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

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

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, 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

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

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

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…

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

Please Donate. They do such important work protecting our democracy.

blog no. 21: Animals,Here Now, Alewives

May 22, 2021

three things we love

Crows are known to be among our most intelligent birds.

Pam Smilow/Gert Mathiesen Animal Prints 8 x 10 in. (over 100 different animal images available).

It used to be that we thought we were the only beings capable of using tools. And that our intellect was way beyond any other animals in the animal kingdom. And we were the only ones who had feelings and the ability to self-reflect. Dismissing of animals as inferior to humans was a myth we told ourselves (not sure why that would make us feel good). Well, take a look at these crows! And elephants, whom Aristotle remarked as "the beast which passeth all others in wit and mind". Not to mention gorillas, see Koko here. Jane Goodall and Krista Tippett reflect on this subject in an interview in Orion Magazine. These days, I venture to say that animals might just be smarter than us humans…think QAnon...

Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish in the new film Here Now.

Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg & Robin Williams, best of friends.

I am a big fan of Billy Crystal and am still missing him as emcee of the Oscars, even though he hasn't hosted them in nine years. I don't think there has been a better host (or a better comedian for that matter). So I was very excited to hear that Crystal has a new movie out with Tiffany Haddish called Here Now. I haven't seen it yet because I am still a little skittish about going into a movie theater but the preview and the reviews look really promising and I plan on seeing it soon. The reviews look good and any chance to laugh out loud is always a good thing!
I can't think of Billy Crystal without mentioning his best friends Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. Click here for an interview that Whoopi did with Billy about Robin, soon after his death. If you still want more, here is the Best of Comic Relief, the comedy festival these three founded in order to raise money for charity.

Alewives swimming from the ocean to lay their eggs in the fresh water of Damariscotta Lake, Maine.

Alewives are the primary bait for lobster fisherman in Maine.

The first time I saw the run of alewives up to Damariscotta Lake I was with my husband, Gert, and we stopped because there was a crowd gathering around a bridge and we were wondering what they were looking at. We got out of the car, walked over and looked down—and saw nothing. What was taking all their attention? And then we realized we saw nothing because in the stream below it was a solid blanket of fish. Alewives are in the herring family and each spring, the adult fish migrate straight upstream from the salt water of the ocean to the fresh water of rivers, streams, ponds and lakes to spawn. ... Some die in the process but the majority make their way back to the ocean shortly after laying their eggs – to do it all over again the following spring (if they have escaped being eaten along the way up by seagulls, eagles, herons, osprey or other sea birds or captured by humans to be used for bait in lobster traps).
I am not exaggerating to say this truly was one of the most exciting things I have witnessed in nature. The amount of strength it takes for these small fish to combat such strong currents and waterfalls over quite a long distance is truly a sight to be seen. One of the true wonders of the world!

painting of the week

Pam Smilow, Maine at sunset, mixed media on canvas , 54 x 54 inches.

Continuing on the Maine boat theme, this is a painting I did after one of my previous trips, this time with the sunset on fire.

This week's featured charity: The Jane Goodall Foundation

blog no. 20: abcV, Leslie Kean, Love Songs

May 15, 2021

If there has been a silver lining to Covid-19, it is that it has forced me to take a good hard look at what my life is comprised of. And I realize I don't want to go back to exactly how it was before our lockdown and business (busy-ness) as usual. I found this video on instagram, created and performed by Charly Jaffe, illustrated by Heather Scheider and asked permission of the filmmaker to post it here. I do think reentry will pose challenges for many of us as we take stock and reevaluate what we want our days to look like.

And as it turns out, I found out that Charly Jaffe also organizes the COVID Grief Network (providing free support to young adults bereaved by COVID) and she just released a Seasons of Love COVID Grief Tribute with the Broadway cast of RENT, young adults in our network and home videos of those they've lost. For more information on this project, please contact Charly Jaffe.

three things we love

Beautiful interior design of abcV, Jean Georges’ vegan restaurant located in the flatiron section of New York City.

Large variety of delicious offerings featured at the restaurant abcV in NYC.

Now at least in New York City, restaurants are beginning to open up and I for one am starting to wonder what it feels like to go out about the town. And the first place I think of (because it is always about the food) is abcV, one of my all time favorite eateries in NYC. Housed as one of the three Jean Georges restaurants in the ABC Home building in the Flatiron section, this vegetarian restaurant (and I am not a vegetarian) is not only delicious, but an aesthetic experience that involves all your senses. The decor is so simple and pure, the dishes zen like (if ceramic plates and mugs can be considered zen) and who would ever think that one of the foods I look most forward to is carrots! Check out this somewhat amusing review from the NY Times here: here and consider going the next time you are searching for a wonderful and delectable dining experience.

Leslie Kean’s book on UFOs published in 2011.

Leslie Keane is a powerhouse of an investigative reporter. I have written about her here before, in reference to her book and subsequent TV Series Surviving Death (I thought the TV series didn't come close to doing her very scientific and thorough book justice) . I admire her in so many ways but mostly because she dares write about subjects that risk being ridiculed by the mainstream and yet she methodically and seriously goes about her business of thorough research, objective exploration and is always way ahead of her time. Her book on UFOs entitled UFOs:Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go On The Record published in 2011, is a must read for anyone interested in "paranormal" phenomenon. There she generally offers us a complete review of literature in this field, including international governmental and military papers including reports from the United States and France. And now, the staid New Yorker magazine has come recently out with an excellent article on the subject of UFOs that often cites expert Keane among other sources. Even Scientific American has gotten in on the game.
I remember as a kid hearing the story of Betty and Barney Hill, who claimed they were kidnapped and subject to experiments from alien beings--seemed totally far-fetched and crazy and yet, ever since I was a kid, I have always had a deep interest in unexplainable things like the Bermuda Triangle, Atlantis, animal intelligence, UFOs, ghosts, past lives, reincarnation, etc. I have received many rolled eyes when bringing up these subjects over the years but I am happy to report, these things may just not be as far fetched as we once thought...

Hearts are a common theme of artist Jim Dine’s work.

Here is a small selection of some of my favorite love songs to uplift you this morning--if you can, take the time to just sit back and listen: Willie Nelson and his son's rendition of Just Breathe, written by Eddie Vedder, Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely,, written at the birth of his daughter Aisha, Bob Dylan's Make You Feel My Love, Elton John and Bernie Taupin's Your Song, Schumann's wedding gift to his beloved Clara and finally, one near the top of my list, Louis Armstrong's rendition of What A Wonderful World, written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss.

painting of the week

I always loved this painting, which hangs in a beautiful home in Berkeley, California. The shades of green are all around us now, as spring has finally sprung here in Maine. I love the way a big green painting can bring the outside in and I also love the way the deep brown wood and the colors of the painting bring out the best in each other in this particular client's dining room.

This week's featured charity in honor of Jacques D'Amboise:

National Dance Institute, founded in 1974 by Jacques D’Amboise and now in its 45th year, transforming the lives of children through the love and joy of the arts. May it live on for years and years to come. Please consider a donation by visiting their website at https://nationaldance.org/support-us/.

blog no. 19: Bernstein, Ferlinghetti, d'Amboise

May 8, 2021

three things we love

Seymour: An Introduction. A film by Ethan Hawke about pianist/teacher Seymour Bernstein

Ethan Hawke sat next to pianist and piano teacher Seymour Bernstein at a dinner party in New York City at a time when Ethan was soul searching about the meaning of his life. They struck up a conversation that turned into a deep friendship and eventually ended up in a collaboration on this documentary film Seymour: An Introduction. If you love piano music as much as I do, and you want to hear about the life of this very talented, recognized pianist and the reasons why at the age of 50 he gave up a hugely 'successful' career to pour all his energy and soul into teaching, and you want to learn more about what makes Ethan Hawke tick, this is a little gem of a film for you. It is full of wisdom, joy and ruminations on art, music, the meaning of success, and the components on what goes into a rich life...I highly recommend it! If you want more, here is a review of Seymour: An Introduction and a very interesting Q&A session with an audience at Lincoln Center after seeing the film.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet, founder of City Lights Bookstore in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, died on February 22, 2021 in San Francisco, California at the age of 101. — **Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet, founder of City Lights Bookstore in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, died on February 22, 2021 in San Francisco, California** at the age of 101.

This is definitely going to date me but my first boyfriend introduced me to poetry (and most specifically the beat poets) when I was 16 in 1972. Lawrence Ferlinghetti, founder of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco was always one of my favorites. Here is a funny poem he wrote about painter Marc Chagall and one of his paintings from Ferlinghetti's book Coney Island of the Mind.

DON'T LET THAT HORSE . . .
By Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Don’t let that horse
eat that violin
cried Chagall’s mother
But he
kept
right on
painting
and became famous
And kept on painting
The Horse With Violin In Mouth
And when he finally finished
it
he jumped up upon the horse
and rode away
waving the violin

And then with a low bow gave it
to the first naked nude he ran across

And there were no strings
attached

The Falling Angel, painting by Marc Chagall

Last week the world lost one of its true greats and a national treasure. Much has been said about Jacques d’Amboise (1934-2021) as a legendary dancer, member of the New York City ballet and about his relationship with George Balanchine, who choreographed many ballets with him in mind. But what I want to focus on here is his extraordinary contribution to children and arts education. Through his non-profit organization National Dance Institute, Jacques has had an incredible influence on literally millions of children throughout the United States and the whole world, which I have had the great privilege of witnessing firsthand. Founded 45 years ago, NDI began as a way for Jacques to teach his son and a very small group of his friends dance and it blossomed into a program that is currently in forty four schools in the New York area as well affiliate programs across the country and beyond, including a robust program in Shangai, China. Much more than just teaching dance, NDI's mission and belief is that the arts have a unique power to engage children of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and socio-economic positions, and motivate them toward excellence in all aspects of their lives. I still remember my first encounter with NDI--it was a class in P.S. 183, and it didn't take more than a few minutes for me to realize that what I was observing was so powerful and unique, intellectually challenging yet so fun and joyful, and it was evident that the result was kids that felt engaged, successful and confident as they strove towards excellence. My daughter had the good fortune of NDI as part of her fourth grade curricululm and she went on to become a member of the SWAT and Celebrations teams. Her Saturday mornings were spent in rehearsals at LaGuardia High School and I went along for the great ride: sitting and watching every weekend in awe. Jacques' pedagogy engaged the children, made them life long appreciators of the arts, and at the same time taught them the value of practice, discipline, collaboration and hard work. Aside from the In-School program, they produced an Event of the Year based on different themes related to school curriculum every June, which was one of the real cultural highlights of my year and I know many others. They also run an internationally acclaimed teacher training methodology program that goes way beyond dance. Jacques will be sorely missed by so many, but he made sure that the baton was passed years ago, through the brilliance of his "heir" Artistic Director Ellen Weinstein and the incredibly dedicated teaching artists that will keep him alive and continue to represent him and his vision so beautifully for generations to come.

painting of the week

Pam Smilow Maine Series 2 mixed media on canvas 52” x 80”

The second in a new series based on things I have observed during my stays over the years in Maine. I am sure you can see the inspiration from my photograph, taken at the little gem of a harbor around the corner from where I sit.

This week's featured charity:

blog no. 18: Samantha Power, Chocolate, Teaching

May 1, 2021

three things we love

Samantha Power and her Pulitzer Prize winning book: The Education of an Idealist

I am almost done with the Pulitzer Prize winning powerful memoir The Education of an Idealist written by Samantha Power, which showed up in my mailbox one day as a gift from an old dear friend and I can't tell you how much I am enjoying every page of it. Power is a master storyteller in the Irish tradition and living testament in defiance of the statement "you can't do it all." Beginning as a gutsy war correspondent during the Bosnian war, she became a champion against ethnic cleansing and went on to Harvard as an expert in genocide prevention. She subsequently played various roles under the Obama administration including senior and trusted special advisor to the President, member of the National Security Council and ultimately United Nations Ambassador. The memoir takes us through her whole life up until now (she is only 50), beginning with her birth in Ireland through a real behind the scenes look at the workings of journalism and governmental agencies as seen from the inside. We travel with her throughout her world, meeting with all types of people, leaders and civilians alike, sharing her references and mentors, and we are at her side as a mother, wife and human rights activist. She recounts her life story in a very personal manner, writing with humor and humanity, and I loved the many interesting and intimate details of her relationships, most notably her deep friendship with Barak Obama and her poignant connection with her father.
Icing on the cake: Ms. Power has just been confirmed this week to head up USAID, and in that huge role, will oversee the distribution of billions of dollars in foreign humanitarian aid. All the power to this committed, passionate, determined, and compassionate individual.

Samantha Power is a mother, wife, human rights activist, civil servant, marathon runner, and author.

Delicious chocolate dessert recipe made with dark chocolate and saltine crackers (or matzoh) courtesy David Lebovitz and Marcy Goldman

You can count on my favorite niece Maia to bring our family’s favorite dessert to all our holiday and social gatherings. In fact it is so good and so addictive that it goes by the name “Crack.” Here is the recipe from the highly acclaimed pastry chef David Lebovitz. (Please note that you can substitute saltines for matzoh.) Make this recipe if you dare. Or as they say, just rub it directly on my thighs…

And while I am on the subject of family recipes, here's one more favorite from my wonderful cousin Joanne Kahn. It will get us preparing for the warmer weather, and it is definitely a lot better for the waistline:
GAZPACHO SOUP
(serves 8-10)
combine 3 garlic cloves, pressed
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2-3 cups tomatoes, chopped (about 4 tomatoes)
2 cups cucumbers, chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4/cup fresh chives, chopped
1/3 cup veg oil, chopped (just kidding)
1-2 teaspoon salt
1/2-1 teaspoon tabasco, depending on how spicy you want it
1 32 oz. bottle of clamato juice.
Chill and enjoy.

And for those who are not purists, here are a few variations on the Gazpacho theme from the website Brit + Co.

Gazpacho Soup has its origin in southern Spain

Teacher teaches a valuable lesson to students about kindness

This is making the rounds on facebook. Thought it was worthy of posting here:

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.' After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. 'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.' Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. 'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.' All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.' Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.' 'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary' Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists' That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

painting of the week

I love the long horizontal format. It has an elegance to it that attracts me. I have been working on this series of bird scrolls for a number of years in various iterations, originally loosely inspired by an exhibit of Chinese calligraphic handscrolls I saw at the Metropolitan Museum quite a few years ago. And since my husband, Gert Mathiesen's passing, red birds have a special meaning for me.

Featured Mother's Day gift and one of our top sellers: Cutting board that doubles as a Cheese Board. Available through our artSHOP

Vintage Contemporary Green Botanical Cutting Board/Cheese Board

Egyptian Series Cutting Board/Cheese Board

Yellow Dandelion Botanical Cutting Board/Cheese Board

blog no. 17: Best of Enemies, Hockney, Chast, BLM

April 24, 2021

Screen-Shot-2020-05-28-at-9.51.56-AM.png

Many of us have probably seen the press release above, issued on May 25, 2020, by the Minneapolis Police Department to explain the "incident" around George Floyd's death. At the risk of sounding like a preacher, I wanted to explicitly show it again here to stress the all important and key point: one person, one teenager no less, by the name of Darnella Frazier, had the courage to go out on a limb and got involved when she saw something she considered an injustice. By filming Derek Chauvin with his knee on George Floyd's neck for 9+ minutes, she might well have changed (we hope) the trajectory of policing in America for years to come. Other bystanders played their important parts too. Since I was a kid, I had this drummed into me, my mother being a victim of Nazi Germany: standing by is not an option for any of us if we want to see a just and better world. That lesson over and over again: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke.
This is how we change the world.

three things we love

I can't believe I missed this movie The Best of Enemies when it came out in 2019. I am usually up on these kinds of things, especially when it involves a movie with a subject like civil rights. But a mention by MSNBC's announcer Ali Velshi last Sunday morning thankfully led me to it now and I am super excited about its potential as a solution to so many of our problems in the United States today. Suffice it to say that it involves a man named Bill Riddick who had a vision of getting opposing sides together in an intensive way (called a charrette), meeting every day all day for a period of two weeks to solve a problem together. In the case of the movie, Durham, North Carolina was a very divided and volatile town that had to come up with a solution of what to do with black students when their school burnt down. Sometimes the best solutions are the most obvious ones that we have overlooked. If anyone knows someone with deep pockets like Bloomberg or Bill Gates who could fund an initiative like this, or any police chiefs or any government officials, I think this charrette thing, done on a massive scale, is both doable and potentially life changing for us Americans. Please watch the movie and tell me what you think.

The real Community Activist Ann Atwater and former Ku Klux Klan member C.P. Ellis

I always liked David Hockney but preferred his earlier work, paintings that were a little more raw in feel. (He got a little too prissy for me at times later on). But he defintely has wowed me with his digital drawings made on an ipad (using an app called Brushes) which are deceptively simple. I remember seeing a video of him creating a New Yorker cover many years ago, soon after the ipad just came out. I have seen this video countless times but never get tired of it. So cool to see the process of the layers piling up on each other, transforming into a beautiful, rich still life. Here too is a another process video of him sitting in a cafe at the Louisiana Museum outside of Copenhagen drawing a Calder sculpture (I recognized this wonderful favorite place of mine right away--aside from great art and a great building, they have a wonderful buffet lunch there too!). I also saw a show of his Yosemite Series at the Pace Gallery in Palo Alto a bunch of years ago and these ipad drawings were blown up to a height of eight feet--very impressive!

David Hockney Yosemite Series ipad drawing

Roz Chast and Steve Martin (top) and cartoon by Roz Chast

Because this is kind of a serious blog this week, I decided that it would be good to try and provide some comic relief also, as laughter is one of the best things I know. I am bringing back one of my old time favorite funny people: cartoonist Roz Chast. Here she is being interviewed by another really funny guy, Steve Martin, at the New Yorker Festival back in 2014. What I like most about this conversation is that Chast really gets a kick out of herself and it is so fun and contagious to watch her laugh at her own jokes and cartoons.
It is possible that this type of humor might not be your cup of tea, as humor can be very personal, so if that is the case, go out and find something else to laugh about like I Love Lucy or these harmless kids mishap videos or an old, stupid family favorite: National Lampoon's European Vacation. Because laughter is the best medicine! If you won't take it from me, then trust Audrey Hepburn:

painting of the week

This series above, which I call my Childhood's End Series, is originally inspired by old vintage school charts and the drawings my parents saved of mine when I was a kid. Bits of these drawings are incorporated into the collage elements of the painting. What appeals to me is the order--I always liked lining things up so neatly. I am really getting into these light blues, lavenders, and soft greens these days. And yes, finally, more nature in my daily life!

Mother's Day is around the corner. Below are links to Smilow + Mathiesen ArtSHOP products. Please consider us when in need of a special gift.

blog no. 16: Covid-19, Missing Art, Homelessness, Democracy

April 17, 2021

On Wednesday, April 14th, a two page ad was placed in the New York Times with a big heading entitled: WE STAND FOR DEMOCRACY: A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.... It was signed by over 700 individuals, corporations, law firms and non profits, all in support of voting rights, stating clearly that "Voting is the lifeblood of our democracy and we call upon all Americans to join us in taking a nonpartisan stand for this most basic and fundamental right of all Americans." I call attention to it here because I believe in the power of the purse and because I think we all should be aware of where our spending dollars go and what companies we choose to support (or not). The list is too long to quote here but signatories include such companies as SalesForce, Starbucks, Nordstrom, American Express, Cisco, Apple, American Airlines, General Motors, Harry's, United Airlines, and Target to name a few. Walmart, McDonalds, Home Depot, and Pepsico were notably absent from the list. Here is the full ad and some additional information that might be helpful in making our choices: courtesy the New York Times, courtesy Deal Book Newsletter from the New York Times and courtesy Fortune.

three things we love

Do you recognize these people? Odds are you don't but I can tell you they are in your life right now and you actually owe them a lot! These free thinkers are four of the most instrumental scientists behind the mRNA Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Starting with Kati Kariko (top left), immigrant to the United States from Hungary, Kariko has painstakingly been working her whole career on the technology of messenger RNA, never making more than $60,000 in a single year. She had a lot of trouble getting funded--her research was considered too farfetched--and therefore had to work in the labs of others instead of her own. But she believed in herself and the potential for mRNA and did not give up. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are based in her research and we are all profiting big time from her hard work and determination. Next is Dr. Ugur Sahin (top right) and Dr. Özlem Türec (bottom left), a husband/wife team working in Germany, both immigrants from Turkey. First and foremost doctors, they met in medical school and went on to eventually form the company called BioNTech, where they initially focused on drugs to treat cancer. They then moved on to other technologies including mRNA, realizing that that might be important in vaccine development. Already collaborating with Pfizer on a flu vaccine, both companies pivoted upon hearing of a new virus in Wuhan, China and together with Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer (bottom right), it became all hands on deck. The fruitful partnership between Pfizer and BioNTech is now history.

Being a researcher is not exactly a glamorous life. These scientists have been plodding along for years, working extremely hard and are more than dedicated and passionate about their field. What they have in common is that they are modest immigrants who share a love of science over business. There is little fanfare for these scientific hardworking souls--upon hearing of the success of their mRNA vaccines against Covid-19, Kati Kariko went home to celebrate by eating a box of goobers (chocolate covered peanut candy for those non-Americans). Dr. Sahin and Dr. Turec went home and drank a cup of Turkish tea to applaud themselves. That same couple went straight back to the lab on their wedding day--no honeymoon for them!

Missing panel of the Jacob Lawrence series The American Struggle that hung unsuspectedly in the home of an Upper West Side nurse in New York City..

Jeff Neal, one of the brothers pictured in Alice Neel’s portrait above.

There are a lot of mysteries in the artworld because it is a field that is anything but transparent on so many levels. And there are many, many stories about lost paintings, stolen paintings, missing paintings, forged paintings. It seems to be a captivating subject for many of us and is currently the subject of a new netflix documentary entitled This is a Robbery: The World's Biggest Art Heist about the billion dollar heist at the Gardner Museum in Boston. Everyone loves a good detective/crime story. I am far into the series and it is defintely holding my attention and well worth watching.

Another interesting missing art story involves the work of African American artist Jacob Lawrence and an unsuspecting nurse who discovered that the painting she had hanging in her hallway for years, one that she had purchased at a local school auction years before for next to nothing, was actually worth a lot more than she could have imagined. In fact, it was a long sought out missing panel from Jacob Lawrence's The American Struggle series that many in the art world had been searching for over the period of quite a few years. To read how she came about acquiring the panel and her full story, click here.

And finally, here is another fun tale involving the portrait artist Alice Neel whose work is currently on view at the Metropolitcan Museum of Art (through August 1, 2021). Fifty some odd years ago she painted a portrait of two brothers from Harlem, Jeff and Toby Neal (no relation, different spelling). The boys sat for several sessions but never got to see the finished product. Years and years went by and they always wondered what had become of the painting. Fast forward fifty years, both Alice Neel and one of the brothers no longer on this earth, and the remaining brother gets word that the painting he has been trying to find has surfaced....Click here to get the New York Times article that details the whole story.

Piedmont and Oakland California are right next to each other but couldn’t be more of a Tale of Two Cities…

With the enormous homeless problem in our country, I thought I would include this video about a wealthy Piedmont, California businessman living in the extremely wealthy, lily white suburb of San Franciso, whose heart goes out to a homeless couple who have been living on the street for ten years in Oakland, California. He decides to invite them to come live in his big sprawling home. Although this is just one story of three people whose lives happen to intersect, it reveals some of the complexities of the homeless problem and the difficulties of finding simple solutions. It is also a love story.

painting of the week

Pam Smilow, New Harbor Series, mixed media on canvas, 54” x 80” $8500.

So many of the elements in this painting are in my wheelhouse already, even before arriving in Maine and observing the local scenery here this time around. I have been coming to this area for most of my life and my vocabulary has always included ladders, windows, houses, houses and ramshackle shacks, moons and birds.

Beautiful land and seascapes and a change of scene are always a good idea for any artist. This ain't New York City! I am getting a lot of work done up here...

Mother's Day is around the corner. Below are links to Smilow + Mathiesen ArtSHOP products. Please consider us when in need of a special gift.

Silk Blend Scarves

Duvets&Comforters

Tea Towels

Phone Cases

Cutting/Cheese Boards

Pillows All Sizes

Coasters

Art

blog no. 15: Jose Andres, Amanda Gorman, Paper Clips

April 10, 2021

I have watched almost every minute of the so far 10 day trial of police officer Derek Chauvin, taking place right now in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Some people might call me a masochist, but I somehow feel a duty to bear witness and understand the case inside out. Dr. Martin Tobin, a well respected pulmonologist and critical care physician was a truly expert witness and knocked it out of the park on Thursday for the prosecution in my opinion. He disputed definitively, in a very systematic and clear manner, every single argument the defense is making. In the process, he also set a new benchmark for witness testimony, questioned many aspects of the use of lethal force, and raised important questions regarding certain crime laboratory practices that he considers misleading. On the latter point, he cited one lab in San Diego that seems to be the go to place for many police departments across the country when they are trying to make a case for justification of their use of lethal force. Not sure this particular California lab has anything to do with this case (to be determined this coming week), but I hope an investigative journalist will look further into these practices more deeply.

three things we love

Chef Jose Andres started off making paellas with is dad in his native Spain.

Who said one person can't change the world? Listen to the story of Spanish American chef Jose Andres, who started his illustrious career as a teenager in Barcelona, Spain when he enrolled in culinary school at the age of fifteen. He went on to work for three years at what was known as one of the most celebrated innovative restaurants in the world, El Bulli in Roses, Spain before ending up in the Big Apple New York City, at the age of 21. From cook, to chef, to head chef to restauranteur himself, Andres is now the head of Think Big Group, owner of multiple notable restaurants across the country and whose mission is, in their own words, to "change the world through the power of food." But Andres has a major philanthropic side, inspired at first by DC Central Kitchen (whose mission is to train ex-cons in the culinary arts at the same time recycling food in the DC area and providing it to service organizations where it is most needed). Spurred into action after the Haitian earthquake of 2010, Andres then founded his own organization to combat hunger throughout the world: World Central Kitchen. Through this nonprofit, he and his team have provided sustenance to hungry people in the wake of disasters all over the globe, serving countless meals to needy citizens in such countries as Peru, Nicaragua, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Uganda, Zambia, Cambodia, and the United States to name a few. If you are interested in learning more about this fantastic humanitarian and how he sees the role and future of restaurants, here is a recent interview with him and Trevor Noah. And as a little aside, all the more power to Jose Andres for standing up to one of my least favorite people: right wing Ann Coulter who recently conducted a diatribe against him quoted by Joseph Choi in the Hill of Dec.17,2020.

Art by Brenda Barrios @bbbarrios—check out her instagram to see more of her amazing artwork.

Do you know the song by Alicia Keyes, "This Girl is on Fire? I think these words were written to describe Amanda Gorman, the young woman who has literally taken the world by a storm after reading her poem The Hill We Climb at Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2021. (It was Jill Biden who suggested her)....She started off as a bookworm with a speech impediment, daughter of a single mom with an equally talented twin sister. If you have any doubt that I am overstating her power, intelligence and determination, listen to Amanda on Moth Radio in 2017 speak her truth, recounting her story of trying out for the Broadway's Lion King in New York City. Gorman has racked up so many accolades by now that I won't even venture to list them but suffice it to say that because of her, we now have a U.S. Youth Poet Laureate and she is it. She has her own organization as founder and executive director of One Pen, One Page, which promotes literacy through creative writing programming for underserved youth, is a published author and has a children's book coming out in September 2021 which is already ahead of time on the bestseller list (not sure how that works). I don't think this 15 minutes of fame rule will apply to her--she is going places and I'm willing to bet that she will not stop at anything short of the White House...

Is there anything this woman can’t do?—Look for Amanda Gorman and illustrator Loren Long ‘s new children’s book, Change Sings, to be released in September of 2021.

In honor of Holocasut Remembrance Day, I decided to look for a documentary that so moved me a number of years ago entitled Paper Clips. In order to teach the Holocaust and what happens when prejudice goes unchecked, three teachers in one school in an unlikely town in rural Tennessee got together and decided on a novel and creative approach. They realized that the kids could not imagine what 6 million looked like--when it gets to such big numbers, it is very hard to picture. So to signify the death of six million Jews during the Holocaust, the teachers and students of Whitwell Middle School decided to write letters and appeal to anyone and everyone to help them gather 6 million paper clips, inspired by the Norwegians who wore paper clips to defy Nazi occupation during World War II. They ended up getting much much more than actual paper clips--their letters led to incredible experiences that changed the kids and transformed the town. Don't want to spoil the story but I guarantee you it is a good one...which ended up in a Children's Holocaust Memorial Museum on school property that stands to this day. The woman behind the whole story is a woman named Linda Hooper, interviewed here by Rabbi Mark A. Golub for Jewish Broadcasting Service. And if you want to hear a wild and quirky story that touches on the Paper Clip Memorial story, check out this documentary about a bunch of British bikers touring the south of the United States: Jews on Bikes-Visiting The Paper Clips Project

painting of the week

Vegetable Garden, mixed media on canvas, 50” x 80” Painting I donated to the Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley, California—the school that hosts Alice Water’s pioneer program The Edible Schoolyard.

I originally painted this canvas in the dead of winter in New York City, figuring the closest I would get to spring at that time would be to paint it myself. In 2010, enamored with the incredible Alice Waters of Chez Panisse fame, I decided to donate it to the school that hosts her community garden project The Edible Schoolyard. To date, this progam has changed the life and eating habits of so many middle school students at the Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley, California and her philosophy has grown into a nationwide movement of teaching healthy eating, vegetable gardening and community spirit in many of our children's schools across the country. To learn more about its creator, Alice Waters, and how she got into cooking in the first place, PBS American Masters series has a wonderful documentary about this amazing woman and the simplicity of her cooking-- where fresh and local food and the farmers are the stars. If you ever get a chance to eat at her restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, what a treat you will have.

Below are links to our ArtSHOP, Smilow + Mathiesen paintings and two favorite CHARITIES

Donate World Central Kitchen

Duvets in ArtSHOP

Avail Paintings Smilow

Donate Edible Schoolyard

blog no. 14: Heather Cox Richardson, Stanley Kunitz, Ragnar Kjartansson, Black Lives Matter

April 3, 2021

A lot going on in my week and I have to confess I have been glued to Courttv.com much of it, watching the George Floyd trial. It has been heart wrenching to see and a lot of the time I had to shut my eyes and ears but somehow I think it is important to witness our justice system up close and personal and how it does (or doesn't) work.

If I weren't an artist, I think I would have chosen to be a journalist or lawyer. I always admired my dad for using his art to express a political opinion. My art though, I thought, was more abstract and all about just adding some more beauty to the world. Until the pandemic that is...I was isolated and had a dream about my late sister, Judy Smilow (1958-2018) who I missed terribly. I painted a 7-foot portrait of her and it was as if she was still with me somehow. It gave me comfort and that began a whole series of 20+ larger than life portraits of living and deceased friends and family to hang out with. Then came the Black Lives Matter movement and instead of attending the protest marches (I was too scared of Covid-19), I decided to make portraits of some of the victims of police brutality. Together with an old dear friend from Chicago who happened to be a graphic designer (Barbara Cotterall Murphy of Murphy Design), we made the images into posters and for those brave enough to go out and march, we would donate the high res images for people to print on their own. If you know anyone who might like to receive these free high res images of any of these posters, please let them know where they can get them.

Some political art by my father, Mel Smilow, made during the 1960's civil rights movement:

three things we love

Boston College History Professor and Historian Heather Cox Richardson (photo courtesy The New York Times)

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Famous words we have all heard over and over again but do we heed it? We are so fortunate to have history professor Heather Cox Richardson in our lives during this particular time in history to educate us. I have written about her before but feel compelled to include her again in my blog. This very recent 49 minute interview I feature here from Maine Public Radio is a must listen for anyone interested in where we find ourselves today in the U.S. of A. I cannot say enough about her, her storytelling abilities, her ability to make American history come alive and to put so many issues of the day in context. I also wake up to her daily email every morning. Subscribe here to her Letters from an American" if you want to also. And don't take my word for it--I am not the only one who finds her so crucial to our zeitgeist right now. Here is an article about her in the New York Times .

Two time U.S. Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz (1905-2006)

This blog gives me an opportunity to delve deeper into things I have loved but not necessarily known that much about and in this case, the featured poem below hung on my wall over my desk for many years but I really knew very little about its writer. April is National Poetry Month (who is the one who designates these things?) and I am no poetry expert but The Long Boat by Stanley Kunitz (1905-2006) struck a deep cord with me that continues to this day.

The Long Boat

When his boat snapped loose
from its mooring, under
the screaking of the gulls,
he tried at first to wave
to his dear ones on shore,
but in the rolling fog
they had already lost their faces.
Too tired even to choose
between jumping and calling,
somehow he felt absolved and free
of his burdens, those mottoes
stamped on his name-tag:
conscience, ambition, and all
that caring.
He was content to lie down
with the family ghosts
in the slop of his cradle,
buffeted by the storm,
endlessly drifting.
Peace! Peace!
To be rocked by the Infinite!
As if it didn't matter
which way was home;
as if he didn't know
he loved the earth so much
he wanted to stay forever.

The poem speaks for itself but if you would like to know more about this man, twice U.S. Poet Laureate, avid gardener , winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry and many other prestigious accolades, I include his New York Times obituary here, a shorter National Public Radio piece on him and also a longer in depth interview he gave with the poet Gregory Orr.

Ragnar Kjartansson is not a household name but in The Visitors, an immersive, nine-screen video art installation, he has created a remarkable art piece that is truly one of the best museum shows I have ever seen. I bring it to your attention in case you can still get a chance to see it. It has been around for quite a few years but it seems to still be making the rounds and as we open up from the pandemic. It is currently on view in Boston at the Museum of Contemporary Art through August 15, 2021, at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia through May 9, 2021; and at the Reykjavik Art Museum in Iceland through September 19, 2021. I first stumbled upon it in San Francisco at SFMOMA in 2017 quite by accident since I rarely had any use for video and usually just walked by (my bad). The Guardian literally puts it at number one “best art of the 21st century.” It is almost impossible to describe but by way of preview, here is Kjartansson himself describing the piece, the ideas behind it, his experience making it and also a "doesn't do it justice" version you can experience on your cell phone with headphones.

painting of the week

For more information on these free Black Lives Matter posters, please contact me.

blog no. 13: Gert Mathiesen

March 27, 2021

Gert Mathiesen used to time his annual visits to Denmark to correspond with the blooming of the anemones.

Gert, Hanne and Palle Mathiesen (Gert was the youngest), Esbjerg, Denmark, cerca 1954

One of the good things about dying is that your aging gets stopped dead in its tracks (no pun intended). Hard to believe that my late husband, Gert Mathiesen, would have been 70 years old today! In the words of Bob Dylan, he will always remain forever a young 62 in my mind...

People handle grief in different ways. My way of coping with his loss (and it has already been eight years) is to celebrate him and his art and by keeping him present in all of our hearts and minds. I dedicate this issue of my blog to him.

three things he loved

A suntanned Gert Mathiesen in front of a series of his linocuts.

Click here to read a wonderful essay about
Gert Mathiesen and his art.

It is hot off the press, written by Frank Matheis as part of his new Hammond Museum essay series entitled In Other Words. Upon reading the essay, our daughter Morgan stated excitedly, "This is by far the best piece of writing I have seen on Gert--he really "got" him!"

In addition to his other excellent writings on artists and their art, Matheis' first love is music. An expert on the blues. Matheis has published over 600 music articles, produced an award winning radio blues documentary (that aired on three continents) and spent nearly a decade on the radio in New York/Connecticut hosting wild blues and roots shows. He has a new book out about the blues tradition in our nation's capital entitled Sweet Bitter Blues – Washington DC’s Homemade Blues, which he wrote in collaboration with the harmonica player Phil Wiggins.

Gert working on our Mexican bark paper animal pieces in his studio on East 64th Street

Gert had a band called The Black Witches.

Playing the drum set in a client’s home in the middle of an appointment to show art.

Sit back and enjoy this compilation of Gert's FAVORITE MUSIC by clicking all the links below. He always told me he wanted an American girlfriend so he could learn all the words to the songs he loved. Starting off as a young boy listening to Radio Luxembourg with the radio under his pillow, Gert acquired an eclectic taste in all types of music. Here are some of his favorites: Hotel California, which propelled him to drive across the country soon after arriving in New York to visit his brother and was probably his theme song in the early days. Bob Dylan was no doubt top of his list and it would really be hard to choose a particular album or song but if I had to, it might be the Time Out of Mind album and the song It's Not Dark Yet. John Prine defintely spoke to him and he got a kick out of the song In Spite of Ourselves. among many others. Of course, as a European of a certain age, he grew up with Leonard Cohen and absolutely loved him although he really liked Jennifer Warnes renditions of Cohen's songs on the album Famous Blue Raincoat best. He loved Johnny Cash, especially Ring of Fire and he loved Johnny's daughter Rosanne too, playing Tennessee Flat Top Box and other songs from the album King's Record Shop. He went crazy over The Travelling Wilburys when their record came out and he definitely had a special place in his heart for Tom Waits, especially Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You and Jersey Girl. He loved so many songs of Otis Redding and shifting gears, if you want to spend a leisurely morning listening to his favorite classical piece, here's Mozart's Jupiter Symphony. P.S. His mom always thought he would have made a great rock star...

Gert made al lot of music posters and close to forty theatre posters over the years.

This column would not be complete without writing about the third most important thing in Gert's life after art and music (and his family)--he loved to eat. He ate a slim breakfast, if at all a croissant and a cup of tea. But it was up from there. Many of his favorite foods were comfort foods he grew up on in Esbjerg, Denmark and I include some of those recipes here: smørrebrød--black bread with his favorite toppings like leverpostej, gratin dauphinois, and his favorite midnight snack biksemad (the Danish version of leftovers, topped with an egg). He also liked more gourmet foods and loved to eat out although he never liked a restaurant with a stuffy atmosphere, preferring to sit at the bar. His favorite restaurants in New York were his beloved neighborhood Bistro 61 (now defunct) and probably top of the list for special lunches, Il Buco in downtown Manhattan. He also loved Picco Restaurant in Marin County, California.

And now finally, a few more random things he loved, always passionately: loafers, the ocean, swimming, rosé wine before it became fashionable, fishing, flowers, harbors, potatoes (we were married on the beach between two potato fields), Puerto Rico, old episodes of Ozzy Osbourne, history, Tuesdays (which was the day he dedicated solely to reading), the films Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump, and of course ceramics, printmaking and painting.

We were married in Bridgehampton, New York in 1992

Gert’s pride and joy—his children and grandchildren: Toran, Jonathan, Rocsi and Morgan Mathiesen

painting of the week

Below are links to our ArtSHOP, Smilow + Mathiesen BOOKS and a favorite CHARITY

Catalogue $45 Heerup Museum

Mathiesen Book $50

Animal Prints $150

Donate to NDI

blog no. 12: Jimmy Carter, Who Gives A Crap, Preet Bharara

March 20, 2021

Greetings from the beautiful rocky coast of Maine. I drove six hours from the heart of New York City and have transported myself to the most gorgeous of settings--a little artist cottage on the edge of the vast Atlantic Ocean. I write this from a large picture window where all I see is water and sky. It is just me and the ducks so far. I am sure I am going to get to know the sky like I never knew it before.

I had a good laugh this morning--me, the eternal Jewish mother whose philosophy is sadly "when in doubt, worry..." Gazing out on the vast ocean before me, I spotted a lone duck swimming all alone by the shore and a much larger group of ducks quite a bit away. I immediately started worrying that this little guy was lost and the rest of the flock hadn’t noticed… Well, good news and a sigh of relief--he/she/they is on the way back to the others.

And on a more somber note, in light of this week's horrible events which appear to be hate crimes around Atlanta, Georgia, I'd like all of us to be reminded of this quote that originated in Nazi Germany by a Lutheran Pastor named Martin Niemöller.

"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

three things we love

Willie Nelson, Roslyn Carter and Jimmy Carter

If you have any doubt that Jimmy Carter was one of the coolest presidents the United States has ever had, think no more. The recent CNN documentary Jimmy Carter Rock and Roll President confirms it. Aside from his political accomplishments in the field of conservation, the Salt II Agreement, and the Camp David Accords (establishing peace between Israel and Egypt), Carter's other deep love and passion was for music. He was friends with a myriad of rock and roll and jazz musicians and they were frequent visitors to the White House. (Willie Nelson was even purported to have smoked pot with Carter's son inside those walls...). Bob Dylan spoke of Carter as "A man you don’t meet every day and you are lucky if you do…." and the Allman Brothers helped propel him into the presidency with their fundraising concerts...I always thought Jimmy Carter got a bad rap as being a weak president, mostly because of the Iran Hostage crisis. But in my mind, he was a gentle man, a true humanitarian and to this day at 96, still at it, building homes for his beloved Habitat for Humanity and speaking out on issues that matter...I absolutely loved this documentary and if you want to read a good review and synopsis of it, go to Mary Lucia's (aka Looch) Minnesota Public Radio podcast The Current.

Californians in general are always a few steps ahead of the game in recognizing climate change and what we can do about it in terms of conservation, recycling and sustainability. My friend Barb at wholechampion.org has turned me onto something I wanted to share with you and you are probably going to laugh at this one (or roll your eyes--no pun intended) and say, why is this on her list?. Because I am going to talk to you about toilet paper and tell you about a company where I intend to buy it from now on. The company is called Who Gives A Crap and they donate 50 percent of their profits to building toilets for people in need around the globe. (Did you know that diarrheal diseases caused by poor water, sanitation and lack of toilets account for 1 in 9 child deaths worldwide, making diarrhea the second leading cause of death among children under the age of 5.) And I know you are now thinking, must be like sandpaper. Well, I have tried it and it is very soft, affordable ($1.00 a roll), wrapped in pretty wrapping for us designerly types, and includes free shipping. What could be better?

If you are wanting to do more, check out this other company, the Wild Minimalist. They are trying to make it easier for people to begin their journey towards a zero waste lifestyle by vetting and offering the best quality products, partnering with sustainable businesses and shipping purchases in recyclable or compostable packaging. Many of their suggestions might be items our grandparents would have used--full circle back to the natural. We can all do our part...

I fell upon this podcast this morning as I was researching other things and decided to dedicate my post this week to former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s podcast Stay Tuned interview with Atlantic Magazine's Anne Applebaum instead of something else. I found it so important and compelling and it also left me slightly hopeful too. The occasion was Applebaum’s new book Twilight of Democracy, which seems like a must read for anyone interested in politics these days as she explores the subject of authoritarianism. She puts it into context by comparing it in her native Poland, England and the United States: how it comes about, its historical roots, reasons for its attraction and most interesting of all to me, her ideas on how we might go about preventing its rise. These are two very smart people discussing this very important issue of the day--how to protect and save our democracy. Couldn’t ask for a better interview/conversation between two learned individuals.

painting of the week

Seagull (Yellow Spruce Series) mixed media on canvas 54” x 80” approx.

Below are links to our ArtSHOP, Smilow + Mathiesen PAINTINGS and two favorite CHARITIES

Donate to NDI

Paintings

artSHOP Products

Donate

blog no. 11: Joe's Violin, Naomi Shihab Nye, Hans Silvester

March 13, 2021

In Honor of Women’s History Month March 2021.  This 7 foot tall bronze statue was just erected in Ginsburg’s native Brooklyn, New York.   Created by artists Gillie and Marc, Ginsburg herself consulted with the artists on it before her death.

three things we love

Joe Feingold and Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls student Brianna Perez

This sweet little documentary, Joe's Violin, had me crying (in a good way) almost from the moment it started…This touching story begins with an old man, his violin and his memories of what music meant to him growing up in war torn Europe. Years later, in New York City, responding to an instrument drive run by the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (inspired by the movie Mr. Holland's Opus) he decided to donate a violin his fingers could no longer maneuver. It is amazing how this simple act transformed his life and that of the recipient of his instrument and her school, the Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls in New York City. As usual, there is an amazing teacher behind this too...Kokoe Tanaka-Suwan, was nationally recognized as a nominee for the prestigious Music Educator Grammy Award in 2020.

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye born to a Palestinian Father and American mother

The poet, Naomi Shihab Nye was featured and interviewed last week on Krista Tippett's podcast On Being. This particular poem struck a cord with me. If you would like to hear the poet read it aloud to you, click here. Or just read it below on your own.

KINDNESS
by Naomi Shihab Nye

Listen
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread,
only kindness that raises its head
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

To hear Naomi Shihab Nye talk more about her work, click here

Couldn't be more excited to present to you this amazing book of photographs of the peoples of the Omo Valley taken by the esteemed German photographer Hans Silvester. I have looked at this book Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration From Africa countless times over the years (it was published in 2008) and it never ceases to get my heart pounding with sheer excitement at such beauty! The Surma and Mursi tribes, located where the lands of Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan meet, paint and adorn themselves and each other in the most aesthetically exciting and artistically creative ways--carrying on a tradition of their people that has been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. Using natural pigments found in their environment, this body painting is one of the most incredible uses of natural elements in fashion and art but also has its roots in practicality by protecting against the sun, acting as an insect repellent and warding off evil. Thanks to anneofcarversville.com, who is as fascinated as I am with this book, here is a compilation of quotes from Silvester himself, describing his twelve trips to that area and some of the things he learned about these nomadic people and their amazing bodyart.

painting of the week

Signs of Spring 1-3 mixed media/ledger paper (from a Texas general store in 1929!), 27 1/2 x 19 3/4” each, $1500/panel, $3800/set of 3”

Below are links to our ArtSHOP, Smilow + Mathiesen PAINTINGS and two favorite CHARITIES

National Dance Institute

ArtSHOP

Paintings

Donate a Musical Instrument

blog no. 10: Bhangra Dance, Andre and his Olive Tree, Patrick Hutchinson, Kafka

March 5, 2021

Look what our neighbors to the north are doing to celebrate diversity! Dancing the Bhangra, a Punjabi folk dance led by Gurdeep Pandhera, a joyous Sikh immigrant who emigrated from India to Canada is on a mission to spread joy. Wouldn't it be great if our police spent more time dancing, communing with their community and celebrating the people they protect. I dare you to get up wherever you are right now and follow along--smiles on every face, including yours!

three things we love

The documentary Andre and His Olive Tree, available on Netflix, tells the story of the highly celebrated Asian chef André Chiang and offers a behind the scenes look at his restaurants and what it takes to run such high end establishments. Chiang is a very interesting character, not afraid of change, and his highly acclaimed Singaporean restaurant Andre, the subject of the film, went out on a high note, closing its doors at the height of its success in 2018. If you are still curious, you might like to listen to this extensive interview with him. And click here to stay current and find out what Chiang is up to now--I for one am planning to visit his new venture in Japan once the pandemic is over...

Hector Guest Sculpture of Patrick Hutchinson

This photo of Englishman Patrick Hutchinson carrying a white supremecist to safety in the midst of a Black Lives Matter protest in London is an image that has resonated around the world, even inspiring a sculpture about him and his heroic act. Raised by a single mom in London, England, now a father and grandparent many times over himself, Hutchinson's story is one of a simple act of kindness by a regular citizen, who despite differing opinions, took it upon himself to save a life of a fellow human being. Hutchinson attributes his values to the compassion and empathy he learned from his mom. In his own words: "I hope that if there's one thing you can take away from that picture, its unity. It doesn't matter to me the color of a person's skin or even their views, if they're a person in need then I will save them and I would do it again. We don't have to be friends afterwards, but I'm there to help anyone in need. If we were all like that, I think society would be a better place." Featured in many publications including GQ Magazine in December 2020, Hutchinson also caught the attention of Prince Harry, who sat down with him for an extensive conversation, revealing to me the decency and compassion of both men.

I came across this delightful piece regarding Franz Kafka and a missing doll on someone's facebook post this week. On further look, there are many versions of this story and some doubt as to all its details, but I thought you might enjoy it in any case, especially coming from a writer who we might not necessarily think of as associated with such a tender act of kindness...Here goes the story:
At 40, Franz Kafka (1883-1924), found himself walking through a park in Berlin when he met a little girl who was crying. She had lost her precious doll and was looking everywhere for it. Kafka joined in the hunt but they were not able to find it. When they parted, Kafka told her to come back the next day and they would try again. The next day brought no better luck so Kafka, who had thought ahead, pulled out a letter he had brought with him "written" by the doll, telling the little girl "please don't cry. I took a trip to see the world. I will write to you about my adventures." Kafka continued to write these letters until the end of his life in 1924, when he passed away at the age of 41 from tuberculosis. During his meetings with the little girl, Kafka read the letters of the doll, carefully written with her adventures and conversations. The little girl loved listening to this correspondence and delighted in it. One day, Kafka came carrying a doll which he had bought, saying the doll had returned to Berlin. When the little girl said "It doesn't look like my doll at all," Kafka handed her another letter in which the doll wrote: "my travels have changed me." That satisfied her and she gave the doll a big hug, happily bringing it home. Kafka died soon after. Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll. In the tiny letter signed by Kafka it was written: "Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way."

And speaking of dolls, have you heard of the company Cuddle + Kind? They are one of my favorite places to buy new baby gifts..In addition to supporting a small business, their fair trade production employs women in Peru and a portion of their proceeds goes to feeding hungry children. To read their mission statement, click here.

painting of the week

Pam Smilow Blue Composition with Stripes and Dots and Moons mixed media on canvas. Recently sold painting in a beautiful home in Napa, California.

If anyone is considering purchase of a new piece of art and/or just wants to see how it will look, I have a nifty new tool that enables me to transpose a painting on your wall without moving an inch from my desk (or yours). All I need is an email from you including a straight on photo of your wall (with some of the room around it for context) you will see instantly how art uplifts, excites, transforms and inspires...No purchase necessary if you want me to just play around...

Below are links to our ArtSHOP, Smilow + Mathiesen PAINTINGS and two favorite CHARITIES

National Dance Institute

ArtSHOP

Paintings

Fair Fight

blog no. 9: Sixto Rodriguez, Brownies, Harry Belafonte

February 27, 2021

This is an eclectic blog. The different entries might seem disjointed and unrelated at times. All I can say is this is a journey into my brain and memories of things I have loved over the years throughout my whole life. So far it seems like a bottomless font and I am amazed and what is showing up! I hope it is bringing you at least some of the pleasure that it is bringing me...

Our Giveaway Collaborators, A.Gallo Colors, has a restock sale beginning today, Sunday February 28, 2021. Click on their name to see their offerings and buy these amazing paints beginning at 10am--don't hesitate as they sell out almost immediately...

three things we love

Sixto Rodgiguez, musician and subject of film Searching for Sugar Man

My late husband, Gert Mathiesen, was a passionate guy and he got very excited about things. This story of the musician Sixto Rodriguez in the movie Searching for Sugar Man caught his attention in a big way and was his subject of choice in the days leading up to Gert's sudden death of an aneurysm in 2013--he said he thought it was the most incredible story of the 20th century. Take the time to watch this amazing movie and story (it costs $3.99 on Amazon Prime) and judge for yourself. I don't want to say too much more about it before you see it.

Delicious Brownie Recipe made from unexpected ingredients Courtesy chocolatecoveredkatie.com/

Talk about unrelated--here's a crazy brownie recipe that you probably will make a face at on first glance. Believe me, I almost didn't try it myself but I have some relatives that are gluten free so I baked these before one of our family holiday getaways. Make them and then don't tell anyone what is in it and I guarantee you they will never guess the ingredients--they are as fudgy and delicious as you would expect of any brownie and very low on weight watcher points to boot! One tip: don't skimp on the chocolate chips...

Harry Belafonte, singer, songwriter, activist, actor

I was first introduced to Harry Belafonte as a kid when I would see my dad sitting down in our living room, sparkly red set of bongos between his knees, drumming along to the beat of calypso music--most usually Harry Belafonte. He was always a hero in my family, not just for his music but for his unrelentless activism, which continues to this day as he turns 94. As an old friend of his, Bo Taylor, once noted, "from the time he got up to the time he went to sleep, he would always be seeking out the injustices done to humankind…"
A few years back, a wonderful documentary came out about him, called Sing Your Song. The talented filmmaker, Susanne Rostock, happens to be a friend of mine who I met through National Dance Institute (both our kids participated in their dance program). To quote her, "Harry is so full of optimism and his optimism is infectious...it makes you want to join him..." And if you want to immerse yourself totally, for $25, join the virtual celebration today Sunday February 28th at 7pm ET for his surprise 94th birthday party including Usher, JayZ among many others... Tickets available here

painting of the week

Pam Smilow Yellow Spruce Series mixed media on canvas $8500.

Below are links to our ArtSHOP, Smilow + Mathiesen PAINTINGS and two favorite CHARITIES

Food Bank of New York City

ArtSHOP

Paintings

Fair Fight

blog no. 7; James Baldwin, Challah, Searching for Bobby Fischer

February 13, 2021

I remember my first eureka moment about the internet. After years trying to reproduce (unsuccessfully) a cup of deliciously sweet Moroccan mint tea I had so enjoyed in Marrakesh many years prior, I discovered maybe I could look it up. Through my search, I found that I had been leaving out a key ingredient: green tea. Mystery solved after wondering about it for quite a few years! Sounds trivial but I am struck by how much we take for granted regarding access to information: we have a full expansive library literally at our fingertips 24/7. Technology has its good and bad sides, but for this endless access to resources, I am eternally grateful...

**HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY from me (and courtesy Jill Biden)**

three things we love

Without leaving my desk, I have spent the last few days with the great American writer James Baldwin. Two things I choose to share with you here are a letter he wrote to his nephew in 1962 and an interview he did with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) entitlted On Being Black in America, both still, sadly, very relevant today almost 60 years later. For those who want to delve deeper, he has written many books and essays, and the internet affords many other opportunities to hear him in his own words, including a notable debate between Baldwin and William F. Buckley at Cambridge University in 1965.

Recipe for Challah Bread — Recipe for **Challah Bread**

"With bread, all sorrows are less" words spoken by the character Sancho Panza in the novel Don Quixote.

One of my favorite childhood memories was a bread "bake-in" I attended at the local library in Katonah, New York, where we built an outside oven and sculpted bread dough into animal shapes before baking. I made a snail. The pandemic seems a perfect time to try this again (minus the outdoor oven). Everyone should make bread at least once in their lifetime! Here is a SIMPLE RECIPE FOR CHALLAH, a good and easy place to start: Ingredients: 1 stick melted butter/1 pkg. active dry yeast/1.5 cups warm water/pinch of sugar/3 large eggs/1/2 cup honey/5-6 cups flour (1-2 cups of which can be whole wheat)/1 tbsp salt/1 egg lightly beaten with a little bit of water/sesame or poppy seeds (optional) Instructions: Melt butter in sm. saucepan, set aside to cool a bit/Pour approx. 1 tbsp butter in large bowl and swish around to coat sides/dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup water, add pinch of sugar and set aside. In large bowl, beat together eggs, honey and melted butter. Add remaining 1 cup warm water and mix well. Add yeast. Add flour, with salt, 1 cup at a time, blending well after each addition cup until dough is thick enough to work by hand. Spoon dough onto floured work surface and knead for several minutes. Add 1 cup raisins here (optional). Add more flour to make a smooth elastic dough. Rub top of dough in the buttered bowl , then flip dough over and nestle inside. Cover the dough with clean kitchen towel and place in warm place until doubled in size (approx. 5 hours). Divide dough into three pieces and roll each into a long rope. Braid them and curve into circle, pinching ends together. Or divide into two smaller braided loaves. Cover with clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place again for 40 minutes. Brush top and sides of challah with egg wash and sprinkle with seeds (optional). Line a baking tray with parchment paper and sprinkle with cornmeal. Bake in 350 degree preheated oven 30-40 minutes depending on loaf size, until golden brown.

There is a resurgence of interest in the game of chess these days, probably brought on by the popular series "The Queen's Gambit," which if you haven't seen, is well worth watching. Here I take you back to a family movie I enjoyed many years ago which is currently available on netflix, Searching for Bobby Fischer," about a young chess prodigy. It is a real New York story, full of wonderful scenes of Washington Square Park, based on truth and the life of Joshua Waitzkin. It is also a touching story about parenthood and misguided expectations we often have for our children.

painting of the week

Pam Smilow Pink Composition with Purple Ladder mixed media on canvas 54” x 80” approx.

My favorite pink painting which hangs in the entry of a beautiful home in Northern California. Perfect for this Valentine's Day.

“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” — Dr Martin Luther King Jr

Below are links to our ArtSHOP, Smilow + Mathiesen PAINTINGS and a favorite CHARITY

Gert Mathiesen Art

Pam Smilow Art

ArtSHOP Products

Southern Poverty Law Ct