Museum Going Now --- Day 10/71

Walk: Goodwill and SPCA Donations

Distance: 1.2 miles, Yoga

Auguste Rodin (Fr. 1840-1917), The Thinker, 1904/cast 1914, and Wangechi Mutu (Kenya, 1972 - ), Shavasana I, 2019 and Shavasana II, 2019 all bronzes  

So the museum walls are being rehung here and elsewhere, probably worldwide.  Lots of personal political/life statements and many not particularly 'pretty.'  Also many 'no name' artists.  Used to be you had to make your way up the art ladder to be considered 'museum quality.'  The usual: you have to be published to get published.

Now new artworks stand (or lie) beside the old.  Here at the Palace of the Legion of Honor Auguste Rodin's iconic Thinker contemplates the works of contemporary artist Wangechi Mutu who is very 'museum worthy' with many prestigious one-person shows around the world.  Here her bronzes are fantastical creatures, strongly feminist, Black-African, earth-animal, embodying a new mythology as they emerge from suffering.  

And here viewers, along with Ciwt, contemplate these new artistic juxtapositions.  If they are like Ciwt - who is writing entries on this but not really progressing - it is taking a while for this type of museum going to sink in*.  

*PS - The young couple from Michigan (see Birthday Art post) loved Mutu's works - and their tour.

SF Summertime --- Day 10/70

Walk:  Presidio Pickleball

Distance: 3.5 miles, just a few games

Is this a heat wave?  

Well Deserved Rest --- Days 10/67, 68 & 69

Walk: 1. Art Tour sites  2. Art tour  3. no

Distance: 1. 1.5 miles & at home prep  2. 6 miles  3. easy yoga

Today Ciwt rests after preparing for and giving first all day - mostly maskless even - art tour since pandemic began.

A Friend Indeed --- Days 10/65 & 66

Walk: 1. GG Park Pickleball 2. Hood 

Distance: 1. 5.5 miles   2. 3.7 miles

"Presented to
Golden Gate Park
By a Friend of the Sculptor
 as a Tribute to His
 Energy, Industry and Ability"

On her way to join friends for pickleball in Golden Gate Park yesterday Ciwt noticed this sculpture for the first time.  What a dear sentiment and loving friend! 

Astonishing Duet --- Day 10/64

Walk:  Fillmore Street Holiday lunch

Distance: 2.5 miles

Mavis Staples and Mahalia Jackson at 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival

Maybe half way into Summer of Soul, a documentary of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, Mavis Staples and Mahalia Jackson are standing on the west facing stage along side a very young, hip and handsome Jesse Jackson.  Mahalia leans toward Mavis (who idolizes Jackson) and says something like "I'm not feeling very well.  Can you help me out with this song?"

And you think, "omg, are those two going to sing together?" - Or Ciwt did anyway.  

But, no, the music begins and Staples steps forward and begins belting out a stirring version of M.L. King's (who had been assassinated the year before) favorite hymn, Take My Hand, Precious Lord.  Oh well, no duet, but Mavis Staples is just nailing it; can't imagine anything better.

Or yes you can because Mahalia steps forward, takes the mic from Mavis and omg!  Who hasn't at some point had an lp, tape, cd or just heard Mahalia Jackson sing?  However you are hearing her, you are moved to a higher dimension.

As if that isn't enough, Staples comes over and those two glorious voices start sharing the mic.  Just the fact that it is happening is stunning enough, but to actually hear and see this perfomance is beyond words.  All Ciwt could think to do was grab her iphone and take a picture from her movie seat.  

Later she saw that NYT arts reviewer, Wesley Morris, actually did find the words:  

Then together — Jackson refulgent in a fuchsia gown with a gold diamond emblazoned below her bosom; Staples in something short, lacy, belted and white — they embark on the single most astounding duet I’ve ever heard, seen or felt. They share the microphone. They pass it between them. Howling, moaning, wailing, hopping, but well within the song’s generous contours and, somehow, in control of themselves...

I don’t remember how long this performance lasts. It doesn’t really even have an ending, per se. It just simply concludes, with each woman heading back to Reverend Jackson, into the band. But when it’s over you don’t know what to do — well, besides never forget it. It’s an extraordinary event not just of musical history. It’s a mind-blowing moment of American history. And for five decades, the footage of it apparently just sat in a basement, waiting for someone like Thompson to give it its due.

(Wesley Morris, NYT, June 24)

Artists before and after Jackson and Staples include Stevie wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, David Ruffin, Sly & The Family Stone, The 5th Dimension and so many more.  The festival drew an audience of 300,000.  The film is remarkable.

Blowing Freely --- Day 10/63

Walk: AMC Kabuki (Summer of Soul)

Distance: 3 miles, Yoga

Happy 4th of July

Colors --- Day 10/61 & 62

 Walk:  1. ? 2. Presidio Pickleball  2. AMC Kabuki (Summer of Soul)

Distance: 1. ?  2. 3.5 miles, 1 measly game pickle (so crowded!)  2. 3 miles, Yoga

Wayne Thiebaud, Paint Cans, 1990, lithograph  -  Flags

Movie Food for the Soul --- Day 10/61

Walk: Vogue Theater (Truffle Hunters)

Distance: 1.5 miles, a bit of theater seat yoga 

Screen shot of The Truffle Hunters from Ciwt's theater seat. Look among the gorgeous leaves to find two hunters - a man and his dog - at work

If you love dogs, awesome nature, Italian farms and houses, arias, arcane but traditional ways of life, having your heartwarmed - oh and truffles - this endearing and beautiful documentary is for you.  

Here they are up close