What better way to blow off some mid-week steam than at this homey little lounge for a few craft cocktails? I love the exposed brick and lighting combo as it creates such a warm and glowing atmosphere - (I grew up in a home with exposed and glazed brick walls, so much nostalgia!)
Inspired
Experimental Projects
Light Art | David Guinn
in Explore, Inspired, Rendezvous, Style, Arts + Culture
Discovered yet another light mural by David Guinn! Love his work - see Electric Street
Vintage Office Vibes
When visiting my parents home, there is always a new addition or a different feature from the last time I visited. In this particular case, this retro yellow lamp, now paired in-front of an original painting by my father really fascinated me. When I switched the lamp on, the yellow bulb and the yellow shade, against the yellow artwork, created this luminous, golden glow, lighting up the entire room.
Dots Obsession—Love Transformed into Dots
My favorite of the Infinity Mirror Rooms, Kusama's "Dots Obsession - Love Transformed into Dots" is a pink, fantastical dream. And just our luck to for the rare chance to experience this artwork in such a personal and intimate setting.
Lucky Bamboo
Unfortunately, I did not inherit a green thumb. So this lucky bamboo is one of the only houseplants that I can manage. They are incredibly low maintenance - they take low water and can survive under minimal sunlight. I keep them by one of our translucent window shades, so that they can create an interesting silhouette.
Future of Sports - Pink Neon Room
Future of Sports is a pop-up art installation in DC. It's an interactive exhibition that combines art and sports. Located on H street, (only a few blocks from my childhood home!). Worth a visit or 2.
Terminal
Subodh Gupta's sculpture "Terminal" makes it well worth a trip to the newly re-opened Freer/Sackler galleries in DC.
"Internationally acclaimed artist Subodh Gupta transforms familiar household objects, such as stainless steel and brass vessels often found in India, into wondrous structures. The Freer|Sackler features the artist’s monumental installation Terminal. Composed of towers of brass containers connected by an intricate web of thread, Terminal converts the readymade into a glimmering landscape. Ranging from one to fifteen feet tall, the spires recall architectural features found on religious structures such as churches, temples, and mosques"
Metaphors in Real Life
Entrances, Beginnings, Transitions, Gateways, Thresholds, Endings
Doorways and openings are symbolic structures that have great significance in our daily lives. Moving through difficulties or challenges, entering new spaces and opportunities, leaving sadness, loss, a broken heart - doors and openings provide the transition point to change
This capture inspires me begin a series, further exploring the metaphor of doors and really delve deeper into what they symbolize. (I also have another inclination to windows, but thats another story)
Louis XIV Room from Hotel Lauzun in Paris
One of my favorite rooms in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
First Day of Fall
Pictured in front of Jeff Koon's "Split Rocker" sculpture at the Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD. Photos don't do this piece justice - there is so much detail to be seen in person. PS. Photos of myself taken by mother dearest!
The Portrait Gallery
The Portrait Gallery is hands-down one of my favorite places in DC. A great collection of modern and contemporary art can be found there and not to mention, that courtyard is just to die for!
Skyspace
View from my floor seat at James Turrell "Skyspace" show
Lantern Festival
A truly touching experience, to let go and watch all of the lanterns fly away and into the dark night sky. These pictures just cannot do the experience justice. I would highly recommend a lantern festival to anyone searching for a release.
Self Portraits Inspired by the Women in Photography Exhibition
in Inspired, Rendezvous
Another Way of Telling
Wow, what a brilliantly curated exhibition at the Perelman Building in Philadelphia, PA. The "Another Way of Telling - Women Photographers from the Collection" exhibition chronicled womens' roles and points of view in photography from the early moments in history to modern day.
Infinite Kusama
in Explore, Inspired, Rendezvous, Style, Arts + Culture
Many thanks to friends at the Hirshhorn for this early morning private viewing of the Kusama exhibition. All the feels!
Belief x Doubt
By Barbara Kruger, installed at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC.
My Encounter With a Buddhist Monk! | Mongkoltepmunee Buddhist Temple
On a random day of field work, I spotted this beautiful, shiny Temple, that appeared to be under-construction in the middle of no-where, PA. We were driving from location to location on a tight schedule and chasing the sun, so we couldn't stop to check it out - even though I had the intense desire to! I wrote it in my notes and decided that I would be back.
So the day finally came when I set back out to a vague address (really an intersection) and no clue the name or kind of Temple and if visitors would be welcome. And so, upon arrival and basking in the ambiance, I took out my camera to snap a few photos - It was such a beautiful atmosphere, I almost felt like I was brought here by some divine power! As I made my way around the structure - snapping from every possible angle and vantage point (I was doing a lot of architectural photography back then), I see a monk approaching me in the distance. At this point, in my mind, I am mortified - was I about to get in trouble with a sacred monk?
A gentle face greeted me with a smile. I smiled back, motioning to my camera and asked if it's okay to take pictures? He says "of course" and then begins to walk with me as I shoot! We have conversation about the progress of the temple's construction. As our walk continues, he reveals to me that he, himself is a photographer as well. He says "Stay right here, I will be right back!" He runs away and then comes back with his very on DSLR. I am in awe. We wander further into the Temple grounds, through a wooded area.
The Monk pointed to a tree and says "Look! Do you see the birds?" Sure enough there is a mother bird feeding her babies a worm. We both start to fire away our cameras, getting shots from different angles. Then, as we keep walking he says "Look, it's a butterfly!" And surely enough there was a beautiful butterfly perched on a rock, sitting perfectly still and slowly fanning it's wings as if it were posing to let us take photos. So, as if that's not enough - we pass by a pond and the Monk points out a camouflaged frog in the water.
He had an overwhelmingly calming and peaceful energy. I was amazed how he observed the land and made the animals appear right in front of my eyes. We eventually made our way back to the Temple and I went on my way, forever changed by this experience.