Tuesday, December 19, 2006
To the southern tip of Manhattan: The Museum of the American Indian
Today, a sunny, sparkling day, I went to the southern tip of the island and yes it's just the place to see the end of the island and in the distance across the water, The Statue of Liberty. I had two destinations, the Museum of the American Indian to see the exhibit that was closed the first time I went and then on to a photography store not far away to buy a digital camera.
After fueling up with a good Chinese buffet meal, I went into the former U.S. Customs House that now houses the museum. Seeing the beautiful polished wood stairway railing (restored) spiral up six or seven storeys made the trip worthwhile even though the particular exhibit was closed again, this time "for renovation" in advance of anticipated crowds during the upcoming holiday week. But there was an exhibit of Inuit sculpture that fascinated me for showing an almost vanished way of life now that the Inuit have congregated in towns but most of all for the beautiful objects themselves. There was a walrus head made of bone; the artist having seen that the pores in the bone reproduced the texture of the animal's fur. There was a smaller sculpture of four women, one of them assisting another giving birth. But by just giving these examples, I am only barely conveying the artistic sensibility, craftsmanship, and dedication to conveying their culture of the many sculptors whose work (mostly from the 1950s and 1960s, but some more recent) was on display.
By the way, the Museum defines "Indians" as the indigenous people of North America (including Mexico) and the Caribbean, not just of the USA. Hurrah!
After fueling up with a good Chinese buffet meal, I went into the former U.S. Customs House that now houses the museum. Seeing the beautiful polished wood stairway railing (restored) spiral up six or seven storeys made the trip worthwhile even though the particular exhibit was closed again, this time "for renovation" in advance of anticipated crowds during the upcoming holiday week. But there was an exhibit of Inuit sculpture that fascinated me for showing an almost vanished way of life now that the Inuit have congregated in towns but most of all for the beautiful objects themselves. There was a walrus head made of bone; the artist having seen that the pores in the bone reproduced the texture of the animal's fur. There was a smaller sculpture of four women, one of them assisting another giving birth. But by just giving these examples, I am only barely conveying the artistic sensibility, craftsmanship, and dedication to conveying their culture of the many sculptors whose work (mostly from the 1950s and 1960s, but some more recent) was on display.
By the way, the Museum defines "Indians" as the indigenous people of North America (including Mexico) and the Caribbean, not just of the USA. Hurrah!
Monday, December 18, 2006
physical therapy in the Big Apple
I'm finally being treated for my sore shoulder. The therapist is more willing to explain what's happening than in Guanajuato, probably not only because we speak the same language and is more individualized. However the cost, even with Medicare, is $30 compared with $3.50 at DIF.
Computer Difficulties in The City
I've had various communication problems so have had to depend on the 45 minutes daily of computer time at the library nearly around the corner. Then during the cold weather about 10 days ago the heating system failed there so now I have to go to a branch about a mile away. Once there, I usually have all too many tasks besides the blog.
What about the computer I ordered? UPS made my life difficult for a week. Now I do finally have the new laptop but the wireless connection isn't working.
What about the computer I ordered? UPS made my life difficult for a week. Now I do finally have the new laptop but the wireless connection isn't working.
Good food in Midtown East and a friend in town
I just had what I think of as a "New American style" lunch, meaning the core was roast chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans and cole slaw but surrounded by a stuffed vine leaf and mixed peppers. All this and a cup of decaf hazelnut coffee for $6.47 at a buffet restaurant whose exact name and location I'll reveal on my next post. Mostly I've been eating Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish (Oh, the crema catalan) but finally got hungry for the old familiar food, especially the sweet potatoes.
The artist Theresa Ramey who lived in Guanajuato for three years until the end of 2003 is in the Bronx visiting her middle son. Today we met to eat Chinese soup laced with shrimp, beef and pork, then went down to Chelsea where we gallery hopped galleries with contemporary work, Theresa filling in just the right amount of explanation, and finally topped the day off by sharing a vegetarian platter of garbanzos, rice, veggies, salad and rotis (warm flatbread) from an Indian takeout near Jon's apartment.
Theresa's heart problems seem under control and she is doing new work, smaller than the canvasses she used to lug around from place to place, made of lots of little short strokes. It was wonderful for me to connect with an old friend in the City of Cities. As Theresa, had already told me about the free Fridays evenings at the Museum of Modern Art, by now I've been to MOMA twice.
The artist Theresa Ramey who lived in Guanajuato for three years until the end of 2003 is in the Bronx visiting her middle son. Today we met to eat Chinese soup laced with shrimp, beef and pork, then went down to Chelsea where we gallery hopped galleries with contemporary work, Theresa filling in just the right amount of explanation, and finally topped the day off by sharing a vegetarian platter of garbanzos, rice, veggies, salad and rotis (warm flatbread) from an Indian takeout near Jon's apartment.
Theresa's heart problems seem under control and she is doing new work, smaller than the canvasses she used to lug around from place to place, made of lots of little short strokes. It was wonderful for me to connect with an old friend in the City of Cities. As Theresa, had already told me about the free Fridays evenings at the Museum of Modern Art, by now I've been to MOMA twice.
Labels: buffets, ethnic restaurants, New York City
