Digital Yayoi Pollock

JWise Photo of the Day

From the exhibit "You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies" by Yayoi Kusama

“You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies” by Yayoi Kusama is on display at the Phoenix Art Museum. This light and mirror installation is a terrific work sure to disorient all who enter the darkened room on the upper floor of the new wing of our local art museum. The Ansel Adams exhibit in comparison is quite disappointing with prints no larger than 8×10 making detail difficult to come by. Demonic Divine, an exhibit showcasing Himalayan religious art, on the other hand, was outstanding. Sadly, instead of publicly celebrating the art that is here, there are very strict limits on photography so few photos such as this will be available that might persuade the general public to drop into our recently renovated museum.

Mandala Tearoom

JWise Photo of the Day

A tea sampling at the Mandala Tearoom in Scottsdale, Arizona

Could the Phoenix area be turning a corner? A recent newcomer to Scottsdale is the Mandala Tearoom, billing itself as an Urban Tearoom. Located on 5th Avenue near the new Riverwalk development, this new cafe features a wide assortment of gourmet teas and an interesting vegan menu – which we enjoyed and will return for. While on the pricey side, it is an improvement to the ever-multiplying chain restaurants that are wreaking havoc across our landscape. On a sad note, Henry’s Markets have closed shop. Owned by Wild Oats, the Henry’s Farmers Markets are thriving in the more sophisticated California market – here in the backwoods of Arizona our consumers would rather eat fast food.

Jutta Kommt An

JWise Photo of the Day

Caroline Wise and her mother Jutta Engelhardt as her mom lands in Arizona from Frankfurt, Germany

And here she is, Jutta Engelhardt, my mother-in-law on her 5th visit to America. Jutta flew from Frankfurt, Germany to Chicago, Illinois, earlier in the day, only to be overwhelmed by our draconian immigration processes to such an extent that she missed her connecting flight to Arizona. So, after 15 hours in transit, this 71-year-old potential threat to the security of the United States was fingerprinted, photographed, had her bags taken apart on the lookout for god-knows-what, to be finally sent on her way 5 hours later. She arrived in Phoenix by evening instead of the early afternoon – at least America is safe tonight.

Wooden Injun

JWise Moments

A wooden representation of a Native American outside a local Arizona business signifying this shop as selling old west souvenirs

Around Arizona, you will find corners where these old carved wooden Indians still exist. This stereotypical version of what the average Native American looks like is used to entice Americans of foreign heritage to stop in for a peek at some old-west souvenirs. I think these mockeries should be destroyed. We as a society wouldn’t allow some wooden depiction of a black man with a large afro, thick lips, and a broad nose to be featured outside of a BBQ restaurant, or how about a big-nosed man wearing a Borsalino Black Hat with side curls carved out of wood standing vigil outside a synagogue. My personal favorite would be the wooden Nascar Redneck, buck teeth, beer in hand, Ford cap, mullet, and a cigarette dangling from his lips – this one would work outside bowling alleys, cheap bars, and many a sports arena.

#Sarcasm

To New Ideas

JWise Moments

Flourescent "OPEN" sign

Open – I am. Are you? New ideas, new cultural information, new sights, sounds, tastes, and smells are filtering into our society – if you choose to seek them out and participate. Truth is, most people are closed. The Pavlovian herd is hardened by a media in the U.S. that appears reluctant to offer America’s diverse population a healthy view of the world.

What we know of Africa: people in Darfur are having problems, um, starving, or maybe they are at war – not sure, but there was something on the news. Elephants are endangered. There are gorillas in Africa. Most Africans have AIDS. Brad and Angelina went to Namibia for a baby. That’s about it.

China: They are stealing our jobs, they make everything that is sold at Walmart, they are evil communists.

India: They are stealing our jobs through outsourcing; there are too many stealing our jobs right here in America; they worship cows, and they have dots on their heads.

Europe: The old country, we came from there. The French suck. What is a Norway? My uncle-sister-brother-cousin-other-extended-family-member was in the Army in Germany. I’d like to visit Europe someday.

South America: The source of all of our big problems, this is where Mexicans come from.

Middle East: War, Terror, Oil, Burkas, Camels, Suicide Bombers, Freedom Haters.

Australia: Ga’day mate, put the shrimps on the barbie.

Japan: Toyota, Sony, PS3, Wii, Anime, raw fish.

That is the extent of the view of the world for many of us Americans. We are not open; we are closed.