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Maine Time: Trolls & More

July 25, 2021July 25, 2021 JWF Leave a comment

TROLLS IN THE GARDEN

We made the first of this year’s visits to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens yesterday. It was lovely and mostly sunny. We were impressed with some new annuals and the expansion of beds near the entry bridge. These gardens get better every year!

This year’s highlight is the presence of some gigantic trolls. These wooden sculptures are the work of Danish artist Thomas Dambo. They were built on site over several months by the artist with assistance from garden staff and more than 150 volunteers. Dambo has been working with wood since early childhood, and his trolls are found around the world.

I was told that these five trolls will remain in place until they deteriorate and fall apart, estimated to be about five years, longer if they receive some maintenance. They are impressive works! We tramped around and found two of them, Soren and Birk.

RECENT READING

Baghdad 2002

When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson

I must confess to buying this paperback book partly because of its very attractive apricot-colored cover. It’s a novel set in Iraq in 2002 when Sadam Hussein was ruling the country. The author is a former international correspondent who spent a year living under that regime. Her depictions of the city and the environment are picturesque and chilling.

Wilkinson has created three female characters, one based to some extent on her own experiences. Ally Wilson is the wife of the Australian ambassador, Huda is a village girl who has advanced in life to working at the Australian embassy, but also acting as an informant for the government. Rania, born rich and privileged, has fallen on hard times; she and Huda were close friends as children. How these three women come to interact with one another and how Huda and Rania’s concern for their teenage children makes them compatriots is the heart of the novel.

I found the descriptions of daily life fascinating, but noticed a lack of tension in the narrative until about the last third of the book. Nonetheless, it’s worth reading about Bagdad during this brutal time. (~JWFarrington)

VIEWING—BRITISH CRIME

Unforgotten (Season 4, PBS Masterpiece)

Detective Chief Inspector Cassie Stuart and Detective Sunny Kahn are partners in solving cold case crimes. Bodies turn up years later in odd places, in this season, a freezer. This duo must identify the victim and then excavate his or her past to determine how and why the individual died. Was it an accident or murder? And who were the principals in this person’s life and what role did they play in the demise? One incident and one quick decision decades ago reverberated through the lives of four people.

From the haunting and ethereal opening song, “All we do is hide away,” to the detailed interviews with possible suspects, each season is gripping drama. This season is exceptionally so. Nicola Walker as the lead (familiar to some viewers from her role in Last Tango in Halifax) is superb, as is Sanjeev Bhaska as Sunny. This pair like and care for each other as friends as well as colleagues. Their mutual respect is echoed in the respect shown to victims, suspects, and family members. Complex, involved, and compelling—highly recommended!

Note: All garden photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).

Manhattan Moments: Addiction & Art

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021 JWF Leave a comment

MASTER WORK

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

For anyone who’s read Radden Keefe’s book about the Irish Troubles, Say Nothing, you know him as a nonfiction writer who draws you in with meticulous detail and creates a novel-like reading experience. His latest work, Empire of Pain, is equally meticulous and an absolutely fascinating study of the self-absorbed, greedy, and corrupt Sacklers. How many museums or universities here and abroad have Sackler Wings? The family was eager to put its name on and in buildings as a condition of its philanthropy. But they were secretive to an extreme about not having the Sackler name appear anywhere in relation to their business ventures.

The first hundred pages of this hefty work are the history and legacy of Arthur Sackler, older brother to Mortimer and Raymond, and the individual responsible for crafting the questionable marketing practices later adopted by Purdue Pharma. Purdue Pharma, as is well known today, is the maker of Oxycontin and was controlled and micromanaged by the Sackler brothers and their children. Their total denial of any connection between their product and addiction and their singular lack of any remorse for the opioid epidemic are appalling, as is the almost complete lack of any penalty for their actions.

It’s a case study of a family living in their own bubble aided and abetted by a cadre of loyal staff and easily manipulated government officials. Highly recommended! (~JWFarrington)

WORKS OF ART

Museum of Modern Art

This was our first visit to MoMA since they added on to their building in 2019. We were pleased with the larger space and the chance to see more of the permanent collection on display. We went during the members’ hour on Monday and had many of the galleries to ourselves. We spent our time on the 5^th floor and delighted in seeing familiar works (Monet’s huge water lilies in their own room) along with ones new to us. I especially liked a Picasso still life in greens against brown, a bold flower-dominated canvas by Stettheimer, and a colorful lady in the park by August Macke. The latter one really captivated me.

*Family Portrait, II,* 1933 by Florine Stettheimer

Metropolitan Museum of Art

*The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer* by Edgar Degas

There is so much to see at the Met that we went back for a second visit. This time, we were interested in viewing the Impressionist collection and other works of that period. I was struck by this striking bronze sculpture of a young dancer wearing a tutu made of cotton.

I also very much liked two ladies in pink by Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt.

*The Pink Dress,* c.a. 1870 by Berthe Morisot

The Cup of Tea, c.a. 1880-81 by Mary Cassatt

Central to these galleries are the marvelous paintings from the Annenberg Collection. The Philadelphia Museum of Art had hoped to be the hometown beneficiary of Walter and Lenore Annenberg’s collecting, but alas for them, it was not to be. Once loaned to the Met for six months each year, their collection then was given to the museum in a bequest.

*Bouquet of Sunflowers,* 1881 by Claude Monet

Here is gallery after gallery of Renoirs, Cezannes, Manets, Monets, Pissarros, and Van Goghs. They are a treat to behold! And since we went first thing in the morning, the galleries were empty for for awhile.

FOOD FARE

As I have mentioned before, our most frequent go-to place for dinner is the small French restaurant, Sel et Poivre. It’s comfortable, quiet, with relaxed service, a nicely priced prix fixe menu, daily specials, and other tempting dishes. Recently, we’ve made more selections from the main menu. Here are two of them: a white asparagus special and tomato and mozzarella salad. Both appealing on the plate and both very good!

Note: All photos by JWFarrington. Header photo is a flower box near Rockefeller Center.

Manhattan Potpourri

May 14, 2021May 14, 2021 JWF Leave a comment

NAVIGATING MANHATTAN

Manhattan is beginning to come back to life and there is something approaching normalcy. But, it’s hard to be spontaneous. Museums require some form of advanced ticketing or reservation, there are usually lines to enter, masks and social distancing are the norm, and you will most likely have your temperature taken.

Unfortunately, some of our favorite restaurants are gone, there are too many empty storefronts, and reservations for dining are almost always a must. There too, they take your temperature, often request contact info, and sometimes require that you sign a health form. Strange times we’re living in, but at least it’s possible to see an exhibit and eat a meal at a restaurant, either outdoors or inside. It’s been a long wait, but we are enjoying both: viewing art and eating well!

CANVASES IN BIG SPACES

Frick Madison

During renovation and expansion of its home building, the Frick has re-located to what was the Met Breuer and is now called Frick Madison. It was both a surprise and something of a shock to see these works, normally hung close together in very decorated furnished rooms, spread out on vast walls. Some works stood out in a new way which I appreciated. I especially enjoyed seeing the four Fragonard pieces on the progress of love in this venue. Another standout was the portrait of Sir Thomas More by Hans Holbein the Younger. And I loved the tiered displays of ceramics—jugs, vases, teapots—arranged by color, one of blue and white pieces, the other works in shades of magenta.

There is a printed guide to the collection, but it isn’t that easy to follow, so I recommend downloading the Bloomberg Connects app before you visit. It includes guides to this museum and others in NY and the U.K. There is a QR code at the museum to do this, but that didn’t work for us.

Although the museum shop is closed, the café is open. With our friends, we enjoyed coffee and cookies before our entry time. Since the Frick doesn’t allow any photos, you must visit to see the art!

BLACK LIFE IN BLACK AND WHITE

Whitney Museum of American Art

The Chief Penguin was particularly interested in the special photography exhibit at the Whitney. We got tickets for opening time; the entry line was short and moved quickly.

*A Couple in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY, 1990*

Dawoud Bey is a contemporary photographer. This exhibit was entitled, “American Project.” Using a variety of different techniques and camera sizes, Bey focused on Black life in several cities, Syracuse, NY among them. He also made a series of portraits of teens from different schools paired with written statements from each. Many of the photos are black and white.

We also spent some time looking at paintings and sculpture from the permanent collection. Some we’d seen before; others were new to us. I particularly liked the larger than life Black woman with a raffia skirt.

OUTSTANDING TV SERIES

Philly D. A. (PBS Independent Lens)

This eight-part series focuses on newly elected District Attorney Larry Krasner’s first term in office. It is excellent! Krasner campaigned on structural change and reducing the high figures for mass incarceration in the city of Philadelphia. Statistics showed that Philadelphia had a very high prison population, many Black or Brown, and sent youthful offenders to reform institutions at a much higher rate than almost anywhere else. Krasner’s goal is to undo 30 years of practices that don’t work and bring about cultural change. It’s an incredibly difficult and complex challenge; watching him struggle to be successful on several fronts is fascinating.

You get to know some key staff, meet several police district captains, follow a long-term prisoner petitioning for early release, and learn about the entrenched and powerful Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police. It’s a study in how municipal government does and doesn’t work for the community and how so often perception prevails over reality.

I worked in Philadelphia for almost twenty years so the attitudes and some players were familiar. But even for those elsewhere, the issues will resonate and are at the forefront of Black Lives Matter. As a footnote, Larry Krasner is being opposed in the Philadelphia Democratic Primary election next week; we will be following his fate. Highly recommended series!

PERFECT LUNCH!

Meme Mediterranean

In the past, we had frequent dinners at this small restaurant on Hudson Street in the West Village. It’s only a short walk from the Whitney. On this day, we had a delicious lunch at a corner table inside, with the door to the outdoors wide open. We shared our favorite fried artichoke, sampled the meatballs with yogurt and mint, and loved the chopped salad with chickpeas, tomato, cucumber, and grilled chicken. To top it off, abandoning noontime restraint, we each had a glass of a refreshing Albarino.

Note: Header photo by Dawoud Bey is entitled A Man at Fulton Street and Cambridge Place, Brooklyn, NY, 1988. Photos taken by JWFarrington.

Manhattan: Art, Food & More

May 8, 2021May 8, 2021 JWF Leave a comment

STUNNING ART EXHIBIT—People Come First

I feel as if I should have heard about the American artist Alice Neel long before this. She lived from 1900 to 1984 and was active on the political scene in Manhattan. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a retrospective of her work on display until August 1, and it’s stunning. Her paintings are largely people, one or two women or men and some of her children and grandchildren.

She was one of the first women to paint male as well as female nudes, and they are not prettified at all, but real and frank in their sexuality. The exhibit indicates that perhaps she didn’t become as well known in her prime since the art world had turned more toward abstraction and away from representational works. In addition to the paintings of humans, she did some still lifes, which I also liked.

Light (1980) painted in Spring Lake, New Jersey

NEW NOVEL—Missing Girls

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

Paula McLain is known for her historical novels, particularly the one about Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley. This novel is a departure as it’s something of a suspense novel about a homicide detective who specializes in locating missing children. Anna Hart has suffered recent tragedy in her personal life and is hiding away from her family in Mendocino where she grew up. There she becomes obsessed with a missing teenage girl. This disappearance is reminiscent of an unsolved case from her childhood and consumes her. Anna offers her assistance to the local police detective. They do not know if they will find a body or a girl still alive. McLain details the acute tension of the search along with Anna’s internal struggles and her identification with certain aspects of the missing girl’s life.

The arc of the narrative is shallow which means there is much debate and discussion, but not lots of action. It feels like a very personal story, and to a great extent it is. McLain herself spent much of her childhood in foster care and is a sexual abuse survivor. I found the novel engaging, but not gripping, but appreciated why, especially after the author’s endnotes she was compelled to write it.

DINING DELIGHTS

For lunch in the West Village, Petite Boucherie perfectly fit the bill. Mourning the demise of A.O.C., we tried this little bistro and were delighted. Excellent merguez sausages, delicious salmon over white beans, a pot of mussels, and delicate greens with warm chevre toast satisfied four discriminating diners.

Eat Here Now remains the Chief Penguin’s favorite diner on the Upper East Side, and they didn’t disappoint. He always orders a grilled bacon and cheese sandwich with a side of cole slaw. I had tuna salad in a pita which was also good. For a more upscale lunch, but still casual, Three Guys on Madison near Frick Madison is another good bet. The food is even better, but the vibe is shinier and less atmospheric.

Via Quadronno is well located for a simple lunch before or after visiting Frick Madison. They don’t take reservations, so we went early and were able to snag a corner table for four inside in the window. While their specialty is panini and other types of Italian sandwiches, they also serve pasta and salads. We enjoyed the lasagna Bolognese, the lasagna of the day (spinach), a lovely mixed greens salad with tuna, and asparagus with vinaigrette. Service was relaxed and unhurried. We were surprised when we left at the length of the line waiting to be seated. More outside seating than inside and they don’t take reservations.

For tasty Lebanese fare, we had dinner at Naya on Second Avenue. The wait staff were all very welcoming, took our temperatures, and asked for contact info. We had grilled halloumi followed by the kafta kebab (nicely spiced ground lamb) served alongside grilled onions and sweet pepper and a mound of rice with vermicelli strands. We also shared the chicken shish taouk, cubes of grilled chicken with the same veggies and rice. And we tried their baklava. Worth a return visit!

With a hankering for some good Indian food, we ventured to Chola on E. 58 St for dinner. Years ago, we enjoyed their sumptuous lunch buffet. No buffet this year. The tables were very widely spaced, and our temperatures checked upon entry. The menu was so tempting we over ordered to try more dishes and had some to take home. The chili shrimp in red sauce were very hot and the Chief Penguin was delighted. Pickled tandoor chicken was appropriately piquant and sharp, while the samosas were a tad disappointing. I found the ratio of dough to filling to be out of balance. For an entrée, we sampled the lamb rogan josh with some buttered naan. A very satisfying meal!

Note: All photos by JWFarrington.

Category: Art

Maine Time: Trolls & More

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