Distances: 1 mile, 2 miles
Ciwt left cold, windy Palm Springs
and returned to cold, windy, rainy San Francisco.
No complaints here. We need the rain and Ciwt is happy to be home.*
* Also (a couple of days later) there's this just in for SFO:
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Home on the Rain --- Days 8/236 & 37
Walk: Union Square, SFMOMA
Distances: 1 mile, 2 miles
Ciwt left cold, windy Palm Springs
and returned to cold, windy, rainy San Francisco.
Distances: 1 mile, 2 miles
Ciwt left cold, windy Palm Springs
and returned to cold, windy, rainy San Francisco.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Crafts at SFO --- Day 8/235
Walk: Turkey Trot around Country Club Property
Distance: 2.9 miles, Pickleball
On her way to Palm Springs Ciwt noticed an excellent art exhition at SFO: California Studio Craft, featuring works from the collection of Forrest L. Merrill.*
Studio craft combines traditional handmade craft with refined qualities of fine art and includes both utilitarian and purely aesthetic pieces. Most craft in the United States dates back to Native ceramic and weaving traditions and is regionally diverse.
By the 1930's specialized schools such as Oakland's California College of Arts and Crafts began offering specialized training in crafts. The G.I. Bill of 1944 fueled growth in studio craft, and thousands of artist-craftspeople enrolled in expanded curricula and were trained during the postwar period. Thus the 1950's and 60's were groundbreaking years, and craft provided an alternative to mass-produced products by offering artistic-yet-stylish handmade items for the home.
Magazines at the time featured craft items for the home showcasing their informal, natural appearance and the ways in which they softened the stark lines of modern interior design. Following suit many people collected and furnished their homes with original ceramics, sculptural furniture, on-and off-loom textiles, old-world metal works and glass created by entirely new hot-glass techniques. Slowly these craft works began to be accepted into the once rigid fine arts museums which had considered craft 'women's work' and 'lesser' than the 'aestheticlly superior' painting and scurlptural arts.
* Ciwt really likes the way airports have embraced art displays in their terminals.
Distance: 2.9 miles, Pickleball
On her way to Palm Springs Ciwt noticed an excellent art exhition at SFO: California Studio Craft, featuring works from the collection of Forrest L. Merrill.*
Studio craft combines traditional handmade craft with refined qualities of fine art and includes both utilitarian and purely aesthetic pieces. Most craft in the United States dates back to Native ceramic and weaving traditions and is regionally diverse.
By the 1930's specialized schools such as Oakland's California College of Arts and Crafts began offering specialized training in crafts. The G.I. Bill of 1944 fueled growth in studio craft, and thousands of artist-craftspeople enrolled in expanded curricula and were trained during the postwar period. Thus the 1950's and 60's were groundbreaking years, and craft provided an alternative to mass-produced products by offering artistic-yet-stylish handmade items for the home.
Magazines at the time featured craft items for the home showcasing their informal, natural appearance and the ways in which they softened the stark lines of modern interior design. Following suit many people collected and furnished their homes with original ceramics, sculptural furniture, on-and off-loom textiles, old-world metal works and glass created by entirely new hot-glass techniques. Slowly these craft works began to be accepted into the once rigid fine arts museums which had considered craft 'women's work' and 'lesser' than the 'aestheticlly superior' painting and scurlptural arts.
* Ciwt really likes the way airports have embraced art displays in their terminals.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Hearts and Clients —- Day 8/234
Walk: Around Indian Wells
Distance: 2.5 (cold) miles, pickleball
Distance: 2.5 (cold) miles, pickleball
 |
| CIWT 💓s her clients at Palm Springs Art Muséum |
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Into the WILD Blue Yonder --- Day 8/233
Walk: SFO, Palm Springs Airport (hopefully), Palm Springs Art Museum, Indian Wells
Distance: A few miles
Distance: A few miles
 |
| Hopefully not Ciwt's plane today |
Monday, November 25, 2019
Change of Clothes --- Days 8/230,31,32
Walks: Hood x 3
Distance: 3.5 x3, nice and leisurely, la la
So, Ciwt totally luxuriates in packing for trips. She tries to get things down to just the things she'll wear. (Ha. Good luck with that, but she tries). At the same time she attempts a closet caper, getting rid of things she's not wearing. (Ha. Again).
This time the trip is to Palm Springs. So, easy peasy since Palm Springs is all about hot, balmy,
bright colors, and San Francisco Ciwt has very few of those type clothes. She's been spending the past few days sorting and folding the tiny, light garments and marveling at how her suitcase is just barely half full and light as a feather.
This was planned also to give Ciwt plenty of time to tell CIWT readers about her trip, maybe write a few entries in advance, wish all her readers a Wonderful Thanksgiving, those sorts of things. Just before sitting down to do that she decided to check Palm Springs weather.
What the ***##&@! Rainy and COLD on top of which her brother called from the golf course to say it was Really Windy. (Have a nice bumpy flight, Ciwt) So, now she leaves tomorrow and frantically repacking, stuffing winter type layers into her suitcase and hopelessly behind in CIWT writing time.
In case her iphone doesn't cooperate with entries, she wishes you a Wonderful Thanksgiving and will give you a full report on her return.
Distance: 3.5 x3, nice and leisurely, la la
Search Results
Weather Result
Palm Springs, CA
Monday 6:00 PM
Clear
Winter Storm Warning (great)
Southwestern California
3 hours ago – National Weather Service
Total snowfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches between 4000-4500 ft, 6 to 18 inches from 4500 to 5500 ft, and from 1 to 3 ft above 5500 ft ... Light snow accumulations are ...
This time the trip is to Palm Springs. So, easy peasy since Palm Springs is all about hot, balmy,
bright colors, and San Francisco Ciwt has very few of those type clothes. She's been spending the past few days sorting and folding the tiny, light garments and marveling at how her suitcase is just barely half full and light as a feather.
This was planned also to give Ciwt plenty of time to tell CIWT readers about her trip, maybe write a few entries in advance, wish all her readers a Wonderful Thanksgiving, those sorts of things. Just before sitting down to do that she decided to check Palm Springs weather.
What the ***##&@! Rainy and COLD on top of which her brother called from the golf course to say it was Really Windy. (Have a nice bumpy flight, Ciwt) So, now she leaves tomorrow and frantically repacking, stuffing winter type layers into her suitcase and hopelessly behind in CIWT writing time.
In case her iphone doesn't cooperate with entries, she wishes you a Wonderful Thanksgiving and will give you a full report on her return.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Ciwt in Wonderland --- Day 8/228 & 229
Walk: Day 1. PGCC exercise class, Seminary, San Anselmo Day 2. Sea Cliff Neighborhood, San Francisco
Distance: 1. 1 Hour Class 2. 4.5 miles walk
Distance: 1. 1 Hour Class 2. 4.5 miles walk
| 1. University of Redlands, Marin Campus where she goes weekly |
 |
| 2. The stunning Sea Cliff neighborhood which she drives through often on the way to the Legion of Honor |
Sometimes Ciwt gets so focussed she forgets to be awed by the extensiveness of the natural beauty of the Bay Area. Sometimes, not often.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Doubling Down --- Days 8/226&7
Walk: 1. PGCC Exercise, then later Book Group (So Big by Edna Ferber), and even later, Board Meeting
2.Various Appointments
Distance: 1. 1 hr. exercise class then private, 4.5 miles 2. 3.6 miles
The days start dwindling and running together this time of year so Ciwt is offering a two days for one CIWT from the Asian Art Museum's current show of two artists born continents apart who became intense, formative friends during their brief time together. In 1950 Hasegawa, an established Japanese artist, was assigned as guide and interpreter to Noguchi when he was in Japan forming his artistic ideas. Each was concerned with the role of Japanese culture after World War II with Hagegawa feeling that Japan must now embrace both the old traditions as well as new and outside ways while, at the time, Noguchi felt Japan should look almost entirely to its own history and traditions and esckew the West. Through rich conversatoins the two became each other's teacher, and, each in his own way, came to embrace the philosophy that "the strength of tradition lies in its adaptability to continuous change." (Noguchi, 1963)
2.Various Appointments
Distance: 1. 1 hr. exercise class then private, 4.5 miles 2. 3.6 miles
Saburo Hasegawa (Japanese, 1906-1957), Civilization, 1951, Ink on paper
Isamu Noguchi (American, 1904-1988), Tsukubai, 1962, Granite and water
Monday, November 18, 2019
Tour Slowdown = Errands Speed Up --- Day 8/225
Walk: Hood Errands
Distance: 3.8 miles
Distance: 3.8 miles
 |
| Roz Chast always nails it. |
Sunday, November 17, 2019
CHRI__ What? --- Day 8/224
Walk: Cinema Club, Hood
Distance: 3 miles, small yoga
https://wondercollaborative.org/human-nature-documentary-film/
Distance: 3 miles, small yoga
What you are looking at above is CRISPR under a microscope, the discovery of which is dramaticly changing the world. Whether in positive or negative ways is anybody's guess, literally. This is what Ciwt took away from her Cinema Club doc today followed by discussion with a prominent science writer.
She's quite sure she wouldn't have chosen to see Human Nature* so became glad Cinema Club screened it today. (Her first reaction: Oh, no..) She wouldn't drag you to the theater, but the doc is very well done, informative to the layperson and the scientist alike (there are several in Ciwt's San Francisco audience) and does Not employ scare tactics or politics. It's in most of our human natures to be curious, and you'll definitely walk out of the theater knowing more about your world then when you went in.
https://wondercollaborative.org/human-nature-documentary-film/
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Buff Talk --- Day 8/223
Walk: No, Day of Rest and Talking with a Film Buff Friend About Movies
Distance: 0, Yoga
The cartoon makes fun of it, but Ciwt loves to talk movies with a few of her film buff friends.
Distance: 0, Yoga
The cartoon makes fun of it, but Ciwt loves to talk movies with a few of her film buff friends.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Arty Introvert's Heaven --- Day 8/222
Walk: SFMOMA, AMC Kabuki (Ford v Ferrari), Home 💓
Distance: 5 Miles
1.
Meeting with old college friend/artist, visiting gallereies and then eating lunch while catching up.
2.
Distance: 5 Miles
1.
 |
| New Thiebaud prints and old friend at Crown Point Press |
Meeting with old college friend/artist, visiting gallereies and then eating lunch while catching up.
2.
Escaping into a wonderfully long, thoroughly entertaining, beautifully acted movie about car racing.
3.
 |
| Spoiler Alert: James Won a Tight Match* |
Coming home for the finals of Jeopardy' Tournament of Champions. Ciw t was particularly dedicated that that event (and all the Jeopardy episodes these days) because it may be the last one with Alex.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Introvert Stretch --- Day 8/221
Walk: Screening Center Annual, PGCC Women's Harvest Lunch, APP Board Meeting
Distance: 5 Miles
Distance: 5 Miles
 |
| Guess which one is Ciwt |
So Ciwt took a break from her solo ways today. A BIG one with two group events, a women's luncheon and, later, a local park board meeting. Actually, Ciwt has lots of thoughts and does speak up at these things, but it always feels so unnatural, weird and dicey in these situations that seem to be about just going along and making no waves.
Luckily when she got home she could settle in with her beloved Alex and the Tournament of Champions (link)
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
The Drears --- Day 8/220
Walk: No
Distance: 0, just too uninviting out there but nice at home with odds, ends and cats
Distance: 0, just too uninviting out there but nice at home with odds, ends and cats
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Big Light Birds --- Day 8/219
Walk: PGCC, Mountain Lake
Distance: 4 miles, Exercise Class, Private Training
Isamu Noguchi (American, 1904-1988), Bird Song, Bronze, 1952 (cast 1985)
Ciwt was charmed by the way sculptor Isamu Noguchi captures the lightness of birds and their songs in this tall heavy bronze at the Asian Art Museum's exhibition: Changing and Unchanging Things: Noguchi and Hasesaga in Post War Japan.
Distance: 4 miles, Exercise Class, Private Training
Monday, November 11, 2019
Veterans Day --- Day 8/218
Walk: No, Home Enjoying So Big by Edna Ferber
Distance: 0, Yoga
My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place — police, firefighters, and members of our armed forces. -Sidney Sheldon
Distance: 0, Yoga
Sergeant Stubby, the most decorated dog of World War I, captured a German spy and outranked his owner.
In 1917, a stray puppy wandered onto the Yale University campus, where members of the 102nd Infantry Regiment were training. The pit bull mix won over the unit with his antics, participating in drills and even learning how to salute with his right paw. Private J. Robert Conroy adopted the dog, named him Stubby and smuggled him to the front lines in France. There, exposure to mustard gas left Stubby highly sensitive to the noxious fumes and able to warn the 102nd of imminent attacks. He also learned to locate wounded soldiers during patrols. One day, Stubby spotted a German spy and attacked the bewildered man until reinforcements arrived; the achievement earned him the rank of sergeant. In his 18 months of service, Stubby participated in 17 battles, survived a series of wounds and provided a much-needed boost of morale to his fellow soldiers. After the war he returned to the United States with Conroy (who never made it past corporal himself) and became a national icon, leading parades and receiving awards until his death in 1926.
My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place — police, firefighters, and members of our armed forces. -Sidney Sheldon
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Masterpiece by a Master --- Day 8/217
Walk: Embarcadero Cinema (The Irishman)
Distance: 3.5 miles
Distance: 3.5 miles
Masterpiece by a legendary director on the quiet, understated, dailiness and persistence of pure evil.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Soul, Part 3--- Day 8/216
Walk: de Young Museum (Soul of a Nation Opening Block Party)
Distance: 6 Miles
Spontaneous Break Dancing
Something tells Ciwt nobody is ever going to convince this little girl that museums are for quiet communing
Distance: 6 Miles
b
Loud, Rhythmic Drumming and Tribal Dance
Happy Throngs
Now, Ciwt is the first one to rail against crowds and noise at museums. But, turns out the de Young Mueum throws a mean Block Party. And, if you weren't there you weren't anywhere today. Totally free to whoever showed up for the opening day of Soul of a Nation, and a total blast.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Soul, Part 2 --- Day 8/215
Walk: Hood
Distance: 1.5 miles, Yoga
With its brazen colors, clenched fist and dripping American flags imagery, Ciwt has always assumed Black Power art was created by isolated, angry artists to menace if not incite violence. But as she listened to the Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963-1983artists tell it like it really was she learned that much of that 60's and 70's art was created in thoughtful artistic collectives. Collectives that discusssed issues like what was Black Art, what was its look and purpose, how could it be important and endure. They were also in the process of forming a Black Nation they, their brothers and sisters in Africa and the States would identify with and take pride in. These artists meant to be creative, inclusive and expressive. They were passionate, but, especially knowing no galleries or museums would likely display what they made, they - most of them anyway - weren't being incendiary.
Photographer Ming Smith 
put it so well: I wanted to show the grace, the love, and, how do you say?, the surviving.
put it so well: I wanted to show the grace, the love, and, how do you say?, the surviving.
On her way to the preview Ciwt certainly didn't expect a change in her understanding of 'Black Power Art' in the decades immediately following Martin Luther King and the tumultuous 60's. Black Power was not her cause (although she was a contemporary with great sympathy); when she'd encountered the works back then she'd assumed they were in-your-face angry (for good reason she might add). If the artists hadn't been at the de Young preview to speak their truths she's not sure she would have gotten how much more considered and profound their art actually was. She didn't have time to notice whether he exhibition's signage speaks for this 'softer' understanding, so she wonders whether viewers will see the soul and not the anger, and how they will apply it to their current views about racism. Just wondering, no solutions here. Overall Ciwt found the show richly engaging, alive, thought provoking - historically and in the moment.
As for the individual works, she had her favorites. She loved the powerfully poetic black and white simplicity of several pieces.
 |
| Norman Lewis (1909-79), Processional, 1965, Oil on Canvas |
 |
| Ming Smith, America Seen Through Stars and Stripes, New York, NY, 1979, gelatin silver print |
 |
| Adger Cowans (b. 1936), Shadows, NY, 1961, gelatin silver print |
 |
| Sam Gilliam (b. 1933), Carousel Change, 1970, acrylic on canvas and leather string |
She particularly enjoyed talking with husband and wife artists Wadsworth and Jae Jarrell.
 |
| Wadsworth (center: white tee shirt) and Jae Jarrell as Jae describes one of her fashion designs |
Jae Jarrell (b. 1935) made artistic statements though her clothing fabrications, one of the most of famous of which is her two piece Revolutionary Suit where she replaced bullets with oil pastels in the bandolier.
And then her husband painted Angela Davis (from a photograph) wearing it.
 |
| Wadsworth Jarrell (b. 1929), Revolutionary (Angela Davis), 1971, acrylic and mixed media on canvas |
 |
| Jae Jarrell in her suit some time in the 1970's |
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Soul --- Day 8/214
Walk: de Young Museum (Press Preview: Soul of a Nation:Art in the Age of Black Power 1963-1983)
Distance: 1 mile, Yoga
Distance: 1 mile, Yoga
The exhibition Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963-1983 has legs. It started in 2017 in London (Tate) and has traveled to Arkansas (Crystal Bridges Museum) and New York (Brooklyn Museum). It was meant to stop there, but word of mouth was so strong that West Coast museums made all efforts to bring it out here. L.A. (Broad) first and now here in San Francisco (de Young Museum). At last! Ciwt might add given that the Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland in 1966 and had community offices all around San Francisco, including Ciwt's neighborhood (The Fillmore).
Ciwt had heard about the show but didn't realize that an entourage of the original artists included in the show - basically the ones who are still surviving - travel to each opening. So, when she walked into the Press Preview, she was happily surprised to see the room filled with them. Surprise being the key work here. Eg, she started talking to one of the men about the time of day, that sort of thing. (Actually she asked him whether the sweet potato pie the Museum was offering was good). 
When he went off to get some coffee, his friend who'd been standing next to him leaned toward Ciwt and said "He's one of the most famous photographers in the world. His name is Herbert Randall." Oh,.....Ciwt stopped talking, quickly ate her first ever piece of sweet potato pie, and started listening as these artists and the show's curators took the press through the exhibiton - and Ciwt learned that 'his friend' was also a world renown photographer.
When he went off to get some coffee, his friend who'd been standing next to him leaned toward Ciwt and said "He's one of the most famous photographers in the world. His name is Herbert Randall." Oh,.....Ciwt stopped talking, quickly ate her first ever piece of sweet potato pie, and started listening as these artists and the show's curators took the press through the exhibiton - and Ciwt learned that 'his friend' was also a world renown photographer.
So what what were Ciwt's thoughts? Stay tuned, please....
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
(Sort of) Ciwt's Cute Book --- Day 8/213
Walk: PGCC
Distance: 1.5 miles, small yoga
Distance: 1.5 miles, small yoga
So a member of Ciwt's club asked for her help in creating a book of his photographs and prepping him for the slide show talk he was going to give in connection with it. The presentation was this evening (It went Perfectly if Ciwt says so herself) and the book was nearly a sell out.
All in all this was a challenging and interesting experience for Ciwt in which she learned to appreciate much more deeply very high quality photography books. Luckily, the book Ciwt helped edit was never intended to be one of those. They are extremely complicated and expensive to produce. But she thinks 'her' book is pretty cute.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Looks Don't Matter --- Day 8/212
Walk: PGCC, Legion of Honor
Distance: A Few Blocks, Exercise Class, Private Training
How could bread pudding look so awful but taste so good? One of her art tourers bought Ciwt a piece of it today at the Tissot exhibition. After finishing it she was reminded of why she needs to stay far, far away. Otherwise Ciwt would have it for every meal.
Distance: A Few Blocks, Exercise Class, Private Training
How could bread pudding look so awful but taste so good? One of her art tourers bought Ciwt a piece of it today at the Tissot exhibition. After finishing it she was reminded of why she needs to stay far, far away. Otherwise Ciwt would have it for every meal.
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