The Last Iceberg

There is something about the cold that I really like. I love all seasons , but I think if I lived in Southern California year round I would go a little bonkers. I love the crisp & clean air of a cold winter morning and the sound of footsteps on snow (ergo my love for Lisa M. Robinson's series Snowbound).
Camille Seaman (what a perfect name for this photographer!) exhibit Where There Should be Ice opened today at Candace Dawn Gallery in New York and will run through June 21, 2008.
If you cannot see the show in New York, take a look at The Last Iceberg on Ms. Seaman's site:
Hauntingly beautiful landscapes (or portraits as Ms. Seaman regards them) of icebergs, that on closer reflection reveal environmental tragedy --not unlike the desert work of Richard Misrach.

Fritz Haeg

The next Whitney Biennial opens March 6th, 2008. I don't always care enough to go, but this year I do, because I want to see the work of Fritz Haeg.
I did not know about Fritz Haeg until today's New York Times article "Art and Life, Steeping in a Teapot" (by David Colman) caught my attention. The article was in the arts section and the title mentioned tea - I love tea - so I read it and now I can't wait to see the work of this person who wants to rekindle our relationship with nature, who is a trained architect, who values crafts and whose most important possession is a teapot.
Fritz, where have you been all my life?!
All kidding aside I am really excited to see this progressive approach to art. It made my day and made me a lot less grumpy. I was vexed because of the continuous need of many omnivores to ridicule the herbivores. (Maybe Schoppenhauer's idea about the three stages of truth has something to do with it.)
Sometimes it is just too much.
In any case, I don't know if Mr. Haeg is a vegetarian, but I feel confident to assume that he is not threatened by people who choose to mostly eat vegetables. And his embrace of life is uplifting and thus reading about him made my day.
Mr. Haeg's work for the Biennale is called "Animal Estates", which follows "Edible Estates" --the Times also reported about that project in 2006 in an article by Patricia Leigh Brown, titled "Redefining American Beauty, by the Yard".
If after reading more about Mr. Haeg you are curious to see the Dome House, you can currently see it here: www.realestatearchitect.com/index.php/ladomehouse/index/
I love the jungle garden.

Atonement

While we are on the subject of fashion, I wanted to mention the green dress that Keira Knightly wore in "Atonement". This really lovely dress was wonderfully conceived for the character but also for Ms. Knightly's physique. The talented Jacqueline Durran designed it, and is receiving lots of accolades for it: The dress was voted best film costume and Ms. Durran is nominated for an Oscar. Deservedly so, as the costumes throughout the movie were beautifully imagined and executed. Apparently the public at large is equally enthusiastic about this dress and while one of the original dresses (they made a couple for the movie) is up for auction for charity, an imitation is also available to order. But if you go that route be prepared to put yourself on a waiting list, because the demand is that great.
I love strong yet sophisticated color, floor length dresses, a comfortable but clever cut and delicate material -- and Ms. Durran's dress has it all. I hope she wins an Oscar. Also outstanding in "Atonement" was the cinematography by Seamus McGarvey who is meritoriously nominated for an Oscar as well. But I am still also rooting for Roger Deakins to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography for his work in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford".

Rona Chang

The formidable Rona Chang recently joined Nymphoto.
Rona was introduced to me by Maria Passarotti, and the more I look at her work: www.ronachang.com and her blog: www.plumandlion.com, the more excited I am to get to know Rona more.
Artists are a funny breed. Lots of artists travel, lots of artists spend time alone or need to spend time alone, but at the same time much about art is about connecting and communicating.
And it is so exciting to meet people who can further your knowledge (& communication) about topics you care about.
Through Rona's blog I came across the fabulous Danny Seo, who is like a greener version of Martha and his blog: www.dannyseo.typepad.com; Rona's blog made me take another look at photographer Simon Roberts and she beat me to blogging about the Explorer.
Take a look at Rona's blog and explore her extensive portfolio via her website showing thought provoking imagery from all over the world.


click on the image above to enlarge it © Rona Chang

'Greener'

In an effort to make our house 'greener' we have switched to new products . Two we really like are: Feline Pine cat litter, made out of sustainable pine and without harsh chemicals (good news: it really works even in a multiple cat household like ours).
The other product we really like is Ecover 's Toilet Bowl Cleaner (pine scented--I see a pattern here!). However Baking Soda & Vinegar, combined in a mixture, also works really well for toilet bowls, showers, sinks & bathtubs and both ingredients come in non-plastic containers. We also use slightly diluted (with water) rubbing alcohol for windows, mirrors and many surfaces instead of more traditional glass & surface cleaners.
Other 'green' brands that we also like so far are Mrs. Myers (very good for those of you who are keen on scents), Seventh Generation & NatraCare.