blog no. 41: Kara Goldin & Hint Water, Charles Blow Opera, The Snoo

October 8, 2021

I am coming back to California with a big selection of art

October 22nd through November 12th, 2021

Please contact me if you would like to book a private appointment to see the art in the quiet of your own home (no obligation) or are interested in hosting a small “art party” in exchange for a painting.

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Hint Water

Undaunted, Kara Goldin’s book about her journey and building HINT — **Undaunted**, Kara Goldin’s book about her journey and building HINT

We all know that hydration is important—and some of us struggle drinking enough water every day (how many actually drink the recommended 8 glasses a day even though we know it is crucial to a good diet and a healthy body in general?). Making water more attractive, like in a spa where cucumbers or citrus is immersed in a pitcher, always helped me drink more but I never seemed to get it together to do that at home. Along comes HINT, founded by an accidental, in her own words, entrepreneur named Kara Goldin, who simply set out in the beginning to get herself healthier, off of drinking diet sodas and trying to make water more interesting for herself, her family and her friends to enjoy. I met her about the time she was just starting the business (we sat next to each other at the bar in Picco Restaurant in Larkspur, California and struck up a conversation) and remember thinking she seemed very determined although it seemed a big stretch to me to enter into what I knew as the very competitive beverage market, especially with just plain water. Well, many years later, HINT is everywhere and business is booming! So impressed by Kara Goldin! True to its name, Hint contains just a hint of flavor so people expecting and looking for something sweet will be disappointed (the only negative comments I can find on this product are about this). But I LOVE this product. It makes me drink more water. The flavors are subtle and yet just enough to make a glass of water interesting and delicious. And now they are even branching out into some new markets--check out their new sun and body products as well.

Fire Shut Up in My Bones Opera

You probably have heard of Charles Blow as a journalist, most known for writing op-ed political and social commentary in the New York Times. But he also is the author of a memoir Fire Shut Up In My Bones about his difficult life growing up in Louisiana which was adapted by Terence Blanchard into an opera by the same name. This very powerful production debuted at the St. Louis Opera House in 2019 but is now being performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City and lucky me, I had the privilege of attending last Monday night. The cast was very impressive with Baritone Will Liverman, one of opera’s most exciting young artists starring as Charles, soprano Angel Blue as Destiny/Loneliness/Greta, soprano Latonia Moore as Billie, and Walter Russell III as Char’es-Baby. Dance played a very important role in the opera and that, along with the beautiful set design, was a highlight for me. Fire Shut Up In My Bones is a watershed moment for the Met Opera, long overdue I might add: the first time for a black composer and also a very large all black cast. “There were so many faces of pride,” the composer recalls of last week’s premiere. “Obviously it was directed towards me but it was much bigger than me. Seeing themselves on the stage, seeing people that they knew, seeing the culture on the stage at the Met had people in tears." It was encouraging to see a much more diverse audience--not just your normal older white crowd. If the opera is to survive and reach out to a younger more varied population, this is the way to go. And after such a dry spell during our pandemic isolation, I can't tell you how weird and at the same time exhilarating it was to be back inside a theatre.

The Snoo

My niece just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and she already has taught me something. Have you ever heard of the Snoo? It is a robotic bassinet/baby bed that falls into the "what else will they come up with next" category. It is the latest and hottest invention of pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp and Nina Montée Karp, whom Forbes Magazine describes as "the pediatrician behind the Happiest Baby empire... turning night-night into a $50 million business who won't rest until parents do." The Snoo is a combination swaddler, rocker for newborns and seems to make them feel totally comfortable and stave away the possibility of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDs). (It seems to have reduced the infant mortality rate because it prevents the baby from rolling over). It looks like a straight jacket to me but hey, whatever works, keeps the baby safe, comfortable and not crying is a good thing, right? Sadly, it is not affordable for most people, weighing in at a hefty price of approximately $1500. People do seem to be sharing though, buying them used, etc...and has created a whole new market in baby goods...Time will tell if this will stick around and become the baby bed of the future. P.S. Does anyone remember the Skinner Box?

paintings of the week

One of my Yellow Spruce Series pieces, mixed media on canvas, 49” x 66” $7500

Mandala Series : Pink Bird, mixed media on paper, 27” x 19” $1500

Donate to The Coalition for the Homeless

Another Self Portrait going grey in the time of Covid…

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

blog no. 40: HBO's The Investigation, Blue Zones Diet, Artist John Whalley

October 4, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

Take two minutes, sit back, and listen to this beautiful piece of music—divine is the word that comes to my mind…I hope this fills you as much as it does me…by Giacomo Puccini: “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi / Renée Fleming, soprano · Ion Marin, conductor · Berliner Philharmoniker / Recorded at the Waldbühne, Berlin, 27 June 2010

three things we love

The Investigation on HBO

Danish Television Series The Investigation available on HBO

*The Investigation, a Danish TV series, currently on HBO*

Danish Actors Pilou Asbæk and Søren Malling

If you are looking for your next television series, don’t look further. Watch The Investigation on HBO. Despite the very sad subject (the true story of the murder of a Swedish journalist in Denmark), this murder mystery is not your ordinary crime story. Instead of focusing on the blood and gore of the crime itself, you the viewer are taken behind the scenes to witness the step by step process of investigating the crime and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I have a new appreciation for detective work and the meticulous and often tedious job of these crime investigators. I highly recommend this series as I do many of the television coming out of Scandinavia these days...!

Blue Zones Diet

How do you get to be over 100? I've written about the Blue Zones before--National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner has been studying the places in the world where people live the longest. Those locations include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Icaria, Greece and Loma Linda, California. One of the focuses of Buettner is his study of what these long-lived people are eating--he has been looking at their diets over the past ten years. USA Today published an article this week about how to eat like them if you want to hang around this world for longer (after this week in politics, I am not sure I do). P.S. This is not good news for you hot dog lovers.. .And in addition, as a Japanese food lover, here is also a link to the Okinawa diet.

Artist John Whalley

I first came across John Whalley's work in a restaurant in Damariscotta, Maine and was immediately blown away! I would say it was love at first sight. I am not usually a fan of photo realism but no one does photo realism like John Whalley. And no one picks such interesting and unusual subject matter either...Whalley is able to literally capture the feel and essence of the material he draws or paints--it is as if his art has brought these objects to life and you can literally touch and feel them with your eyes. He portrays the "paperness" of paper, the "metalness" of metal, the "woodness" of wood...
It is clear that Whalley is a master of his trade but he also illustrates to me that it is not just "mastering" but also what you choose to paint or draw. Although he does do your normal "still life," it is his choice of unique subject matter that interests me the most and differentiates him from the flock.

painting of the week

A view of my studio this week with the painting I am currently working on: The World Through Rose Colored Glasses, mixed media on canvas 50” x 84” $8500. — A view of my studio this week with the painting I am currently working on: *The World Through Rose Colored Glasses, mixed media on canvas 50” x 84” $8500.*

Small Animal Prints

Pam Smilow/Gert Mathiesen small collaborative animal giclee prints available framed in white or black 8” x 10” $150 each

These animal giclee prints are also available in larger sizes upon request.

Donate to Help Families in Afghanistan

blog no. 39: Joyce J. Scott. , Anita Moorjani, Jo Resnick Rosen

September 25, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

No one gets it better than Roz Chast—from one Jewish mother to another….courtesy Roz Chast and the New Yorker Magazine

three things we love

Joyce J. Scott

The Sneak, depicts six figures either engaged in, or witnessing, domestic violence Beads, thread, dimensions — *The Sneak*, depicts six figures either engaged in, or witnessing, domestic violence Beads, thread, dimensions

Joyce J. Scott surrounded by her art and that of the African Yoruba Tribe

The beadwork of the Yoruba Tribe in Nigeria serves as inspiration for Scott’s work.

I was initially drawn to Joyce J. Jones' jewelry after randomly coming across one of her necklaces as I was browsing on pinterest but soon found out that this was just the tip of the iceberg for this amazing artist. I was happy to discover that Joyce is the recipient of the presigious MacArthur Genius Award (she won in 2016) and is best known for her depictions of racially and politically charged subjects in her work. Her necklaces are meant to be conversation pieces, provocative and engaging--you have to be gutsy to wear her work. Aside from the craft of jewelry and her intricate use of the peyote stitch in beading, she is truly a woman of all trades--a printmaker, sculptor, weaver, performance artist and singer as well. Listen to her talk about her own work here. PBS did a segment on her as part of their Craft in America Series and for a more academic approach, Susan Cummins of the former Susan Cummins Gallery in Mill Valley, California gave a slide show and talk on Joyce which is also well worth the listen. And if you haven't seen enough of her work yet, check out this site as well.

Anita Moorjani

Anita Moorjani’s story is indeed a remarkable one and if you believe her (and I have no reason not to), it might just change your outlook on life (and death) forever. You see, Anita Moorjani died and came back--and lived to write about it. Her body, riddled with cancer, had zero chance of survival after a four year fight with the disease. She was down to 80 some odd pounds and in a coma with literally hours to live. What happened next is surprising, baffling, and inexplicable to her doctors and all of us in our current way of thinking. She "died" and miraculously came back to life, and within weeks, had not a trace of cancer remaining in her body. Listen to her mind stretching Ted Talk here. Anita has written a book entitled Dying to be Me which tells her tale in extensive detail, and I highly recommend it. I know, sounds crazy, right!? But hey, you never know...well worth the read and always good to keep an open mind...

Jo Resnick Rosen

Photo of Gert and me by Jo Resnick Rosen

No family event, party, or wedding should go without Jo Resnick Rosen, people photographer par excellence, who is able to capture the essence of her subjects through her camera lens. I know JoJo since I was a little kid—-she grew up in Usonia, the same Frank Lloyd Wright cooperative community I grew up in outside of New York City. She was always creative but photography is her passion (she also has a law degree!). If you are having a special event, want to memorialize time with family photos, or just need a headshot, please check out her website and consider hiring her—-she loves to travel for her work too so don't hesitate--so many of my favorite photos of family and friends are taken by her…P.S. She is a wonderful person too and great to have around.

painting of the week

Pam Smilow Mignon Means Cute in French mixed media on canvas 40” x 60” $4500

Commission a Portrait

Donate to Help Families in Afghanistan

blog no. 38: Woody Guthrie, Eckhart Tolle, Dr. Chris Kerr

September 18, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Woody Guthrie Songs to Grow On

Woody Guthrie is quoted as saying “"You can follow your book and your map of wars, but I'll go and follow my kids..” — Woody Guthrie is quoted as saying “*"You can follow your book and your map of wars, but I'll go and follow my kids..”*

Woody Guthrie is without a doubt one of America's most important national treasures, famous for writing This Land Is Your Land (here joyfully sung in 2009 at Obama's Inauguration--I give you permission to sing along) but many people do not realize that he wrote a myriad of children's songs as well--for his own kids as well as instructional and fun "lessons" for children in general. I originally came across Woody's 20 Grow Big Songs as a book and cassette on a seconds table at a local bookstore many moons ago and for some reason it popped into my head the other day. It brought me back to my daughter Morgan's childhood and the hours Gert, Morgan and I spent singing along. Here are some of my favorites: Wake Up, Don't You Push Me Down, Cleano and Pick It Up. You don't have to be young or have kids to enjoy these songs now as much as we did then but if you are lucky enough to have young ones around you, I am sure they will enjoy these songs too!

Eckhart Tolle

Do you ever spend time wondering what happens when you die? I never gave it much thought until I had a series of losses that left me simply saying, “Where did they go?” In order to deal with my grief, I gave myself a crash course on everything death and dying, afterlife, past lives, reincarnation, how animals grieve, mediumships--you name it, I read about it. And it all led to the deeply profound question: does consciousness survive death. Is the brain just like a radio playing our consciousness or is consciousness an invention of our brains? I have never heard this question examined in such a thoughtful and clear way as by listening here to the German spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle.

Dr. Christopher Kerr

Dr. Christopher Kerr is the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer for Hospice and Palliative Care in Buffalo, New York. Canadian-born, Kerr comes from a long line of physicians, fifth generation to be exact. He has explored and researched what he has found as near-universal experiences that precede death, often providing comfort, insight and significance into the life led and the death anticipated. I have a particular interest in this story as I witnessed my own mom's actions on her deathbed, extending her arm up to the ceiling like a ballet dancer's port de bras, her eyes opening wide as if she was seeing something. At the time, I had no idea what it was that she was doing and thought it was an involuntary muscle. Only later did I realize after hearing from a hospice nurse that it was a common occurence to see dying patients seemingly "reaching out to something"--that had up until then never occurred to me.
The research team at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo has published multiple studies on this topic and documented over 1,500 end-of-life events, many of which are videotaped (I have my mom's movement videotaped as well since I was trying to ask my sister, who wasn't there at the time, what my mom was doing). Dr. Kerr has also authored a very interesting Ted Talk entitled "I See Dead People: Dreams and Visions of the Dying" that I include here, where he talks from personal experience about this medically ignored topic. The talk has been viewed by approximately 3 million viewers and has been the subject of reports on many prominent publications and news programs including the BBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Scientific American Mind, Huffington Post and Psychology Today.

painting of the week

Gert Mathiesen, Boat Echoes of the Sea, handcolored mixed media woodcut, 15” x 44” $4500. Also available as a giclee print in varying sizes. Email for a price quote.

Commission a Portrait

Donate to Help Families in Afghanistan

blog no. 37: Kiss the Ground Documentary, Haiku, Elizabeth Holmes & Theranos

September 11, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

As Mr. Rogers’ mother would say, “Look for the helpers.” In honor of 9/11 and courtesy of my friend Eileen who shared this story with me.

three things we love

Kiss the Ground Documentary

If there is one thing I might recommend right now, it's a 2020 documentary that has now made it to Netflix called "KISS THE GROUND. We are so distracted by so many things these days that we have a hard time differentiating between the big problems and the small ones. And if you are anything like me, you are just plain overwhelmed with so many scary issues afflicting our nation and the planet--I feel paralyzed. But the message of this film Kiss the Ground is an optimistic one, and just for that it is worth watching. The film begins by examining how tilling and the use of pesticides have led to soil erosion, and then traces the damage done to our ecology, health and climate as a result. It argues for regenerative farming and the healing power of soil through its ability to sequester carbon, explaining some very complicated climate change details in understandable ways for the general public to understand. I for one walked away with a much better understanding of the issues at hand.
Kiss the Ground provides a thread of hope and somewhat of a roadmap to at least a partial way out of our march towards extintion...Highly recommend watching it.

Haiku

Writing poetry always seemed like a daunting task but I do remember really enjoying trying to come up with great Haiku in my younger days…Seemingly simple, this Japanese form of poetry is based on just seventeen syllables--a line structure of 5/7/5, but is anything but easy. More modern English versions can be found and are a perfect example of postmodern minimalism, although the literary world barely pays attention. Here are a few classic and contemporary haiku I came across that I thought were beautiful. Always fun to try and come up with your own as an exercise in creativity.

by Katsushika Hokusai:

I write, erase, rewrite
Erase again, and then
A poppy blooms.

And probably the most famous haiku of all time
by Matuso Basho:

An old silent pond!
A frog jumps in—
Splash! silence again.

by Yosa Buson:

A summer river being crossed
how pleasing
with sandals in my hands!

by Richard Wright:

From across the lake,
Past the black winter trees,
Faint sounds of a flute.

Theranos

I have always had a fascination with white collar crime--don't ask me why--and the Theranos story is a very juicy one! It has all the ingredients of a very engrossing thriller. It involves a young Stanford dropout, Elizabeth Holmes, who became the world's youngest female self-made billionaire, her start-up health care company Theranos (that proclaimed to revolutionize the blood testing industry without ever panning out), very high profile investors including some of the biggest politicians and military men in America (Henry Kissinger, Rupert Murdoch, George Shultz, Larry Ellison, General Mattis to name just a few), her very wealthy dot.com boyfriend/investor at the time, Sonny Balwani, and partnerships with some of the biggest companies in the U.S (Walgreen's for one). Founder Elizabeth Holmes is on trial right now for defrauding investors, patients and doctors and could be jailed up to 20 years if convicted.

The whole Theramos empire story began to crumble with the excellent investigative reporting of John Carreyrou, who smelled a rat very early on and began reporting on it back in 2015 for the Wall Street Journal. The trial is not being televised but there are numerous ways to follow the story and court case. Carreyrou's 2018 book on the subject (with updates), Bad Blood, is on the list of One of the Best Books of the Year (2018) by NPR, Fortune, Bloomberg and Science Friday to mention a few and his podcast Bad Blood: The Final Chapter is following the trial currently. ABC News has a very good podcast too entitled The Dropout, hosted by Rebecca Jarvis. And if you want more, there is an HBO documentary available entitled The Inventor. I hope you find this story as interesting as I do.

painting of the week

Gert Mathiesen, Woman with Flowers on Head, original is mixed media on rice paper (also available as giclee print). Call for more information.

artSHOP: tree of life series

Mint Green Tree of Life with Sparrow

Blue Love Tree of Life

Orange Multi-Colored Tree of Life

Light Blue Candelabra Tree of Life

Donate to Help Families in Afghanistan

blog no. 36: Ed Asner, New York in Song, Poet Jericho Brown

September 4, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Ed Asner

The world lost a true humanitarian and a great actor last weekend--one of my absolute favorites: Ed Asner. It turns out he was one of Michael Moore's favorites too...Read here the statement Moore released upon learning of Asner's passing.

I happen to have a great Ed Asner story of my own which highlights my chutzpah, starting at a young age: I was living in Barcelona (where I lived from 1980-1985) and saw on the news that Ed Asner was in town. Being someone I really admired, not only due to his role as Lou Grant, but also because he was a political activist and always on the "right" side of political fights, he reminded me so much of my Dad. And because I was missing my father so much and I thought they were very similar in personality, political beliefs, etc, I thought--maybe I would try and find out where he was staying and just go over there and see if I could run into him..." My first guess of hotel was correct--The Ritz--and before I had even just asked if he was a guest, they put me through to his room and the next thing I knew he was on the other end of the phone. I stumbled with words before blurting out--I am an American, living in Barcelona, and you remind me so much of my dad...I was wondering, could I take you out to breakfast (thinking if I asked for breakfast, he wouldn't thing I was trying to pick him up). The next thing I knew he said, fine, but why didn't I come to his hotel and we could have breakfast there and he would take me out..." I coudn't believe my luck--I was goig to meet one of my idols! Next morning came around, we had a great breakfast and great conversation, and then he was due for an interview on a radio show. Since I knew Barcelona, he asked if I would go with him to show him where it was. When we got there, the interpreter didn't show up and the next thing I knew, I was filling in for the missing translater! I don't think I did a good job (that is no easy profession) and I remember speaking Spanish when I was supposed to be speaking English and vice versa), but we got through it and I guess I did good enough that he asked if I was free--maybe I could accompany him around Barcelona, kind of like his guide and assistant. Well, I said SURE! and I ended up spending the next three days with him, going around to different interviews, meetings, etc. You see, the TV show Lou Grant was a big deal in Spain too and the Spanish people loved him! One of the highlights of my time was going along to the Liceu, Barcelona's Opera House and sitting in on a dress rehearsal with Placido Domingo performing. Joan Baez happened to be in town also, and becaue famous people form some kind of club, she was invited to come too. I got to meet them both and sit in on a behind the scenes rehearsal--so much fun!
One other thing I learned for sure during that time: it is not fun to be famous. Ed's son, Matt, flew into town (I think he had been in Russia) to be with his Dad, and all they wanted to do was to spend some nice time together. Asner was so flooded by people asking for his autograph all the time and being the nice guy that he was, he didn't want to say no, so he ended up being interrupted every minute and not being able to really be with his son. I realized then and there that being recognized all the time is a curse, not a pleasure...

New York in Song

I do feel like an ostrich but I am needing a break right now from the news--just too much for my sensitive soul. As music seems to always do the trick, here is a smattering of some of my favorite songs about the city I love..To wake you up and get you out of bed this morning, the good old Ramones' and Rockaway Beach. And then let's go to the beautiful song The Only Living Boy in New York by Simon and Garfunkel. I am sure you are not surprised to see Leonard on this list too, in the Jennifer Warnes version of First We Take Manhattan and from his Songs of Love and Hate album, Famous Blue Raincoat. I haven't heard Joni Mitchell's Chelsea Morning in a long time. And of course how could I leave out the good old standards by Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra. and Duke Ellington's Take the A Train. And just to round it out with a different genre, a collaboration of Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes Empire State of Mind and a celebration of hiphop history from way back in 1987 entitled South Bronx.

Poet Jericho Brown

Jericho Brown. Photo courtesy © Brian Cornelius

Krista Tippett is a font of knowledge and her podcast ON BEING is my go to when I am looking for a little spiritual boost or a kick in the ass to keep going. I tuned in and found this great conversation from their archives between her and Pulitzer Prize winning poet Jericho Brown. Listen to it here.

Poetry is one of those things that most people are afraid of for some reason or another--Brown describes that when he gets on a plane, a sure way to not be bothered by others is to say right away that he is a poet...He says a lot of things too that make a lot of sense to me and I quote a few of those here: On the subject of hope: “Hope is always accompanied by the imagination . The will to see what our physical environment seems to deem impossible. Only the creative mind can make use of hope, only a creative people can yield it…”
His definition of integrity: the ability to be who you are, no matter the audience" and on writing: "you haven’t written anything until you say something you didn’t expect to say—and that is the beginning…" and "the more authentically and deeply we can speak from our particular experience, we speak to the particular experience of others….not quite logical that it should work that way..."

It is not often that poetry makes Time Magazine. Here is one poem of his that did:

FOREDAY IN THE MORNING
by Jericho Brown

My mother grew morning glories that spilled onto the
walkway toward her porch
Because she was a woman with land who showed as much
by giving it color.
She told me I could have whatever I worked for. That
means she was an American.
But she’d say it was because she believed
In God. I am ashamed of America
And confounded by God. I thank God for my citizenship in spite
Of the timer set on my life to write
These words: I love my mother. I love black women
Who plant flowers as sheepish as their sons. By the time the blooms
Unfurl themselves for a few hours of light, the women who tend them
Are already at work. Blue. I’ll never know who started the lie that we are lazy,
But I’d love to wake that bastard up
At foreday in the morning, toss him in a truck, and drive him under God
Past every bus stop in America to see all those black folk
Waiting to go work for whatever they want. A house? A boy
To keep the lawn cut? Some color in the yard? My God,
we leave things green.

Brown, a Louisiana native, is the author of The New Testament and Please

Worth a listen too also is a virtual conversation he had with Nikky Finney, his old writing teacher, an an acclaimed poet and award winner herself .

painting of the week

Gert Mathiesen, mixed media monoprint on rice paper, available in giclee print only, 70” x 44” approx. $4500.

artSHOP:
Small Framed Animal Prints

on sale this week: $100 each (reduced from $150)--email pamsmilow@me.com to get discount

Please donate to the Innocence Project

blog no. 35: Archie Williams, Simon & Garfunkel Live, 101 Year Old Lobsterwoman

August 28, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Archie Williams

Due to technology associated with DNA identification, the first DNA exonerations of wrongfully incarcerated men in the United States took place in 1989. Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld (of OJ Simpson trial fame) founded the Innocence Project soon after as a clinic at the Cardoza School of Law in New York City, realizing that if DNA technology could prove people guilty of crimes, it could also prove that people who had been wrongfully convicted were innocent.
I first became familiar with Archie Williams by hearing him sing in a video on youtube. Everyone has a story but this man has a whopper of one! His rendition of the song Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John and Bernie Taupin was impressive enough on America's Got Talent, but what was more notable and tragic was the fact that he was incarcerated for 37 YEARS for a crime he did not commit. Read his story here…Simon Cowell was so taken by this man and his story that he became a Board member on the Innocence Project, who took on Archie Williams' case (among many others) and eventually got so many of them freed.

Simon and Garfunkel Live in Central Park

In honor of the Central Park concert that wasn’t last week, I thought I would give you access to one that did take place in the same venue...albeit a number of years ago. Simon & Garfunkel performed to a crowd of 500,000+ in 1981. It was a glorious event! Listen to it and enjoy it all over again here.

101 Year Old Lobsterwoman

Ginny Oliver—she always wears her earrings and lipstick to haul

Click photo above to see the documentary Conversations with the Lobster Lady

I have been hanging around and appreciating 90+ year olds lately--so much experience and wisdom after so many years on our planet. I am reminded too of John Prine's song Hello In There--also sung so beautifully by Joan Baez among others--and how often our culture ignores these wise old souls. In the midst of trying to find out if lobsters sleep and what they do in the winter, I came across this story.
At the ripe old age of 101, Virginia (Ginny) Oliver is the oldest licensed lobsterwoman in the State of Maine. She has been lobstering one way or another since she was eight years old and has worked alongside her 76 year old son Max for many years now, since the death of her husband. "I will work until the day I die," she affirms...Aside from being the subject of many news stories celebrating her and her life, thanks to Filmmaker Dale Schierholt along with Rockland, Maine's historal society's boardmember Wayne Gray, we also have a beautiful 30-minute documentary of this amazing woman entitled Conversations with the Lobster Lady. Well worth watching for a little inspiration and information on the profession."

painting of the week

Pam Smilow, Dress Series : Amate Paper with Leaves and Bird, mixed media on paper $1500

artSHOP: Cotton Duvet Cover or Comforter

Duvet Cover (Blue Botanical)

Comforter (Rust Tree of Life)

Dog Cotton Duvet Cover

Yellow Pillow Shams

Blue Pillow Shams

Yellow Cotton Duvet or Comforter

Maroon/Blue Cotton Duvet or Comforter

Green Duvet or Comforter

Please donate to the Innocence Project

blog no. 34: Gary Graham, Mary Oliver, Dhar Mann

August 21, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Fashion Designer Gary Graham

Clothing designed on Making the Cu, Photo courtesy of LATimes

I am very interested in the process of creativity, no matter what field. I never thought of myself a fan of reality tv but I do really enjoy watching shows like Top Chef (cooking competition) and Project Runway (clothing design). I was very excited to see that a designer I have met and admired very much over the years, Gary Graham, was one of the contestants on Making the Cut, a fashion designer competition hosted by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. He has been aptly described as a designer with a visionary eye of a fine artist and I wholeheartedly agree. Some of my favorite articles of clothing are designed by him. He not only designs beautiful garments but there are intellectual thoughts and stories behind his process and he also is creates the fabric and prints that they are made of. For many years he had a loyal following out of his own shop in Tribeca (and ABC Carpet and Home), but has now relocated to upstate Franklin, New York, opening Graham 422, "a site-specific creative endeavor dedicated to creating small-batch collections of hand-finished garments using antique textiles and custom jacquards." I just finished binge watching the whole season 2 of Making the Cut (season 1 is good too) and it just confirms to me that Graham is a creative genius. It is interesting to see that what is usually the most popular is often not the most (spoiler alert) innovative and interesting...

Poet Mary Oliver

Probably shouldn't be writing this as I sit smack in the middle of New York City, but having spent quite a bit of time in Maine this past year, I have rediscovered the importance of nature in my life and now know that getting out of the city is essential to my wellbeing.

With Thanks to the Field Sparrow, Whose Voice is so Delicate and Humble
by Mary Oliver
I do not live happily or comfortably
with the cleverness of our times.
The talk is all about computers,
the news is all about bombs and blood.
This morning, in the fresh field, I came upon a hidden nest.
It held four warm, speckled eggs.
I touched them.
Then went away softly,
having felt something more wonderful
than all the electricity of New York City.

Dhar Mann

In the course of doing research for this blog, I often fall upon unexpected things that take me to new and different places. Recently I have kept coming across videos from one of the highest viewed content creators in the world, Dhar Mann. I got curious and wanted to find out more about him and his moral lesson videos that are spreading across the internet like wildfire--he happens to be one of the highest viewed content creators in the world with over 23 billion views. These videos out of the Dhar Mann Studios contain lessons about fat shaming, bullying, and racism, among other current topics. They may come across as simplistic and obvious, but if he can teach one person to look at something with a little more empathy and compassion, it is all worth it and I think his audience is meant for the younger generation.
When I looked deeper into the person that is Dhar Mann, I discovered a real interesting life story--this unique, driven entrepreneurial man has a real fascinating story to tell about himself, his background, his motivations, successes and failures over the course of his existence so far. He had me captivated in this one hour interview with Lewis Howes. Seldom do you encouter a more colorful character!

painting of the week

Pam Smilow, Tree of Life Series, mixed media on paper mounted onto canvas, $4000.

artSHOP: tree of life series

Mint Green Tree of Life with Sparrow

Blue Love Tree of Life

Orange Multi-Colored Tree of Life

Light Blue Candelabra Tree of Life

Donate to Help Families in Afghanistan

blog no. 33: Clams, Artist Aaron Schoenfelder, Leica Camera

August 15, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Clams Posillippo

Nothing reads more like summer for me than clams. One of my fondest memories growing up is clamming in Long Island Sound with my Dad and sister, jumping off a boat in the shallow waters of the Great Peconic Bay and discovering those hard golden lumps beneath our feet...
I never met a clam I didn't like--steamers, littlenecks, cherrystones--prepared every which way--on the half shell, over pasta, oreganato, clams casino, steamed clams dipped in broth and butter...But my favorite of all, and my mother made a delicious version of this, is clams posillippo. I would love to say this recipe is hers but sadly that slip of paper is lost to me. This Il Mulino Restaurant's recipe from Wainscott, Long Island, is the closest to how I remember her making it...although she did sautee some finely chopped celery along with the garlic at the beginning.

Aaron Schoenfelder

Stonybrook Botanical mixed media on canvas 60” x 46” $500

Crashing Blue, mixed media on canvas, 30” x 25” $450

Custom Rose Sale, mixed media on canvas, 60” x 43” $500

Shaw’s Boat, mixed media on canvas, 32” x 37” $375

From a long line of artists--beginning with his grandfather Mel Smilow of mid-century modern furniture fame to his art book designer Dad and graphic/product designer/entrepreneur mom, Aaron joins a long list of creative spirits in our family. He has definitely come into his own with his paintings and scultpures, and his art is blowing me away. I would like to share some of it with you here. In fact, he is having a very affordable art sale on Sunday, August 29th at his place at 396 Halsey Street, Apt. 3R, Brooklyn, NY 646-706-3077 from 10am-7pm. For those who are not in easy access of Brooklyn, you can see all his art online and purchase it by emailing him at aaronssny@gmail.com. Always great to support an emerging artist...

Leica Camera in 1930's Germany

Some of you may be wondering why I focus a lot on the Holocaust. Aside from my particular background as a daughter of a victim of Nazi Germany (my mom was one of the lucky ones who got out at the last minute), I think that era shows a very clear picture of the heroes of the time—people who stood up to authority and refused to go along—people who did more than just sit and watch, even as they knew things were not right… Sadly, we are in the middle of such a time now and the more lessons we learn from history, the better chance we have of saving our democracy. It could go either way… German Ernst Leitz II, designer and manufacturer of Germany's most famous photographic product, the Leica Camera, was “known as “the photography industry's Schindler." After Hitler came to power in 1933, Leitz quietly began to establish what has become known among historians of the Holocaust as the Leica Freedom Train," a covert means of allowing Jews to leave Germany in the guise of Leitz employees being assigned overseas. Employees, retailers, family members, even friends of family members were "assigned" to Leitz sales offices in France, Britain, Hong Kong and the United States. The refugees were paid a stipend until they could find work. Out of this migration which was at its height in 1938 and 1939, came designers, repair technicians, salespeople, marketers and writers for the photographic press. delivering groups of refugees to New York every few weeks. The story of these heroic efforts of the Leitz’s was kept quiet, at the request of the family members until their death. You can read more about it with a hard to find book written by Frank Dabba Smith, entitled The Greatest Invention of the Leitz Family: The Leica Freedom Train."

painting of the week

This is another example of my new tool—I am able to superimpose one of my paintings on a client’s wall, taking the guesswork out of buying art. Try me. Just send a photo of your wall straight on (with the room around for context) and see how your space can be transformed and uplifted by the simple addition of a new painting…(no obligation if you just want to try it for fun).

artSHOP

Scarves

Cutting Boards

Giclee Prints

Phone Cases

Pillow Shams

Animal Giclee Prints

Pouches

Coffee Mug

Charity of the Week:
Stacey Abrams' FAIR FIGHT

Fair Fight Action is an organization founded in 2018 by Stacey Abrams to address voter suppression, especially in the states of Georgia and Texas. Please donate to save our democracy.

blog no. 32: Leonard Cohen Poem, Artist Richard Hutchins, Julianna Margulies and Naomi Levy Conversation

August 7, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Leonard Cohen Poem re: Adolph Eichmann

This poem “All There Is To Know About Adolph Eichmann” by Leonard Cohen has stuck with me after originally reading it at the age of 16--just about fifty years ago. I am pretty sure I thought then that Hitler was an aberration. I have gone back and forth about the inherent goodness or evil of human beings since then. This poem bsically sums up how I feel about it now.

All There Is To Know About Adolph Eichmann
by Leonard Cohen

EYES:………………………Medium
HAIR:………………………Medium
WEIGHT:…………………Medium
HEIGHT……………………Medium
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES None
NUMBER OF FINGERS:…… Ten
NUMBER OF TOES …………Ten
INTELLIGENCE…………Medium

What did you expect?
Talons?
Oversize incisors?
Green saliva?
Madness?

Former homeless artist Richard Hutchins

Another inspiring story about how kindness and generosity on an individual basis has the power to change lives. Sometimes fairy tales do come true! Thanks to brand builder Charlie “Rocket” Jabaley, it did for artist Richard Hutchins, a successful artist until a series of unfortunate events caused him to fall on hard times. A chance encounter outside Ralph's grocery store in California is where this feel good story all began...

Julianna Margulies and Rabbi Naomi Levy

Naomi Levy in conversation with Julianna Margulies

Don't ask me what I was doing on youtube at 5:30 am the other morning (sad but true) but I came across this very interesting interview that took place at the 92nd Street Y in NYC a few years back with Julianna Margulies, an actress I admire, in conversation with Rabbi Naomi Levy, founder of Nashuva, an unconventional congregation and spiritual outreach service in Los Angeles, California. The inspiration for Levy's book Einstein and the Rabbi was a quote from Albert Einstein himself that struck her:
“A human being is part of the whole called by us ‘universe’, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something s separate from the rest, the kind of optical illusion of his consciousness. The striving to free oneself from this delusion is the one issue of true religion. Not to nourish it but to try to overcome it is the way to reach the obtainable measure of peace of mind.“ I haven't read the book yet but absolutely love the quote and I plan on picking up a copy very soon.

painting of the week

I love searching used bookstores and flea markets for vintage children’s books, dictionaries and encyclopedias, primers, and nature guides.I found treasure in a small bookstore in Copenhagen a few years ago with a vintage German hand colored botanic… — I love searching used bookstores and flea markets for vintage children’s books, dictionaries and encyclopedias, primers, and nature guides.I found treasure in a small bookstore in Copenhagen a few years ago with a vintage German hand colored botanical book, whose images I subseqeuntly scanned and jazzed up with paint and collage elements, forming the basis for a line in the Smilow Mathiesen product collection.

Contemporary Botanicals

Yellow Botanical Pillow

Blue Botanical Duvet Cover

Linen Runners

Green Botanical Cutting Board

Botanical Clocks

Botanical Scarves

Botanical Tea Towels

Botanical Notecards

Charity of the Week:
CharityNavigator.com

Black & African American-Focused Charities: Click image to discover highly-rated charities promoting black health, education, rights and community development

blog no. 31: Self Taught Artist James Castle, Black Owned Businesses, Petit Rat Documentary

July 31, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

James Castle
Self-Taught Artist

James Castle, Stork mixed media construction

James Castle, Untitled, mixed media on paper. This is an example of one of his soot and saliva drawings.

James Castle , mixed media construction. He often depicted clothing and especially coats in his art.

Making things and working with your hands is one of the most satisfying activities one can do with your time, whether it involves painting, cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, drawing, whatever gets the creative juices running. It can even be as simple as building a sandcastle on the beach. Sitting in front of a computer screen just doesn’t have the same effect on one's soul. Along those same lines, I also believe that everyone is capable of making art. That is not to say I think everyone is an artist--like any profession or practice, you need to do it enough to get anywhere and become proficient. But I do not believe you need professional training to call yourself an artist. (I love children’s art often more than most adult art and folk artists are of particular interest to me as they just simply feel compelled to create.)
I recently came across the work of self taught artist James Castle who was born in 1899 to Frank and Mary Castle in the mountain community of Garden Valley, Idaho. James, the fifth of seven surviving children, was deaf from birth and it is debatable whether he ever acquired language. He began drawing at about age six. Throughout his entire life, he created thousands of drawings, paintings, sculptures, and books in a variety of mediums, often using found objects such as cardboard, string, printed paper, and his own spit and soot. Many of these artworks were subsequently discovered hidden in the walls of a modest house where he lived most of his life in Boise, Idaho. He was eventually discovered when his nephew, attending art school in Portland, Oregon, showed his uncle's drawings to one of his instructors. Many James Castle exhibitions ensued. The project of The James Castle House was taken up by the Boise Art Museum and has been reconstructed--a short film has been made about this process. The house is open to the public and for artist residencies.

Black Owned Businesses

According to the website GreenAmerica.org, “beyond enslavement, we can trace the origins of today’s racial wealth gap to Jim Crow-era practices like redlining, job discrimination, and exclusionary legislation, which segregated Black Americans from higher paying jobs and home ownership opportunities that ultimately prevented wealth building. As of 2016, the net worth of an average African American family is equal to less than 15 percent of the average white family’s, and one in five Black households have zero or negative net worth according to the Federal Reserve. If current trends continue, $0 will be the median wealth for Black families by 2053, according to a 2017 report by Prosperity Now and the Institute for Policy Studies.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs have always been wealth builders in our society. By supporting Black-owned businesses,...Americans can create more opportunities for meaningful savings, property ownership, credit building, and generational wealth. Here is quite an extensive list of black owned businesses from Sophia Conti of websiteplanet.com. Etsy has also compiled their own list of black-owned Etsy shops. And NBC is in on the game with their own List of Black Owned Businesses to support in 2021. Please consider and take advantage of these lists if you want to take an active role in helping lift our fellow Americans out of poverty and financial hardship towards a more prosperous future for them and their families for generations to come.

Petit Rat Documentary

Vera, Fernande, and Deborah Wagman. Photo courtesy Tony Stewart

SIsters/Dancers Deborah and Vera Wagman. Photo courtesy Tony Stewart.

Although my mother Edith Smilow (1918-2013) escaped the worst of the Holocaust and was able to get out in 1937 at the age of 19, I often wonder what emotional parts of me were affected and passed down generationally, left over from the traumas of her experiences growing up in Nazi Germany. Perhaps that is why this documentary film, Petit Rat, attracted me in the first place. Written, directed and produced by Vera Wagman, Petit Rat is a portrait of three women, a mother and her two daughters, bonded by the intergenerational trauma of war and uplifted by the resilience of familial love. The story begins with "a French Jewish girl's dream of becoming a ballerina, cut short by World War II. She vows that if she has daughters, they will become dancers. Nearly 80 years later, they all confront the impact of that pledge." The film is packed with so many themes set amidst the backdrop of the Holocaust such as lives interrupted, parenthood, sibling rivalry, the world of dance, sports psychology and mental health (particularly apropos right now given the recent experiences of Simon Biles and Naomi Osaka). It is a gem of a film and I definitely recommend it. I would also recommend that you watch the Q and A with Deborah and Vera Wagman after you view the film. You can watch Petit Rat virtually beginning this weekend July 31-August 7th, 2021 as part of the Woods Hole Film Festival by purchasing tickets here. You can also follow Petit Rat on Facebook and Instagram .

painting of the week

Pam Smilow, Blue Sea and Sky, mixed media on canvas, 50” x 80”

product of the week:
new pouches

Who doesn’t need another pouch? These are hot off the press and they are beautiful. They measure 6 x 8 inches and are great for gifts. Email us directly pamsmilow@me.com to purchase as they are not on our website yet.

Charity of the Week:
CharityNavigator.com

blog no. 30: Blue Zones, Violinist, I'm Not Racist

July 24, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Blue Zones

Top five places in the world for the longest life

Dan Buettner has written several books focused on why people live longer

Blue Zones are regions of the world where a higher than usual number of people live much longer than average. Journalist, author, health activist, and National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner spent over ten years finding these extraordinary places where people have significantly lower rates of heart disease, obesity, cancer, and diabetes. They include Okinawa, where women live the longest; the Ogliastra Region in Sardinia which has the world’s highest concentration of men living over the age of 100; the Costa Rican Nicoya Peninsula which has the world’s lowest rate of middle aged mortality; Loma Linda, California where people live ten years longer than the average in the United States; and the Ikaria Island in Greece which has one of the world’s lowest rates of dementia. Founded by Dan Buettner, bluezones.com is rooted in the research and identification of what makes for these longest-lived cultures and seeks to apply the tenets of the Blue Zones in over fifty cities throughout the United States, significantly improving health and lowering healthcare costs.

I am on their mailing list and in a recent email, they explored why people in places like Denmark, Costa Rica, and Singapore report being happier than the rest of us and my guess is that this contributes to a longer life. To find the answers of what makes a happy country and see how you rate on the happiness scale yourself, click here to take the five minute test.

Violinist Prodigy

I don't claim to know anything about classical music but I stumbled on this beautiful piece of music recently by Jules Massanet 1842-1912), from his opera Thaïs entitled Meditation, performed by Christian Li (born 2007), the Chinese-Australian prodigy violinist who came to international attention in 2018 when he became the youngest-ever winner of the Menuhin Competition. He is accompanied by Timothy Young on piano, arranged by R. Nichols for violin and piano. I thought I would share it with you here

I'm Not Racist

This Palestinian/Israeli Rap video Let’s Talk Straight Bo Nedaber Dugri has gone viral.

Hiphop artist Joyner Lucas created this song/music video back in December 2017.

My late Danish husband Gert told me back in 2012 that with all the red state, blue state talk, we Americans better be careful because we were heading straight for a civil war. At that time, I did see storm clouds on the horizon, although I couldn’t imagine that it would come to that. Now I am not so sure. So, in an attempt to look this straight in the eye, I include here an entry that is not for the faint of heart. It is not a feel good story and comes with a strong warning—harsh hate speech, profanity, racial tropes—laced with ugly stereotypes. I am including two videos, from different sides of the earth that are brutal conversations that no one wants to have. The first Let’s Talk Straight Bo Nedaber Dugri, features two men—an Israeli (Uriya Rosenman) and Palestinian (Sameh Zakout) rapping to each other, laying it all on the line and not holding back on all the stereotypes and hate that stands in the way of Arab Israeli peace. The inspiration for their video was actually an American video called I'm Not a Racist, from a music video and by the American hiphop artist Joyner Lucas that features a normal Joe with a MAGA hat sitting across a table to a young Black man in braids, shouting stereotypical hate at each other. I personally believe that although terrible to look at these ugly truths head on, it is the first step necessary to get to the bottom and underside of racism and hate so that everything is out in the open and we can move forward. That is the hope of both these videos. I agree with the critics that have called these videos necessary to spark conversation by tying in both extremes of the debate, although others feel that they are "clichéd" and "cheesy", and that it oversimplifies the debate by reinforcing stereotypes. What do you think? I struggle with wondering what are the best ways we can all work towards that final hug to embrace our common humanity?

painting of the week

Pam Smilow, Pink Princess Dress (Mandala Series) mixed media on canvas, 80” x 48”

Charity of the Week:
Jane Goodall Institute

Found this quote this morning in a worthwhile NYTimes piece on Jane Goodall. Seemed to express my thoughts entirely and why I began this blog in the first place. Click on the image to read the full article.
Please donate if you can: https://janegoodall.org/make-a-difference

“…We absolutely need to know all the doom and gloom because we are approaching a crossroads, and if we don’t take action it could be too late. But traveling the world I’d see so many projects of restoration, animal and plant species being rescued from the brink of extinction, people tackling what seemed impossible and not giving up. Those are the stories that should have equal time, because they’re what gives people hope. If you don’t have hope, why bother? Why should I bother to think about my ecological footprint if I don’t think that what I do is going to make a difference? Why not eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die?”

Jane Goodall, New York Times Magazine, July 18, 2021

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

blog no. 29: Carolyn Doelling, Hilma af Klint, Jeffrey Neal

July 17, 2021

To get the most out of this blog, please click on many of the images, underlined words, etc. for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Super Model Carolyn Doelling, age 74, rocking a Gert Mathiesen Rust Tree of Life scarf. — Super Model **Carolyn Doelling**, age 74, rocking a Gert Mathiesen Rust Tree of Life scarf.

Carolyn Doelling in front of one of my paintings, July 2021.

Carolyn Doelling, modeling a dress by Designer Kamperett, Photography by Drew Altizer

Carolyn Doelling in a dress designed by Jonathan Cohen. photography by Kaleb Welch.

Every artist remembers people who have helped and supported them along the way. One of those people, an early Californian supporter, was Carolyn Doelling. If I remember correctly, she bought three paintings from me back in the early 90’s and I was proud of the sale, especially since her home was designed by very prominent architects at that time: Ace Architects of Oakland, California. Fast forward many years and quite a few art pieces later, we have stayed loosely in touch. She was always a beautiful woman but at the age of 74, she is more gorgeous than ever and began a new career a few years ago when a local boutique ((The McMullen in Oakland, California) asked her to model for them. It is not often that women of her age get noticed, let alone asked to model clothing…and that got her thinking about how older women are often ignored, which got her thinking even more about the diversity (or more accurately, the lack thereof) of the whole advertising world in general. Being an activist at heart, Carolyn is now on a mission to draw attention to the invisibility of older women and she is determined to change that. In her own words, I am a fashion model because I aspire to be a “role model” model. The fashion industry ignores older women as models even though women over 50 have buying prowess of over 2 trillion dollars. Only 4% of women view themselves as beautiful because they are comparing their looks to a standard of beauty set by some advertising executive who assumes we all have aspirations to be 20 years old. There is a burgeoning wave of 72 million baby boomers, ages 55- 73, who do not aspire to be 20 again." She will stop no short of her goal to "inspire the fashion industry (and all of us) to reassess the standards of beauty and encourage older women to embrace style and color as a tool to enhance social engagement." Featured last week on a segment on NBC's The Today Show, Carolyn Doelling is a woman to watch! Follow her on instagram @doellingcarolyn and click here to read some of her writings.

Hilna af Klint, The Ten Largest, No. 7, Adulthood, Group IV, 1907 Photo: Albin Dahlström, The Moderna Museet, Stockholm/Courtesy of Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. — *Hilna af Klint, The Ten Largest, No. 7, Adulthood, Group IV,* 1907 Photo: Albin Dahlström, The Moderna Museet, Stockholm/Courtesy of Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Hilna af Klint, Fig. 6. Grupp I, Urkaos, nr 5 [Group I, Primordial Chaos, No. — Hilna af Klint, Fig. 6. *Grupp I, Urkaos, nr 5 [Group I, Primordial Chaos, No.*

The Guggenheim Museum past Hilna af Klint Exhibition Oct 12, 2018 - Apr 23, 2019

A while back I saw a very interesting show at one of my favorite museums for viewing art--the Guggenheim in New York City. Frank Lloyd Wright brilliantly designed it so you could take the elevator up and walk down the circular slope, never having to wonder where to go next. (As an aside, it enrages me these days when the curators organize a show to go in reverse--but don't get me started...) In any case, the last show I saw there a few years ago was of an unknown to me Swedish artist by the name of Hilma af Klint (1862-1944), who in the words of the New York Times "Upended Art History, But Left Few Traces." Precursor to such abstract painters as Wassily Kandinsky and Kazimir Malevich, Klint claimed that her work was channeled through her and knew the world was not ready for her art. She even went so far as to instruct her nephew not to release any of her work until twenty years after her death. For those who missed this show, Here is a walk through video about her spiritual, intriguing life and work.

Alice Neel’s 1960’s portrait of Jeffrey and Toby Neal when they were young boys. Toby passed away before ever getting to see the finished portrait.

Jeffrey Neal, posing this weekend in front of the Alice Neel portrait of him from the 1960s. When I asked him what he thought of the experience way back when, he told me it was very hard for him to sit there and be still.

Allen Tobias, a Columbia college student at the time, became a type of mentor for the two young brothers, taking them on outings around the city and to the country.

Jeffrey Neal and his wonderful entire extended family.

Sometimes I think I have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Or maybe I just notice it more. Such is the case when I finally got to see the Alice Neel show at the Metropolitan Museum (through Augut 1, 2021). I have always loved her portraits, especially now since I started dabbling myself in this genre during the pandemic (I am in kindergarten compared to her!). I also wrote about a particular portrait of hers in a previous blog post (number 16): the story of two brothers: Jeffrey and Toby Neal (no relation as far as we know), who posed for her some time in the 1960s and then lost touch and never saw the finished product until recently, after searching for it for many years. Well, today, not only did I see the amazing exhibition chock full of wonderful, quirky, gutsy, unusual and amazing paintings, but guess who happened to be there, standing in front of his portrait: none other than Jeffrey Neal himself, fifty some odd years after posing for the artist as a young boy. As it turned out, Jeffrey's son Desmond was about to go out of town on a project and wanted to take one last look at the Alice Neel exhibit before it ended on August 1. He told his dad of his intention and Jeffrey decided to come along too. Word got out in the family and that prompted a mass exodus to the museum for the whole extended Neal clan. I had the good fortune of stumbling on them, meeting the whole bunch. And as I knew their story, got talking to them, including the then college student Allen Tobias (who was also there!), who started the whole thing by being a kind mentor to two young boys who had just lost their father, including Alice Neel's studio as one of his many stops on outings he took the boys on. Testimony to art, kindness, and being our brothers' keeper.

painting of the week

I am including this painting again here to illustrate a tool I have in my toolbox these days: I can superimpose any painting on a photo of your wall and be able to show you or your client how it will look in your space. Please take me up on this. I know I am prejudiced but I think art is the soul of a home and if you are living without it, whether it be a poster, giclee print or original piece, you are missing out on something that can uplift you and provide you with endless inspiration and joy.

Charity of the Week:
Jane Goodall Institute

Jane Goodall, New York Times Magazine, July 18, 2021

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

blog no. 28: Maira Kalman, Maya Angelou, Anastasia Higginbotham, Roberto Ferdman

July 10, 2021

Although this is far from my often inspirational videos that I feature on my blog, I include this Vice investigative report on Brazil and corona virus because I think it illustrates very clearly the dangerous mechanisms of fake news and the sinister role social media plays in propagating lies that are at the core of the attack on democracy in our country and around the world. I also have personal interests in this story: 1) my assistant Poli is Brazilian and I am suffering with her as I watch her family living through these very dark times of President Bolsonaro and 2) I know the gutsy, amazing investigative reporter behind this report: Roberto Ferdman, a member of my extended family, correspondent for the Emmy award winning Vice News Tonight, a true rising star in the field of journalism. It is incredible to watch the excellent work he is doing in his field. (Look for his groundbreaking reporting on Breonna Taylor as well).

To get the most out of this blog,click images & underlined words for links to more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Maira Kalman illustration from her children’s book, What Pete Ate A-Z. (courtesy of Julie Saul Gallery, New York).

Maira Kalman has written different kinds of books, all in her own style, related to such varied topics as history, biography, cooking, grammar and children’s stories.

Kalman’s wonderful illustrations have graced many a New Yorker cover over the years. This one might just be her most popular.

This picture book for adults is about democracy and was inspired by the 2008 election of Barak Obama.

From Kalman’s book, Max Makes a Million (courtesy Viking Penguin)

I can't believe it has taken me this long to write about Maira Kalman. Of all the things I love in the world, she is right up there near the top. What can I say about her? That she has been one of my heroes for many years, that she is zany, smart, and talented as both an illustrator and a writer, and that she speaks to me in a language I know and understand as if it were my own voice. I fell in love with her when I first discovered her children’s book Hey Willy, See the Pyramids on the sale shelf at a local bookstore. I spent countless hours reading all her kids' books to my daughter Morgan when she was little and I am not sure who enjoyed the books more. Our favorite was Sayonara Mrs. Kackleman, part of her travel series introducing kids to other cultures (the other title we loved is called Swami on Rye (about India). Married to the late and legendary in the graphic design world Tibor Kalman, Maira is original and unabashedly herself in her work. I love her eclecticism and she has now gone on to write and illustrate a real variety of books, many of them explicitly for adults, including a remake of Elements of Style (the only time a grammar book made the bestseller list!), historical biographies, cookbooks, dog books, and her latest, a collaboration with David Byrne entitled American Utopia. Pick up any of her books and I guarantee you won't regret her unique take on life. And if you want more, here is her Ted Talk and some thoughts of hers on taking a walk.

Maya Angelou, writer and civil rights activist — **Maya Angelou**, writer and civil rights activist

Portrait of Maya Angelou by Jovilee Burton

Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror a
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

From And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou. Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou. Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc.

Not My Idea, beautifully written and illustrated by Anastasia Higginbotham.

I am not as much a news junkie as I used to be. I have made a conscious decision to stay away from the constant 24/7 cycle and listen to more music--always good to reduce levels of stress. So I haven't been paying that much attention and found myself wondering what was meant by critical race theory when I heard a debate on it on morning news the other day and decided to look into it more. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, it is a "concept based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of colour. Critical race theorists hold that the law and legal institutions in the United States are inherently racist insofar as they function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, especially African Americans."

So in that discussion on Morning Joe, one person, whose name I don't even care to mention, talked about how outraged he was about a certain book that was being taught in schools. The book was called Not My Idea by Anastasia Higginbotham. Being a fan of children's books and anxious to understand what made him so upset, I found Jim Jimerson to read it to me on the internet. It's short and well worth the listen/read. Higginbotham, a mother from Brooklyn, New York in consultation with her sons' teachers, wrote and illustrated it in an attempt to educate children on what has been the reality of black people in America and to help them make sense of the news all around them. She believes kids "navigate trouble with their senses sharp and souls intact" and her hope is to start early in helping to dismantle white supremacy, bringing out into the open and acknowledging how we, as white people, are brought up in that racist soup. In the words of Ann Santori, children’s librarian at the Cook Memorial Public Library District, Higginbotham's book is “a smooth, loving ‘on ramp’ for white families engaging in discussions of race.” "When grown ups try to hide scary things from kids, it is usually because they are scared too." Judge for yourself. I for one think this is a very valuable book.
Michelle Goldberg wrote a good opinion piece entitled The Maddening Critical Race Theory Debate for those who would like to learn more about this subject.

paintings of the week

Pam Smilow Dress Series 1-10 mixed media on paper 30” x 22” $1500 each

Charity of the Week:
Anti-Defamation League

Please donate if you can to this very worthwhile organization by clicking the image above.

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

blog no. 27: My friend Tina, Joan Baez, Animal Stories

July 3, 2021

In 2015, a white supremacist murdered nine worshippers at a historic African American church in South Carolina. Singer/songwriter Zoe Mulford was so moved by that terrible event that she wrote the song “The President Sang Amazing Grace,” which was then sung by Joan Baez and illustrated by filmmaker and painter Jeff Scher for this video.

To get the most out of this blog,click images & underlined words for more information, interviews, music, etc.

three things we love

Tina Carro, in her country kitchen holding her old school tools of the trade, passed down from her Genovese grandfather Mario Zanichelli.

Wrenwood Raspberry Jam, $10/jar : tcarro88@msn.com

My Italian friend Tina is the best home cook I know. She learned from the best: her Genovese grandfather Mario Zanichelli. She literally lives to cook--for her family, friends and anyone else who comes along and she seems to enjoy every minute of the process: from pounding her cutlets with a mallet to grating daikon radish for a perfect and authentic agedashi tofu. When I asked her family over a delicious lunch the other day which meal was their favorite, they didn't hesitate to say it was her chicken cutlets. Here is her recipe. One important tip: no skimping on the breadcrumbs--they have to be homemade for the full effect!

P.S. She and her husband, John Carro, harvest their enormous raspberry bushes into the best jam this side of the Mississippi. Email them for details and to order: tcarro88@msn.com

Tina's Famous Chicken Cutlets

Ingredients
1 lb thin sliced chicken cutlets or thicker ones pounded)
1-2 eggs
dash of milk
homemade breadcrumbs (see recipe below)
1/2 cup approx. vegetable oil
1/4 cup olive oil or more as needed

Dry chicken between paper towels on a baking sheet. Move to side and add breadcrumbs to the other side. In a separate bowl, beat egg(s) and a dash of milk. Dip chicken into egg mixture, then coat with breadcrumbs on both sides.
Heat vegetable oil on medium for a few minutes and then add olive oil. Once hot (sizzling), add cutlets in batches. Cook for a few minutes on each side until done. Remove from pan, place on paper towels on top of brown paper bag and season immediately with kosher salt.

Breadcrumb Recipe
Using a good bread (baguette, sourdough, peasant), toast (either sliced or cubed) in 300 degree oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Let completely cool. Grind coarsely in food processor and add a healthy pinch of kosher salt (1-2 tbsp), 1 tsp pepper, and approx. 1 tsp. freshly dried oregano leaves, 1 large sprig of rosemary stripped of stem and 2 sprigs of thyme, also stripped of stem).

Portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Joan Baez

Joan Baez’s Portrait of Bob Dylan. It is purported that her song Diamonds and Rust was written about him. Click on Bob Dylan’s portrait to hear the song.

We all know Joan Baez for her incredible voice, songwriting abilities and her political activism. Now over 80 and still going strong, Baez surprised all of us with an additional talent aside from wonderful music: she is quite an amazing painter, specializing in portraits of inspiring people she admires. She calls this series The Mischief Makers, including such figures as Colin Kaepernick, John Lewis, Malala Yousafzai, and Vaclav Havel, to name a few.

And speaking of heroes, the book Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints by Daneen Akers, which I mentioned once before in this blog, celebrates inspirational people too, complete with beautiful illustrations. I plan on giving this book as a graduation gift to all my young friends as they go out into the world...

Christian the Lion with John Rendall and Ace Bourke

This book was one of our favorites: The Goodridge family of Rockport, Maine tell the story of how they took in an orphaned harbor seal, and trained and brought him up from puppyhood to adulthood.

I am a sap for animal stories and there is nothing I like more than to hear about the loving relationships between humans and other species. What follows are some stories about animals being reunited with their human friends, sometimes after years of not seeing each other. I hope these stories excite you as much as they do me.

Damian Aspinall, son of a zookeeper, raised and released a number of zoo-bred lowland gorillas in Gabon. Here is the moving story of his reunion with Kwibi, a gorilla he helped raise and subsequenlty released back into the wild in 2005..
Another incredible story is that of Christian, the Lion. Thankfully this would would not be allowed today but in 1969 John Rendall and his friend Ace Bourke bought a small lion cub from Harrods pet department and brought him home. Watch this long version of the video to see their story.
And finally, if you haven't heard of the most famous seal in Maine, meet Andre and the Goodridge family who took him in. This story inspired a number of books in addition to feature length movie . I love being read to and who says adults can't enjoy kid's books. Sit back and enjoy listening to Mrs. M. read one of the books about Andre the Famous Harbor Seal

painting of the week

Pam Smilow Green Gold, Turquoise Composition mixed media on canvas 50’ x 80”

This week's featured charity:
The Jane Goodall Institute

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

blog no. 26: Chef Peter Hoffman, Poet e.e. cummings, Homelessness

June 26, 2021

Just making sure you are all aware that when something is underlined, it links to something else when you click on it. The same goes if you click on most of the photos.

Thanks for being such loyal readers. If you like what you see, please help me grow by recommending my blog to friends. It is much appreciated.

three things we love

Peter Hoffman’s new book, What’s Good: A Memoir in Fourteen Ingredients hot off the press. — Peter Hoffman’s new book, **What’s Good: A Memoir in Fourteen Ingredients** hot off the press.

I went to camp with Peter Hoffman many many moons ago around the age of eleven. I had a great summer that year and one of my vivid childhood memories was riding in the back of a pickup truck, new baby rabbits on our laps, returning from a wonderful visit at a state fair somewhere in New Hampshire. I had no idea that the nice kid sitting next to me would become such a star in the New York food scene: restauranteur, pioneer in the farm to table movement in New York City and the Union Square Green Market-—ahead of his time as a big proponent of buying local. Owner of the now defunct Savoy in Soho and Back Forty in the East Village, I remember eating delicious meals there and also attending a calçotada (Catalan spring onion festival), big open grills to roast the calçots set up on a blocked off Crosby Street around the corner from his restaurant. Peter's idea when he opened The Savoy was to treat it like a collaborative art project between him and his wife Susan, and it soon attracted artists, poets, and many neighborhood people, many of whom became regulars. His frequent visits to the Union Square Market became a ritual for him on his unique extra long cargo bicycle and the relationships he made with growers and the food he found there inspired what he cooked on the menu in his restaurant(s).
No longer in the restaurant business and free to do other things, Peter has been busy for the last few years on a new project: working on a book which has just been released, entitled What's Good?: A Memoir in Fourteen Ingredients about his life and the food world he so actively particpated in. I highly recommend this book! So does Alice Waters: "In What's Good? Peter Hoffman has transformed his delicious, ethically sourced cooking into an inspiring book; I feel as though a friend has taken me by the hand and walked me through the market, sharing all the secrets of the harvest. Readers come away with a deepened understanding of nature's wonder, our interconnectedness, and the importance of buying directly from our local, regenerative farmers." —Owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California

In Her Shoes, a very touching film featuring Cameron Diaz, Shirley McClain and Toni Collette.

When I was in high school, I illustrated a bunch of poems including an e.e. cummings one about a balloon, if I remember correctly and made the words go around in a circle. Don't know what happened to that silkscreen print but this e.e. cummings poem below was always one of my favorites (and my daughter's too). The poem was mentioned in a very touching movie called In Her Shoes starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley McClain that I would also highly recommend.

[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]

BY E. E. CUMMINGS

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go. my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

I just attended my first post covid concert featuring the original instrumental work of Daryl Stuermer, lead guitarist of Genesis and the Phil Collins Band and an amazing musician in his own right. It was a great concert. Because of the Phil Collins reference, that led to me thinking about one of the most touching songs I know, Another Day in Paradise written by Phil Collins. Call me a masochist but I’ve always been attracted to sad songs and that is one of the saddest. I like music that hits me deeply in the gut. These songs below have touched me and call attention to a huge problem we have in America that is not going away—if anything it is growing bigger. I speak about the problem of homelessness and the huge amount of people who have no shelter and no roof over their head to keep them safe in one of the richest countries in the world. I remember Obama said recently, “whatever you are doing, it is not enough.” Maybe we can all double down and contribute in any way possible to help tackle this problem. I commend the following musicians and songwriters for calling attention to this tragedy and hope you enjoy listening by clicking below.
Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins
Hobo’s Lullaby by Woody Guthrie, sang by his son Arlo Guthrie
Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
Streets of London by Ralph McTell

painting of the week

Pam Smilow Yellow Spruce Nature Series mixed media on canvas 50’ x 80” This piece is in the collection of Tamar Podell and Cynthia Dames in New York, NY.

This week's featured charity:
Coalition for the Homeless

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

blog no. 25: Cooper Hewitt Museum, Linzer Torte & The Traveling Wilburys

June 19, 2021

Juneteenth becomes a National Holiday

click photo below to see the history behind it.

Courtesy Bettmann Archive/Getty Images — Courtesy *Bettmann Archive/Getty Images*

three things we love

Indonesian fashion designer Dian Pelangi

Iraqi Photographer Wesaam Al-Badry’s photos explore the disconnect he feels between his background growing up in the Middle East and then his relocation as a refugee to Middle America.

I am weighing how I feel about being back in New York City—little house on the ocean in Maine on one hand, apartment in the heart of the beast on the other, and the verdict is still out. But one thing that tips the scales for me in the direction of the big city is the opportunity for all kinds of diversity and culture--there is just no place like it.

I stepped back into the world of culture a few days ago and now I feel I am totally back. At least for now. It was wonderful! Food for the soul! I am inspired after a long spell in the desert…
The Cooper Hewitt, aka The Smithsonian Design Museum, has begun with a bang--a fascinating and mind opening show on “modest” design. Who knew that hijabs could be hip and that there are some real cutting edge designers in that field (how narrow minded of me). I especially admired the fashion designs of Dian Pelangi and Saiqa Mageed and the outspoken and honest voice of body positive activist and author of the book "Unashamed: Musings of a Fat Black Muslim" Leah V, whose voice and video greet you as you enter.

Classic Suzie Zuzek print for Lilly Pulitzer

Jackie Kennedy in a Lilly Pulitzer iconic shift dress.

The second floor featured a brand I remember well from my childhood: Lilly Pulitzer and her cute, flowery, print patterns so beloved at country clubs and suburban beach parties around the United States in the sixties. To my surprise, the designer behind all those patterns was not Lilly Pulitzer herself but a woman who only now is getting her due: the graphic designer Suzie Zuzek, who worked for the silkscreening outfit Key West Hand Print Fabrics. She created all those cheery, uplifting patterns. Read more about this talented textile designer here.

Willi Smith, Fashion Designer (1948-1987) photo courtesy Jack Mitchell/Getty Images

Collaboration with Willi Smith, Keith Haring, Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane

And then on the ground floor was an exhibit on Willi Wear, and the mind behind that: Willi Smith, who sadly died of AIDS in 1987. He was a forerunner in the field of streetwear, fighting to democratize fashion by making it affordable and accessible, even designing patterns for Butterick so you could sew your own. In his time, he collaborated with many of the best artists in New York City producing chic, stylish clothing for both men and women. “I don’t design clothes for the queen,” he once said, “but for the people who wave at her as she goes by.”

Passing it down, generation to generation

My mom was an excellent baker and here is her winning Linzer Torte recipe

This recipe is my mom’s crown jewel. She made it for every special occasion and it was anticipated and beloved by every member of our extended family and friends alike. It is my great pleasure to share it with you right now. She would be happy to spread the word…

Edith Smilow's Linzer Torte

1 stick and 1 tbsp. butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/3 cups ground almonds
2 squares semi-sweet or unsweetened chocolate, grated
Dash of Kirsch (optional)
Dash of cinammon

Three types of jam mixed together (for later)

Mix/Beat sugar, butter, egg yolks together--can be done in a food processor. Then add the rest of the ingredients except for the jam until everything is mixed together. Place dough in refrigerator for 1 hour or more wrapped in plastic wrap.
Divide dough in two parts, one slightly bigger than the other. Roll out each part between two pieces of lightly floured wax paper. Place the bigger half of the dough in a greased spring formed pan about an inch up the sides as well. Spread a layer of the (mixed together) three jams on top (my mom used raspberry, strawberry and blackberry but the type of jam is your choice). Now use the other smaller half of the rolled dough for the lattice work by cutting into 1 inch wide strips and arrange in a lattice design over jam layer. Don't worry if it breaks--you can just press it together. You can also fill the spaces between the lattice strips with a little more jam if you would like.  Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly and crust is browned. Cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired. 

Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison are the musicians that comprised the “accidental” group The Traveling Wilburys.

Have you ever heard the album The Traveling Wilburys? Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the 100 Best Albums of All Time. It is the collaboration of five extremely talented stars: George Harrison, his co-writer Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Roy Orbison. Friendship and lack of ego make this one of my favorites and a staple in Gert’s and my studio over the years...Here is the album The Traveling Wilburys for your listening pleasure.

paintings of the week

These paintings went off this week to a show on diversity entitled US All at the Brookfield Craft Center in Brookfield, CT

This week's featured charity:
National Dance Institute

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

blog no. 24: Louis Armstrong, Oatmeal, Prince Harry & EMDR

June 12, 2021

three things we love

Louis Armstrong illustration by Austrian artist Adi Holzer, who currently lives in Denmark,.

There is a lot of controversy around facebook these days and I share this hesitation. But one of the indisputable facts is that it is a great big bulletin board that enables people to share, across the globe, little gems like this one, courtesy of my Samoan friend Lelei Lelaulu:

“A grandson of slaves, a boy was born in a poor neighborhood of New Orleans. His father abandoned the family when the child was an infant. His mother became a prostitute and the boy and his sister had to live with their grandmother. He was gifted for music and with three other kids he sang in the streets of New Orleans for coins. A Jewish family, Karnofsky, who had emigrated from Lithuania to the USA, had pity for the 7-year-old and brought him into their home. Initially giving 'work' in the house, they fed this hungry child. There he remained and slept in this home where, for one of the first times in his life, he was treated with kindness and tenderness. When he went to bed, Mrs. Karnofsky sang him a Russian lullaby that he would sing with her. Later, he learned to sing and play several Russian and Jewish songs. Over time, this boy became like an adopted son of this family. The Karnofskys gave him money to buy his first musical instrument. They sincerely admired his musical talent. Later, when he became a professional musician and composer, he used Jewish melodies in some of his compositions. The young boy grew up and wrote a book about this family who had adopted him in 1907. In memory of them, and until the end of his life, he wore a Star of David and said that in this family he had learned "how to live real life and determination." You might recognize his name. This little boy was called Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong."

Steel Cut Oatmeal—it’s all about the toppings!

My favorite: peanut butter, maple syrup and banana

If you are coming out of the pandemic like me quite a few pounds up, oatmeal might just be a good breakfast choice: it is healthy and filling at the same time. Nutritionally speaking, oats are great because they are a water-soluble fiber-- which leads to a nice feeling of fullness, can help with the regulation of blood sugar and lowers the harmful LDL-cholesterol, so reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes. The only problem for me is that the last time I had oatmeal was at Judgment Ridge Camp in Keene, New Hampshire in 1967 when I was eleven years old and I absolutely hated it and said never again. Claudia, my college roommate who I just shared a house with for a couple of weeks, has the steel cut variety every morning so she convinced me to try it again 54 years later and provided me with a good recipe. Never say never. I am a convert! The trick was staying away from the mushy instant stuff and adding the right toppings! She personally combines the oatmeal with a tablespoon of peanut butter and a little bit of honey or maple syrup. Voila! Delicious and totally filling. I now realize it is all about what you add on top.

I am not a royal watcher. In fact, I got into a heated discussion recently about the value of monarchies in general (you can guess what side I came down on). But as of late, Prince Harry of the British Royal Family is speaking out in important ways about his own mental health issues around the death of his mother and his role as part of the royal British family. His new series collaboration with Oprah Winfrey entitled The Me You Can't See on Apple TV is an attempt to unstigmatize mental illness and bring it out of the closet. Harry's treatment has included a type of process called EmDR which particularly interests me and is something I have personally experienced with a therapist I have grown to trust in Portland, Maine.
EMDR, (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of therapy that was specifically designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially in soldiers, but is now also being applied for wider use. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. The goal is to help patients process upsetting memories, thoughts, and feelings related to the trauma they suffered by “reprogramming the brain” (in lay terms) through methods that include rapid eye movements and tapping. To find out more about how EMDR works and its effect on the brain, click here and watch here to see Prince Harry in his own EMDR session.

painting of the week

Pam Smilow Three Blood Moons mixed media on canvas 50” x 80” $8500

This week's featured charity:
National Dance Institute

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

blog no. 23: Hoffman, Williams, Brach & Hugs

June 5, 2021

three things we love

Quartet (2012) directed by Dustin Hoffman

I remember the day in 2012 I stopped trusting critics. I had just seen a charming gem of a film called Quartet, (Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut) about a group home of aging musicians and their efforts to save the institution where they lived from financial ruin. There is also a love story woven in. With a stellar cast including Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay, Quartet is a bittersweet comedy/drama (actually based on a true story featured in the documentary Tosca's Kiss) about growing old and facing mortality, filled with wonderful classical music (mostly opera but even a little rap). I was invited to a special preview screening and I walked out of it feeling that I had just seen a real winner. I happened to be sitting in front of A.O. Scott of the New York Times and was anxious to hear what he thought too. The next day I opened the paper and to my utter dismay, he gave it a bad review. And I thought--what kind of sourpuss could not have enjoyed that charming sweet joyful film? So, see for yourself. I personally give Quartet a hearty thumbs up and so did Philip French in The Guardian.

Poet William Carlos Williams (1883-1963) was also an accomplished doctor of general medicine and pediatrics.

This Is Just To Say
By William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

'This Is Just to Say'' from The Collected Poems: Volume I, 1909-1939, copyright ©1938 by New Directions Publishing Corp. Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corp.

The Red Wheelbarrow
By William Carlos Williams

so much depends upon a red wheel barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens

William Carlos Williams, “The Red Wheelbarrow” from The Collected Poems of William Carlos Williams, Volume I, 1909-1939, edited by Christopher MacGowan. Copyright 1938 by New Directions Publishing Corporation. Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corporation.

**illustration by Molly Hahn, known as Mollycules, a cartoonist from Santa Barbara, California.**

Tara Brach is the founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC — ***Tara Brach*** is the founder of the Insight Meditation Community of ***Washington, DC***

Tara Brach is a Buddhist psychologist and author and is a name you might have heard--she is in vogue right now as an avid proponent of mindfulness, compassion and meditation, and has just come out with a new book entitled Trusting The Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness. The inspiration for the book's title comes from a discovery in Thailand of a huge clay statue of a Buddha that began to crack due to heat and drought. When some monks examined the cracks, they were surprised to find glimmers of gold shining through the gaps of the clay exterior. Under this ordinary-looking statue was hidden a solid gold Buddha! It turns out that over 600 years ago the Buddha statue was coated with clay and plaster to protect it from being stolen by invading armies. Though the knowledge of the statue’s true nature had been forgotten, it was always right there, waiting to be revealed anew. Tara Brach describes that what struck her about this discovery was how it mirrored the path of human existence. "Just as the monks disguised the golden Buddha to protect it, we do the same with our own innate goodness. As children, we create defenses against what causes us to feel afraid, ignored, or hurt. As we grow up, we identify with the defenses we’ve created—and lose touch with the innocent, tender, creative hearts we were trying to protect." She goes on to say that it was this realization that inspired her to write her new book, Trusting the Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness, available to order here.
I find tht much wisdom is to be gained by Tara Brach's writings, podcasts and workshops--and I ivite you to explore her myriad of offerings as a leading western teacher of Buddhist meditation, emotional healing and spiritual awakening.

photo of the week

This photo was taken at sunset with no filter and no enhancements whatsoever near Pemaquid Point in Maine. Love that pink ocean!

This week's featured charity: The Doe Fund

I got to know some of the people that were working as part of the Doe Fund during the summer I had a booth at the Brooklyn Flea. They worked to keep the area clean and were always cheerful, willing and able to help the vendors in any ways they could. The Doe Fund gives these men the opportunity, through work, to break the cycle of incarceration, homelessness and unemployment. Click here to learn more about The Doe Fund's very successful 12-month program and to donate to this very worthy cause.

I had some contact with the Doe Fund when I was doing the Brooklyn Flea Market—they were in charge of keeping the area clean and were always cheerful and very helpful to the vendors. The charity gives these people real time job training, schooling, and a safe place to live and recover from homelessness, prison and substance abuse. There are many <a href=”https://www.doe.org/success-stories/”>success stories.</a> Please consider donating to this worthy organization. — Please Donate. They do such important work protecting our democracy.

Self Portrait going grey in the time of Covid…

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

blog no. 22: Studs Terkel, River Songs,Flash Fiction

May 29, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson continues to be my go to person for American political analysis and I found something very interesting and encouraging in her newsletter of a few days ago. I have been thinking how hopeless our situation is if 53 percent of Republicans actually believe Donald Trump was the winner of the 2020 election. However, she pointed out something which I hadn't realized and which I have not heard mentioned at all in mainstream media. That is: "A new Gallup poll today finds that 53% of Republicans think that Trump won the 2020 election. But only 26% of Americans identify as Republicans. Journalist Richard Hine crunched the numbers and notes that those percentages boil down to about 14% of Americans who think Trump is still president. They are a minority, but they believe the former president, who continues to insist that he won the 2020 election despite all evidence to the contrary."

three things we love

Many of us will have probably forgotten or never known the name Studs Terkel, (1912-2008), author, actor, historian who practiced a form of what he called "guerilla journalism" through oral history--by listening to people tell about their lives and experiences. Born in the Bronx of Russian Jewish descent, a progressive blacklisted during McCarthy times, it is no surprise that he was one of my dad's favorites. Through interviews on his long running WFMT Chicago radio show and through his many books (among them Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression; The Good War: An Oral History of World War; and Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, he gave voice to both famous and ordinary people, providing us with down to earth, rich and interesting accounts of life in America through the 20th century. "If they think you’re listening, they’ll talk. It’s more of a conversation than an interview.” While researching Studs Terkel for this blog, I came across what I consider an absolute treasure trove for anyone interested in history--an enormous archive of Terkel's life's work: recordings of conversations organized by subject matter over the years on anything from civil rights and advocacy, feminism, dance, to education, jazz, Chicago, you name it and he has material that will transport you back in time and give you insight into where we come from and where we are now. I invite you to visit it. As Theodore Roosevelt put it: "The more you know about the past, the better you are prepared for the future."

In the tradition of sharing some of my favorite music, I thought I would pick a theme and feature some songs I like on that subject matter. Do you know the Joni Mitchell song River? She does a beautiful rendition of it but I was awestruck when I heard Robert Downey Jr.'s version (who knew he could sing too!). Tina Turner's version of Proud Mary has been described as one of the all time great concert performances and is guaranteed to get you going whatever time of the day it is. Many Rivers to Cross brought us college roomates back to our Jimmy Cliff The Harder The Come album days. Down By the Riverside, here sung by Grandpa Elliott, brings me back to my camp days, where I learned many protest songs. Bruce Springsteen did a great rendition of his song The River, Arlo Guthrie does the beautiful American classic Shenandoah, and I love Bob Dylan's Watching the River Flow. Last but not least (I could go on and on) and going back in time to my friend's player piano, (and maybe the geriatric ward), here is an old classic sung by Andy Williams: Moon River.

I have spent the last two weeks with my college roommates in a little artist cottage on the coast of Maine. We met 47 years ago (could it really be true?) in Alice Lloyd Dorm at the University of Michigan. They are both mental health professionals but one of them, Jan Elman Stout, has become a very successful “flash fiction” writer. I hadn’t heard of this genre before she introduced me to it and from my lay perspective, it falls somewhere between poetry and short stories. Brevity, precise word choice, rhythm and tight writing are key. The writer must get right to the heart of the story and get out of the story just as quickly. Jan has won a number of honors for her flash fiction writing and I share with you a short piece below called Stained Lips, first published in the journal 100 Word Story and included in Best Microfiction 2020. If you would like to read more of Jan's work, My Year Inside A Mask is one of my favorites, originally published in Pidgeonholes. And if you want to explore more of flash fiction in general, the SmokeLong Quarterly is a good place to start.

Stained Lips

She dabs her lips with Faithful Fawn. He hovers behind, runs his fingers through his graying hair, eyes fixed on his reflection. How do I look? Her mouth forms a perfect “O,” presses shut. Handsome. He points. When you move your mouth that way you look like a fish. Her mind recedes light-years to their rehearsal dinner. The baby photos her mother had blown up. Adorable, she’d said when she saw his. Your forehead’s so high, he’d responded. She drops her stained tissue in the toilet. Flushes. What’s that lipcolor? he says. Fawn, she answers, and flashes her broad smile.

painting of the week

Pam Smilow, Felt with the Heart, mixed media on canvas, 54” x 80”, $8500.

Sometimes I begin a painting by finding a quote I like and scrawling it across the canvas as underpainting. Much of it disappears as I pile on layer upon layer of paint to reveal the subject matter of the emerging painting but I know the quote is there. In this case, I started with words attributed to Helen Keller: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt with the heart."

This week's featured charity: ACLU

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.