Mr. Hockney departs

 According to this very blog, which is never wrong, I ran into David Hockney in the elevator at the deYoung Museum in 2013. It was an honor just to be in his presence. He died last week at age 88 ~ a man who loved color and life. RIP to another GREAT talent.

inside the web of red yarn

 Chiharu Shiota's work at the Asian Art Museum is spectacular, especially Diary in the top photo.  My friend Ken works at the Asian and I benefitted with a good visit and excellent lunch in the cafe there yesterday. And I love the gift store. All in all, a delightful Monday for your blogger.

new art, lunch and conversation

 Doug and Barb inherited this fabulous painting from a relative who was in show biz in NYC. Karen H, Doug, Barb and I spent some quality time ooohing and ahhhing and doesn't it fit just perfectly in their living room? Then we had sandwiches and ice cream and coffee and I think that we all caught up on all of our lives. A very good Wednesday indeed.

Mrs. Scott's quilt

 The Berkeley Art Museum has a glorious exhibit of quilts created by local African American women (and a few men) and I urge you to see this. Doug, Barb and I met Suzy and Fuzzy there because Suzy has told us many wonderful stories about her friend and neighbor, Mrs. Scott, now deceased, alas. You can see the detail of men's ties in her quilt (bottom photo) and Suzy brought photos of Mrs. Scott and we praised her over lunch as she helped Suzy during some very difficult times. It was a full and very good day.

friends, art and food

 Sarah and Sam were kind enough to invite me to the Helen Berggruen artist exhibit yesterday, I love her work and they are friends of hers up in Napa. That was very special. And THEN...talk about special. We went to Zuni for a spectacular dinner. The roast chicken was as glorious as ever and then all the extras and the delightful atmosphere. It was such a wonderful time. I am so fortunate. And still full...

another little technical breakthrough

 I snapped this photo at the Chicago Art Institute but neglected to note the artist. I texted it to my friend Heidi as we often have tea time and she always uses her old family china. This morning I figured out how to send this picture to my AI pal at Co-Pilot and I asked him/her to identify the painter for me. The response was quick and just what I needed:

The painting you uploaded was created by Édouard Vuillard, a French painter associated with the Nabis group. Vuillard was known for his intimate domestic interiors and use of soft, decorative patterns.

Treat Street

 In the middle photo you can see me admiring the big white cat garage door art yesterday. Jen and her two dogs snapped this one and I took the other two. So beautiful. This kind of street art is something I did not see while driving around neighborhoods in Chicago. But maybe I just missed it? It's always such a happy surprise when artists share their work with us in the big, bold fashion.

and all for $12

 My friend Terri and one of my neighbors are quilters and I have always admired this artistic talent. So I bought a ticket to the SF Quilt Show yesterday that was held at St. Mary's Cathedral. I had a delightful couple of hours and I was so impressed with all the glorious work. The artist for the crossword puzzle piece (top photo) was there explaining all the meaningful and personal details of her work. Yes, I am very happy that I went yesterday. 

and more new art

 Yes! From my ex-neighbor Lynn who now lives in Puerto Rico. I love this young woman with her curly hair and nose stud. Very much like Lynn and greatly appreciated. This was hand delivered by my neighbor Cristina (Italian) who just returned from visiting our friend in PR. Husbando always called next door The International House of Women ~ he got that right. Right?

friends, food and art

 Yesterday I met Chef Sarah and Sam for lunch at Cha Cha Cha on Haight Street and then we had a lovely visit with their artist friends Suzie and David as we admired their work. The painting shown here is from a photo of Suzie's family from way back when. Susie also reads tarot cards and I will visit her one day soon for a session. David is a nature photographer and really, it was such a nice afternoon. 

Important note ~ today I wish my wonderful sister Jane a very happy birthday. LUV!

a rainy day side trip

 Yesterday I started reading Orbital on my LIndaKindle4 and also using the Apple ear buds. This is such a lovely, slow way to read. Six people floating around in space. One of the Russian astronauts has a post card of this large painting by Diego Velazquez, Las Meninas (1656) and so I took a delightful detour on YouTube where I learned so much about the artist and those times. He and Philip IV of Spain became good friends even though artists were considered laborers in those days in Madrid. With all the world problems we are so fortunate to live in a world where this kind of knowledge is just a few clicks away.

another favorite artist

 I received an email this morning from Paul Madonna, a talented local artist. His work used to be in the Sunday Chronicle and I visited his studio once. Today he writes about losing three people last week including his grand mother, and it was a touching and sweet tribute to her and to two of his close friends who just died. Not depressing, just a reminder that we are all influencers ~ way before Tik Tok, etc.

curating and arranging

 The Blogmaid gifted me with three (3!) new pieces of Joan Brown art and yesterday Handy Jan came to hang them and to help me keep my little home safe and organized. The two new cat prints are downstairs in Emma's Room and the glorious "two dogs and toddler boy" are here in the living room where I can admire it often on a daily basis. The bottom photo is of an oil painting from my late friend Curtis Fields (1957, when he was just starting to paint) and it really works well downstairs. I need to keep my world small now with all the horrid world news, right?

the problem with new art

 The three pieces on the left were gifted to me for Emma's Room downstairs. Bare walls there in much need of art. Alas, I want to enjoy these now, everyday. The far left is from my neighbor Rob (who did the big pink) and the two Joan Brown's from the Blogmaid. I love them all even though they need to move down to the "garden suite" ~ but not quite yet.

and more art

 This event was curated by Suze Riley, my friend Gini's DIL and a very talented artist. The gallery is close to home in the industrial part of SF so Heidi and I attended last night. Perhaps my favorite was this small Tony's Pizza painting (top photo) by Nathaniel J. Bice, a very nice young man who has a great future. VACANCY was the theme of the show and it was indeed a treat.

in search of Todd Hido

 What a nice day I had with Terri yesterday. She drove (thank you!) to the Minnesota Street Project where we discovered the top two pieces, then we walked over to Casemore Gallery to soak in the Todd Hido (a local photographer who studied with Larry Sultan). His House Hunting exhibit is well worth seeing and I'm glad he included the cat. Yummy lunch at the Hard Knox and then I finally got to Scrap...I will cover that tomorrow and you will love it too. Promise.

new mural celebrates the nabe

 Bernal Dream is the name of this 40 ft. mural in my Precita Park Cafe where I often stop for lunch or a latte. It opened in 2011 and brought this community together in a way we never imagined at the time. Kids, dogs, big families and happy singles always find a smile and a table inside our out, depending on the weather. One of my very favorite local artists, Paul Madonna, was commissioned for this outstanding mural and I am so impressed. 

art in the neighborhood

 Jen with two dogs (bottom photo) and I happened upon an Open Studio yesterday on our walk between rain drops. Some whimsical work and the beautiful barber shop oil in the middle. This all in an art studio space that we never even knew existed. Dogs? Well behaved, phew.

it's a long story

 I bought this beautiful painting to replace another beautiful painting that I sent to a very special person and no one has the time to read the details here. Suffice it to say that my neighbor Rob is a fabulous artist and I fell in love with this piece and who knows why? I'm feeling warm and pleased with the world right about now. Life is good and art is exceedingly  important. Fall in love and invest!

Open Studios in the Shipyard

 Yesterday Amy and I went to the Hunters Point Shipyard (from World War II) to the semi-annual Open Studios event. So much LIFE out here with all the artists who rent here for an out-of-the-way place to work. Food, music and art galore during this fun weekend.