another man I make time for

Can you name this baby? You may recognize this image if you are familiar with the photography of Diane Arbus. A major retrospective and several films of late have focused on her life and work. I can't remember what I was searching for - perhaps the affect progressive eyeglasses have on an artists' work (if you know me, you might understand this query... more later if you don't.)

I discovered this particular Arbus image on this blog, recognized the image as one of Arbus; but had no idea that it depicts the babyface of the man linked to my title post. Pretty is, pretty was, pretty does! Thanks, mclennan for your informative post and the revelation you reveal from Patricia Bosworth's biography of Arbus: "To dispel the growing myth that [Arbus] only took pictures of freaks, she made up a list of elegant people she wanted to photogrpah... As if to prove her point, she took a remarkable portrait of Gloria Vanderbilt's sleeping baby son, Anderson Hays Cooper, for a Harper's Bazaar Valentine issue." Bosworth goes on to explain that after refusing to let HB publish the photo Gloria changed her mind and let her use it for her 1972 MOMA retrospective. A face born for the airways it seems.

Anderson has been on my mind lately since he in one of the few talking heads I can bear to listen to anymore. Ok, Keith Olberman has won my heart... but he doesn't interview in the field. He's a brilliant writer and entertaining talking head. Anderson is the only man in the field who has a brain and a heart and manages to get through his interviews without making me wince (at least not often.) With the unthinkable VT massacre all over the airways he's the only one I trust to ask humane questions. Thanks, AC. As much as I admire Anderson I must admit that I miss Walter Cronkite's dignity. Keith, Anderson, Maher and Stewart's Daily Show make up for a lot but we could use a lot more dignity out there.

A NOLA friend ran into Anderson at a small local bistro recently. He was dining with an collection of authentic new orleans locals but he was very personable and real with my friend.

Table for Eight

Today I'm presenting my concept for a commission in the new coffeeshop at our university library. This process is something I have experience doing and one thing I've learned is that decisions made by committee are completely unpredictable!

My approach celebrates cafe society and the contributions that Virginia Artists and Writers make to our culture. Its a continuing dialogue since life is short and art is long. The words and images of the artists depicted in the mock up to the right transcend their lifetime and offer us greater insight into what it is to be human.

I would love to complete this commission and if given the chance will create work that will transcend my time, work that will transcend the life of the coffee shop, art that will become a part of the university's history and future dialogue.

nouvelle linkage

Its funny how the simplest things can be the hardest to figure out. I suppose its just the thick protestant genes ingrained in my psyche that life will be hard... but that is not what this post is about so I'll save it that topic for a later date.

I built my first website in '97 or so and finally established my domain name in 2001. I've been trying to learn flash and another type of html editing software that would allow me to easily upload videos to my website... duh? I finally just uploaded a quicktime movie created in iPhoto to my server and ah ha! It worked!! If you click on the link above you'll see a QT movie of "Paper Views." After that petite ephiphany we took Sunday off to enjoy one of the last Indian Summer weekends of the season.

We spent the day sailing around the Northern Neck with a group of our friends we've known forever. It was a lovely afternoon but a little rough for the big sails. The rain finally fell last night as we were finishing dinner. It was all good.

timing

Show time.

I've decided to use our "guest quarters" as my air conditioned studio this summer. THIS IS A FIRST. The Virginia Beach show will require a different head space and presentation than the show at Randolph Macon - or any other show I've had for that matter. I can make art anywhere but the minutae of presenting it, framing it, etc is another matter.

Other considerations: White walls. Framing system and best of all: God next door. Really. "100 Artists Look at God" will be in the adjacent gallery. I'm thrilled! The show was curated by John Baldessari so I am confident it will be a great counter to what I am doing. The image above is representative of ths work that will be in a solo show slotted for August/September at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia in Virginia Beach.

Dinner at the White House

Not THAT White House! But... it is part of a complex that was designed by Thomas Jefferson! Last night, Friday, May 7, there was a black-tie Commonwealth Dinner on the hill here in Richmond. It was quite a gala for the Harryman and I. We were invited as representatives of the arts community (the Firehouse Theatre Project specifically) at a Gala Commonwealth Dinner at the Executive Mansion last night! This fete was quite unusual for us as well as for the Commonwealth. Under normal conditions Virginians don't take time to honor the contributions that artists make to the Commonwealth unless there is a beer truck close by... but Governor Mark Warner knows how to toast the arts!

As the first Democratic Governor Virginia has elected since Doug Wilder there are many thirsty artists around the state. Wilder was was not known for his support of the arts although his daughter is a very fine artist. The Republican Govenors weren't interested in the arts or if they were it was a secret to their constituents. Hence, there weren't many occasions for celebrating the Arts under their "reign." Mark Warner made up for lost time.

Diane Alexander and Tracey Welborn of the Virginia Opera performed under the glittering light of the mansion and the diamonds of the patrons at hand. Everyone was all smiles as they performed works from Verdi's "La Traviata, "Puccini's "La Boheme," Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" and Bernstein's "West Side Story."

I recognized many faces from across the state from my time participating on the Museum's Outreach Program of curator's who meet for statewide roundtable's several times a year. The "The Art Count Project" wouldn't have been possible without these hardworking curators and arts administrators. It was nice seeing them winded and dined. Working for a not-for-profit art institution is a labor of love but in the end everyone has to have the resources to pay their bills and send their kids to college. Running an art organization is like having a baby that always needs to be fed. It never really grows up in the sense that it will always need more. These women and men work very hard and make great contributions to the quality of life here.

Conversation's were broken by servings of a lovely pea and carrot puree, Virginia Rockfish wrapped in prosciutto, Summerfield Sirloin and an amazinf goatcheese cake with yogurt lime sorbet. It was heavenly. All of the wines were from Virginia wineries with the most distinctive being a 2001 New World Red from the Kluge Estate and Barboursville Vinyard's 2001 Malvaxia.

It was a lovely, lovely evening we ended by swinging on the long tree swing which hangs next to the Mansion. The Harryman looked pretty cute in his Tuxedo on the tree swing. Its hard to believe we pulled up the gate at the beginning of the evening in our ancient auto and the security guards asked us if we were with the band... um, I mean musicians in the orchestra!