20a. Taking a Break: A Day in Brooklyn: At the Brooklyn Museum
This has nothing to do with my mother and everything to do with my mother. Exhaustion. Day in and day out I have been on the phone, for months, taking care of my mother from afar and observing by feel the decline of her health. And mine. So I was under orders from everyone around me and the people who take care of my mom, to go out and enjoy myself.
Easier said than done. I tried. But wherever I go I carry a large trunk filled with memories from the past, concerns for the future, and angst for the here and now.
So, with my body there and my head here, I sort of managed to enjoy myself at the Brooklyn Museum, at my favorite, Coco Roco, Peruvian restaurant (sorry, I took a break from food photography) and then at a concert given by Cousin Rob Schwimmer at The Stone House.(see next post) Washington commanded from the original stone house which was reconstructed in 1931; it is now a cultural venue.
The Brooklyn Museum’s most notable exhibit, in my opinion is on the found-object-recyled art of El Anatsui, a contemporary African artist whose work I had become acquainted with at the Clark Museum in Williamstown, MA, the summer of 2011. El Anatsui was born in 1944 in Anyako, Africa and has lived and produced his art in Nigeria. He teaches at the University of Nigeria and works in wood and found objects which he recycles into art, magnificent art, made of metal bands from liquor bottles and caps and cans. The work is painstaking; he employs young men to work for him while in college. Little pieces of metal are fashioned into rings and joined into magnificent lace tapestries. The pieces are joined with tiny bits of wire. When you look at these “cloths” it is hard to believe especially from afar that they are made from what most countries would toss into the garbage heap. Look for the close ups of the detail. The wood sculptures are made from chain sawed strips forming patterns that can be rearranged. The viewer creates the art. It is also interesting to note that the artist is not present for the installation and the tapestries can vary in presentation from museum to museum. Click on photos to enlarge.
Dedicated to my quilter friends, is the quilt exhibit, beginning in 1830. These hand works are perfection, and they look machine made.
At the fabulous gift shop I saw something that of course reminded me of my childhood and my Mom. A company is recreating the Russell Wright pottery/dinnerware we had in the 1950’s. I have the original cool green pitcher and a curved mouth bowl is somewhere to be had in the house.
You see–just what I told you–you never really get away from your thoughts. And strangely, I had an ocular migraine aura in the store; I wonder what brought that on?
This series is linked: see “continued here.” Also, below the line there will be links for the previous post and the next.
Just saw your comment, I don’t get alerts and sometimes I miss them but wanted to thank you. This artist it beyond words.
If you click on the photos and keep enlarging them you’ll gasp. It is fabric created from the mundane, and it shimmers and awes.
Happy Birthday to GiGi. Hope Madrid was fun and glad YOU enjoyed it too.
I am gasping at the beauty of El Anatsui’s art. Thanks for the share, Sue.
Sorry I haven’t commented recently. I spent a few days in Madrid with Gigi for his birthday. It was fabulous. Neither had ever been there, we saw so many things new to us. It was almost another honeymoon. I’m going to comment on your next posts as well. Ciao, cara.