Burns Night

Today is January 25th, a Scottish Holiday known as Burns Night. 

Tonight, in true Scottish form, we will pay tribute and celebrate the life of the poet Robert Burns. 

A traditional Burns Supper includes whiskey, toasting, addressing the haggis, then eating said haggis, along with some key veggies and gravy. Most important of all, after the haggis, is reciting some Burns poems. Unless you have a thick Scottish accent, this is easier said than done.

What an excuse to post some pictures of my trip to Scotland way back in 2009. Up until a month ago that didn't sound as far away. Good thing I'm going back next month (27 days, 7 hours from now) !

No trip is complete without looking for Loch Ness Monsters.

Wow. I really looked like that 3 years ago.

Scotland is mostly made up of cloud supporting green mountains, huge rocks, and sheep.

Some are bite sized!

Happy Burns Night everyone! 

Coming soon: 

Further tribute to Scotland with thorough Frightened Rabbit post! 

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

Here are some pictures from a fantastic Clap Your Hands Say Yeah show I saw at Webster Hall last month. It was one of the most exciting shows I'd seen in a while. That's saying a lot considering I've been privy to the Foo Fighters with Joan Jett, We Were Promised Jetpacks AND Something Heavy this season. If you haven't heard them, PLEASE LISTEN TO THEM NOW, they are one of the best bands you've never heard of. 

               

 The image behind the band was a clip from 50s Bollywood dance hit "Gumnaam"

Here's the full clip, which was also used in Ghost World, which is one of my top 5 favorite films of all time. I wrote about it for my film final, in fact. Just LISTEN to that bass line!!! EPIC!!!

Not pictured here, but Mike Myers was in the crowd on the upper balcony, boppin' along!

TATE Modern

Here is a long overdue post of my trip to the TATE Moder Museum last month in London.

It is  f r e e.

All day, everyday, for anyone who wants to go. 

You should take a page out of their book, MoMA, Guggenheim, Frick, New Museum.

ART! For the people by the people! 

Film. By Tacita Dean.

 

The one multiple choice question I got wrong on my final.

I got to sit there in London and watch the whole thing. 

How's that for irony?

 It was so beautiful.

 Staircase III by Do Ho Suh

So wonderfully surreal.

 Truths by Jenny Holzer. 

I love all these quotes, but a few more than others.

Money creates taste

 There was a full Guerilla Girls exhibit. 

It was nice to see in person for so long what I'd only read about.

 GERHARD RICHTER SPECIAL EXHIBITION

was worth the entire trip to London. 

I knew he and his work is untouchable as it is epic, but I had no idea of his versatility. 

This show had pieces from every period of his life, from the very start to his most recent abstract series from 2011. There were SO many photo based paintings I had never seen, the Clouds blew me away. As well as this one below, inspired by paint swatches. He started with the 3 primary colors, and made every single color by mixing them. It was awe inspiring. 

This is a detail from one of Richter's many squeegee paintings. 

The entire UK trip was incredible, but this one museum, the Gerhard show specifically was the cherry on the cupcake of amazing. I can't wait to go back next month, and spend more time with family and friends, who I already miss so much. 

Scotland, England and France, 

watch out, I'm a'comin'!

A New Year

Happy 2012! It has finally arrived. This year will be different (says everyone)... but seriously. It will. I finished college at SVA and I've been back to England, there is no where to go but further UP! A masters degree can certainly wait. At least, that is what I've been told by no less than ALL of my professors. So wait I will! Get some kind of job to save up on, and go forth, traveling, buying art supplies, and applying for shows! Here are some pics of rural England (Daventry and Upton). TATE Modern post will be next, getting back on track with museum reviews. Enjoy!

Most of England is actually sheep, and their fields.

Oh, and dogs and birds.

England is in a horrible drought this year, if you can believe that the fog and rain capital of Europe is running low on water, but this lake where the ducks live actually used to be MUCH higher. Like 10 feet higher.

Thistles.

A canal with still enough water to support local barges and their inhabitants.

One dead tree.

Speaking of birds, look how beautiful this one is.

English supper. Quite fancy!

You BET I ate it all.

No need to mull over our muffin tops, it is COLD out.

That extra pudge will get me through a New York January,

I'm counting on it.

Happy New Year!