last week, upon returning from cape town, i have the distinct pleasure of hopping on another plane - this time clear across the u.s. - to california for two nights ... further rendering my sense of time and place null and void. i am off to the golden state for an exhibit (including my work) at the new contemporary jewish museum of san francisco, recently revived architecturally by none other than starchitect daniel liebeskind.
i promptly arrive in the city by the bay, not quite certain which time zone i'm in ... gmt+2? pst? est? no matter, a swift and somewhat tortured ride into town on BART, the bay area's response to mass transit, and i'm at my hotel. a quick walk - this part of downtown is both chic and seedy - union square, market street, and a hop on the treadmill - then i'm off. a glass or two of napa wine in the club lounge - actually, my hotel is extraordinarily convenient, my room with sweeping views.
the museum really is stunning. centrally located just a block from SF MoMA, right in the heart of the city, it's prime real estate. the 1900's building has just received it's face lift, and two glass rhombuses rise obtusely from the more staid original building. diamonds of windows beckon ...
inside, it's packed! a beautiful 6pm gala is in full swing ... the space is dynamic and full of energy. good food (grilled vegetables, smoked salmon, et al), great wines from sonoma ... mmm, so good, so fitting. there are a ton of people attending this evening, everyone decked out in quite formal cocktail attire ... kind of nice and swanky. onto the exhibit, where there are eighty 'seder' plates on display - actually, the 'theme' IS the passover seder plate, but so many of the pieces are conceptual (mine included), making it hard to label many of them as 'functional' objects for the rituals of this jewish holiday.
i talk with the curators, meet many of the artists, say hello to patrons, and get an up-close-and-personal look at the museum's architecture and other exhibits. like the show that i am in, the works are artfully displayed - great spaces, great lighting - really a joy to experience!
by the time the evening is over, i'm zonked - it's late by new york time, even later in cape town, where my biological clock is still ticking. so off i go, slumped into my bed, ready for the next day ... an early morning workout, a light breakfast, and back to the airport for my midday flight to los angeles to see my dear friends.
however, even before i, the early riser, has a chance to bolt up in the morning, my mobile rings - my flight has been cancelled. i am either on a connecting flight at 1 pm via fresno (what?!!!), or an earlier non-stop into LA. i (obviously) opt for the latter, and rush the exercise in order to make it back to the airport, change my ticket, disrobe unceremoniously for security (rather perverted, the whole experience) and rush to my plane. which of course, is delayed. to the original time that i was scheduled to fly.
the joys of travel!
i promptly arrive in the city by the bay, not quite certain which time zone i'm in ... gmt+2? pst? est? no matter, a swift and somewhat tortured ride into town on BART, the bay area's response to mass transit, and i'm at my hotel. a quick walk - this part of downtown is both chic and seedy - union square, market street, and a hop on the treadmill - then i'm off. a glass or two of napa wine in the club lounge - actually, my hotel is extraordinarily convenient, my room with sweeping views.
the museum really is stunning. centrally located just a block from SF MoMA, right in the heart of the city, it's prime real estate. the 1900's building has just received it's face lift, and two glass rhombuses rise obtusely from the more staid original building. diamonds of windows beckon ...
inside, it's packed! a beautiful 6pm gala is in full swing ... the space is dynamic and full of energy. good food (grilled vegetables, smoked salmon, et al), great wines from sonoma ... mmm, so good, so fitting. there are a ton of people attending this evening, everyone decked out in quite formal cocktail attire ... kind of nice and swanky. onto the exhibit, where there are eighty 'seder' plates on display - actually, the 'theme' IS the passover seder plate, but so many of the pieces are conceptual (mine included), making it hard to label many of them as 'functional' objects for the rituals of this jewish holiday.
i talk with the curators, meet many of the artists, say hello to patrons, and get an up-close-and-personal look at the museum's architecture and other exhibits. like the show that i am in, the works are artfully displayed - great spaces, great lighting - really a joy to experience!
by the time the evening is over, i'm zonked - it's late by new york time, even later in cape town, where my biological clock is still ticking. so off i go, slumped into my bed, ready for the next day ... an early morning workout, a light breakfast, and back to the airport for my midday flight to los angeles to see my dear friends.
however, even before i, the early riser, has a chance to bolt up in the morning, my mobile rings - my flight has been cancelled. i am either on a connecting flight at 1 pm via fresno (what?!!!), or an earlier non-stop into LA. i (obviously) opt for the latter, and rush the exercise in order to make it back to the airport, change my ticket, disrobe unceremoniously for security (rather perverted, the whole experience) and rush to my plane. which of course, is delayed. to the original time that i was scheduled to fly.
the joys of travel!
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