Monthly Archives: September 2008

art

closer than those who have living children

…could these women have imagined that their faces would shine forth from works that are a key to some of the most extraordinary moments in the history of art, and that paintings and sculptures for which their presences were central would be sold for fabulous sums of money in a century not yet born? Could they possibly have imagined that the work they did would be so celebrated and that it would live forever?

– Ruth Butler, from her book HIDDEN IN THE SHADOW OF THE MASTER: THE MODEL-WIVES OF CEZANNE, MONET, AND RODIN, profiled yesterday in the NYT. There’s a downloadable first chapter too.

The statues of me made by mon Maitre are our children, mine as much as his. And we are married through a love much closer than those who have living children, because our children and more beautiful and thus immortal.

– British painter & model (to Rodin) Gwen John, quoted by Butler

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a propos of nothing, quotes

If all else fails, if by all else you mean all this –

More of the unexpected from Chicago strangers. Yesterday, I took a taxi home along Division, with my arms full of discount linens from the Roosevelt Target. I talked to the driver about the high cost of living, the low cost of the Midwest, and being a playwright. He suggested that I should, perhaps, look into driving a taxi. At the end of the ride, he told me I was giving him too big of a tip because “you don’t have a job,” and tried to give it back. It was nice, but I made him keep it.

I’ve gotta get my s*** together
‘Cause I can’t live like this forever
You know I’ve come too far
And I don’t want to fail
I got a new computer
And a bright future in sales…
– Fountains of Wayne, BRIGHT FUTURE IN SALES

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a propos of nothing

None of your trusted wireless networks can be found. Would you like to join the open wireless network called “Buy more coffee!!”?

A: What do you want to drink?
B: I don’t know. This is my first time here. Something expensive and ridiculous. With coffee and sugar.
A: Do you like chocolate?
B: Yeah.

[A makes a drink.]

B: Oh, that’s cool. That looks really cool. What is it?
A: I get bored with doing regular rosettas – it’s one rosetta and then you twist it and from the side you do another rosetta and then there’s a heart, too.
B: (who needs new glasses) Omigod, there is a heart! I totally didn’t even see that. That’s awesome!
A: Thanks.
B: But I meant what’s the drink?
A: Oh. A mocha.

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