I am the Audience

Gabriele Münter, German 1877-1962

February 26, 2025

art

Women’s contributions to almost everything have been neglected for millennia and I was glad to see the work of several women in this exhibition. I didn’t know if women had not been allowed to be part of that particular art scene or if they had simply not been talked about. I believe it was probably both.

This was part of the French Moderns exhibition. I had never heard of her and took these pictures as a note to myself. The pieces were small.

And, as I got closer, had some of that texture that some Post-Expressionists leaned into.

Nightfall in Saint Cloud, 1906

Countryside Near Paris, 1907

I absolutely love the loaded colors.
Columbia Museum of Art

February 25, 2025

art, travel

Last Fall, the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, SC had an exhibition of some of the French Moderns. I saw “Matisse” in the description and (of course) I wanted to see it. Columbia is about a 3 hours drive from me and that’s usually longer than I want to go for a day trip. But, I could stop off overnight on the way home to see my kid. So, I packed a bag and headed south.

It was a good exhibition and I’m glad I went. However, I found the museum’s permanent collection more interesting that the special one. I feel that I can show you some of what I saw there without risking the income of any of the artists.
Dammit

February 24, 2025

books, reading

Because of Amazon’s latest user policy change, I am going to be shifting away from using Audible. I have restarted the Libro.fm account I used during the shutdown. I had stopped using it becauase I didn’t think I needed 2 once Scuppernong was open for foot traffic again. And there were some books I wanted to listen to that the Amazon chokehold would only let me listen to through them.

Two credits a month from Libro costs the same as 2 on Audible and it supports a local bookstore. Mine is through Scuppernong Books in Greensboro.

I should still have access to all the Audible content. But, I really don’t trust Amazon to honor that indefinitely. So, I’m pausing that subscription for 90 days to get listened up before cancelling completely. I hope that won’t cut off access to what I’ve already bought. But, I have no faith in that until I actually experience it.

I have spent a small fortune on Audible and I’m pissed. I have used this service since before Amazon bought it. I have 997 books in that library. To decide that what I have paid for is no longer mine is theft.

Edit to add…. If you choose to use Libro and you want to give me credit for pointing you there, this link will do it. If you choose to use them without that, I completely understand. And if that’s not your way to read, I get that, too.
I have new art.

February 24, 2025

art

This ceramic house was created by Elaine Evans, one of the artists with space at Golden Belt Arts in Durham, NC.

I have admired her work for a long time and was delighted to find a piece that fit my space and my budget.

It weighs 2lbs 10oz (1.194 kg), if you’re curious.

Here are a few more pictures. I’m trying to let you see the texture of the glazes she used.
African violet

February 23, 2025

plants

I have an African violet and you are going to get a long story.

The first time I tried to grow them, a friend (who had 50 growing in her front windows) gave me leaves to root. They started, but didn’t ever get healthy and died before they bloomed. So, I thought they were difficult and gave up on them.

Maaaaaaaaany years later, I was having some health issues and my cousin sent me a plant basket which included an African violet. It lasted long enough for me to get a pot for it.

AV pots are pretty neat. They have a terra cotta insert that hold the plant and a decorative outer pot that holds water allowing the soil to stay always a little moist.

When that plant eventually died, I replaced it with this one that I found when I was out and about with my mother.

It stayed healthy and blooming for years. But, eventually got a gooseneck as it continued to grow and the leaves died at the bottom. I read that you can just cut that and stick the stem back in the soil and it will make roots from where the leaves had been. It lasted a long time after I did that.

It quit blooming last year and the leaves aren’t looking healthy. I’ll wait until it is completely dead before I replace it though. I really like this one and while there’s life there’s hope.