February 23, 2020
gem
art, music, Photography, plants
Andy Akiho, art, art museum, baba, composers, concert, contemporary music, David Lang, dc, eighth blackbird, emily, emily shepardson, Fjóla Evans, gem, Holly Harrison, Jonathan Bailey Holland, Julius Eastman, Lisa Kaplan, national gallery, national gallery of art, Nina Shekhar, original music, Viet Cuong, washington dc
National Gallery of Art
What a place to see one of my all time favorite contemporary music groups. Eighth Blackbird played the National Gallery 2.16.20, and the show was free. As always, the group featured brand new music from living composers, including: Nina Shekhar, Fjóla Evans, Andy Akiho, Holly Harrison, David Lang, Viet Cuong, Jonathan Bailey Holland, and Julius Eastman. This show included some ringers in for violin, flute, and clarinet.
Lisa Kaplan, fearless leader and director of eighth blackbird
My favorite set was the second, and my favorite piece was Viet Cuoug’s Electric Aroma (2017),
The most precious thing in the museum was Cora, of course.
Cora does contemporary
The setting (no pictures or recording during the show)
After the concert, there were a few minutes for art.
Then it was out and on the metro for cocktails and dinner at Baba.
Sundown on the mall
Smithsonian sculpture
Wholly Emily
Baba’s bar
February 11, 2020
gem
music, Photography
alisa, club cafe, concert, exiles, gem, grant-lee phillips, greg, john doe, krisin hersh, music, original music, photography, pittsburgh, rm, the exiles, video
There were three of them. The setting was intimate at Club Cafe. Negronis were available. Seating was not.
Ye olde van carpool crew
Krisin opened up with an interesting guitar song that involved intentionally bending chords on an acoustic. After that song, all bets were off WRT tuning. Who needs tuning for an intimate acoustic set? EVERYONE. EVERYONE MUST TUNE.
(please tune)
Grant-lee joined in and tuning became mandatory. This also allowed for some breathing. Grant-lee is charismatic and fun to watch but about as deep as a puddle.
Duo to go
Picture picture for Em
John Doe was fantastic. Thank the stars for a poet singer like him.
John Doe
Hells yes on a great Pittsburgh Sunday night. So good to see Alisa and Greg!!
February 3, 2020
gem
art, Photography, travel
art, australia, photography, sydney, sydney mca, sydney museum of contemporary art, video
Another visit to the stellar Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art. Cornelia Parker was on special exhibition.
February 2, 2020
gem
animals, nature, ocean, Photography, travel
maritime museum, photography, sea life sydney aquarium, squarium, sydney, video
The aquarium was a first. So was the maritime museum. Visit both.
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January 27, 2020
gem
music, Photography, who knows
anthem, concert, dc, grace potter, live music, original music, show, the anthem, video, washington dc
Great show. Lots of dancing and joy.
Though this was the second encore, the solo version of Release was the most powerful song of the set. Yes please. Need some of this.
Rock and roll ending.
January 2, 2020
gem
dogs, farm, hiking, mountain, Photography
blue ridge, dogs, gem, hiking, nature, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river
Three views from the corner.
Trio one
Trio two
Trio three
The walk.
Mogli blends
Shenandoah
Light
Tree fire
January 1, 2020
gem
art, nature, Photography
architecture, art, boyle, building, falling water, frank lloyd wright, gem, novel, photography, tc boyle, the women, video, waterfall
A trip to Falling Water has been on my wish list for years. Though I knew a fair amount about Frank Lloyd Wright and the house itself from studying architecture, I was not prepared for the power of the building itself. Just incredible. The way nature integrates with the structure filling all of your senses is stunning.
This visit was life affirming in all the ways. Part of a perfect day.
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