On a beautiful day, I went to the Getty for a private tour from a new friend. I had not been to the museum in over a decade and it is even more breathtaking than I remember. This trip confirmed for me that the Getty is the most beautiful place in Los Angeles. Each element is thoughtfully designed with beauty and light in mind. The storied history of its architecture and hidden house on the property combined with its sweeping views adds to its enchantment.
Seeing Solange performing live was really a gem. Her album, "Seat at The Table”, was the soundtrack for my 2017. She made a strong showing in a tumultuous year. Her Diana Ross-aesthetic is stunning. Singing and dancing in the middle of the city to music FUBU was its own kind of win.
On a beautiful summer day, my college friend and I escaped the city to the stunning open sculpture experience, The Storm King Center. There are few places to experience large-scale sculpture outside of this art haven. Upon arriving, we were trapped in our rental car by a sudden summer shower. There, we feasted on our picnic of Prosecco and Trader Joe’s snacks. Other visitors left during the rain. When it stopped, we almost had the fields to ourselves.
Making my way back to the west coast from NYC, I stopped in the city of my alma mater. I only had a few days in this little town. My first stop was to see these masterpieces in person. I have seen exhibits of Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald in New York. Seeing these colorful pieces placed among other prestigious works felt surreal. There is something to be said here about who is and is not in the canon, in politics and in art. I’m content to see all of them getting the lighting they deserve.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day visit
At the end of October, I had the privilege of seeing the American Ballet Theater perform its 2017 Fall Season at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center.
I have seen a number of their classical performances (i.e. Romeo & Juliet and The Nutcracker) in past seasons, but was particularly excited to see the contemporary choreography of this fall. Also, Misty Copeland! The dances included:
Her Notes
Symphonic Variations
Elegy Pas de Deux
Thirteen Diversions
In particular, I enjoyed Her Notes. Choreographed by Jessica Lang. Her Notes had a striking visual introduction in which the dancer floated through a square in a transparent screen. I do not have the exact words to describe it, but I will say it reminded me of a very artful transition into a new dimension.
All of the dancers were effervescent and ethereal in their pastels. Entrances and exits were particularly exciting in this performance as bodies floated on stage from all stage directions, often entering the stage while performing a phrase repeated throughout the piece.
Excited to say I saw Misty Copeland perform live. I had met her in person a few times on the Upper West Side—casually running into her in front of Fairway UWS. She was lovely then and now on stage.
It is worth noting that Elegy Pas de Deux (From With a Chance of Rain) was also literally breathtaking. It was a beautiful performance and I gasped a few times during dismounts from dramatic lifts and turns. It was performed by Hee Seo and Roman Zhurbin. Hee Seo has been popping up on my timelines and I'm excited to see her career blossom. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to photograph during the performance.
First time at the Broad and I will be back. There is such a wide range of iconic contemporary pieces. The clean architecture of the white building highlights the size and color of each work. Next time, I’ll remember to sign up for the separate Infinity Room line downstairs. I’ll have to save my Drake lyric and classic Instagram Infinity Room shot for another day.
When I woke up on Sunday, I had a revelation that I wanted to write more. Specifically, that I wanted to travel write more. I’ve decided that little adventures along the way deserve their own quiet gratitude. The excitement and anticipation of doing something for the first time or the first time in a long time is its own brand of spiritual travel. I am hoping for incremental adventure in my future. Starting with this modest prose.
