Posts from — April 2012

Ancient Hebrew Kingdoms was part of the lesson plan this month for Social Studies so we headed to the Skirball. It’s such a beautiful place. I’d been there once when my son was much younger, and didn’t realize how big the space actually was – we spent most of our time aboard Noah’s Ark. You can spend a lot of time in there if you have little ones. This time around, we explored the routes from Rome to Israel, the intricate Menorahs and breathtaking Synagogue gallery. The museum covers the 4,000-year history of Jewish people – It merits several visits to really take it all in. My son had so many questions, and it was hard to just stick to ancient history. We will certainly be back for their programs. How about you guys? Did you ever visit the Skirball? Have you been to a museum that opened your world to another culture or religion?

I’m experiencing that surge of energy that comes from several weeks of feeling under the weather. I started yoga and acupuncture again, and it’s amazing how the simple act of stretching and getting your circulation flowing can shift everything. I think it’s exactly what my body was asking for. I have so much catching up to do on this blog, but that’s what multiple posts are for! In the meantime, I leave you with the latest addition to my closet. Sometimes a new pair of shoes shift everything as well, especially when they are design-focused with a pop of color.

And guys, if you live in LA make sure you head to the Getty Villa and LACMA for a bit of ancient Mexico and Greece beauty for the senses. Peruse my last few posts to see pictures of the shows or check out my write-up about it HERE and HERE for CBS Best of LA.

(shoes – zara)

I’ve been on Pinterest for a while now pinning all things white apparently. Hmm, can’t imagine this look will go over well during preteen video game pizza nights, but I’m thinking of ways of pulling it off. As you may know, it takes me a long time to decorate. So I’ve been creating my spaces online, (over-thinking them), and figuring out how I can re-create them in my home. So far, our classroom/studio/work area is taking shape – thanks to the help of my boards of inspiration.

I absolutely love being in the presence of deities, gold, turquoise and Mesoamerican artifacts. It feels so majestic. One of my favorite places to visit is the Museum of Natural History in NY. I spent many hours gazing at Moche vessels, wondering what they were like and trying to read their codices. I felt the same spiritual presence during LACMA’s opening for Plumed Serpent. Another deity that has always fascinated me is Quetzalcoatl – and how his followers flourished as a cultural, political and artistic society successfully resisting Aztec and Spanish control. Children of the Plumed Serpent: the Legacy of Quetzalcoatl is up and ready for your perusing. Oh. You have to see the turquoise covered skull. I collaborated with LACMA during press day to get the word out via Twitter – the image of the skull proved to be a favorite amongst those who did not have access to good ole LACMA. If you do – no excuse. See you there!

I suspect we won’t be cracking these over anyone’s head for good luck if it means days of clean up and vacuuming (oh, alright, I’ll live a little). Inspired by Spanglish Baby and the 2 Good Eggs, we spent the afternoon with dye, glitter, confetti and eggs. Admittedly, I never heard of Cascarones (lowers head in shame). Year after year, we just boiled and dyed eggs. Boiled and dyed. Year after year. And I can say with assurance that they never looked as good as these. Hey, a career in the arts does not guarantee good Easter egg design skills. But it was an afternoon well spent as we reflected on all the great things that have happened over the last few weeks. A time for renewal indeed, as we open new doors and enjoy every moment…More to come on that.

When I lived in NY, it was impossible for me to visit a museum and not feel the need to work there. I had a bit of an addiction. There was a point when I actually worked at four museums simultaneously – all contractually – hopping from one to another in one day as an educator. It’s easier to do when you live on the east coast. I didn’t have to drive. When I moved to LA, I struggled with the layout of the land. A lot. The driving and traffic really got to me after a while and I tried to think of ways to continue my passion and work for museums without the worry of 40 people waiting for me while I was parked on the 405. Hence, the blog. This whole Art Muse concept has opened so many new doors for me – including the opportunity to write for different publications and exercise my new love for photography. Of course, when I arrived at the Getty Villa’s Aphrodite reception, I wanted to stay and work there. Wouldn’t you? It’s one of the most magical museums I’ve been to. To see Aphrodite in all her glory turned a regular Tuesday night into an evening of nostalgia for me – I was reminded why I love museums so much. Perhaps this overwhelming feeling of happiness was the result of being in the presence of the love goddess herself. I don’t know. You tell me. If you live in Los Angeles, the show is now up for your viewing and offers new insight on her life, relationships and origin. If you’d like to know a bit more, check out my post for CBS Best of LA.

(Aphrodite images provided by The Getty)

Do you hear that? It’s the sound of nothing. It felt as if I was gliding my way around Joshua Tree National Park in my Toyota Hybrid (Just for this week. Thank you Toyota). It was truly a delightful experience. So much so, I decided it would be fun to throw on heels and a trench and walk down a deserted path. It’s not the kind of thing I do on a Sunday morning (er, make that any morning). Baby Blue is back at the dealership (we name our cars as only dorks would do) and I’m well back into the groove from my 48 hour respite. After yesterday’s flight from Oregon (mother nature was keeping it real on the plane), I’m so ready to head back to Palm Springs.

(Car shown: Toyota XLE Hybrid. I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of the Toyota)