Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The Last of the Invites
"Green and Tangerine on Red" by Mark Rothko
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
The fourth of 4 Rothko paintings in the Rothko Room viewed by Jay Rolfe at the Phillips Collection is "Green and Tangerine on Red" painted in 1956. The others were painted in 1953, 1954, and 1957. This one is on the left wall from the door, opposite "Green and Maroon." This photo is also a little blurred, a result of no flash and a handheld camera in a dimly lit room. In fact, with the poor lighting, it's amazing the photos came out as well as they did.
The point of the Rothko room is to provide an environment so the viewer can have an experience viewing them. The Rothko room suceeds in the eyes of artist Jay Rolfe. The paintings are such an overwhelming presence in the room that one can't ignore them, and one can have the intimate experience the artist and the gallery intended.
This post completes the 4 Mark Rothko paintings of the Rothko room at the Phillips Collection in Washington DC. The other 3 were posted the past 3 days.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Remember this?
I don't know why but I have been thinking about this song lately, so I had to track it down and here it is. ;) peace enjoy
Remember this?
I don't know why but I have been thinking about this song lately, so I had to track it down and here it is. ;) peace enjoy
Remember this?
I don't know why but I have been thinking about this song lately, so I had to track it down and here it is. ;) peace enjoy
PSA: FREE CONE DAY
Today is Free Cone Day at most Ben & Jerry's, readers! Search HERE for your local scoop shop, and be sure to click "Find only shops that participate in Free Cone Day."
Do not go to Free Cone Day without clicking HERE.
You deserve to make informed decisions. It may not have a dollar price, but it certainly has a cost.
Last warning: Lines get long on FCD. Be patient!
*I in no way specifically promote Ben & Jerry's as the official ice cream of my blog, but when something is free, I usually eat it. It's not a very discriminating policy.
"Ochre and Red on Red" by Mark Rothko
Today Jay Rolfe posts the third of 4 paintings from the Rothko room of the Phillips Collection in Washington DC. "Ochre and Red on Red" was painted in 1954 and was displayed on the near end wall of the room. The colors were quite dramatic. It was quite an experience sitting on the bench, the only furniture, in the middle of the small room only a few feet from the large painting, and experiencing it. It's today's photo of the day.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Manic Monday
It's kind of scary if this is what's to come of this job. On top of planning our commitment ceremony, planning Harry's family arrival for three weeks during the ceremony, working on a network show, dealing with car issues and to top it off health issues.
Just gotta keep telling myself to breath and enjoy every free moment of stress-free down time I get.
Mark Rothko "Green and Maroon"
Artist Jay Rolfe viewed all 4 of Mark Rothko's paintings in the Rothko room of the Phillips Collection. The one featured in yesterday's post, "Orange and Red on Red," was at the far end of the room from the entrance. This one, "Green and Maroon," was on the right hand wall. The photo is a little blurry, due to no flash permitted and handheld camera only, as you can see by comparing with yesterday's post.
"Green and Maroon" painted in 1953 is the first of these 4 painted by Rothko. Here is today's photo of the day, Rothko's "Green and Maroon."
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Ceremony Invites
Torchwood

Mark Rothko "Orange and Red on Red"
Jay Rolfe was impressed with the Rothko room at the Phillips Collection in Washington DC. It was a small, poorly lit room with 4 large Rothko paintings, one on each wall. The idea was a place to contemplate the paintings. Rothko said he painted large pictures to be "intimate," so the viewer would feel like he was in it rather than outside the experience. Rothko said he was expressing basic human emotions, and that the "people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience I had when I painted them."
Today's photo is one of the 4 large Rothko paintings in the Rothko room, "Orange and Red on Red." It does really seem to require large size and an in person viewing experience to appreciate it. It was painted in 1957.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Jaleo
Manzanas con hinojo y queso Manchego: Sliced apples and fennel with Manchego
cheese, walnuts and sherry dressing
This was fresh and crunchy; if it had a little more apple and a touch less fennel I'd order it again.
Coles de Bruselas: A warm salad of Brussels sprouts, apples, apricots, grapes and Serrano ham
Despite my attempt to avoid the ham in this dish, the smell of it was overwhelming. Sadly, the aroma transported to me to when I'm in my mother's pantry and open a cookie jar full of Sophie's dog treats--I suppose they are made of the same material. I didn't really catch anything but sprouts and ham, the fruits were lost to me. I wouldn't order it again.
Coliflor con olivas y frutos secos: Sautéed cauliflower with green and black olives and dried dates
This was yummy--the cauliflower florets were tiny and not soft enough for my liking, but the sweet sauce derived from the dates was REALLY good, especially when sopped up with bread. Order on!
Rape con puré de berenjenas: Seared monkfish over an eggplant purée and finished with black olive oil
The monkfish was tasteless, but the eggplant puree beneath was AWESOME--I wanted just a bowl of that and some bread! Don't order again as long as the monkfish is still the main to-do.
Salmón a la plancha: Seared salmon with a relish of green olives and capers
This was good, but tiny and not super memorable.
Seared scallops with a traditional sauce from the Canary Islands
This sauce was yum. Order it!
Pastel Vasco con helado de leche merengada: Basque cake with semolina cream, cinnamon-vanilla sauce & ice milk
THIS WAS MY FAVORITE THING THE ENTIRE NIGHT! I love dessert, but it's not usually my favorite part of a meal at a restaurant, because many restaurants have scrumptious dishes and "OK" sweets...it's not their specialty, and I have high standards. This cake was divine. We were hesitant about the cream because we didn't want anything to heavy, but Spanish desserts are customarily very light. The sauce, the ice milk (as opposed to ice cream), it all came together beautifully. It was such a perfect ending to a meal that was otherwise interesting, but not to-die-for.
I think I want to go to back with a group of friends and order all of the desserts--I wanted the hazelnut chocolate torte, too! Who's in?
Jaleo
Arlington, Bethesda, DC
Metro: Blue/Yellow Line to Crystal City, Green/Red/Yellow Line to Gallery Place/Chinatown, Red Line to Bethesda
Piet Mondrian "Painting No. 9"
Piet Mondrian is one of Jay Rolfe's favorite modern painters. His signature paintings of a white square, rectangle, or diamond set off with some black lines and small blocks of color in one or more of red, yellow, and blue (the primary colors) are simplicity itself. The Mondrian at the Phillips Collection in Washington DC has more black lines than most, but still fits the signature style. It was painted from 1939-1942 and is titled "Painting No. 9."
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Henri Matisse "Interior With Egyptian Curtain"
The second Matisse painting at the Phillips Collection that artist Jay Rolfe saw recently is the 1948 painting "Interior With Egyptian Curtain." It's also a large painting, as is the painting of yesterday's post "Studio, Quai St. Michel," and again features an interior and an outdoor landscape seen through a window. "Interior With Egyptian Curtain" is remarkable because it was painted in 1948, a time late in Matisse's life when he was sickly and did little artistically besides cut-outs. It's today's photo of the day.
Artist Jay Rolfe has a special appreciation of legendary painter Henri Matisse because he gave up law to pursue art as did Jay Rolfe.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Father Son Penis Size Relationship
There are ghosts that appear occasionally to remind us just how much we've changed and grown, what we have learned and improved.
There are ghosts that appear with greater frequency with adverse intent.
There are ghosts that we bring to this with the sole purpose of being a point of comparison with the actions of those who affect our present.
I think the ghosts should be just some of the attitudes of people who passed through our lives by marking it in some way, fulfilled a cycle and left. That is all. There should be more.
I think the ghosts should be only a few situations that we left a scar that will probably remain with us for some time.
I believe in the responsibility that comes with bringing ghosts of the past to compare with this.
I believe in the freedom of each one of us if allowed ...
More Wedding Stuff
Writer's Block
1) Go for a walk
2) Torment my dog
3) Eat my weight in peanut butter
4) Eat my weight in salt and vinegar chips
5) Pick up my cell and talk to absolutely anybody who will answer
Henri Matisse "Studio, Quai St. Michel"
Artist Jay Rolfe viewed Henri Matisse's 1916 painting "Studio, Quai St. Michel" at the Phillips Collection in Washington DC recently. It contains a recurrent theme, a window which reveals the outside. This was mentioned in Monday's post (4/21/08) of Pierre Bonnard's "The Open Window," along with the use of a variety of colorful patterns. Another familiar element of "Studio, Quai St. Michel" is the reclining nude. This is a quite large canvas, and very impressive when seen in person. It is today's photo of the day.
Artist Jay Rolfe has a special appreciation of Henri Matisse as well as Pierre Bonnard, both the legendary painters mentioned in today's post, because both gave up law to pursue art as did Jay Rolfe.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Women's fancy shawl...
Women's fancy shawl...
Women's fancy shawl...
Work is kind of kicking my ass!



Work is kind of kicking my ass!



Work is kind of kicking my ass!



Georges Braque "The Shower"
Artist Jay Rolfe has seen a lot of Georges Braque paintings. MoMA has quite a few from his cubist period and shortly after. "The Shower" which is in the Phillips Collection in Washington DC was painted in 1952. Rolfe doesn't recall seeing a painting from this late in his career. And it's clearly recognizable as a landscape. It's the photo of the day.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Fancy Shawl, Crow Hop
Fancy Shawl, Crow Hop
Fancy Shawl, Crow Hop
Working Out at Night
Well I woke up today and wasn't feeling so hot so I decided to work out at night right before I go to bed. Wasn't sure I would have the energy after the long day at work but surprising it was a pretty good workout and man I fell right to sleep afterwards. I'm going to try it this way for a while and see how it works..
Georges Braque "The Round Table"
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Georges Braque, along with Pablo Picasso, started and starred in Cubism in the late oughts and early teens of the 20th century. "The Round Table" painted in 1929 is definitely post-cubism. It's an attractive painting with a flat picture plane and cubist influences. This painting is at the Phillips Collection in Washington DC.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Pierre Bonnard "The Open Window"
Another painting by Pierre Bonnard in the Phillips Collection in Washington DC that artist Jay Rolfe liked is "The Open Window" painted in 1921. It is as much an interior as a landscape, so it wasn't included with the three large landscapes. It is a subject Henri Matisse often painted, an open window and the inside and outside of it. It also has many patterns in the interior in the style of Matisse. The color palette is a little different from Matisse. Still, it's a beautiful painting, and our photo of the day for today.
Artist Jay Rolfe has a special respect for Pierre Bonnard because Bonnard, like Jay Rolfe, Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, and Paul Cezanne, gave up law to pursue art.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Euro Market
But don't stop visiting after breakfast.
All wraps come with lettuce, tomato (cut up, not shoved in there), lettuce (shredded), sprouts (!), cucumbers, pesto, special sauce, and a swipe of cream cheese spread used to stick the wrap closed. J noticed that the starch was minimal in my meal, as opposed to the typical wrap these days where I accidentally fill up on the wrapper that's wound around 1/2 inch thick. More turkey for me, please! EM has tons of sandwiches, every which way different types and flavors of breads and wraps, interesting spreads, and overall happiness. They also sell wine and beer (singularly by the bottle, too) and funky imported European candies and chocolates. Looks are deceiving for this tiny gem!
Wow, how could I almost sign off without telling you that they have BREYER'S ICE CREAM! The saddest part of Euro Market is that it's at the base of an apartment building that is not mine.
FYI, Pesach/finals time will bring fewer posts temporarily, but maybe a recipe or two. My Euro Market experience is a pre- (and will be a post-) Passover indulgence.
Euro Market
2201 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA
Metro: Orange Line to Court House
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Doctor Who

Pierre Bonnard "The Terrace"
Pierre Bonnard was a famous painter (from the post-imprerssionist era) who gave up law to pursue art, just like Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Cezanne, and Jay Rolfe.
The third of the large Pierre Bonnard landscapes that artist Jay Rolfe saw at the Phillips Collection in Washington DC last weekend is "The Terrace" painted in 1918. It's a beautiful painting when seen in person. The photo of the day is "The Terrace" by Bonnard.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Rolling sculpture
The most unusual piece of rolling sculpture artist Jay Rolfe saw this morning at the weekly car nut get together was a fly yellow Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina. A barchetta is an open car without a top, not the top down, but there is no top. So nice weather is required. The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is a limited edition Ferrari, only 448 were made for the world, and is basically a Ferrari 550 Maranello with the top taken off and nice farings behind the head rests. It's a beautiful car, and the yellow stitching on the black leather interior really set that off nicely.
Today's photo is of the limited edition Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina. This car led the drive through the countryside after the meeting at the coffee shop parking lot.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Pierre Bonnard "The Palm"
Artist Jay Rolfe posts the second of the three large landscapes by Pierre Bonnard he liked at the Phillips Collection in Washington DC. It is titled "The Palm" and was painted in 1926. Bonnard was a post-impressionist painter who gave up law to pursue art, just like Jay Rolfe, Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, and Paul Cezanne.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Aunt Joyce's Birthday
Pierre Bonnard "The Riviera"
One of the revelations of the Phillips Collection for artist Jay Rolfe was the three large Pierre Bonnard landscapes. Rolfe was familiar with smallish interior scenes, sometimes with people, that Bonnard painted in almost pastel colors. Bonnard's large, lavish landscapes were a revelation. Rolfe found them beautiful. Jay Rolfe has a special feeling for Pierre Bonnard as he, like Rolfe, Matisse, Cezanne, and Kandinsky, is one of those artists who gave up law to pursue art.
Today's photo of the day is Bonnard's "The Riviera" painted in 1923. In person, the canvas is large and the colors are beautiful.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Release Day!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
My Niece at her first powwow...
My Niece at her first powwow...
My Niece at her first powwow...
Working out
Van Gogh "House at Auvers"
The past two posts have been two of the three Van Gogh paintings artist Jay Rolfe viewed at the Phillips Collection recently. The third Van Gogh at the Phillips Collection is an attractive landscape, "House at Auvers," painted in 1890. The variety of Van Gogh paintings is impressive. The Phillips is such a rich collection of paintings. Jay Rolfe is looking forward to going again.
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Van Gogh "The Road Menders"
This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.
Artist Jay Rolfe thinks the three Van Gogh paintings in the Phillips Collection are quite different from each other. They are all on the large side. I believe this is the largest. "The Road Menders was painted in 1889, and is dramatic when seen in person.
Have you been to the Hobbitville Gardens?
Welcome to
Hobbitville Gardens…
where adventure grows wild!
THE PIXIE CHICKS
For a quartet of girlfriends known as the Pixie Chicks, life takes on a delicious new flavor when their normal Friday night walkabout through the Hobbitville gardens reveals secrets and adventures previously unimagined. Who knew the statues were portals to similar, magical gardens around the world? Or that only a select few can travel by statue and fewer still can arrive at their desired point? These four will reach for the stars despite the risks of the unknown to embrace an adventure suitable only for the boldest of teens.
Who is Regan Black?
Regan Black has been indulging her imagination since the moment she discovered the magic of pencil and paper. She's won awards for both her poetry and her adult adventure novels, despite the chaos of managing a husband, two children and a home that could serve as a domestic petting zoo. With two retired greyhounds (give or take a foster), two cats and three birds, she's learned to craft her stories with one hand on the keyboard and one on whoever is in need of affection. If she's not writing, you'll most likely find her reading, gardening, playing with the pets or doing yoga to recover from all of the above. Thanks to the wonders of technology, you can always find her at www.reganblack.com.
Monday, April 14, 2008
New Job
The first day was fairly quiet. I spent about six hours just trying to get my computer up and running. In the end we got it up and everything seems to be in order. It's always kind of crazy at the beginning of the shows. We are still setting up edit bays and such. Hopefully in a few weeks things will be running smooth.
Ghar-E-Kabab
According to an on-site sign, and declarations on the menu and web site, Ghar-E-Kabab is organic. This Indian-Nepalese eatery is relatively new to downtown Silver Spring, an area with no shortage of restaurants.
Dishes are served in the same tiny copper bowls as this place Jordaan in Amsterdam, where I ate possibly THE BEST Indian food ever. J was there, he can attest.
For dinner we all shared chicken vindaloo (avoided--too spicy for me), lamb curry, chicken saag, and aloo ghobi (potatoes and cauliflower), and paratha (of which we wish there were more). The texture of the lamb was great--lamb is tricky, sometimes it's kind of chewy, but not here. The chicken saag was especially yum, I love saag (spinach) in a serious way. We started with samosas (2 in an order), and great tiny round pakoras--one order came with 4-6ish, so they were very shareable. Taj Mahal beer delighted half of the table, and I recommend trying it on your next visit.
None of us were feeling particularly gluttonous, but if we were we would have went for a thali, a platter that comes with small servings of just about everything. If you're sharing and want all the things on the thali, you can probably get a greater variety-bang-for-the-buck.
Service was commendable. Our waters were re-filled often, and although the place was packed when we arrived, we were told we would be seated in just 5 minutes--and we were.
For a local ethnic eatery, they have an awesome web site.
I don't recommend Ghar-E-Kabab for ECH or BLC, who, after returning from Bangalore, have sworn off all Indian food (possibly forever).
Ghar-E-Kabab
944 Wayne Avenue
Silver Spring, MD
Metro: Red Line to Silver Spring