My Commander-in-Fur is having 'aroma-chat' so ya got me folks of the press corps! At least it ain’t Hilary, n’est chat;) ! I have the great meow in announcing that we are re-developing The White House into a fully self-sustainable 'earth-ship' that will last a 1,000 years! No naming rights you skunks. When we have completed building, all the existing artwork and furniture bequeathed through the decades to this great site of democracy will be organically climate controlled. And we will unveil: The Green House.
Press Conference:
Press Cat-'attache ARI SCHWARZ:
Yes, on the right.
HUMAN 1:
You said 1,000 years for the sustainable Green House. Is that cat years or..
ARI SCHWARZ:
[interrupting, smiling]
The best years of your life, young man. Yes, next?
...und so weiter…
In the Rose Garden, FIRST LADY CAT allows a photo call. All goes well and respectful until:
Back row 'paps' HYENAS/LEMURS shouting:
Do the kittens know?
Barely a flicker from FIRST LADY CAT, and she proceeds on gracefully.
some months later…[perhaps a 'cat-mare']
FIRST LADY CAT:
Mama.
Please!
MOMMA:
You've always had a home here.
FIRST LADY CAT:
Mama. I love you so so much.
Please!
MOMMA:
When there's no-one….there is….
A National Guardsman on Capitol Hill is giving remote music lessons
ONE YEAR LATER. A gorgeous Spring morning.
Stage One of The Green House is almost complete. The White House has obviously been left standing.
FIRST LADY CAT
[She jumps onto the window sill. She is almost two months pregnant. She looks out of the window, her eyes both forlorn and in awe. She places a paw on the window pane. The window is slightly fogged. There's a paw print above the great new Green House.]
The thought of seeing Plácido Domingo singing live onstage at the Vienna Opera, let alone without an audience just was unthinkable. But there we were online last Friday. Brave of Domingo, still in fine fettle though singing baritone not tenor roles now, as Nabucco in Verdi's opera. Brave of everyone at the Wiener Staatsoper to go ahead with this under Covid leaving a shining light to lead the way, particularly as the chorus (no masks) play such a crucial role in Nabucco. Günter Krämer's modern dress staging proving that great operas need not be saturated in design. Need not be expensive with talent, ideas, belief. And Domingo's 80th birthday (the chorus singing off-camera for the event's end credit roll). (Another chance to watch Jan 28, 1pm EST-for 24h)
Chita Rivera's, umm, 60th birthday ( ;) also celebrated. If I could do just a tiny fraction of what Chita can still do on my 60th birthday (no emoticon necessary, come on!:) I'd die a happy bunny.
Some great opera productions and performances this weekend. Agneta Eichenholz as Lulu (Wiener Staatsoper). Lisette Oropesa as Manon (Met Opera), a graduate from the Met’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program thence making an enormous impression in Europe.
Master Drawings week in New York is virtual this year (with some galleries open by appointment). And seems that they will be uploading their great week of talks to their website. Yeah! Missed the first two as I put them at like 6am in my iCal (in terms of space so didn't see them). Such a dinosaur sometimes.
Today's talk on the women artists upcoming exhibition at Vassar's Lehman-Loeb Art Center. Cooper Union/Hewitt is a fascinating story of how capitalism can go hand in hand educating with passion rather than noblesse oblige. Can vouch for every single London and New York gallery this year (OK, there's one London gallery for honesty:) Each A- list. And while the price-points may be somewhat of a challenge for some, what you get is a wealth of experience and impeccable provenance. Not fair to single anyone out but over the years Rosenberg & Co have always fascinated and educated me with their eclectic mix of artists. In some past shows many barely if at all remembered. Never sitting with their laurels. The Master Drawings website is very accessible and quick to load (even in my cave;) to gallery images. (I do have something fancier for scrutinizing but winter snuggling up in bed with art is far nicer). Did Oleg Kudryashov (1932 - 2032) state in his will to be alive in 2032. He's alive in 2021. Maybe he found a tax loophole:)
Oh, and the saving Birdland benefit from Sunday night free streams for one week. President Clinton wasn't wasting his time introducing this benefit! Unmissable act after unmissable act after.... (until Jan 31)
c*t
A Cooper Hewitt lecture to put in your iCal:
Cas Holman has spent the last fifteen years immersed in play, education, and imagination. Through her company Heroes Will Rise, she designs and manufactures tools for the imagination. These materials are manipulable parts and pieces which inspire constructive play, imaginative forms, and cooperative interactions between people. Abstract in their identity, these tools/toys inspire children and adults to imagine the origin and story of the toy as well as how to use it.
.
Night of Philosophy and Ideas (Jan 28-6pm)
[Kitty is acting weird as there is no dinner there for her. As always. As always from Andrew. She is concerned more than selfish. Paddles up the stairs. Concerned. Hears .]
Andrew has left off his headphones. Knowingly.
Hearing philosophy Kitty sits. Sphinx cat.
Andrew is aware pretends no interest. Kitty transfixed
und so weiter...
Sometime between 6pm and midnight, KITTY has graduated to a pillow atop a plethora of ANDREW's objets. KITTY now asleep. Her ear cocked award the ceiling as if still listening to Schubert. ANDREW reminded of the un-nested KITTEN who desperately was helped welcomed. His naked elbow pit. Suckled there to sleep.
And thence, the KITTEN he laid in a box for her MOTHER. Someone missed the first 'pass' of food as she slept. Curled. Then KITTEN got wise. Slept, as KITTY. Ear to the world. Re-united to MOTHER.
ANDREW….well, now nestled to himself. Perhaps, for the first , in a long time, both ANDREW and KITTY: Dors bien et fais de beaux rêves !
……
