Events | Daydream Tourist

Mar 17

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Book of Kells

Google has the best logo today to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2012. It’s based on the Book of Kells which you can see in Dublin at Trinity College Library. The four gospel volume was created by Irish monks around 800 AD. It is richly decorated and draws from traditional Hibernian Gothic design elements. The text and its excellent exhibit at Trinity College is definitely one of the top things to see in Dublin!

Book of Kells, Folio 291v contains a portrait of John the Evangelist (Wikipedia)

Book of Kells, Folio 7v contains an image of the Virgin and Child. This is the oldest extant image of the Virgin Mary in a Western manuscript (Wikipedia)

Book of Kells, Folio 34r contains the Chi Rho monogram. "Chi" and "Rho" are the first two letters of the word Christ in Greek.

Jan 2

Seattle Space Needle 2012 Fireworks

I was in Seattle for New Years and took a few pictures of the midnight Space Needle fireworks display. It’s amazing how many rockets are fired off, especially considering the vertigo-inducing set-up this requires!

Nov 12

Crystal Bridge Museum – Assembling a Museum

The new Crystal Bridge Museum of American Art, assembled and funded by Walmart heiress Alice Walton, opens today in Bentonville, Arkansas. NPR Weekend Edition covered some of the controversy (or in my opinion, non-controversy) regarding the acquisition of art pieces from non-museum public and private institutions like universities and libraries. While listening, I went browsing through the collection on-line. I immediately recognized something on the main page of the 19th Century gallery:

That little girl with her dog was sold at Skinners Inc in Boston at the March 7, 2010 American Furniture & Decorative Arts auction! With an auction estimate of $8-12,000, she sold for $41,475 (despite her pouty scowl).

News coverage of the museum’s opening has noted the supposed difficulty of finding quality American art pieces with which to create a new museum. I think the above example clearly illustrates that there are beautiful pieces still in family or private collections that have not made it into museums. I can only imagine that there was an army of art historians and curators sweeping the country looking for these undervalued pieces in American museums, commercial galleries and auctions. Likewise, university, library or hospital collections may not attract the visitor the art deserves and so I see no problem with works being sold so that the funds can go toward the primary missions of the institutions.

I’m not sure when I’ll be in Arkansas but at least the highlights are online.

Nov 4

2 Comments

What do Europeans think of the Greeks now?

It almost doesn’t seem possible that the fate of Europe’s, and potentially the World’s, financial future may be riding on the Greek economy. Like many, I’ve been watching the recent news coverage eagerly hoping restraint and austerity combined with German generosity would lead to a reasonable resolution of the EU economic instability. With the news of a potential Greek vote on the loan offer (and its subsequent dismissal), I was wondering if an anxious Europe had had just about enough of Greece. What do other Europeans, bound by a collective economic and political system but different cultures, think of the nation that clearly seems most incapable of pulling its own weight? While I don’t think I know the answer, I saw a little bit of personal opinions surface while in Greece.

In September, we had dinner at a small restaurant in Kardamyli along the Southwest coast of Greece. One of three couples there, we were essentially dining on the front deck of our Head Chef/Head Waiter Gregory’s home. He was incredibly hospitable and entertaining making jokes the whole time. The food was of course amazing – I have been craving zucchini fritters ever since that meal! In chatting with Gregory after dinner, we learned that he had been a school teacher in Athens who retired a few years ago at 50 and moved home to start a restaurant. With his government pension, he was now halfway through building this home/restaurant and was enjoying following his dream on the rural coast of Greece.

After we were all served courses of amazing food and pitchers of wine, the British couple was the first to finish and head out. As they were presented the bill, Gregory announced that they owed 40,000,000 Euro. They laughed and handed over 45 Euros promising to be back the next night. The Belgian couple finished next and was given their bill for 35,000,000 Euro. They were not nearly as amused by Gregory’s joke.

“Didn’t we already give you people 35 million Euro?” the man responded. Unphased, Gregory reiterated how good the food was, how lovely the sunset had been and how perfect this evening beach air was for strolling. “Surely this evening is worth 35million?” he quipped back, not dropping the joke’s pretense.

“No,” the diner replied. “It is not nearly worth that much.” Leaving 35 Euros for dinner, the Belgian couple departed.

Oct 31

Bolshoi Theater Reopens

The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, the historic center of Russian ballet, reopened Oct 28th after undergoing 6 years of renovation. A gala performance was held to celebrate the occasion which included an entirely Russian program with Russian performers. The honored guests of the evening included President Dmitri Medvedev.

In total, $700 million was spent to meticulously restore the historic theater. As a result of the renovation, the artists’ dressing space has been increased, the acoustics have been fine-tuned and improved technology has been incorporated into the theater mechanics. At the same time, original art and architectural elements ranging from stucco work to door handles have been restored to their original 19th-century appearance having been removed in Communist era revisions. Below are images from the reopening while more images of the renovations can be found on the Theater’s website.

Russia is a trip I hope to take some day – starting in Moscow and working my way through the countryside to St. Petersburg. Capping off my perfect day in Moscow, with any luck, will be a performance at the Bolshoi. There is something so appealing about the great European opera houses. Aside from the elegant styling of the interior art, the opulent surroundings hearken back to an age where being seen at the theater was a quintessential social event. Performances are also guaranteed to feature world-class talent. Where else, for instance, would you go to see the best ballet in the world other than the Bolshoi? Thankfully the Theater has been fully restored and can resume performances in its traditional home.

Exterior of the Bolshoi Theater illuminated for its reopening gala Oct 28, 2011 (Photo: AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) and his wife Svetlana (R) applaud the reopening ceremony of Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Russia (Photo: EPA / Vladimir Rodionov / Ria Novosti / Kremlin Pool)