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.
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!!
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.
The best layover ever is just about right. We made plenty of time for art on Wednesday. First stop after breakfast was the Hirshhorn. This museum is really going places. The new director has it popping. If you already did that once or twice and you have not been under the new regime, go.
Smithsonian in winter
The color wheel is the first use of the second floor circle that has perfect sensibility.
Downstairs had some cool stuff too.
The highlight of this Hirshhorn visit was the fact that Manifesto was playing. I saw this in Stuttgart in 2017 and was utterly blown away. This is a must see video installation, even if you don’t do video art (generally speaking, I don’t).
Here is the official trailer. Absolutely stunning masterpiece.
I now love Cate Blanchett. Watching her work in such a close stunning cinematic set of visuals is life changing.
After lunch, which may or may not have included a bottle of Gigondas, we headed to the Phillips.
Finally, parking karma still intact, we headed to the Renwick. Sadly, Jacob missed it.
Three museums was not enough to satisfy the art goddess. Fortunately, Richard rode to the rescue. His collection is world class.
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