LOST

My garden path totally disappeared during our "wetter than Seattle" winter. This is a six foot wide flower pot garden.

Flowers of Another Color

Sterling R. DeRosa Pin I sold recently

Very Large Coro Pin also recently sold


I still own this beauty - a huge unsigned fur clip

1920's or 1930's basket pin I sold at a show in March. All Original with stones of many colors

Thank You for the Music

That is the name of the concert I attended last week at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. It was absolutely incredible! I thoroughly loved it, as I am a huge fan of choral music, especially when done by a very large group.

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performed, with the Community Women’s Orchestra and Stockholms Gaykor (Stockholm’s Gay Choir). Daughter-in-law Becky plays violin in the Women’s Orchestra, and it was her first major concert. The venue was definitely impressive. Anyone would want to perform at Davies.

I had a great seat, in right orchestra, ten rows back. Chris and two of Becky’s friends were in left orchestra. I was looking for Chris before the concert started, then saw a movie-star-handsome guy, distinguished-looking with grey streaks in his hair, dark suit coat, and decided it must be my son. He and Becky made a beautiful couple, with Becky in her black clothes – long black skirt, and her long dark hair flowing from the barrette she was wearing. She is a pretty girl, an asset to an orchestra. I guess I shouldn’t base her contribution on looks alone.

I didn’t know what to expect at a concert of the Gay Men’s Chorus. I was not certain what types of music I would hear, but I loved all of it. I am a bit of a snob when it comes to music, with classical and opera being my favorites, although music from shows and certain other music appeals to me also. I knew the reputation the Chorus has for being First Rate. Robert Seeley’s music from Naked Man, Exile and Metamorphosis was wonderful. This music spans the years from 1996 to 2004, and when I saw the dates, I thought it would be too modernistic for my taste, but the notes are absolutely beautiful.

Stockholms Gaykor is an impressive group. They performed many great pieces, and when they did the Village People Medley, the audience went wild. Talk about enthusiasm. The Gaykor, plus SFGMC Alumni combined voices with the Gay Men’s Chorus to totally fill the stage, along with the Women’s Orchestra, and totally fill the hall with a glorious sound that caused a standing ovation. I was so happy that I was there.

I had never been to Davies and it was way past time to check out that place. It is great. After all, MTT hangs out there (Michael Tilson Thomas). He was with the Buffalo Philharmonic, then went to Europe for a while before taking over the helm at the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. He has made San Francisco his home for years now.

Fred's Iris

Fred is my neighbor.

The More I Am Here the Better I Like It

Yesterday found me at the de Young again. I have now been there, at least in the building, five times since October. Not bad, considering the problem of getting there in the first place.

I visited the Art & Crafts exhibit again, to concentrate more closely on the items, and the descriptions. I missed more of the small items than I thought I had. There are some really incredible pieces in the exhibit, pieces that I would love to have in my home. That is if I had a really nice place, like the house in Buffalo. Items in this show would have been wonderful in the Buffalo house, which had Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. It was around the corner from a documented Wright house, which is seen in at least one of the volumes on his buildings. I decorated with several Arts & Crafts period furniture pieces, although I believe none had the “important” labels.

Another reason I went to the de Young was in response to an email I had received from the Education Department notifying me of the Friday Night at the New de Young program for last night. I was so happy that I bothered to go to this event. Four Strings Tango (Quartet) entertained with an all Argentina Music event, including a lovely young couple dancing to some of the pieces performed. It was a cozy evening in a room filled with an attentive audience, a rather informal event with seating along the sides of the room, and on the floor, the Quartet playing against a wall of glass with the noiseless rain and wind a mere backdrop to the comfort of the interior.

Four Strings Tango, with Abraham Becker music director, used instruments made by Peter Van Arsdale of Berkeley, two violins, a viola and a cello. Mr. Van Arsdale also demonstrated violin making last night, in the Free Zone outside the individual galleries. There were several events happening in that area. The new building makes great use of its spaces, drawing in the public, getting them involved in many aspects of the art world. I was wishing that I could live in the city, further enabling me to make use of the fine arts facilities and becoming involved in things I love.