Isabel Stewart Gardner Museum

My friend, Mark Slawson, organist at 2nd. Parish Church in Hingham, and with whom I have performed many times, said he had not been to the Gardner since it was renovated, so off we went.
It is one of the darkest museums ever, but using my I-phone, I took a few rewarding shots.

I focused more on furniture and objects, mostly because so many of the 

paintings are so dark, I would need a good camera and tripod to succeed. 

One of the many monumental fireplaces.

A ceiling

I found more Islamic art this trip than before.  

Islamic (helmet)

Islamic

A rare painting with enough light to do it justice. 

This is a Botticelli

A table top inlaid with ivory

Some wallpaper

One of many huge tapestries

detail of above

Islamic

I think this was Mark's favorite

Islamic

Islamic

The Gardner is such a precious place.  Even though it is hard to see inside, the rewards of 

constantly finding treasures everywhere is truly a gift to Boston.  

The furniture is worth a visit alone. 

The orchids are real! (I had to ask)

They are rotated out into light on a regular basis.

There are hundreds of them.

Cheeky kid (get it? get it?)

Currier Gallery, Manchester, NH

A superb small museum, and an exceptional permanent collection.
I was up in Manchester  to meet with Barbara, Bill, Matt, Katie, and friends, and I stopped by the museum first.
Here is some of the collection.

Peter Voulkos

"Anstom"  1973

Rick Ayotte

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

"1984x1984"  2014

"Big Brother is Watching You"

The lighter figure is myself, caught by camera and inserted in the image.

Faig Ahmed

"Siddharta Goutoma"  2017

I simply can't imagine how this was done.  The carpet on the wall is real, but

as it decomposes, the colors wind up as flowing rivers of color.

How did he do that?

Betty Woodman

"Janome Pillow Pitcher"

Theodore Roszak

"Cradle Song"  1956

Hannes Beckmann

"Ruine" (Ruin)  1935

Hans Otte Orlowski

"The  Proud One" (Die Stolze)  1931

Ethan Murrow

"Hauling"  

Ethan Murrow has taken the bare walls of this room at the Currier, and using a 

Sharpie pen, had created these very large works on the walls.  

It is fascinating, and brilliant. 

(detail)

Oliver and "Shrek Jr."

St. John's Prep produced "Shrek Jr." with Ken and Erin's youngest son, Oliver, in the role of Gingy, the gingerbread man.  I whispered to him after the show that I had never seen Ken in a more excited or happy state.  He really was beside himself.  Oliver had several lines of dialogue, including the last line of the show, "God bless us, everyone!" which brought down the house, as they say.
I happen to  have my birding lens and camera in the car, and at the last minute, went out and got both, and I am so happy I did.
Here's the results.

Shrek (Dan  Pawlyk)

Oliver, opening number, walk-on part

Pinocchio (Drew Piver)

Oliver as Gingy, the Ginger Bread Man

captured by Lord Farquaad

Three nights imprisoned by the dragon

The Dragon (Sam Tucker)

Another walk-on

Gingy and Puss in Boots (Davian Romero)

Watching the love scene

Princess Fiona (Ava Beringer)

The outstanding actress and singer in the show

Shrek, Donkey (Raoul Foster, excellent!), Princess Fiona, bows

"God bless us, everyone!"

It would not be possible to be more proud of him than I was.  

I really hope I live long enough to see him as an adult.
I have to add here that this far-above-average production, with
especially wonderful dance numbers, was a huge credit to the
director of the show, Ms. Brit Christopher
who told me before the show that Oliver
"Makes her day !"

Catching up.

A collection of stuff, mostly to amuse me.

Alex and Carter, 

Christmas, 2018

Darwin's final conclusion

Because I am always playing with Alex and Carter's legos, they gave me a box for Christmas. 

The challenge is to build a tower, using all the pieces.  I managed to create this minus three pieces. 

I call this Doug's Moving Castle

Susan had to go to Mass Eye and Ear for an exam.  

I visited the local Mass Gen Hosp. museum.