55 Spring Favorites

   

Art, Culture & Books

26.  Mi Puerto Rico: Master Painters of the Island, 1780-1952 at the Newark Museum - The first major exhibition in the continental United States of Puerto Rico's three greatest masters is right down the street from my house! The exhibition features masterpieces from José Campeche, Francisco Oller and Miguel Pou along with other rarely seen paintings from private collections in Puerto Rico until April 15th.  The painting on the left is Los Coches de Ponce (Horse Drawn Carriages in Ponce), 1926, by Miguel Pou.

 25. Lorna Simpson at the Whitney Museum of American Art -  Lorna Simpson is an interesting artist who is known for juxtaposing words and images to illuminate various sides of race and gender that lie beneath the surface.  She is the subject of a 20-year retrospective at the Whitney Museum in Manhattan through May.   The opening work in this post is Simpson's Waterbearer from 1986 and she can be found several times in my Virtu section.

24.  Peanut Butter Bookplates by Pink Loves Brown - I've learned my lesson about "lending" out books, but if you are still brave enough to do it, these adorable bookplates should serve as a friendly reminder to return your book within oh, I don't know, this decade perhaps? 

23.   The Artist's Way Morning Pages Journal - This journal is the companion to Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, one of the most popular books for writers out there.  The idea of Cameron's morning pages is simple:  you are to write three pages of anything you want - longhand - every morning.  The pages are to be strictly off the top of your head - no straining for perfection.   So far, I've only used the first few pages of my Morning Pages Journal because I've been ignoring that rule - but I'm over it now.   Even if you are not a writer, I think that journal writing is a very valuable tool for anyone.

22.  The Proust Questionnaire -   I haven't gotten around to really answering any of the questions yet, but it's on my perpetual to-do list.  This is relatively inexpensive for a coffee table book (about $35) and it would make a great housewarming gift or conversation starter in your own home.

21.   Dogs-a-porter by Vicky Dawe - This is one trend that I have totally fallen for - the whole doggie-in-the-designer-purse thing.  I guess we all have our shallow moments!  This book is full of celebrities and socialites and their impossibly adorable Yorkies, Bichons and Chihuahuas perched in bags by Prada, Vuitton or Coach.  Honestly, the dogs are the real stars here - I didn't pay any attention to the people!

Comments

[Alex]

I love this list! Esp. the Proust Questionnaire & the Peanut butter bookplates. They'd make such a great gift.
Love your site, too. I'll be back!
-Alex
ps-WINE FLAVORED SORBET?! Have I died and gone to heaven? Somebody pinch me.

[Nichelle]

I know... I'm still dying over the wine flavored sorbet. Genius, right?

Glad you liked my spring favorites list - it's always an adventure.

Also, I like your site too - and good luck with your book!