Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Home Sweet Harlem
Moved into my new place in Harlem, home for the year, at least. I love it-- light, space, peace, a view and convenient to all of upper Manhattan. Thought you'd enjoy some pics. I don't own a wide angle lense, so they really don't do it justice!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Update
Hello friends. I have been very delinquent in writing. Since last I posted something, I've been to Virginia to see family:
I've had a visit from the lovely Tricia Harding, who got her first real New York in the Snow Experience (sorry, would insert pic here but they're all on T's camera). And in the meantime, I've done my taxes, probably found an apartment, and continued to sing, sing, sing.
The weather here is mild, so much so that I walked down the street with my coat unbuttoned this afternoon. People are out without coats (which is a little ridiculous) and all dogs are out sans their winter sweaters. It is a welcome change, if only because I'm sick of wearing the same clothes. I've decided I prefer snow to rain, though (less messy), so we'll see how I handle March coming in like a Lion.
Lots to catch you up on regarding moi, but I have little time. Darn you, no wi-fi!!! So, instead I will tell you about two different culture events I attended within days of each other. Tricia and I, amidst checking out the neighborhood food and wine scene and frolicking in the snow, went to see the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Modern dance. On Monday, I got a free ticket to The Nose, a farce of an opera, playing at the Met. Two events where the artform, in its classical form, tells story through body and music. These two performances, however, take that assumption and turn it on its head.
Mark Morris Group teases you the entire time, by changing its mind about what it is every 2 minutes. They did three pieces, the first set entirely to silence. Dance with no music. It was riveting and hard. You watched and a story formed, then just when you thought 'hey, this is a story', they turned the stage into a canvas, and formed a perfectly proportioned piece of modern visual art. Other moments it felt like you were watching music, which was fantastically interesting when one is listening in silence. Then you felt like they were making sociological commentary about the individual against the collective. The second piece was called Looky, about looking at things, and they kept changing the scene from the art gallery, to the dance hall, to the audience. Fun and smart. The third was a beautiful portrait of Socrates. All I can say that, as long as I live, I think I will remember that dance when Socrates is mentioned. Beautiful, ephemeral, tenderly rendered.
The Nose is a farce about a rather vain man who lost his nose, and then finds out his nose is running around Petersburg impersonating a high-ranking official. Embarrassed by the lack of nose, he chases after it, goes to the police, puts an ad in the paper, to no avail. I related the plot to my friend, Matt, who said, 'You can tell that the opera pre-dated the Pitch Meeting'. Indeed. But it is farce, it's absurd, and just like the Mark Morris Dance Group, is a form of art that is primarily about cerebral activity. One is so aware of one's mind wanting DESPERATELY to make sense of any of it, when really all one can do is abandon oneself to the ride and experience oneself experiencing the experience. Ah, New York.
I've had a visit from the lovely Tricia Harding, who got her first real New York in the Snow Experience (sorry, would insert pic here but they're all on T's camera). And in the meantime, I've done my taxes, probably found an apartment, and continued to sing, sing, sing.
The weather here is mild, so much so that I walked down the street with my coat unbuttoned this afternoon. People are out without coats (which is a little ridiculous) and all dogs are out sans their winter sweaters. It is a welcome change, if only because I'm sick of wearing the same clothes. I've decided I prefer snow to rain, though (less messy), so we'll see how I handle March coming in like a Lion.
Lots to catch you up on regarding moi, but I have little time. Darn you, no wi-fi!!! So, instead I will tell you about two different culture events I attended within days of each other. Tricia and I, amidst checking out the neighborhood food and wine scene and frolicking in the snow, went to see the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Modern dance. On Monday, I got a free ticket to The Nose, a farce of an opera, playing at the Met. Two events where the artform, in its classical form, tells story through body and music. These two performances, however, take that assumption and turn it on its head.
Mark Morris Group teases you the entire time, by changing its mind about what it is every 2 minutes. They did three pieces, the first set entirely to silence. Dance with no music. It was riveting and hard. You watched and a story formed, then just when you thought 'hey, this is a story', they turned the stage into a canvas, and formed a perfectly proportioned piece of modern visual art. Other moments it felt like you were watching music, which was fantastically interesting when one is listening in silence. Then you felt like they were making sociological commentary about the individual against the collective. The second piece was called Looky, about looking at things, and they kept changing the scene from the art gallery, to the dance hall, to the audience. Fun and smart. The third was a beautiful portrait of Socrates. All I can say that, as long as I live, I think I will remember that dance when Socrates is mentioned. Beautiful, ephemeral, tenderly rendered.
The Nose is a farce about a rather vain man who lost his nose, and then finds out his nose is running around Petersburg impersonating a high-ranking official. Embarrassed by the lack of nose, he chases after it, goes to the police, puts an ad in the paper, to no avail. I related the plot to my friend, Matt, who said, 'You can tell that the opera pre-dated the Pitch Meeting'. Indeed. But it is farce, it's absurd, and just like the Mark Morris Dance Group, is a form of art that is primarily about cerebral activity. One is so aware of one's mind wanting DESPERATELY to make sense of any of it, when really all one can do is abandon oneself to the ride and experience oneself experiencing the experience. Ah, New York.
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