Randuwa II: March 2024

Sunday, March 31, 2024

MLGZoo 2024: First Arrivals

Japanese Macaque

Macaca fuscata

North American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

Pronghorn Antelope

Antilocapra americana

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Squirrels have personalities. Most of them have AD/HD and a few I've known seem to have OCD! But not this one. This one has just come to my attention this year. The first time I noticed her was when I was in my bedroom on the second floor of my home rushing around to get to the theatre. It was a sunny work February day, and as an inspiration as I was turning to head down stairs, I thought to put a houseplant on the windowsill next to my bed to give it some direct sunlight. That's when I saw her stretched out on the warm outer brick ledge of the window grooming at first, then quickly switching to a full on nap. Two-floors up and me grateful for no Hawks in sight--they do visit the neighborhood.

I've seen her since methodically snooping around, looking for morsels. The other day she spent a good hour in my Japanese Maple nibbling on the sweet little seed buds. Then yesterday morning I caught her napping again. This time on the railing of my deck.

Mostly I disdain squirrels. They just create so much havoc in the world. But this one? She's captured my curiosity...and I wonder, can my heart be far behind?

Easter Resurrections!

The only kind I personally believe it. All from the "gardens" on my urban backyard.

Celandine Poppy

Stylophorum diphyllum

Barrenwort

Epimedium sulphirum

Ragwort

Jacobaea vulgaris

Virginia Bluebell

Mertensia virginica

Wild Violet

Viola sororia

National Museum of Women in the Arts: Impressive: Antoinette Bouzonnet-Stella

On the fourth floor of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in three smallish shotgun galleries to the left of the entrance is a most intriguing focus exhibition. It features the works of a 17th century engraver named Antoinette Bouzonnet-Stella (1649 - 1674). Her father was a Goldsmith of some renown and her mothers family were painters, of most prominence, Jacques Stella (1596 - 1657). When Antoinette was 13, her uncle invited her along with her two sisters and brother to move to Paris and work with him in his studio at the Louvre. There she and her sister, Claudine, were trained to be engravers with the principal task of making prints of her uncle's paintings and the paintings of his friend, Nicolas Poussin (1594 - 1665).

In time, her still brought in additional commissions and her style noted by many as "strong, masculine, powerful" became recognizable on its own. She eventually specialized in themes of Biblical and Mythical subjects. The works in this exhibition are from a series of 25 prints commissioned by Jean-Baptist Colbert who was the vice-protecteur of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture under King Louis XIV. The copper plate engravings depict images from "L'Entree de L'Empereur Sigismond a Mantoue" taken from stucco friezes in the Palazzo Te in Mantua, Italy.

Friday, March 29, 2024

The Kennedy Center: Company

"Company" at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the first Broadway Touring Company of the 2021 Broadway revival. The Broadway version won Tony's for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor, Best Featured Actress and Best Director. The twist on this version is the switch of most of the gender roles, a multi-racial cast, and a gay couple. The male lead, Bobby, becomes the female lead Bobbie, but the point is the same--a single person surrounded by coupled friends--who arrive to celebrate their 35th birthday and all existential mid-life crisis hell erupts. Like most Sondheim musicals, this is a work that depends on the stories of its ensemble members, all of which are reflected through the psyche of Bobbie.

The events ramble through a short undetermined time frame with songs, that like the focus always turn back to Bobbie. Described as a comedy, there are plenty of funny moments, sprinkled with irony and pathos. Having never seen the show staged, I was only familiar with the music. Watching the story-line folding into the music was very interesting. The cast is without a headliner name, but generally brought to the table a compelling energy.

Among the highlights, Bobbie's three suitors Andy, Theo and PJ performing "You Could Drive a Person Crazy". Great chemistry, high energy, delightful choreography. Marina Kondo's performance of the Priest!--it was laugh out loud hilarious with perfect timing. But the feast de la resistance was Jamie's (Matt Rodin) delivery of "Getting Married Today!" Between his beautifully flamboyant delivery, the pop-up appearances of Kondo as the Priest, and the rest of the cast through doors, cabinets, counter-tops and even the refrigerator! All done with perfect timing--a tour de force of theatrical magic.

On the other end, you have Joana (Judy McLane) who plays the cynical "adult" in the show, and caps off her performance with "Here's to the Lady's Who Lunch." Everybody knows this song, a lush condemnation of the obsessive egocentric life of the idle rich. It's a song to just swim in with gusto--the problem here, I couldn't tell whether the tide was coming in or going out. It was cliche.

And then there's Bobbie... Bobbie has an interesting role, both the center of attention and yet a chameleon-like every-person. It might seem an easy role to play, but it's the most difficult role of all. Lazy plays it like a mirror, just reflecting everyone else around them. Then you come to the end of the first act and Bobbie is left on the stage alone with "Marry Me a Little." There's no one left to reflect but herself or nothing. Similar to "Ladies Who Lunch," I couldn't figure why I wanted to listen. Unfortunately, it was pretty much the same flat performance of "Being Alive!" It's not that she doesn't have an amazing voice, it takes more to pull-off Sondheim.

The stage was engulfed in an impenetrable darkness save for rooms outlined in illuminated frames that floated in and out with actors. Sometimes, up to three rooms across with adjoining doors. The over all effect was reminiscent of a graphic novel. Very effective.

Ensemble surrounding Bobbie (Britney Coleman)

""You Could Drive a Person Crazy" Bobbie, Andy (Jacob Dickey), Theo (David Socolar), and PJ (Tyler Hardwick)

"Another Hundred People" Theo and Bobbie

Jamie (Matt Rodin) and Paul (Jhardon Dishon Milton - shown in the insert). The actor standing behind Jamie playing Paul was replaced by Milton on January 23, 2024.

"Barcelona" with Bobbie and Andy

"Side-by-Side" [L-R]: Peter (Javier Ignacio), Susan (Marina Kondo), Jenny (Emma Stratton), David (Jed Resnick), Harry (James Earl Jones II), Bobbie, Joana (Judy McLane), Jamie (standing), unknown actor (sitting), Sarah (Kathryn Allison), and Larry (Derrick Davis)

"Here's to the Lady's Who Lunch" Harry, Joana and Bobbie

National Museum of Women in the Arts: Highlights from the Collection

The National Museum of Women in the Arts is a relatively new art museum in a city swimming in art museums. It was founded in the early 1980's and began it's existence as a concierge (by appointment only) docent lead visit to the home of the founders Mrs. and Mr. Wilhelmina Cole Holladay. In 1983, the Foundation created to promote and expand the museum purchased the 1908 landmark Masonic Temple and embarked on an ambitious plan to the upgrade and retrofit that building to become a permanent home for the collection, and in 1987, it opened it's doors to the public. I have to say that in a city not only full of amazing museums but also amazing buildings, Entering the polished marble clad grand foyer and 360 degree mezzanine is practically worth the price of admission all on its own.

At the end of July 2021, the museum closed its doors to the public in order to undergo a nearly $65,000,000 renovation. The work would not only expand the gallery space, but perhaps even more significantly address some major structural issues with 113 year old edifice. The reason why I put it on my to do list for Spring Break was that I'd understood that it had reopened to the public in October of 2023. When I arrived, I learned that it had only partially re-opened, that, in fact, the entire second floor was still closed, as were new gallery spaces on the first floor and the gift shop. The final grand opening is actually set for this coming April 15, 2024... sigh.

Something to look forward to later. As to what was on display: 1) a handful of large scale paintings and photographs in the Grand Foyer and Mezzanine including a beautiful self-portrait by Frida Kahlo, 2) The entire 3rd floor is hosting works from the museum's permanent collection titled "Remix: The Collection", 3) 3 smallish focus shows share the 6 galleries of the 4th floor: a) Impressive: Antoinette Bouzonnet-Stella features a series of 25 prints by this 7th French artist, b) Hung Liu: Making History, features works by the Chinese artist and Cultural Revolutionary exile, c) Holding Ground: Artists' Books for the National Museum of Woman in the Arts features 9 celebrated book artists who's participation illuminates the new learning commons of the Betty Boyd Dettre Library and Research Center.

Here are images and highlights from the Main Exhibition "Remix: The Collection" on the 3rd Floor.

Gallery View #1, entrance

"Bullets Revisited #3," 2012

Lalla Essaydi (Moroccan), 1956 -

"Blossom Restaurant, 103 Bowery," 1935

Berenice Abbott (American), 1898 - 1991

"Vinato," 2005

Joana Vasconcelos (French), 1971 -

"They call me Redbone, but I'd rather be Strawberry Shortcake," 2009

Amy Sherald (American), 1973 -

"Yam Story '96," 1996

Emly Kame Kngwarreye (Australian), 1910 - 1996

Gallery view #2

"Apres la tempete," c. 1876

Sarah Bernhardt (French), 1844 - 1923

"Loading, from the series Canadian Lumber Camp," 1931

Clare Leighton (British) 1898 - 1989

"Maelstrom," 2011

Beverly Penn (American), 1955 -

I just had to show this detail of the this work. On the surface, it would appear to be a monumental (say, 10 feet in diameter) orb made up of delicately woven and dried diminutive thistle flowers, stems and leaves. And that's possible how it began, but it is, in fact, entirely cast in bronze! My heart still skips a beat thinking about it. Exquisite!

Gallery View #3

"The Cage," 1885

Berthe Morisot (French), 1841 - 1895

"Still Life with a Basket of Plums, Peaches, Cherries, and Redcurrants, Together with Fraises-de-Bois in a Porcelain Bowl, Figs and Mulberries on a Wooden Ledge," c. 1630

Louise Moillon (French), 1610 - 1696