BACK at the HUNTINGTON BOTANICAL GARDENS…..

 

…..after three very long months that seemed like a year!  The Brush painting class is now in the TEACHING GREENHOUSE as the Ikebana House is being restored.  This is all in preparation for the Japanese Garden’s 100th anniversary.  There will also be a restoration of the pond system, work done on pathways and the installation of a tea house and garden up by the scree slope.   Very exciting!

Then after class, it was delightful serendipity to see Kathabela Wilson, poet, artist, jewelry designer extraordinaire and one of the sweetest persons to ever grace our beautiful blue planet.  Kathabela with her husband Richard,a math professor at Caltech, have the most amazing special poetry events.  So numerous and interesting, I really think you’ll do yourself a great favor by asking to be on their mailing list.  The current one has so much good stuff on it that it would take till forever to list it all. One such event is the Poets on Site, The Poetry Tour of the 40th anniversary exhibit, Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, CA.  You will be amazed at how many wonderful cultural events are going on right in our midst! Richard is also a brilliant flautist and gives concerts hither and yon.  His website is packed full of interesting info.

 

Sweet Susan Rogers with delightful Kathabela on the right in her ever present charming flowered hat.

For more information:

kaw@oldflutes.com

www.oldflutes.com

www.pacificasiamuseum.org

www.huntington.org

IF YOU LOVE ARCHITECTURE….

….and haven’t already seen it, there’s a few more days for the CIDA* Exhibit at Woodbury University of  ‘iNTERIOR ARCHITECTURE STUDENT WORK’.

 

*Council for Interior Design Accreditation (Grand Rapids, MI)

You’ll be knocked out just as I was by the high quality of the students work.  They are absolutely amazing!

 

 

A private tour with President Kenneth R. Nielsen

 

 

 

This was a first year students work…awesome…everything was so incredible I could have taken 100 photos!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love the two chairs to the right!

For more information:

Phone Terry La Source 818.394.3361

www.woodbury.edu

Woodbury University

7500 Glenoaks Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91510

REMEMBER “IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT”?…

…As promised, here’s the reason I was at Lisa See’s on that eventful, stormy night.

You’re in for a real treat because Lisa has written that much anticipated sequel to ‘SHANGHAI GIRLS’ titled ‘DREAMS OF JOY’ which is also published by Random House.  Written in Lisa’s engrossing style with her remarkable scholarship, this book follows the paths of the two sisters, Pearl and May and within it’s pages is a search for the emotion of joy.

Lisa had asked me to be a member of the Empress Book Club because Random House was sponsoring a filming of Lisa which would include a segment of the book club’s discussion with her.  Of course, at the time the sun was shinning, but you know I would have said yes in any event.  The taping was so much fun and I could hardly wait until it went ‘public’ so I could tell you all about it.  Best of all I met two wonderful women…the amazing Kathy Patrick, author and founder of the ‘Beauty and the Book Salon’ and the ‘Pulpwood Queen Book Club’ the largest meeting and discussion book club in the world  with more than 400 chapters across the country and over 3,500 members!  Kathy has been featured on GMA and OPRAH besides having interviewed just about every famous author you could ever think of!  Plus, she’s just a great gal !!!

As if that wasn’t terrific enough, I met Skye Van Raalte-Herzog, the producer of the film and was able to watch her at her most exciting, creative best…a true learning experience.

If you go to www.beautyandthebookshow.com and click on Episodes, it’s #8.  You’ll see Lisa at Pacific Asia Museum, Kathy doing a ‘make-over’on Lisa and the Empress Book Club section with yours truly followed by a yummy cooking segment.  It’s delightful!

Kathy holding a copy of ‘Shanghai Girls’ with author Lisa See

 

 

Getting the audio just right!

 

 

Lights, camera…action…..

 

 

Here’s the ‘camera’ part……

 

 

Skye is on the far right making sure a shot is just right….

 

 

In the kitchen ……be sure to write down the delicious recipe you’ll see on the video…

For more information:

www.lisasee.com

www.beautyandthebook.com

www.pulpwoodqueen.com

www.pacificasiamuseum.org

www.randomhouse.com

www.expandedbooks.com

IN THE BEGINNING IS THE CLAY…

…BUT OH WHAT A TRANSFORMATION IN THE HANDS OF A MASTER SCULPTOR!

 

But let’s go back to that beginning.

In 2009, Kathryn Sample, USC’s gracious First Lady, conceived of the most fitting tribute to honor her husband Steven Sample when he would retire in May of 2010 as President of USC after 19 years of outstanding leadership…dramatically boosting the university’s academic prestige, financial resources and civic engagement.  It would be her commissioning of a life sized bronze of ‘Traveler’, the schools beloved mascot, and who better to award the commission to than world famous sculptor Ron Pekar.

This life sized bronze of the noble steed would be ever alert, looking toward the beloved Tommy Trojan bronze on Hahn Central Plaza at the University Park Campus.

The Tommy Trojan bronze was sculpted in 1930 by Roger Noble and bears the qualities of the ideal Trojan on its granite pedestal: Faithful, Scholarly, Courageous and Ambitious.  

The magnificent clay model of Traveler on its journey from the Pekar studio to the Adonis Bronze Foundry in Alpine, Utah.

You’ll be delighted to hear that the ‘real’ Traveler traveled in his ‘HRS LIMO’ to the Pekar studio where Ron did a number of drawings of the famous steed capturing the horse in this pose of heroic stance!

Here’s a better view of the model for Traveler on it’s way to Utah!

Now Traveler is forever enshrined with Tommy Trojan returning his faithful gaze.

This photo courtesy of my dear friend Tomiko Varga whose son Emerick is a first year student at USC. Her darling rescued dog ‘Brownie’ is keeping Traveler company.

A glimpse of Ron Pekar’s studio

And finally, the famous sculptor in his studio.  Ron’s works are represented in more than 600 corporate, public, civic, museums, universities and private collections worldwide.

For more information:

www.usc.edu

www.ronpekar.com

www.adonisbronze.com

THE BEVERLY HILLS GARDEN CLUB…..

…..has the most delightful members and I was recently privileged to speak to over thirty women of this lovely and receptive group. Afterwards my assistant Nikka and I were treated to the most delicious Asian luncheon prepared by ‘The Kitchen for Exploring Foods’.

President Sally Rives, shown to the right, introduced me in such a fine way I could almost become a legend in my own mind! On my left is Jeanne Anderson in whose beautiful home the meeting was set.  You’ll be interested to know that Jeanne is also President of the ‘Friends of Robinson Gardens’ as they celebrate the Gardens centennial year.

I thought it would be interesting to the ladies to know how much they have in common with the Gentlemen Literati scholars of ancient China who prized their gardens and were so inspired by them.

On a personal note, I was certainly inspired by Jeanne’s home as I have never seen so many exquisite orchids in a private residence….each one more beautiful than the next and oh what treasures from her travels in the Orient.

Here I am again with Jeanne and you can glimpse her extraordinary garden seen behind us.

As I mentioned, lovely Sally Rives is the President of this charming group and she is as warm and kind as any one could possibly be.  It’s a joy and honor to know her and you can probably tell that by the expression on my face!

For more information Google the Beverly Hills Garden Club and check out….

www.robinsongardens.org

www.thekitchen.net