August 2006 California Page

> EYES
Was recently reminded that without our eyes, humans would not find visual art quite as interesting, or even possible, as we do...

ORBIS International has been alleviating blindness throughout the world... there are 37,000,000 who are blind, 28,000,000 of whom need not be. Hundreds of physicians and pilots volunteer their services to fly around the earth on the ORBIS FLYING EYE HOSPITAL restoring eyesight for whomever they can reach. We can all help:

http://www.orbis.org

> NEON ART AND SIGNAGE
Excellent article in September 2006 THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY (page 137-40) on the history and technology of neon lighting, signage and art... especially the work of curator Adolfo Nodal (formerly of the LA Cultural Affairs Department), and Rudy Stern, founder of the New York's LET THERE BE NEON gallery and workshop. I first became fascinated about neon art due to the work of Benecia, CA sculptor LEE ROY CHAMPAGNE... who has been suffering from bouts with cancer.

>THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
Visited the first museum I ever worked for yesterday... one of America's great "secret" fine museums of Art, History and Science. Everything looks basically the same, for the better part... some improvements, some evidence of new construction/expansion starting to take shape.

But, the Art collection shows an enormous increase (over the past 25 years) in its American/California IMPRESSIONIST paintings!!! Quite a remarkable leap forward in that portion of their holdings.

> SANTA CRUZ MUSEUM OF ART AND HISTORY
Took in this lovely downtown Santa Cruz museum with my son, Mercury, and a friend... it is housed adaptively-usefully in the former county jail building!

There I saw the most amazing HUGE thrown and glazed ceramic vessels, many beautiful pictorially painted ones, by MATTIE LEEDS... when speaking of hugeness, I am saying that he builds some of these pieces as tall as 60" or more, with diameters exceeding 36-48"!!!

Imagine getting one of these things off the wheel, intact.

http://www.santacruzmah.org

> "DARK METROPOLIS: IRVING NORMAN'S SOCIAL SURREALISM"
Enjoyed another outstanding oppportunity to visit with the maestro's widow, HELA, at her lovely home on Tunitas Creek near Half Moon Bay. Irving will be having a substantial exhibition at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA from September 23, 2006 - January 7, 2007... then travelling elsewhere.

Also had the great pleasure of meeting there the author of a book by the same title, RAY DAY written and edited by he and SCOTT SHIELDS (also Curator of the exhibition)... 224 pages (9x12"), 154 color plates... Irving's first major publication.

Do not miss this exhibition if you are anywhere near Sacramento during those weeks.

http://www.crockerartmuseum.org
http://www.irvingnorman.com

> PROMISING COSTUME DESIGNER
Met the youthful Ms. LUCY MATZ at the temporary home (whilst homebase is being renovated) of her mother and father, Jeremy and Paul, in the company of her brother, Hudson... Ms. Matz has produced portfolio #1 of dress and similar designs. She shows a unique fondness for combining unusual colors and fabrics, with special affection for the crossed neckline and halter at this point. Her evening gown, ala Klimt, was remarkable, though Hudson's preference was for a more Greco-Roman casual wear. On her next visit to New York she has promised to arrange a behind-scenes tour of the Met's COSTUME INSTITUTE with their Research department head.