Tuesday, April 24, 2018

A Fantastic Book!

The Sons of Norway Washington Lodge met last night to discuss The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vesaas. The event was well attended and the discussion was stimulating. The book certainly provoked a flurry of ideas of all kinds!

Jolene, Ingrid, Elizabeth, Joel, Ruth, Christine, Lynn, Julie, Marie, Richard
 (Missing: Linda and the photographer John Olsen) 

Delicious cupcakes by Marie and other treats 
for the farewell party for our faithful member Julie who is leaving us



A wonderful photo of Julie seemingly pleased while looking through the Reading Circle History that we presented to her so that she wouldn't forget her happy memories with the fabulous Reading Circle

Monday, April 23, 2018

An exhibit to remember

Marie, May, John, and I went to the Renwick Gallery to see the Burning Man exhibit.

 The Renwick Gallery

 Four friends at the entrance to the Renwick - from l to r, Christine, Marie, May, John O


There was a lot of excitement in the area because French President Macron was arriving and he would stay here at the Blair House, next door to the Renwick.


The Executive Office Bldg, across the street from the Renwick and next door to the White House, showed the flags of the two countries.

 

The Dragon Vehicle 

  

 
The Temple of Loss

  




 
 

 


Marie and Christine inside one of the exhibits looking at this plaque






Friday, April 20, 2018

Public Art in DC

Everyone is talking about "The Burning Man" exhibit at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery. Not all of the exhibit is inside the museum, however. Six outdoor pieces can be found within a 5-block radius of the museum. I saw 4 of the 6 this afternoon. (The explanations of the various works come from the brochure available at each one of the sites.)

(1) Future's Past (southeast corner of Penn and I Street NW)

  

This one is entitled "Future's Past" and the artist is Kate Raudenbush. It is a 23-foot-tall-laser-cut steel sculpture, a monument to technological progress, according to the artist.  It shows an ancient Bodhi tree growing out of a black pyramid. Inside the temple, an hourglass symbolizes the collapse our reliance on technology might ultimately cause.

(2) Ursa Major (19th Street NW between I and K Streets)

 The artists are Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson. It is a 14-foot grizzly bear whose sparkling fur is made out of 170,000 pennies.

In the photos below you can see the pennies more clearly. It is really remarkable when you get close and see how the pennies are arranged to create this magnificent bear.

  

(3) XOXO (NW corner of 18th and I Streets NW)

Artist Laura Kimpton with Jeff Schomberg. The steel sculpture, a love letter to Black Rock Desert,  twinkles with LED lights. The artist uses simple words in her work that have multiple connotations and meanings you can draw from them. Visually stunning but they also make us stop and think. (Atkinson)


  


  

You must go up close to see the tiny bird-shaped cutouts that line each X and O. 

4. "Untitled" (Edward R. Murrow Park at Penn and 18th Street NW)

   

Two bronze crows that were part of a larger flock called "Murder" that appeared at Burning Man in 2016. 

I am looking forward to visiting the museum with friends next week and seeing the art that is indoors and also seeing the two remaining outdoor sculptures, "Golden Spike" (Conn Av median at Conn Av and K Street W) and "Maya's Mind" (17th Street NW between H and I Streets).


Thursday, April 19, 2018

Meeting Friends

I met my friend Kim for breakfast at Barnes and Noble in Springfield. I forgot to take a photo, unfortunately. We had an interesting conversation, primarily about history, and discussed a project she is going to help me with. I am very excited about it. (Hint: It has something to do with living in Rome under Mussolini.)

Kim told me about a book she had read recently and praised it very highly. It is entitled Beautiful Ruins and it takes place in Italy. I have checked out the sound recording of it from my library.



I then met my friend May for lunch at the House of Dynasty. I always enjoy the Chinese food there. We had a nice time and I remembered to take photos!


This is a photo of me but I have somehow lost May! I will look for her later.


Friday, April 13, 2018

Breakfast Seminar

I was invited to attend a breakfast seminar at the Norwegian Embassy. The special guest was writer Asne Seierstad whom I had heard speak the night before at Politics and Prose.


 The ambassador directed questions to Seierstad and her fellow panelists. A very interesting program indeed. The breakfast was very good as well - mini-croissants, fresh fruit, orange juice, and coffee.

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Promoting her book at P & P

I met my friends Marie and Ruth at the Comet Ping Pong Pizzeria in DC for dinner before attending a book  presentation. When we were seated at the table, Marie surprised us by informing us that we were on the very spot where the unhinged Floridian had fired shots to free children who were being held there as slaves by one of the 2016 presidential candidates as a result of his hearing Fake News. Remember?! 
              Comet Ping Pong Pizzeria

After sharing a dinner of interesting dishes, we went to Politics and Prose, one of the top ten bookstores in the nation, to hear a presentation by renowned Norwegian writer and war correspondent Asne Seierstad about her latest book, Two Sisters: A Father, His Daughters, and Their Journey into the Syrian Jihad.

                                                          Entrance to Politics and Prose


Jacki (far left) and Seierstad (center) at Politics and Prose

Seierstad was interviewed by former NPR news reporter and host Jackie Lyden.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Museum

John O, Janet Q, and I went to the Phillips Collection to see XX. More details later.

We enjoyed a tasty lunch in the museum's Vradenburg Café.

Christine and Janet after our visit to the Phillips Collection

Sunday, April 08, 2018

Remembering Andrea

Today was Andrea's birthday. He was remembered by family and friends in Italy and in Washington, DC. today.

I went with Marcello and family to a very nice restaurant, Vaso's, in Old Town Alexandria.

    
               Marcello and Michelle                                                     Colin



Marcello drove us by the narrowest house in America!


After lunch we returned to my house for dessert.

A delicious hazelnut cake from the Swiss Bakery


             Michelle, Colin, Marcello, Christian

Christine, Colin, Marcello, and Christian