Something Nice and Sweet

Noli me tangere

2008-07-27T10:20:00.001-07:00

Martin Schongauer

The other day I came across this painting in a book. Titled Noli me tangere, it comes from a Dominican altarpiece painted around 1475 by Martin Schongauer. I liked it so much that I decided to research it online. To my surprise, when I googled "Noli me tangere", over a dozen paintings came up, each one by a different artist. It turns out this Biblical scene was a common subject for masters to paint. It depicts the passage in the Gospel of John, after the resurrection when Mary Magdalene recognizes the voice of the risen Lord. She reaches out for him but he says to her "Noli me tangere", or "Don't touch me." Some scholars have noted that this phrase is the Latin translation from the Greek in which the Gospel was originally written, and that the words "cease holding on to me" or "stop clinging to me" more adequately describe what Jesus said to Mary Magdalene.

Andrea del Sarto

Fontana

Fra Bartolomeo

Corregio

Giotto

Fra Angelico

Hans Holbein the Younger

Titian

It's interesting to see how each artist portrays the same subject so differently. Although the scene is basically the same, each one is unique in its details. I especially love the nuances in the position of the Jesus figure. In some, he seems to reach out to Mary Magdalene while in others his body almost forms an "S" shape, moving away from her. In Titian's rendition, Jesus even pulls his garment out of Mary's reach. In Giotto's, he's moving away from her so briskly that he almost walks off the edge of the fresco. I also love the way each artist uses the hands as a means of expressing the title of the work. In some, Mary's expression is more desperate than in others. In Andrea del Sarto's, her hands are the focal point, right in the center of the canvas. She is almost pleading, her right leg at the point of lifting her up to a standing position. Jesus, in return, seems to be gently appeasing her, his palm facing down.
Mary also seems to be begging to touch Jesus in Giotto's fresco. She is down on her knees as a beggar would be, extending both hands toward him. Jesus turns back to glance at her and reaches with his hand. His arm then forms a diagonal, connecting his eyes directly to hers as he tells her not to touch him. Corregio's painting takes the Biblical passage a bit further, expressing the words the risen Lord spoke next: "for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" In the painting Jesus points up to sky as to indicate that he will soon ascend into Heaven and is asking Mary to go tell the others.
I could spend the entire day counting the details and symbolism that make each painting distinct from the other but... this post has already taken me back to my college days. I feel like I just wrote a paper for art history class ;) Enjoy the paintings.

A Wonderful Illustrator

2008-07-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Her name is Rebecca Dautremer. Before yesterday I didn't know she existed. Or so I thought. I've always loved the packaging for the perfume Flower by Kenzo. A bright red poppy on a skinny white box and on a tall skinny bottle. I bought my first Flower back in '03 on a trip to Paris as I fell in love with its powdery scent. Years later, I remember seeing it wrapped in new packaging and thought it was beautiful. Too bad I had way too many bottles of perfume at that point... It wouldn't have been right to buy another.

I was at a library yesterday, taking pictures of the architecture (see previous post) when I wandered into the children's section. On my way out I quickly glanced back to take one more picture. In the viewfinder I noticed a book...the illustration on the cover was so irresistibly beautiful I had to pick it up. I quickly skimmed the pages and took it with me.

So what does one thing have to do with the other? Well, it turns out that the wonderful illustrations in this book are by a French illustrator named Rebecca Dautremer, the same artist who was among two others picked to design the limited editions of Kenzo's Flower back in '06.

One look at Rebecca's illustrations and you're hooked. Every one of them is as is exquisite as the next, filled with delicate details. Princesas olvidadas o desconocidas, the book I picked up, translates to Princesses Forgotten or Unknown, is written by Philippe Lechermeier and it's just as outstanding as the illustrations themselves. Fortunately for those who don't read Spanish, Portuguese or French, the book is scheduled to be released in English sometime...

A Legorreta Masterpiece in Shambles

2008-07-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

There is something about run down buildings that makes me very nostalgic and melancholy. Luis Barragan and Ricardo Legorreta have always been among my favorite architects. For this reason I feel lucky to have one of Legorreta's buildings right here in San Diego County. But it's sad to see the condition that it's in.
The South Chula Vista Library is not set in the most ideal of neighborhoods. In fact, it is a residential area that is run down to say the least. Approaching the library you can't help but notice the massive structure which looks nothing like those surrounding it. The collection of yellow stucco geometric shapes is accented with rows of narrow windows and grids of square openings that create abstract shadows when the sun hits them just right. The ridged arched metal rooftops resemble those seen from above Paris, except the ones in Paris are not round, nor brown. Inside, every room is filled with endless details that make it uniquely Legorreta, such as intricate stepped ceilings, hidden courtyards, trickling fountains, recessed skylights and custom case work.

Disappointingly, some of the architectural features have either been removed, are no longer functional or have become so run down with time and use (or lack of maintenance) that it is hard to appreciate them. Not that long ago, the fountains in the courtyard and next to the entrance were operating. Now they are dry. The old Library Bookstore has now become a badly organized storage room and has been reduced to a couple of bookcases in the library's foyer. The children's area has become cluttered and run down. Many windows are scratched, smudged or have become opaque. Broken windows have been replaced with strangely colored glass. The courtyard adjacent to the glass Cafe corridor is no longer open... or at least it has not been open the times I have gone and the original teak (?) tables and chairs have been replaced by cheap patio furniture. Cobwebs have formed in many of the niches and alcoves. The landscaping is not at all maintained. But most noticeably for me is the stripping down of what they call the "marketplace" with its interior central fountain. This feature used to be the focal point of the room, surrounded by custom built shelving and seating. Now it has all been removed only to be replaced with mediocre furniture and displays, thoughtlessly scattered throughout the room. What once was a warm and inviting lounging room is now just one big room with badly placed furniture.

Leaving the library today, I couldn't help but wonder what Legorreta would think of the state of his piece of work if he were to visit now. I also wondered who the manager of this library is? Does he/she even care? It is hard to believe that this building was renovated just three years ago, a decade after its opening in 1995. If you ask me, it's time for another face lift!

A Great Quote

2008-07-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

Photo: 09Traveler on Flickr

"A dead thing goes with the stream. Only a living thing can go against it."-- G. K. Chesterton

Just Because

2008-07-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

Had to show you... This person must have been PO'd when he/she got to his car the following morning! How long do you think it took them to undo it?

Bastille Day

2008-07-12T09:44:00.001-07:00

www.britannica.com

Bastille Day is just around the corner! Yeah! Okay, why am I so excited if I'm not French?
Because today I attended a class at the Macy's School of Cooking with Chef Bernard in honor of Bastille Day. He demonstrated a dish that was distinctly Provencal: St. Jean Cap-Ferrat Mackerel au Gratin with Pine Nut Crumble and Prosciutto Sherry Vinaigrette. Can I tell you how delicious this was? I ate, ahem, devoured, my serving in one bite. That is how delicious. The sherry vinaigrette coupled with the mackerel and the crunchiness of the fennel and red onions was superb. Thank goodness we all got a copy of the recipe. I WILL attempt to make this at home.

But before we tried the main dish, we had the opportunity to sample three BRILLIANT French cheeses: Saint-Nectaire, Explorateur, and Forme D'Ambert. I will eat these anywhere, anytime, anyhow.

Stendhal Syndrome

2008-07-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stood before a piece of art and been completely overwhelmed with emotion? Director Rebecca Dreyfus has. It was because of one such experience after viewing Vermeer's The Concert that she was moved to make Stolen. The film recounts the story of the thirteen works stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston back in 1990. The Concert was among the thirteen and to this day none of them have been recovered.

But did you know that there is actually a term for such extreme emotional reactions to art? It's called Stendhal Syndrome. It's a psychosomatic condition that causes rapid heart beat, dizziness and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to beautiful art. It is named after the 19th century French author Stendhal who wrote a detailed account of experiencing this phenomenon during a visit to Italy back in 1817:

"I was in a sort of ecstasy, from the idea of being in Florence, close to the great men whose tombs I had seen. Absorbed in the contemplation of sublime beauty... I reached a point where one encounters celestial sensations... Everything spoke so vividly to my soul. Ah, if I could only forget. I had palpitations of the heart, what in Berlin they call 'nerves.' Life was drained from me. I walked with the fear of falling."

Reportedly in Florence, which we know as the cradle of Renaissance art, foreign patients have been rushed to Santa Maria Nouva Hospital with such acute mental imbalances at least once a month! Isn't this insane? I don't know if I believe it.

"...It is said that more than half the patients are tourists from European countries. Italians, on the other hand, seem to be immune to the condition, along with the Japanese, who are apparently so organized in their sight-seeing that they rarely have time for emotional attacks."

Come to think of it, I think I have experienced Stendhal's syndrome while in Italy!

www.stolenthefilm.com

SPAIN takes the Cup!

2008-07-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Sally, Alicia and I watched the final at Kaiserhof in Ocean Beach. Needless to say, everyone there was going for Germany.... Sally was too. Alicia and I were secretly rooting for Spain but we didn't want to let anyone know. We left before the match ended because everyone there was dull. We finished off the game at Alicia's and we were wishing we were in Madrid that day. Spain 1- Germany 0. I'm happy for Spain who had not won since 1964. FELICIDADES!

Ciao Cristiano, Ciao Portugal

2008-06-21T23:10:00.000-07:00

Portugal was eliminated by Germany 3-2 which means we won't be seeing anymore of Cristiano. :(,

Unshrouding the Shroud

2008-06-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

Have you heard? Pope Benedict XVI announced earlier this month that there will be a new public exhibition of the Shroud of Turin (the Vatican owns it) in the spring of 2010. How exciting is that? I've been waiting forever to see it and now finally, I can. Originally the shroud was scheduled to be shown until 2025 but the Bishop of Turin requested permission to show it fifteen years early. The shroud, encased in a climate-controlled glass case, is believed by many to be the linen cloth placed on Jesus Christ at the time of his burial and that his image was recorded on its fibers at the time of his resurrection. Opinions among scientists vary, the Vatican remains neutral on the issue. I think it's a matter of faith. What do you believe?

EURO2008 - Are You Watching?

2008-06-10T22:04:00.001-07:00

So far I've only had the chance to watch Germany vs. Poland and Italy vs. Netherlands. Good matches. If you're like me, and can't watch every match, the tournament browser I've added at the bottom of the page is a great place for keeping up with the scores.

Catharina & Cornelis Wall Lights

2008-06-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

If you haven't visited Nicolette Brunklaus' website, you're missing out on some wonderful designs based out of Amsterdam. www.brunklaus.nl
I fell in love with these wonderful wall lights. Imagine these lit up in a dark hallway at night, emitting a beautiful but eerie glow! Available in gray, black or white.

Christmas in May

2008-05-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

What did I do today? Nothing. I was on the internet all day. I know... sounds boring. But I saw things I've never seen before. For example.... I found tons of pictures of the Christmas "vitrines" at Galleries Lafayette and Printemps in Paris. Every year the two stores try to outdo each other. Just looking at these made me want to book a flight to Paris for Christmas. I think it would be worth it just to go see what they come up with this year.

Please note, I got all these pictures from searches on Google Images. They belong to other bloggers, websites, etc. Unfortunately, I can not take credit for any of these pictures :( Maybe one day I will create my own. Christmas in Paris???

Surprise Surprise!

2008-05-28T10:38:00.001-07:00

AFP/Duke's Auctioneer

A man in London had a cup put away in an old shoe box under his bed for years before he decided to see what it was worth. To his surprise, the cup he had always thought was made of brass, turned out to be an ancient Persian vessel beaten out of a single sheet of gold in the 3rd or 4th century before Christ. It is now being auctioned off at Duke's in London for 500,000 pounds (US$600K-980K).

Loooong Wait... Great Breakfast!

2008-05-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend is probably not the best time to go try a new restaurant in downtown San Diego. Well, new to me at least. I don't know how long Richard Walker's has been open in SD but I know that most of the people in line with us were newcomers. We waited around an hour, fifteen which was pretty fast considering the size of this place. The interior is quite small but the floor to ceiling windows make it feel airy. There's a certain coziness: the earthy tones, granite tables, dark wood booths, amber glass light fixtures, and wood-beamed ceilings lend it a Frank Lloyd Wrightish feel. They describe themselves as "an upscale fusion of traditional and gourmet breakfast favorites" and I agree. It's not your regular breakfast place. From the moment we stepped in, the service was excellent. Soon after we sat down our drinks were at our table and our waitress was taking our order (we knew what we wanted since we had looked over the menu while in line.) I had the Chaballa French Toast, Nancy had the Blueberry Belgian Waffle, my mama had the Blueberry and Sourcream Crepes, and my dad had the Eggs Benedict.

All I will say is that we ate EVERYTHING. The coffee was hot, the orange juice was freshly squeezed, Julie, our waitress, came just the right amount of times, and the prices were right. I give this eatery an A.

Eggs Benedict

Blueberry Sourcream Crepe

Chaballa French Toast

Watched Prince Caspian

2008-05-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

So I watched the movie today and I must say that I liked The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe much more. For one, there were way too many battle scenes. In my opinion, anything more than one fighting scene in a movie is just a waste of time. Second, there were parts in the movie that I don't recall reading in the book. Of course, the parts that were in the book, I imagined completely different. But overall, they did a great job. Plus I really enjoyed watching Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian. That was a treat!

Prince Caspian

2008-05-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

The new Narnia sequel, Prince Caspian opens tonight. Will it be as good as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? I hope so. I grew up reading these books and so I hope that the movie lives up to the story I will let you know what I think.

Robert Rauschenberg Passes Away

2008-05-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

"I think a painting is more like the real world if it's made out of the real world." — Robert Rauschenberg.

On Monday, May 12 Rauschenberg died at the age of 82.

A Birthday Gift

2008-05-11T22:09:00.000-07:00

Marni gave me a wonderful birthday gift today: a book called Master Drawings of the Italian Renaissance. I especially love the drawing by Andrea Mantegna... such wonderful foreshortening. Love it! Thanks.

Betsey Johnson ring

2008-05-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

So I thought I wanted this ring when I first saw it in a magazine a while back but I never actually went to the mall to see it in person. Then I forgot about it and just the other day I was at a department store and I saw it sitting on a counter. I was pretty disappointed at how it actually fit my hand and it wasn't so nice after all. Sorry Betsey. I still love your stuff.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T20:19:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Chandeliers at Disneyland

2007-10-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

Ever noticed or tried counting the number of chandeliers in Disneyland? These are just a few of them. They are EVERYWHERE you go... even where you least expect them.

I Love Trees

2007-10-22T22:56:00.000-07:00

A very Roman pine tree at the Getty Center

Architectural Details at the Villa

2007-10-13T22:47:00.000-07:00

The vast collection of ancient Greek and Roman art found at this museum is not the only thing to admire here. It's the architectural details that make this place so special. I especially love the black and white mosaic floors found throughout the museum.

A mosaic fountain in one of the gardens.

Marble inlaid floors.

Geometric designs for black and white marble floors.

I love that the rail for this staircase is carved out of the marble wall.

A simple but beautiful fresco on one of the walls.

Three different window designs in the outdoor peristyle.

At the MCASD

2007-09-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

Among the things I do at the Museum, is merchandising. I love coming up with beautiful ways to display things. Neat products and a neat store setting always make it easier. In my years doing this, there's never been anything worse than having to merchandise product that wasn't interesting to me. Here are a few things around the Xstore that I love or just simply wish I had the money to buy right away.

A gold banana bowl...pricey.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith Teapot, mugs, and lemon/lime juicers... I think I like these because of the heads peeking out....kinda creepy.

Porcelain tea cups... I love the indentations for your fingers to grip.

Black porcelain still life of a candlestick and apple... so gothic.

Porcelain Owl Lamp... the light this lamp gives off at night is so soft... very soothing. I wish I had one of these when I was a child. It would have helped me sleep better at night.

City on a Plate... right to left... New Orleans, Berlin, Cairo. These are great because they are heavy-duty ceramic plates... great for dinner.

This is a kid's melamine tray set. I think the reason I like this so much is that it reminds me of the dishes airplane meals are served on.

This year's limited edition Star Wars USB drives. Gotta get one!