Whitney Museum's For Kids

The Whitney Museum of American Art has a For Kids site for ages 8-12. It's in beta (testing) so they'd love your participation. It cannot get better unless you use it. Visit & be inspired. Plan a trip to the museum if you're in the city or not. Planning a trip has a way of making it happen (trust us). Check with Budget Travel magazine; they have excellent ideas, links, & planners.

ciao-arty-meow/GGCM

PS: The Whitney teens' site is very nice, too. Visit here.

(photograph via quarter life coe via julia)

September 11 - Bearing Witness to History

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of September 11, the National Museum of American History is providing visitors with a close-up view of more than 50 objects recovered from the three sites attacked that fateful day—New York, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pa.—as well as recent acquisitions that relate to how American lives have changed since then. The Museum's presentation will be an unusual blend of a public program and a simple display of artifacts—a display, not a full exhibition. For nine days only, the objects will be shown on open tables, without cases. The intent is to give visitors an intimate experience that will help make this historic day more real in their memories and stimulate them to reflect on its significance. --National Museum of American History.

The exhibit is soon to close but there is still time to see it if you are in the Washington, DC-area. The website is worth a visit even if you are not. Here is a link to educational resources about September 11, 2011.

(Sunflowers in Somerset County by Harry Hunt; his Somerset County Flight 93 flickr set)

Sunday Sojourns - Roma

So today Giulia & her editor are sort-of in beloved Roma. OK, well we're in Washington, DC. But we're looking at our photographs of the Villa Borghese & the website of the museum (bella!). Tonight's dinner is cacio e pepe with real pecorino from Lazio. (Try Lidia Bastianich's recipe - it's the real deal)

Buona notte, bambini!

(Giampaolo Macorig's bella photograph)

Ms. Smith Goes to Washington

Patti Smith will be reading from her award-winning book Just Kids at the National Portrait Gallery this Saturday, 11 December 2010 at 2pm. She is so much fun to meet--you should go if you possibly can. It will be very crowded, guaranteed. But hanging out early at the Portrait Gallery is no punishment! (There are nearby cafés for some good hot chocolate.) Sadly, Giulia's editor has an ironclad obligation at the very same time (mimph).

Here's Patti's website to sign up for announcements.

ciao-meow/GG Central

Tate Kids Create - Colouring Book

More free coloring pages--this time from Tate Britain's Tate Kids. There's lots of craftiness on the large site but you might want to start with the outline of Emma, Lady Hamilton as Circe by George Romney. (image via here)

Enjoy!

ciao-meow/The Management

PS: Today is your last chance to vote in Shabby Apple's Dare to Design (a dress) Competition. Vote here.

Ice Skating in Washington, DC

Opening weekend for the 2010-2011 ice-skating season at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (Washington, DC) is currently scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, November 13 and 14. For inquiries, please call (202) 216-9397. (Jules Chéret poster)

Giulia wants skates. We've been over this before. No & no. Non.

ciao-meow/GGCM

Drawing Fashion in London

For lucky ducks in London (or who will be) before 6 March 2011, there's a new exhibit at London's Design Museum on fashion illustration. In the museum shop is beautiful catalogue, a set of 6 cards, & two reproduction prints. (image by François Berthoud via artnet(dot)com)

ciao-cheerio-meow/GGCM

From the Design Museum website:

"Drawing Fashion celebrates a unique collection of some of the most remarkable fashion illustrations from the twentieth and twenty first centuries. These original works define the fine art of illustrating fashion, from the collections of Chanel, Dior, Comme des Garçons and Poiret as well as Viktor & Rolf, Lacroix and McQueen. This exhibition showcases fashion illustrators at their creative heights: Lepape at the beginning of the century, Gruau in the 40's and 50's, Antonio throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s, to current artists Mats Gustafson, Aurore de la Morinerie and François Berthoud. Film-clips, news reels, music and photography will sit alongside the original illustrations to reflect not only the spirit and the style of the decades but also the wider social and cultural changes of the century."

Cape Cod Morning

GG Central is under-the-weather & so we'll post just a little bit through month's end & then take a summer break.*

We're in a birthday acknowledgment mood--it makes things easier, yes. So today, it is Edward Hopper (1882-1967), American painter. This is Cape Cod Morning (1950), in the collection at the Smithsonian's American Art Museum. American Art's nicely done An Edward Hopper Scrapbook & Artcyclopedia's page on Hopper painting holdings world-wide.

ciao-arty-meow/GGCM

*Before we take a break, all information regarding Darfur Baskets & their acquisition-by-you will be posted on the front page.

[Cape Cod Morning image via Smithsonian]

Tuesday at the Phillips with GG

GG is having a righteous rumpus. Her feline heart is set on becoming a patroness of the arts, particularly at the Phillips Collection. The day may come when we'll have to rent the café & throw her a big party. The Phillips Collection was voted Washington's best museum AND art gallery by City Paper readers recently. Some young'uns--the hordes of mid-20s-30ish folks recently descended upon our city--think they discovered it. Au contraire, nos amis. (Though we're happy to have you on board.)

The Phillips was a hang-out for GG's editor when she was still an official teenager, recently returned from France. "Meet you under the Matisse" meant she could be found sitting on a lumpy bottle-green velvet sofa in the music room (under a Matisse). We'd love to see GG sleeping on that sofa; we miss it terribly--including the lumps. The jewel-box space has become too manicured for our taste; but like an old friend--you still love them, even with (too much) Botox.

Some favorite paintings at the Collection are by Bonnard. Above, The Palm & La Côte d'Azur, respectively. The museum goer (looking just like GG's editor) is by Nina Leen. She's trying to divine from an egg-shaped objet d'art, "What will the Easter Bunny bring GG?"

ciao-meow/GG's art curator & party planner

[Bonnard images via artchive.com & Nina Leen photograph via LIFE archives]

Wednesday at the Phillips with GG, reprise

[originally posted--with more links than necessary--on 22 October 2008]

GG longs to see the real The Boating Party. She'll have to sneak in because her editor is way too busy to take her. GG is taken with the story of her editor's Boating Party costume party many years ago. And with that, we must take our leave. Do visit the Phillips Collection web site in the right side-bar, it's lovely.

GG is organizing a weekly salon as threatened this past summer...details forthcoming on her foray into café society.(She's already redecorating the apartment in her little feline mind. Great idea--now she can get a job.)

Ciao-meow, nos amis! GG Central Mgmt.

Strolling in Strasbourg, redux

[original post 31 July 2008]

A summer 'stay-cation' en France...Giulia has only recently learned that her editor lived in France! GG had no idea. So some memories of lovely Strasbourg--maybe not as glamorous in reputation as Provence or Paris...but people just don't know what they're missing. So a new project: Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine, the River Ill , mirabelle plums, la petite France, the Vosges...much more to come. Here is a classic travel photo--but it really does look like this...

GG is now wondering what else her editor has kept to herself...GG, a curious cat (of course!) is beginning an investigation. She fancies herself a feline Harriet the Spy.

Cassatt Cat

There's a lovely new exhibit at Washington, DC's National Museum of Women in the Arts, Mary Cassatt: Friends and Family. The museum café-restaurant was always rather nice, though we've not been in some time. [We just noticed that 19-20 January 2009, the musem, shop, & café will be closed. Stay tuned for places you can go for free during the Inauguration; you might end up at GG's apartment!] Here is an excellent new-to-us site for the artist, Mary Cassatt - The Complete Works. When Giulia was a kitten, she looked just the one in Sara Holding a Cat.

Safe travels to all for the Thanksgiving holiday...GG & her editor

Wednesday at the Phillips with GG

GG longs to see the real The Boating Party. She'll have to sneak in because her editor is way too busy to take her. GG is taken with the story of her editor's Boating Party costume party many years ago. And with that, we must take our leave. Do visit the web site, it's lovely. GG is organizing a weekly salon (as threatened this past summer)...details forthcoming on her foray into café society. (She's already redecorating the apartment in her little feline mind. Great idea--now she can get a job.)

Ciao-meow, nos amis!
GG Central Mgmt.

GG & Rodin's Dancing Figure

A pretty postcard propped up for years against a stack of books; a Rodin drawing in the National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC). GG has been leaping & prancing all day, twirling & twisting in the air like a snowboarder. She prefers to think of herself as a feline dancer. And she still wants those flamenco earrings. Sigh.

Have a lovely evening.

ciao-meow, baci, bisou
GG's editor

A peaceful Wednesday at the Phillips with GG

We wish we could go to the Phillips but can't tomorrow. This is last autumn's magazine cover...our membership lapsed in the spring. Still it is pretty. GG's editor has many maxims, one being..."nothing bad can happen to you in the Phillips..." Its true!

So if you are in the Washington, DC-area take yourself to the Phillips. It's great with someone, but eminently suitable for a date with yourself. (No need for membership to see the permanent collection for free/small donation)... after that, go into the shop...lovely art stickers for about $1.25...postcards (they sell stamps, too), a petit riens.

Then go to the café & write postcards, or in your journal, or people watch. It's open until 4pm.

If you should happen upon a long-legged, pink-nosed ginger & white cat wearing a chic moss-colored cotton collar, tell GG to return home pronto. She's plotting a trip, it's quite obvious. She's rifling through the art books of late--especially those from the Phillips. You will most likely run into the bohemian GG in the café; she aspires to hold a weekly salon at GG Central & GG Central Management has not made a decision yet.

Have a great Wednesday, whatever you do.

Ciao, xoxo, GG's editor

Ah, the Geraniums of Strasbourg...

Many posts coming up about automne en Alsace, le vendange, la Route du Vin, the museums, the université, & food, food, food (and drink!), flowers, le vélo de GG's editor....we are homesick for France!

bisou, baci, xoxo
GG Central

Odilon Redon - Go to the museum, anytime

You can even buy one of his paintings.
xoxo, GG

Hiroshima Memorial Ceremony

Peace Declaration (August 6, 2008)

Every year the City of Hiroshima holds the Peace Memorial Ceremony to console the souls of those who were lost due to the atomic bombing as well as pray for the realization of everlasting world peace. This ceremony, which is attended by many citizens, including those who lost family members in the bombing, is held in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims (Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace). The Peace Declaration, which is delivered by the Mayor of Hiroshima during the ceremony, is sent to every country in the world thus conveying Hiroshima's wish for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of eternal world peace. At exactly 8:15 a.m., the time the atomic bomb was dropped, the Peace Bell is rung, sirens sound all over the city and for one minute people at the ceremony grounds, in households and in workplaces pay silent tribute to the victims of the atomic bombing and pray for the realization of everlasting world peace.

Here is a link to happybirthdaypeace.com. The peace symbol above is on their site & they grant free access to all of their materials for teaching & advocacy materials.

Peace,

GG