Fitzgerald Fine Arts: May 2006

happy memorial day

Del Ray Farmers Market

Isabel's embroidery of Gabe reading the funnies

Until the mid-1600s, French winemakers did not use corks. Instead, they used oil-soaked rags stuffed into the necks of bottles. how about that?

found that little bit of trivial on this blog

"Drawing dude, that's the new painting,"

dcist read it here

Well I really did end up taking the day off yesterday. The boys were gone, Gabe is rowing in New York (I spoke to him last night, miserable weather and they lost so they are coming home early) Raph was at a friends house. So I went to the gym, got my haircut, met Raph, Keriann and Ray for lunch, watched the Quiet Man and did a little invoicing. Made dinner but everyone begged off after a big lunch.
My team is racing today, but I haven't been to practice enough to be boated. Frankly its very nice to have some down time and do some things around the house I've neglected. I had a chance to clean up KT's room and put some flowers in it before she got home. Today I'll go to market, gym, cleaners, that kinda thing.

H2O

An amazing show at McGuffey, what delightful artists! I was so impressed by the humor, exquisite imagery, variety of expression. There wasn't a work of art that I didn't love in this show, every image enhanced the experience. The installation - including the sound of water, it could not have been more perfect.
Bravo!

sorry my pictures don't do it justice

On my way home from Cville I stopped by Harrisonburg to take KT and Erin out to dinner. Very fun visit.

beautiful drive home....

I'll post another picture of Church to cheer myself up. I somehow lost my parking pass which totally messes up my day. Lots of conference calls and meetings today, but I'm taking the day off tomorrow, so look for a post about the H2O show at McGuffey. totally the best show I've ever seen there.

I loved Fleming & Isabel's show

"They tell of blossoming, of early sunshine, of sunburn on the forehead, of chilly shade, of childish trust...." Colette

"There always were as my nurse and Virgil said, tears before evening.... tears for things, Virgil says, not for any particular thing - just tears before evening." Virginia Woolf

Glorious night of movie watching, Susan stopped by for a glass of wine before heading home, I ordered room service then watched the fight scene at the end of the latest Bridget Jones movie, (actually the only really funny stuff in the movie). Woody Allen's Match Point, which was very different from what I expected. Beyond the sound track it was not so woodyallenish. Little Black Book which was on TV, then made it about 1/2 way through The Squid and the Whale before falling into a lovely night's sleep.

The omni gave me early check-in sweet! So while I'm waiting for Susan to finish up a meeting I thought I'd play with the blog and post some of my favorite pictures from my travels of late...

off to Charlottesville this morning. Artwork to return, shows to schedule at MJH. Isabel and I plan to see her and Fleming's show at Mudhouse and H2O at McGuffey.

Yesterday morning @ au

On Thursday, Dana Gioia gave the keynote. He said the NEA had 5 paths to; fund, initiate, recognize, inform and convene. He also said in the past the NEA let the funding discussion be dictated by its critics. There is a brief article about the symposium in the post read it here.
Attending with Paula Cleggett made the experience even more valuable for me. She is so well informed and articulate, I came away with a much greater understanding of not only the NEA itself but the role of the arts in culture generally.

I was fascinated that on the panel on Philanthropy they could have been talking about the arts in healthcare rather than funding. The need to do more research, the importance of collecting both data and anitdotal evidence, to speak the language of the people you are working with - be it an individual or a marketer (researcher).

Another treat was Jack Rasmussen, Director of Art Gallery at the Katzen Arts Center, sat with our table at lunch yesterday. He was sitting a few people away from me so we didn't have much opportunity to talk, but it was nice to have the chance to congratulate him on the great job he's doing at the Arts Center. His blog here

The last few mornings have been so beautiful! The NEA symposium has been really wonderful, and it (seems like....) great fun to hang out with my buddy Paula. Yesterday opened with a keynote by Dana Gioia and then I went to a great panel on design with Jeff Speck and Hugh Hardy. More about it this weekend...

wonderful opening night reception @ AU

this is where I'll be the rest of this week....

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Katzen Arts Center at American University invites arts professionals, graduate students in arts management, public policy, arts education and various arts fields, and arts critics and journalism students to celebrate forty years of leadership in the arts at a symposium on arts and culture. Through a series of educational sessions, presentations by leaders in the arts, and opportunities for dialogue among participants, the symposium will examine the impact that the NEA has had on arts in America, the current state of the agency, future public and private funding of the arts, and the impact of international cultural exchange.

Tough loss for TC. Lost last night to Madison 5 - 2 in the first round of regionals. Raph was far less upset than I thought he might be. They were playing injured against a big, tough defense. TC had it's best season ever and Raph will continue to play lacrosse at CNU.

if this is hard to read go to www.hirshhorn.si.edu

a shout out to those beautiful JMU girls

I had a very nice mother's day, the kids all tried to call in the morning but I was on my botanic garden tour. Talked to Raph and Katie later in the day. Ray made a nice meal and a lovely bouquet of flowers from the garden on the table, the boys made sweet cards. I have to say the most fun was an animated discussion with Raph about Pride and Prejudice, which Mr.Welsh is making him read for English class. At one point I started to say something about Mr.Darcy and he said, stop don't tell me, I dont want to know whats going to happen! What more could this mother ask for?

Sorry no posts yesterday, just spent the day doing the beach thing. Such sweet respite. But today I'm going to hop in the shower, check out and drive to Miami. I know I'll regret it if I don't. Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

Fla day 3

I was going to walk on the beach this morning before I called home, but a huge thunderstorm blew up right around 6:30am. I am on the 7th floor and this room with a balcony is realization of a dream for me - to be able to experience the ocean at all times of day/weather. So be warned, not only does something beautiful happen outside my balcony every time I sit down to post, you will be seeing lotsa pictures of water. So if your not a beach person - I'll be back to my regular life on Monday. I'm trying to decide if I tear myself away to drive to Miami to see Dale Chihuly's exhibit at Fairchild Botanic Garden. I'm very curious since we tried to bring it to the USBG and couldn't afford it.

Posting will resume tomorrow. Long day at the airport yesterday, then with getting lost like I always do, that first turn out of the airport, I just don't trust it, and it messes me up every time. I took some pictures yesterday, but just ordered room service and sat all evening drinking in the ocean.

Long long day of jurying today. They are very sweet and easy to work with at Howard Alan. And it will be a beautiful arts festival this September in Old Town. Very different from last year. I wrote down some of my favorite artists names - last year when a reporter from the post called and asked me who's work I was really impressed with .... I had no idea! I never look to see an artists name when I juring locally. So this year I took notes. Hopefully I'll be able to give you a preview if I can find them on google.

Sweet sweet hotel, amazing view. bliss this.

a question....

for you artists out there. I've been asked to start a changing exhibit in an office area at NIH. Each show will last 6 months, and will include 6 - 8 framed works of art. The work will be part of a research study on the office environment (employees will fill our a survey at the end of each show). The exhibit will be secured to the wall, professionally installed and lit. The work will not be for sale, but contact information will be provided. How much would you charge to have your work exhibited under these conditions? email me your thoughts... Lillian@ffineart.com
Thanks!