Audrey and I went to an art opening at The Foundry Arts Centre tonight with friends. It was a bit of a trek, but worth it. I've been to the space before and it is really impressive. They also have a children's gallery (and programming) so we did some drawings in there and admired the children's art work. I find so much kid's art and outsider art mesmerizing. Earlier in the week I was a juror for a local arts festival and frankly, I'd rather look at or buy kid's art or works from places like Turner Center for the Arts. Anyway...this weekend we are putting in the herb garden and working around the house, maybe going to the Botanical Garden. I can't believe only two more days of school. I wish I could take off the whole summer with Audrey before she starts kindergarten. Happy weekend.
Last night I juried work for an annual art fair in St. Louis. I met up with friends that I don't see nearly often enough throughout the year. The coolest chick in all of St. Louis has to be Ann Haubrich. I've said it before, but last night cemented it when she told me for her recent birthday she went to NYC to see Laurie Anderson with the Kronos Quartet AND got to see David Byrne's staging of Here Lies Love. I might add she was wearing the most amazing skirt. She's literate, confident, down-to-earth, compassionate, involved, stylish, and has all her shit together. She doesn't even have a Facebook account. (Cripes...now that IS envious.) She's co-host of a poetry show on local radio, co-founder of the Community Arts Training program, and is currently Managing Director of Prison Performing Arts. I know it is terrible un-cool to gush like this and she would probably be most uncomfortable, but the world needs more Anns.
Later, I had drinks with my dear Katy, who asked, "Who's Laurie Anderson?" Sigh. I'm sure she has the same response when I ask, "Who's { insert here hipster mumble band with socks hand knit with local sheep's wool dyed using artisinal methods }?"
Tonight I'm taking part of a Poetry Scores premiere of two new scores of Gertrude Stein's 1913 poem "Yet Dish" -- for 69 women's voices. I'll be one of the 69 readers. The rest of the weekend, I'm cleaning house. Going on vacation sort of wreaks havoc on life.
We hit Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium in the same rainy day. The walk between the two was short, but brutal. I especially loved the sea dragons and the special exhibit of jelly fish. Audrey loved it all but was so disappointed when we were not actually allowed to go up in space at the planetarium. She thought I was lying to her so I had to ask one of the docents to confirm for Audrey that indeed, normal humans are not routinely allowed in space. {heart breaking}. The next day we went to the Field Museum, which one can't get through in a day. No. Way. But she did a great job and bravely, without an ounce of fear, held a tarantula and allowed it to be put on her head. It helped that the tarantula's name was Audrey too. A lot of my pictures are still on my cell phone. These are from my Sony NEX3. More later.
