Lori was experimenting with an air-dry clay craft she could work on with the grand-kids. Everything went smoothly with the colorfully-painted cupped hand until Lori tried to pack it up. A finger broke off and Lori tried to repair it with glue and a band aid.  Unfortunately the glue didn’t take and the finger fell off.  It did so in a revealing way.

The resulting gesture created with the failed repair made the piece more, um, Lori-esque. More than likely she herself made the same gesture when she discovered the flawed repair.  (Or at least robustly vocalized a similar sentiment.)

Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life

– Oscar Wilde

Lori and I enjoyed a long-weekend visit with Naomi and Rich (Lori’s brother) and their children and grandchildren (all above average) in North Wales, PA (a little north of Philadelphia).

Among the highlights, we spent a day at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, particularly enjoying the featured The Impressionist’s Eye exhibit and the Yoshitoshi Japanese woodblock print exhibit.

Elsewhere in the museum, I was very pleased to see several well-known Thomas Eakins paintings–he was a favorite since my childhood. And of course there were other numerous immediately-recognizable masterpieces from all over on view.  We didn’t have time to take it all in but that’s why we apparently can return for more another time.

Lori and I enjoyed our annual long-weekend jaunt down-state where we visited with Stella who expertly (and fearlessly) drove us in to Manhattan on a couple days for touring, museum-watching, eating and drinking. New York City seems to be in a frenzied building boom every time we visit. We explored some of the more recent projects including The Shed, The Vessel, The Oculus, and the World Trade Center 9/11 Memorial.  Then it was off to old-favorite museums and new-discovery restaurants.  What an amazing place.

The Vessel nesteled between high-rises as seen from Hudson Yards.

The Oculus, replacing the PATH station destroyed on 9/11.

The Oculus viewed from the 9/11 north tower Memorial.

The Oculus interior.

Lori and Stella at South Street Seaport in front of the Wavertree. Built in 1885, it was the last sailing ship built of wrought iron.

Rembrandt self portrait at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, displayed as part of the Dutch Masters exhibit.

The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Stella poses with “Reaching Jaguar” by Anna Hyatt Huntington. Señor Lopez of the Bronx Zoo was the real-life jaguar model for this sculpture.

Stella emerges from shopping at Zabar’s, a must-do on the West Side.

Lori dodges the paparazzi on Riverside Drive.

Lori and I had the great pleasure and privilege to visit Venice for a week. We thoroughly enjoyed the extraordinary city and learning about its history, art, and culture.

Basilica of St. Mark at night

Approaching Santa Maria Della Salute

Vivaldi concert by The Interpreti Veneziani in the Church of San Vidal.

Basilica of St. Mark

View from Ponte dell’Accademia looking toward Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute along the Grand Canal

View along the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge at night.

Water taxi ride from our hotel back to Marco Polo airport included lovely neighborhood views from the canals.