On Being Chic

The ever-dapper six year old Jackson asked James in all seriousness, "Daddy, do you want to help me pick out my clothes? You might learn how to be a better dresser."

Perhaps they should both tune into Copenhagen Cycle Chic, where images of impossibly fashionable euro cyclists are caught in the act of eco-friendly transportation. Not unlike Bill Cunningham's images for the Style section of the New York Times, these candid shots of stylish urbanites are more interesting trendspotting than the pages of Vogue. They inspired me want to break out some smart cycle-worthy togs and go for a spin in the snow.

But when I told James about this cool blog, he said, "Copenhagen Psycho Sheep?" Leave it to James to come up with an even more intriguing concept for a blog.

Verace: Open

After many months of construction, Verace is officially open, serving its unique take on Italian food. In a collaboration between Bouler Architecture and Bohlsen Restaurants, all the elements came together in retrofitting this 1922 building-- the lighting, the barrel-vaulted ceiling, the kitchen-- so that the dining expereience will be more than just a meal. We were fortunate enough to sample the food, deconstructed Italian dishes created by Tuscan-born chef Francesco Torre, who uses traditional Italian ingredients but in an unconventional way. A series of small courses, everyone at the table sampled each other's dishes, and we walked away having had a rich and complex meal, almost like a conversation with the food.

Shocking!

Someone recently asked me if I have a favorite book. It's an impossible question to answer. Oftentimes, it's not completely about the book itself, it's more about the reader. The Shock of the New by Robert Hughes is a book that hit me at the perfect moment in my life. As a teenager, I discovered art history, more specifically art of the 20th century. In this survey of modern art, Hughes presents a fascinating scope and sequence of images, reflecting not just the history of art, but also the history of 20th century in general. It was this book which informed the images I later painted and inspired me to earn a degree in art history.

If you have a book which transformed your life, I'd love to hear about it.

Sketchy

Playing around with some new ideas and new angles in the sketch book. The key right now is to keep it loose and playful, which seems like a good plan in all areas of my life. Drew this one based on a photo of a home in Natural Flair, though I'm not sure if I want to be rooted in reality.

At Home

Having a Sunday night dinner party isn't my usual routine, but last night's party proves that some routines are made to be broken. The Ripe Art Gallery show closed on Saturday, so in order to deliver my paintings to their new owners, I decided to get everyone together for a great conversation, to dine on Cornish game hens, and to raise a glass to the new year.

I love the idea of these 'homes' finding homes. Some paintings now mark bedroom doors, others live by the beach, and one Big Girl is off to live in a pediatric neurologist's office. Modernemama who was in attendance, graciously sent me these pictures of the paintings in their new home and invited me to stop by to be a part of the proper placement of them.

On a different note, James, as part of his 2010 resolutions, has decided to open up an on-line forum called Directing the Decade, hoping to create a dialogue about ways to improve the world condition. Check it out if you get a chance.

The Books We Read

Spending a week in a small, snow-covered cabin in the woods without television or internet, inevitably books become a central part of daily life. Armed with several new books, the entire family picked up something to read.

I was given a wonderful gift of Natural Flair by Klaus Kramp, a survey of contemporary buildings around the world which are particularly connected to the landscape and feature alternative energy systems. Talk about a perfect gift for inspiring James and me to set some new goals for Bouler Architecture.

Jackson and I enjoyed looking through the lush photography of The Way We Live With the Things We Love, a book about what people collect and display in their homes, a recommendation from Holy Hudson. It was interesting to see the objects which tickle someone's fancy enough to collect in the truckload: was the collection singular? eclectic? nostalgic? ethnic? Jackson thought of his godzilla collection and I realized after my fifth chicken purchase that I was inadvertently collecting those. The book, however, could do with a little more analysis of this drive to clutter a space with objects. In the end, as much as I enjoyed the book, it made me want to clean house.

Olivia curled up with one of the new Warrior books by Erin Hunter. We didn't see her until the next day, once the 400 page book had been properly devoured.

The Calvin and Hobbes Anniversary Collection became the family hit. Everyone took a turn reading the classic comic strip, which is as fantastic today as it was when it was in the naily papers. I particularly enjoyed reading Bill Wattersons' commentary, as he explained the genesis of his ideas, the challenges of the format, and the conflicts between his artistic integrity and commercial interests inherent in syndication.

On the car ride up and back, we listed to the audiobook of Outliers, read by Malcolm Gladwell, written in his usual anecdotal analysis of our culture, this time about those who surpass societal norms. It was an engaging read that brought on a couple of discussions and helped pass the hours in the car.

So if you are in search of something for the bookshelf or a way to spend a holiday gift card, these are some of the family recommendations.

Cheers and Peace!

Resolutions: Some people love them, others abhor them. I fall into the former category, hoping to control the universe, or at least my own behavior, through my resolve. In that light, I reread last year’s resolution entry—discovering the unexpected drawback of accountability.

Some years I need an excel spreadsheet to organize the ‘new me’, but this year I’m keeping it simple, which may be the hardest task of all. I woke up to 2010 to read this wonderful thought sent by my friend, choreographer Ann Robideaux--

Forget the Ten or Twelve Commandments. There is one commandment and that is LOVE.

It’s a great sentiment to start the year, so I’m going to make that my number one resolution—to love life wholeheartedly, to love others, even those I’d like to strangle, especially those I’d like to strangle, to love the challenges and see them as opportunities.

As the late Harold E. Carter used to end his every letter to me, I shall end today’s entry in kind, Cheers and Peace.