The Berlin Wall

A section of the Wall, with graffiti on the West side.
Newseum, Washington DC

Happy Valentine's Day!

30 Americans, pieces

I saw this exhibition on its last day at the Corcoran Gallery. The most stunning works were these two, of African American men painted as godly figures, like royalty (left) and like Jesus (top), set against the most intricate and lush backgrounds. Unfortunately, photography wasn't allowed. But in the video below, you can see snapshots of paintings that were done in ukio-e fashion, like Japanese woodblocks (painted on actual woodblocks), of women made up to look African American, with long nails, long hair and artificial cornrows. They were full bodied, dark-skinned, and beloved by the painter like the white heavily-robed Japanese women were by their painters. The effect was really cool. 

Corcoran - 30 Americans from Corcoran Gallery of Art on Vimeo.

CONFESSION 49

I think personal growth comes with having to compromise with someone, loving them enough to make their needs equal to your own and figuring out how to meet both. I think that, without that daily presence or challenge in our life, we can become caricatures of ourselves — our best and especially our worst tendencies magnified and exaggerated because there were no moderating influences in our lives. Strong friendships can help in this regard, but I don’t think it’s the same kind of moderating force that comes of compromising within an intimate relationship.

— Amy, age 43

Yup.

(From the same Washington Post survey on singledom as confession 48).

CONFESSION 48

Q: What are some of the advantages to being single?
A: Not having to negotiate another’s moods. ... Not having someone ask “Are you really going to wear that?” Or ask “Am I going to like this?” at dinner. I like the freedom to come and go as I please, accept or reject invitations according to my own values, listen to the music I enjoy, and just being on my own, unjudged.

— Tim, age 50

Today's confession comes from a Washington Post survey of more than a thousand people about singledom. While I enjoy both, being with men and being on my own, I balk at negotiating and fighting about our deep-seated values and about what we hold dear. At the same time, I'm also confused about how I'm supposed to click with some random man on mindset, family, spirituality, duty to fellow man, and everything else that's important to me.

Man eating breakfast

CONFESSION 47

friend: i cut my hair short so that i dont have to do anything with it

i dont shave

my eyebrows become unruly

im lucky that i do laundry once in awhile
my armpit hair is about 2 inches long

This is the confession of a grown woman.

Definition

Super Bowl 2012, n.:
an event fueled by beer and a chili cook-off in an underground bar, spiked with coffee and a fancy-as-shit cheese spread at a quiet cafe, and topped off with a drum circle in a dark club, with a very pregnant woman dancing.

CONFESSION 46

I was really looking forward to watching the Super Bowl this evening at a rowdy bar with my friend. I've never watched one and I even picked out a team to cheer for (the Giants). But I'm feeling hungover and she's frazzled over being proposed to by her ex.

My first interview with a puppet