paris before they were fried by the current - and that was using a surve protector transformer! The Apple store at BHV doesn't seem to sell speakers that run off USB that don't need an AC cord... in the states this is more common. I've only seen one pair here at the Apple store and they were overpriced and ran off batteries which isn't acceptable. There are a ton of other speakers if I want to get a set that need to be plugged into a 210 outlet with a French plug.

Does all of this add to my studio environment? I tell myself it does. I like to listen to the radio while I work. If I am listening to French radio the clock radio here is loud enough and I can listen to Jazz all day everyday but its like being in a vaccumn since there is the language barrier. In 2004 I didn't know anything about the Tsunami until a week after it happened.

Now I can easily listen to NPR if I am SITTING in front of my computer. My laptop speakers just don't have enough power to overcome the traffic outside. Do I work without either, yes... but the internet stream off iTunes is something I really enjoy since I don't buy an actual newspaper anymore. (I swore off the IHT after they sold off the Trib - and had my pocket picked the last morning I went out to buy one...)