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Mar 11

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Photo of the Week – Art in the Favela

Beleza (Beauty) written in a San Paulo favela alley (Photo: EPA/SEBASTIAO MOREIRA)

SAO PAULO.- The Portuguese word Beleza (Beauty) written in large white letters on blue walls in an alley in the Brasilandia neighborhood of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 06 March 2012. The graffiti and painted walls are part of an art project by five Spanish artists, entitled Luz nas Vielas (lit. Light in the alleys), which was realized with the inhabitants of Brasilandia, one of the favelas in Sao Paulo. Photo: Sebastiao Moreira/EPA.

Image and caption, Copyright © artdaily.org

Mar 9

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Maybe the Best Russian Icon Collection in America

The other day I wrote about the Eastern Orthodox iconography of John the Baptist.  Let me take a step back now and spend a little more time on the amazing institution where I saw those pieces: The Museum of Russian Icons.  Located in Clinton, MA, about an hour drive from Boston, the modern facility displays hundreds of excellent Russian icons.  It was such a pleasant surprise to find this small museum; it is definitely one of my favorite New England hidden gems.

The Museum houses the personal collection of Gordon B. Lankton.  An executive at a plastic company, he bought his first icon at a flea market in Russia while on a business trip.  Mr. Lankton became fascinated by the style and imagery and returned from his subsequent business trips with more icons.  (Now new pieces are acquired through well-respected international auction house.)  With well over 100 icons, Mr. Lankton decided the collection would be best displayed at a museum, but a suitable organization could not be found in New York City or Boston.  He then decided to keep the icons in Clinton and so the current Museum was opened in 2006 in a renovated carpet factory.  The museum space is elegant and an excellent platform for enjoying the art.  The Museum now has over 500 icons and objects in its collection and has a friendly and informed staff.  With 12,000-17,000 visitors annually, you’re also likely to enjoy the works with some peace and quiet.

Images of the collection were taken by me, except the last one of the museum interior.

Mother of God Russian icon

"Vladimir Mother of God" circa 1680 (Museum of Russian Icons)

Russian icon damage

Lower central detail of "Vladimir Mother of God" showing candle damage (Museum of Russian Icons)

Saint Nicholas Russian Icon

"Saint Nicholas of Zaraisk, The Wonderworker and Holy Bishop of Myra with Scenes from his life" Suzdal School, 16th Century (Museum of Russian Icons)

cloth Russian icon

Detail from "Christ, Not Made by Hands (Allegory)", circa 1600 (Museum of Russian Icons)

Mary Magdalene Russian icon

"Mary Magdalene" circa 1890 (Museum of Russian Icons)

The honor system cafe (pay at the gift shop upstairs) is a nice touch with imported Russian treats, a hot beverage machine and these antique tea kettles.

 

Interior of the Museum

Modern interior of Museum of Russian Icons (Image from Wikipedia)

 

Mar 7

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Tacky Tourist Souvenirs

Sparta danger shirt

A reference from the movie "300" at a Greek tourist tee-shirt shop

When I was in Sicily, I met a fellow traveler who had an on-going contest with his girlfriend.  Whenever they traveled, they had to bring back the most ridiculous tourist junk as a gift for the other.  This is an absolutely brilliant idea!  Tacky tourist stuff is ubiquitous at popular attractions.  It’s an international phenomena; you can find this stuff everywhere!

Moose nugget earrings - $3.95

Growing up in Alaska, I would cringe at the variety of souvenirs made from “mouse nuggets”.  As large as a moose is, their excrement is actually just a pile of 1 inch pellets.  Someone though it would be funny to lacquer a couple and make jewelry out of it and the idea has taken off.  You can get drink swizzles, rings, and key chains too.  People must be buying these assorted “nugget” items because you can always find them in tourist shops.  But just so we’re clear, moose nuggets are poop!

Michelangelo's David light switch plate - $9.99

Hands down the worst inspiration for tacky tourist stuff is Michelangelo’s David!  If you’ve ever been to Florence, you know that you can’t go 2 blocks without seeing this guy on everything from desk clocks to aprons.  And most of it is a little tasteless.  Come on, it’s not like people have never seen a nude statue before!

So what have been your favorite examples of tacky tourist junk?

Mar 5

Traveling by Book – Turn Right at Machu Picchu (Peru)

Turn right at Machu Picchu - Mark Adams

Since Peru is near the top of my “Where next?” Travel List, I’ve started doing some research.  I picked up Mark Adam’s “Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time.”  A combination of history and travel narrative, I loved this book and need to speed up my travel planning now.

With the hundredth anniversary of Hiram Bingham III’s “discovery” of Machu Picchu in 2011, Mark Adams got to thinking about the authenticity this claim and the meaning of the famous ancient Inca site.  He embarks on a month long back-country trek to trace Bingham’s first expedition.  His team is led by John, an intense and almost larger-than-life actual explorer, and several local Peruvian men who seem unphased by the physical challenges of the journey.  While it seems that Mark does not find all the answers he was looking for, the book does a good job analyzing all the historical realities of  Machu Piccu – a beautiful piece in the interconnected Inca urban web, a forgotten jewel during the Spanish invasion, a vehicle for fame in the early 20th century and a modern day “bucket list” destination.

The book has an excellent balance of travel narrative and history.  Bingham’s background and expedition details are effortless incorporated into Mark’s modern experiences in Peru.  The chapter pacing is quick, hopping back and forth between history, anthropology and the dangers of only wearing one pair of socks while hiking.  Mark is an engaging writer and story-teller.  I immediately sympathized with the challenges he’d take on and identified with his desire to explore both the geography and the past.  Learning and seeing the world is at the heart of every trip and every adventure. Whether you’ve climbed the Inca Trail or hope to some day, you’d definitely enjoy reading “Turn Right at Machu Picchu”.

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