Shoes You This Day: Pro/Con

Guys. So far grad school rocks. Here's the dilemma though. I'm enrolled in two art history courses and I can only take one. So I have to decide between them. Here's my pro/con list.

Histories and Theories of "New Media" Art, 1960s–Present

Pros:

*Taught by a former colleague and curator at the National Portrait Gallery. A sweet and WONDERFUL woman who has always gone out of her way to show interest and support in me and my goals. A mentor, if you will.

*Small class with a diverse mix of students: gender, race, ethnicity, academic programs, career goals

*VERY attractive man in class

*fascinating subject matter that is up to the minute in contemporary art, a lot of which I am familiar with after working at NPG...This stuff is GOING places and is the future. So much opportunity for growth.

*opportunity to meet some renowned contemporary artists

*opportunities to mingle with NPG peeps again.

*If I drop I will throw off the assignments already given

*Seminar will not be taught in its entirety again.

Cons:

* A lot of reading and a paper due every Saturday by 5pm

*Monday night

*Some touchy subject matter that makes me have to take some deep breaths sometimes.

Paris: Capital of the 19th Century

Pros:

*um my favorite subject matter of all time

*taught by curator of photographs at the National Gallery of Art, who is currently preparing an exhibition on this topic

*fits perfectly with my undergrad emphases

*Tuesday night, gets out earlier than the New Media Class

*easier subject matter, for the most part

*I know French and can do research in French

*I can build upon my past studies for papers, class discussions

*No weekly papers but a lot of readings

* Prof went out of her way to add me late to the course

***BFF Lindsey is in the class!

Cons:

*ALL white girls, story of my life...WHY???

*slightly bigger class, crowded

*already had a conflict with another girl over signing up for a subject to lead class discussion- we wanted the same week. She conceded. I feel bad, but at the same time I'm glad I got what I wanted!

*I'd have to drop the New Media class and risk hurting my relationship with the teacher there.

I think what it comes down to, is which would I regret missing out on the most. I know the answer is Paris. A wise friend of mine, many know her as LC, or, you know, Lauren Conrad, once said, "Always Choose Paris." So long story short. As of tonight I've decided I'll take the Paris class. I'll turn in paperwork tomorrow. I hope everything will work out for the best!

(MTV my future lies in your hands)

Shoes You This Day: Museum Studies opening reception

At the Sewell-Belmont Museum. Great new friends. So excited for my studies and career!

update

Fiascos update:

oh did you hear we had an earthquake? My first ever and I was OUTSIDE when it happened. FREAKY.

oh and a hurricane is coming. My first. RUINING all my plans for a girls' beach getaway at my friend's family beach house.

I got my bag back! And for some reason there was a Sports Illustrated magazine stuffed in there. Cool.

My violin never ACTUALLY left the building. Just some sketchy moving around and putting in other places. NOT COOL. String is still broken. Gotta get it fixed SOON!

Got my car back! I hate paying for car maintenance but I always feel good when I know my car is in tiptop shape. The mechanic shared all of his conspiracy theories about how it wasn't actually an earthquake but some CIA/nuclear power plant top secret initiatives.

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Today was kind of my first day of school! We had orientation today. I feel good about that! CLASSES START ON MONDAY! My life as I know it will change. Not as much free time.

I bought some new shoes! To be featured soon on Shoes You This Day!

fiascos

1) Friday night I took the MARC train to Baltimore. Upon arriving to Camden Station I walked right off the train without my overnight bag. About 10 minutes later I realized I forgot my bag and walked back to the station. The train was gone. My phone was dead. No one was in sight to help me.

2) Bremen came down to DC with me on Saturday. Late Saturday night he realized he forgot his dress pants for church. His Sunday morning fiascos are his own story to tell.

3) I was pulled out of Sunday School to be informed that several people had witnessed a woman walk out of the building with my violin. Oh and the G string snapped.

3) I barely missed my Monday morning bus.

4) My library book (textbook for a class that starts next week was recalled so I guess I have to be a big girl and actually buy a used copy of the textbook)

4) I called Lost and Found at Union Station and no one had seen my green bag.

5) My car went to the shop because the check engine light is on. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with my car, because it runs well and has never failed an inspection, but the light won't go off and I need it to go off so I can get inspected for DC.  The guy told me the computer diagnostics is going to cost me several hundred dollars in just time intensive labor. I guess because there are a lot of things to check.

6) I barely missed my evening bus.

7) I called Lost and Found again and was put of hold a million times and told they would call me back a million times then was told that the person who was supposed to take my bag to Lost and Found didn't do it and no one has heard from him.

8) I haven't worn deodorant in 3 days.


If you don't listen to this you'll be sorry.

Shoes You This Day: Why Am I So Obsessed With Little Italy?

They had their outdoor movie last night and some friends and I gathered for dinner and the movie. It was perfection. And it is starting to get chilly in the evenings. I love fall. Today they had a huge festival and I wandered the streets admiring all the food options and watching the Bocce tournament. What a day.

                                                

These pretty houses are across the street from where Bremen is staying right now. I've been getting some regular doses of Baltimore lately and I'm loving it!

My Worlds are Colliding

Dear Friends,

Meet Kaskade. He's a DJ. Always been one of my favorites. (oh didn't you know I have a secret/not so secret love of electronic music?)

He's Mormon. And he's a hunk. 

And he is featuring Mindy Gledhill on his newest album. I've always admired her voice, but never really listened to her except on my mission. But I truly admire how she is exploring indie/electronic music avenues.

So I wanted to share this little video so you can see Kaskade, hear a little of Mindy's contribution, and get an idea of what my type of guy is.

 

  Kate Spade has 20% off handbags right now. If I had the bling, these would be some of my choices. I've never had a nice leather bag with good structure. I should probably be looking at those, but I can't take my eyes off the totes and clutches.

Would would you choose?

two pieces I fell in love with at a gallery in Dupont on R street. When I have extra money for real art someday, that's where I'm going. Can you tell I love the female form in art? Especially when it involves gorgeous clothing? Anything dainty, whimsical, and feminine speaks to me.

Hon Town Happenings

Baltimore pics from a few weeks ago. Must watch Hairspray! We spent a Saturday going in and out of shop after shop in Hampden. Quite the experience, I tell ya. I bought my first antique from a tiny shop. A gorgeous oval shaped mirror in a gold baroque frame. You know I love it. I'll post pics of it soon.

Shoes You This Day: Library of Congress

A tour focused on the allegorical woman. Me and Virgo- the best zodiac sign

Dear Adrianne,

1) Congratulations on your real graduation today!
2) I'm sorry I couldn't be there at your fake graduation back in April or your real graduation today.
3) I'm glad I was there for your high school graduation!
4) I can't believe you are old enough to be a college grad.
5) You are a terribly hard worker and I know everything will always work out because of that.
6) You make life fun!
7) I'm really glad you called out your internship supervisor when she wrote a letter of recommendation for "Adrianna" aka you.
8) I think it's great that you found a niche in recreation management
9) I'm so happy for you that you got to marry just jed
10) Maybe you should think about giving Mom a grandchild so she will stop announcing the births of llamas and horses on her farm to the entire family.
11) I really hope you can come visit me in DC. There is a lot I want to show you.
12) I'm sorry I never call you Penny.

totally digging this.

My hair has always taken to this type of coloring naturally. Dark on top, almost blonde towards the ends. Through college I hated it and a couple times a year dyed it as dark as can be to cover those faded ends. 

Well, I'm not ashamed anymore. 

I'm seeing and LOVING more and more images of girls rocking the two tones. I realize their looks are probably not natural, so someone out there is making big bucks to create this look. My hair won't look this good naturally either, so if I had some money to spare, I think I'd like to get this look professionally done.

Anyone know if this look has a name? Or is it just grown out highlights? How much would it cost to get done? Maintenance seems like it wouldn't be that bad.

update: my research says the look is called ombre (which is a trend that is permeating everything from floral arrangements, manicures, and cake- and in my mind over-done and on its way OUT) I kind of disagree that this is ombre though, because I'm not going for a subtle gradation, but more of a contrast from dark to light and top to bottom.

I love long hair. And my hair is longing to be loved! (I haven't washed it in...4 days?)

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

...Where Water and Land Dance.

So says the tagline of this National Park in Anacostia. Melanie invited me to go with her on a Saturday morning and it was such a magical experience. I felt like I was in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory garden where every turn of the head discovered new beautiful things to experience. We saw frogs, butterflies, dragonflies, fish, turtles, waterfowl, frog eggs, and some of the most beautiful water lilies imaginable.

The most meaningful discovery for me was the Lotus. In my art historical studies, I've encountered wooden and stone carvings of lotus plants and read about how much the plant meant to ancient civilizations. I always remembered how my Japanese art teacher told me how amazingly beautiful the lotus is, but until yesterday I've never seen one for myself.

This was the first part of the lotus I saw. You've probably seen these in floral arrangements. It's in the final phase of life here- dropping its seeds.

But this is the lotus in full bloom. They glow.

You can see the light green teacup shaped center. When the petals drop, it continues to mature to the brown pod you saw above. They look like fields of shower heads.

 Here's some Japanese Buddhist art that portrays a bodhisattva (enlightened person) seated on a Lotus thrown. I fell in love with this piece in the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery and wrote a little paper about it. After digging through some of my old papers tonight, I discovered this excerpt that I wrote about 2 years ago:

It is interesting to me how the Lotus flower is an important aspect of this statue. The fact that the Bodhisattva sits on it must mean it is a holy or at least a revered flower. The Lotus flower is a motif commonly used in Ancient Greek art, which is considered the foundation of Western art and architecture. I would venture to describe the Lotus flower, then, as bridging the gap between east and west. I have never seen a Lotus flower, but I hope to see one someday. I think after studying its motif so frequently in art history, that it would be a special flower to me.

***

Isn't it great that I've finally seen it and it did turn out to be such a special experience? Speaking of bridging East and West, here's a beautiful poem my aunt sent me about the Lotus:

Lotus Mystique 

(unknown author)

Sa fleur toujours voilee

Au soleil radieux,

Se penche, desolee

Et reve un plus doux astre aux cieux.
Mais de la nuit sereine
Qui verse l'ombre et la fraicheur,
La pale et blond reine
Caresse et ranime la fleur.
Et la pauvre reveuse,
Oubliant ses peines du jour
Au baiser de la lune, heureuse,
Soupire et tressaille d'amour.

This poem speaks about how the Lotus is most alive and beautiful in the light of the moon. A park ranger we spoke to told us the Lotus dislikes the sun as much as humans do...not saying we hate the sun, but we do often hang out in the shade, try to keep cool, and can get sick if we have too much exposure.

ok another mesmerizing discovery is the Victorian water lily, as seen above. I'd never seen anything like it. These were discovered in the Amazon River and named after Queen Victoria. She was so the right queen at the right time, don't you think? That was a time of so many natural discoveries all over the world and everyone wanted to name everything after her or her husband, Albert. I love them :) These lily pads can grow huge and I've seen pictures of small children sitting on them.

Thanks for indulging me and letting me share some of these beautiful things with you!

Shoes you this day: first Friday gallery stroll

And that's just the beginning. Happy weekend!