The underlined words and many of the images in the newsletter are linked to more in depth information
Jean Michel Basquiat
at the Louisiana Museum
Click image to hear Anders Kold talk about the exhibition
Click image to see different artists talking about Jean-Michel Basquiat
Basquiat (1960-1988) is an artist I greatly admire and he is now being featured in the Louisiana Museum located in Humlebæk on the Oresund Sound just north of Copenhagen, Denmark. The museum itself is a work of art--designed by Catalan architect Josep Sert, who also designed a number of beautiful buildings including the Miro Foundation in Barcelona, Spain, the Maeght Foundation in Vence, France and an apartment complex on Roosevelt Island in NYC.
The Danish exhibit Headstrong focuses on Basquiat’s drawings of heads that he created between the years of 1981 and 1983, at the height of his career. During those years, he was already exhibiting worldwide and was the youngest artist to ever take part in the world renowned exhibit Documenta in Kassel, Germany. At 22, he became one of the youngest to be included in the Whitney Biennial in New York. He had come a long way from his roots as a street artist from the lower east side of Manhattan and was very quickly noticed by critics, gallerists and artists alike...
Basquiat’s art often focused on the human body (he was given the book of Gray’s Anatomy as a child) combining text and image to explore such ideas regarding social injustice: wealth vs. poverty, integration vs. segregation, racism, while also drawing on his own inner emotional life and experiences. Not all of the illustrations here are part of the exhibition at the Louisiana Museum but the focus on the human head has been a prominent image in the artist's vocabulary. If you can, hurry to see this show before May 17th, 2026.
P.S. Denmark is one of my favorite countries so hit me up for recommendations if you decide to go…
The Iditarod Trail Race
Lance Mackey, champion musher
Joe Redington Sr., known as the “Father of the Iditarod” and Dorothy Page (Chair of the Wasilla-Knik Centennial Committee) founded the Iditarod Trail Race in the 1960s as an attempt to save the dog sled culture and Alaskan huskies, both of which were disappearing rapidly by the introduction of snowmobiles in that state. I have followed the Iditarod from a distance every year about this time…
It seems there are quite a few films that have come out recently about the Iditarod, so I guess I am not the only one who is fascinated by this 1049 mile race through the Arctic wilderness of Alaska. Looking for a documentary to watch today on Netflix, The Great Alone caught my eye. It is the story of Lance Mackey (of the famous Iditarod Mackey family) and the obstacles Lance overcame over the years--from drug addiction, to homelessness and cancer, he came to the conclusion that “life is too short to be screwing up” and set his mind to following in the family footsteps and entering the race...Lance Mackey has an indomitable spirit and just didn't give up, determined to make something of himself and to make his family proud. This is his story. If you are a dog lover as I am, if you love to see the stark, beautiful Arctic wilderness scenery of our 49th state, or you just want a good survival story, this film is for you...
Poet Leonara Speyer
Leonara Speyer, Poet (1872-1956)
Click to download and read the poems in this book.
by Leonara Speyer
And was there not a king somewhere who said:
“Back, waves! I do command you!” I forget
His name, beloved, or his race, and yet
I know the story and am comforted.
The tides will rise, are rising—see, they spread
About your robes, your ermine will be wet,
Your velvet shoes, your dear dear feet! Ah let
Me warn you, sir, the waves will reach your head!
My king, my kingly love, how shall we stay
The bold broad lifting of this lovely sea?
What is the master word that we must say
To bring these roaring waters to the knee?
The other king went scampering away!
Will you so do? Or will you drown with me?
This poem is in the public domain. Courtesy Poem-a-Day on March 1, 2026, by the Academy of American Poets.
Painting of the Week
Portrait of my Uncle Stan, who passed away this month at the age of 96. He was my cool uncle, taking me and my sister Judy around New York City in the 1960’s. I remember the crispy chickpeas on the table of Max’s Kansas City and his afghan hounds Niko, Joffrey, and Boris. He will be missed!
Charity of the Week:
ACLU
Book of the Week
About The Author
New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.
