THE ART OF OBSERVATION-THE OBSERVATION OF ART-ANSELM KIEFER IN NEW YORK

"There is a special border, the border between art and life that often shifts deceptively. Yet, without this border, there is no art. In the process of being produced, art borrows material from life, and the traces of life still shine through the completed work of art. But, at the same time, the distance from life is the essence, the substance of art. And, yet, life has still left its traces. The more scarred the work of art is by the battles waged on the borders between art and life, the more interesting it becomes."
--Anselm Kiefer

I dare to try and blend some pages that I have done in a book, with the brilliance of some of the work by Anselm Kiefer, that I saw a few days ago at the Gagosian Gallery in New York, titled, Next Year in Jerusalem. My critique is simple. I was in awe. It was inspiring in so many ways. Installation, sculpture, painting, photography. It was theatrical, interactive and drawing on every emotion.

While taking the time to observe as much detail as possible, I became immersed in watching how other people were observing each piece. They became as much a part of the work as what I was seeing inside the huge glass cases.

Around the corner from Gagosian you will find a building full of galleries. On one floor is the Sears Peyton Gallery. There you will find the work of painter Robert Schmid.  The top photo is a detail. he works in oils, combining images from a variety of photos and the result is magical.

I shared this wonderful day with some friends. Elizabeth (who happens to be the wife of Robert Schmid), Isabel and Seth.

ABUNDANT TREASURES-THE RUSSIAN ICON MUSEUM

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."  ~Thornton Wilder 

I am thankful to have many treasures in my life. Thanksgiving was spent with my dear family. With plenty of food on our table and many things to laugh about, we enjoyed a beautiful day together.-------- "Black Friday" proved to be a successful one for our business. Being an independent retailer, selling electronics, in what has been a very difficult time eonomically, I would say that yesterdays showing means we must be going in the right direction. I am very hopeful.---------------- The weekend before Thanksgiving, I was honored to be included in a group of extraordinary women, brought together by Lynne Perrella, to spend time together in Massachusetts at the Museum of Russian Icons. We toured this magnificent museum near Worchester and then spent 4 days creating together in response to what we saw.

Our group came together beautifully.

......like a colorful , well used box of oil pastels.

Our tour guide, was well versed in the complete history of this collection, the largest outside of Moscow.

The work is particularly of interest to me because of their use of metals, usually silver and gold, to frame and embellish each piece and the colors used are similar to what I like to use in my pieces.

We shared our own work.

We created new work.

We shared techniques.

.......and proceeded to try them out with creative exuberance.

I have been working on a project for the last few weeks and this experience gave me an inspirational boost that could not have been duplicated.

The last evening, we discussed and admired each others work.

Thank you Lynne and....Anne Bagby,  Shirley Ende-Saxe,  Ginna Brooks,  Leslie Aja,  Ellen Kochansky,  Barbara Block , Bonnie Benson and Inese Kaufman.

CREATIVE CUISINE IN CONSHOHOCKEN

         "Cooking is an art, but you eat it." - Marcella Hazan

My work is currently being featured on the walls of a fabulous new restaurant called ISABELLAS  located in Conshohocken . Whether you are hungry for delicious small plate items, a wood fired oven pizza or to look at some of my pieces hanging on a wall painted with a yummy mustard color, you will be happy.

                                          My beautiful daughter Emily and I at the opening.
                                                             Photo by Sari Lifshutz

From Hughe Dillon at phillychitchat.com-

"The Vibe: funky - rustic hardwood floors, burnished copper accents - indoor seating for 40, outdoor flagstone porch seats 16 + features an unbelievable built in brick pizza oven. Walls are adorned by mixed media pieces created by celebrated (and award winning) Philadelphia Artist Karen Shechtman Cole. Upstairs offers a loft style private dining room with floor to wall windows, stained glass, and high ceilings."

Michael Klein: Two new spots opening in Conshohocken

By Michael Klein

Inquirer Columnist

Two newcomers in Conshohocken are on opposite ends of town and approach.
Isabella, a polished but casual Mediterranean, opens Thursday in a former shot-and-a-beer at 382 E. Elm St. (484-532-7470) under local developer Tom Richter. He has installed restaurant veteran Peter Dissin (Henry's and Crazy Horse Saloon, to name two from many years ago) and chef Michael Cappon (whose past includes Marathon and El Vez). Isabella is a knocked-out bi-level with vaulted ceilings and huge windows. Downstairs, the dining room features Neapolitan pizza (mozzarella made in-house and, get this, the oven is outside) and modestly priced Spanish-inspired small plates, plus six entrees ($11 for a Kobe burger, up to $22 for a New York strip steak) - and plenty of gluten-free options. See menu at http://go.philly.com/isabellamenu. Bar includes craft beers, grappa, and a small wine list. Upstairs is a dance studio, where they'll do lessons. It's open nightly.

                                     

BELLE ARMOIRE JEWELRY

Hey everyone. Hope all of you had a great summer. I can't believe it is September!!! I am definitely a summer fan. In fact I decided July is my favorite month. No matter what you do, July is ALL about summer, no ifs ands or buts.


But now we are almost in autumn. I know this because I just picked up my new copy of Belle Armoire Jewelry, autumn issue 2010 at my Barnes and Noble. Drum roll..........for the shameless plug.......I have an article in this issue "What to Wear to an Art Opening", featuring some of my neck pieces. It's a beautiful magazine. I love the crimson word "jewelry" on the cover and of course, Ruth Rae's cuff is stunning. I am a huge green and red fan.

SKETCHING THE LIFE FANTASTIC

I have mostly been working lately, but have been lucky to have spent time at the beach with my family and in Italy with my husband and friends. I love to get back to my roots and just take out a drawing pen and sketchbook.  When a "mistake" occurs, I simply work with it , hence the unusual position above.