Dreams, Moments, Travels
Jutta and Caroline looking into a mirrored glass sculpture after a failed attempt to find the rabbit hole. Later in the day, we found our way into a darkened theatre for a showing of Kabul Express – not your typical Bollywood production. The movie did to our perspective of Afghanistan what the artwork did to the reflection, Kabul Express is worth a look.
“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.
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.
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.
Today begins Caroline’s 40th trip around the sun – Happy Birthday Wife. We met for dinner with friends where Caroline was gifted this handmade bracelet. Khushboo Patel gifted this orange, green, white, and black made of buttons bracelet in the colors of India’s flag to Caroline along with a self-made birthday card. Thank you, Patel family.
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