Camilla Engman @ Galleri 1

click on the image to make larger © Camilla Engman

If you are or will be in Göteborg, Sweden, I recommend visiting Galleri 1 to see Camilla Engman's latest exhibit!

Jeanne-Claude & Christo

Downtown has lost another icon. Sadly artist Jeanne-Claude passed away yesterday.
I loved her wild red hair and her epic love story with Christo (read more about that at Wikipedia). I can only imagine how incredibly difficult it must be for Christo, to have lost the love of his life & his collaborator of 51 years.
You can see documentation of their work at: www.christojeanneclaude.net; and find The Los Angeles' times obituary written by Dennis McLellan by clicking here.
Zoe Strauss posted a beautiful photograph of Jeanne-Claude & Christo taken by Bryan Obrien on her blog: www.zoestrauss.blogspot.com.

Tonight: Kambui Olujimi

Art Production Fund and Saatchi & Saatchi present:
Kambui Olujimi
The Clouds Are After Me
@ Saatchi & Saatchi
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 19th from 6-8pm

Bakeri

Sweet, salty and mini pastries - yum! ©Nina Corvallo

If you find yourself in Williamsburg in the need for a little break, step into Nina Brondmo's Bakeri at 150 Wythe Avenue (@ N8). Serene atmosphere, delicious pastry, breads & hot beverages. It feels like my godmother's Marlis old kitchen and I could sit there for hours.
Bakeri is taking orders for Thanksgiving pies. You can order one by stopping in or by phone: 718.388.8037 --orders must be in by November 22.

Anna Collette, Steven B. Smith @ Sasha Wolf

from the series Dark Landscapes © Anna Collette /courtesy Sasha Wolf Gallery

Anna Colette Dark Landscapes
Steven B. Smith The Weather and a Place to Live
Sasha Wolf Gallery
8 Leonard Street
New York, NY
-through January 9, 2010

Anna Collette's prints are gorgeous and sensual, while Steven B. Smith's work is cerebral and meticulous.

Animal Thursday

© Colleen Plumb

(Predictably) I am currently reading Jonathan Saffran Foer's Eating Animals. I never know if these kind of works change anyone's mind. Or if these books are only read & purchased by those who think/act along the same lines -- like a Christian might read the bible and donate to his or her church or a doctor might take a refresher class about a procedure and gives to her or his Alma Mater.
Jonathan Saffran will be discussing Eating Animals at the Union Square Barnes & Noble November 16 at 7 pm.


© Colleen Plumb

Today's Nymphoto Conversation is with Colleen Plumb (find it at www.nymphoto.blogspot.com). Her series Animals Are Outside Today also looks at our relationship with animals & death. Colleen's work looks at the world we have created and that she lives in with her family, not turning away her gaze from what might make some uncomfortable.
You can see more of Colleen's work at: www.colleenplumb.com.

All You Need Is One

A Young Wes Anderson © Emily Shur

So last night I attended the Wes Anderson/Noah Baumbach Convo at the NYPL library (tx again Mz. L.). Both directors/writers put on a good show and had great chemistry. I walked away thinking that Wes Anderson loves what he does and that he is able to execute his vision. There is so much compromise in the creative field and business encroaches so much, that more often than not I encounter artists for whom there is little joy left in what they do. Yes, I know that sounds sad and it is. I read somewhere (prob. in the recent New Yorker profile) that Wes Anderson is grace under pressure and last night's appearance seemed to confirm that. Sure he has to deal with his share of crises and pressures, but he is able to laugh about it. And it probably be processed in one of his scripts somewhere.
Wes Anderson shared an anecdote about Bottle Rocket: He spoke about how confident he was while making that film - "Just wait until they see this!" and how insecure he felt just before the first screening. And perhaps rightfully so, because that test audience apparently hated the movie-- except for one girl. Wes Anderson is no drama queen, but he made clear how much the response of that girl meant. It meant there was an audience for his movie(s), someone who got it.
All it takes is ONE.
I guess that is what I took away from the evening. Life is a binary event. It is or it is not. All it takes is one. One person to buy your house when you want to sell it, one person to want to love you, one person to want to see your movie, one person to believe in you.