Blog No. 113: Superhuman Geniuses, Reliable Media Sources, Chicken Marbella Recipe

February 18, 2023

Superhuman Geniuses

If you ever doubt the the capabilities of the human mind, just take a look this video. Meet five of the most mind bending people on this earth with extraordinary and extreme talents most people couldn't even imagine. How do they do it? Where does this come from?

Arkiana Kramarik, self taught art prodigy

Savant Kim Peek, the real Rainman, with an ability to memorize facts and information without equal.

Ainan Cawley, science prodigy from Singapore

Reliable Media Sources

In this day and age where facts are not always facts, it is important to trust where we get our news. Here are the go-to sources according to Robert Hubbell, writer of a daily newsletter about current events entitled Today's Edition, that appears in my inbox every morning.
Hubbell's List:
"Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo, Ian Millhiser (Vox), Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern of Slate, Charlie Sykes and Jonathan Last (Bulwark), David Frum (Atlantic), Philip Rotner (various sources), Jennifer Rubin and Eugene Robinson of WaPo, Lawrence O’Donnell, Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes, Neal Katyal (all of MSNBC), Dennis Aftergut and Laurence Tribe (various sources), Democracy Docket, the trio of commentators Joyce Vance, Barbara McQuade, and Jill Wine-Banks of #SistersInLaw, as well as Joyce Vance’s Civil Discourse, and many others.
As to independent voices, I frequently consult and promote Heather Cox Richardson, Dan Rather, Tim Snyder, Judd Legum, and Katelyn Jetelina (all of Substack).
Jessica Craven of ChopWoodCarryWater is in a category of her own for her constant bias toward action.
And despite my frequent criticism, I always check the the New York Times and the Washington Post on major stories."

Chicken Marbella Recipe
(from the classic
Silver Palate Cookbook)

This is a sure bet recipe to make when you are having people over. I am going to make it for my book club this coming Thursday and I hope they like it as much as I do...

CHICKEN MARBELLA
(makes 6 to 8 servings)

INGREDIENTS
½ cup olive oil
½ cup red wine vinegar
1 cup pitted prunes
½ cup pitted Spanish green olives
½ cup capers, with a bit of juice
6 bay leaves
1 head of garlic, peeled and puréed
½ cup fresh oregano, chopped, or ¼ cup dried oregano
2 teaspoons of salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 chickens, 3½ to 4 pounds each, quartered
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

PREPARATION
Step 1
In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, vinegar, prunes, olives, capers and juice, bay leaves, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Add the chicken pieces and turn to coat. Refrigerate overnight.
Step 2
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the chicken in a single layer in a shallow roasting pan; spoon the marinade over it evenly. Pour in the wine and sprinkle the chicken with the brown sugar.
Step 3
Bake until the thigh pieces yield clear yellow juice when pricked with a fork, 50 to 60 minutes, basting two or three times with the pan juices once the chicken begins to brown. (When basting, do not brush off the sugar. If the chicken browns too quickly, cover lightly with foil.)
Step 4
Transfer the chicken pieces to a warm serving platter and top with the prunes, olives and capers; keep warm. Place the roasting pan over medium heat and bring the pan juices to a boil. Reduce to about ½ cup. Strain into a heatproof bowl, add the parsley and pour over the chicken.

Painting of the Week

This is an early piece, oil and mixed media on handmade paper, I did way back in the late 1980’s. I always included a Muybridge photograph as part of the collage elements in this series of abstract work.

Charity of the Week:
Earthquake Victims

Please click on image to find out ways to help.

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 the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

Blog No. 112: Jim Dine, Valentine Love Songs, Chocolate

February 10, 2023

Jim Dine

Hearts might be cliché but I love them anyway and nobody does hearts like Jim Dine. Of all the abstract expressionists, he is one of the artists I admire most. He paints what he knows with seemingly little pretense, mostly things from his every day life, including his wife Nancy's robe, tools reminiscent of his grandfather's hardware store in Ohio, as well as his own face in self-portrait. He has been at it for over six decades, not just as a painter but as a printmaker, sculptor and also a writer of poetry.

Jim Dine’s version of the Venus de Milo. These scultptures are on Sixth Avenue in New York City.

Click to hear a conversation Jim Dine had with Ruth Fine

Valentine Love Songs

Love makes the world go round in all its glorious forms. Here are a few love songs in celebration of Valentine's Day.

Nick Cave Into My Arms

Cat Stevens How Can I Tell You

Bonnie Raitt Dimming of the Day

Tom Waitts Martha

Lady Gaga Remember Us This Way

Bad News About Chocolate

Mast Organic Dark Chocolate is one of the healthier chocolate bars.

This is bad news for chocolate lovers and I am sorry to bring it to you around a holiday that is so chocolate centered. It appears that most dark chocolate has seriously toxic levels of cadmium and lead including some of the most popular brands. Researchers found that cadmium in cocoa beans naturally comes from the soil and is directly transported to the beans by the cocoa tree. Lead contamination occurs after harvesting, when the wet cocoa beans are exposed to soil and dust during the drying, fermenting and transport phases.

These are the chocolate bars you want to look for the next time you get a craving--they have the lowest levels of heavy metals:
1. MAST ORGANIC DARK CHOCOLATE
In the Consumer Reports study, their chocolate fared better than any other brand, registering the lowest lead level of all the bars tested. Its cadmium content was also under half the maximum allowable level. Made with just three listed ingredients—cocoa beans, cane sugar and vanilla beans—Mast's simple 80% Cacao bar is available from Whole Foods, Wegmans, and other retailers.
2. TAZA ORGANIC DELICIOUSLY DARK CHGOCOLATE
Taza's stone-ground Deliciously Dark variety contained the second lowest amount of lead in the entire Consumer Reports study. The level of cadmium also fell within the safer range. Can be found at Whole Foods, The Fresh Market and other specialty stores.
3. GHIRADELLI INTENSE DARK CHOCOLATE
Commonly found in supermarkets and drug stores nationwide. Its Intense Dark 86% Cacao bar ranked third lowest in lead, according to the study, and also boasted the lowest cadmium level in the whole "safer choices" category. Pretty easy to find in many places.
4. GHIRADELLI INTENSE DARK CHOCOLATE TWILIGHT DELIGHT
Ghirardelli's Twilight Delight bar also fell within the safer range for both heavy metals, although its cadmium content was the highest among this group. Described as "intensely delicious" on the company's website, the 72% Cacao bar contains five ingredients, with vanilla extract and soy lecithin rounding out the combination of unsweetened chocolate, sugar and cocoa butter. Available at Walmart, Rite Aid and many other stores.
5. VALRHONA ABINAO DARK CHOCOLATE
Valrhona, made of 85% Cacao, had the highest levels of lead among all the "safer choices" in the study, though it fared better than several others on the cadmium scale. Look for it at specialty chocolate shops and upscale supermarkets.

And these below are the ones to avoid:

TOP 5 HIGHEST IN LEAD Hershey’s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate (265%) Chocolove Extremely Dark Chocolate 88% Cocoa (240%) Hu Organic Simple Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (210%) Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao (192%) Endangered Species Bold and Silky Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa (181%)
TOP 5 HIGHEST LEVELS OF CADMIUM Pascha Organic Very Dark Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao (253%) Alter Eco Organic Dark Chocolate Classic Blackout 85% Cacao (204%) Beyond Good Organic Pure Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa (138%) Scharffen Berger Extra Dark Chocolate 82% Cacao (136%) Equal Exchange Organic Extra Dark Chocolate 80% Cacao (120%)
>TOP 5 HIGHEST IN LEAD AND CADMIUM Trader Joe’s the Dark Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate 85% Cacao (127% lead, 229% cadmium) Theo Organic Extra Dark Pure Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (140% lead, 189% cadmium) Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (143% lead, 181% cadmium) Theo Organic Pure Dark 70% Cocoa (120% lead, 142% cadmium) Lily’s Extremely Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (143% lead, 101% cadmium)

Painting of the Week

Part of my Yellow Spruce Series—one of my favorites from that series…

Charity of the Week:
Earthquake Victims

Blog No. 111: Architecture and Design Film Festival, Astrologer Leslie McGuirk, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

February 4, 2023

Architecture and Design Film Festival

The Architecture and Design Film Festival is something I look forward to every year in the fall in New York City. I used to go all the time with my sister Judy. I also know the festival's founder, Kyle Bergman, who along with Ultan Guilfoyle, considered making a film on Usonia, the Frank Lloyd Wright community where I grew up.

Once a year, ADFF puts their highly curated selection of architecture and design related films online for everyone to see, especially if you are not near any of the scheduled venues (which include NYC, DC, Toronto, Chicago or Vancouver).

From February 8 - 17, 2023, you can see this year's festival selections which include a film about Maija Isola, one of the original designers of the Finnish design house Marimekko, learn about Alice Street and how two artists in Oakland California help their community adjust to gentrification, and learn about the life and work of Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza, to mention just a few of this year's offerings. I missed it this year because I was in Maine so I for one look forward to this online viewing.

Bergman describes this festival as a celebration of "the unique creative spirit that drives the industry. With a curated selection of films, events, and panel discussions, ADFF creates an opportunity to entertain, engage, and educate all types of people who are excited about architecture and design. With well-attended screenings, legendary panelists, vibrant discussions, and events in six major cities, ADFF has grown into the largest film festival devoted to the subject. The ADFF also programs international film festivals at cultural institutions and private venues.

Astrologer Leslie McGuirk

Leslie McGuirk is a renowned astrologer, artist, author, product designer, who I met a couple years ago at Rancho La Puerta, a health spa in Tecate, Mexico. She was there lecturing on astrology, her longtime love and passion since she was nineteen years of age. Leslie is very genuine--she connects with people and animals in a deeply authentic way without pretense. She has spent years studying the science of the planets and stars and is incredibly knowledgeable. Before I attended the lecture, I naively thought astrology had just to do with horoscopes and birth signs. (Little did I know that this field has been around for millennia and is much deeper than I ever thought). And I never knew that Carl Jung insisted on seeing the charts of his patients before working with them as he found them so useful in understanding a person's psyche.

I hired Leslie to do my own chart and it was an amazing experience. Human beings, like all things in nature, have a design and unique patterns that make them who they are. It was exciting to learn mine through her... and so much of what she told me rang true...

To learn more about McGuirk, you can listen to Traci Stein interview her on her podcast , listen to McGuirk's Ted Talk and visit Leslie's own website, where, if you feel so inclined, you can book a session with her to do your own chart...

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

I don't usually like to mix politics with this blog but this short speech given by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez needs to be heard. It was given on the floor of the House of Representatives this past week on the occasion of the GOP led ouster of Muslim representative Ihan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee. Ocasio-Cortez is one gutsy person who speaks out for what she believes and I for one, in this day and age, find this incredibly refreshing.

Products of the Week

Marla Sukoff is an excellent yoga teacher and a friend of mine. Please feel free to contact her directly about her in person and online yoga classes at marla@presentwisdom.com

Charity of the Week: Hudson Link

Blog No. 110: The Parent Test, Pico Iyer, Recipe: Puree of Celery Root Soup

January 28, 2023

The Parent Test

Click above to see a brief segment on the high diving board challenge

So funny how we take classes and have job training for so many things and yet the most important job in the world, raising our children, is not something that most of us ever get any instructions for. So we resort to our own personalities and egos, intuition and often do as our parents did to us (or the exact opposite, as the case may be).

My mom was an early proponent of progressive childhood education and our parents, probably considered on the permissive side, introduced my sister and me to concepts of creative learning, the teachings of educator A.S. Neill and general concepts of free education. So when I saw a show on Hulu specifically dedicated to parenting, I was very curious. It is a subject that interests me greatly.

The Parent Test on Hulu is a reality show--it takes twelve diverse couples (and one single dad) and their families with very different parenting styles and puts them through some rigorous test situations to see how the adults interact with their children and vice versa. What emerges is a picture of what kind of kids come out of differing methods--the strict parents, the free thinking ones, the tiger parents, etc.

I think The Parent Test is worth watching. At times it may seem somewhat superficial (it is a TV show after all), but it provokes deep thought about child rearing practices and how we bring up kids in America. Most parents all have the same goal of providing their kids with the best life they could possibly have but there are so many variables that go into trying to achieve that aim. Do we want out kids to just be happy at all costs? Do we want them to be super achievers and at what expense? How do we handle their fears? How important is structure in a child's life? What type of parenting style encourages confidence? And how does race and religion affect parenting styles and choices? These are some of the subjects investigated as the show presents the families with challenges (i.e., getting your child to jump off a high diving board, letting them cook a dinner on their own, seeing how children handle a fine dining situation...) and we observe their interactions. I personally found it one of the more interesting reality shows--fascinating and with conversations well worth having...

Pico Iyer

**“One of the most soulful and perceptive writers of our time” —**Brain Pickings

Click above to hear an interview with Pico Iyer at the Society in NYC

Pico Iyer, Illustration by Kristian Hammerstad

My old friend Todd introduced me to a lot in life beginning when we met as teenagers and has never steered me wrong all these years later. He recently shared with me this interview with writer Pico Iyer from the podcast Death, Sex and Money, where Iyer talks about his long term friendship with Leonard Cohen, among other things.

Born in England to Indian parents, partially raised in the United States, journalist, essayist and novelist Siddharth Pico Raghavan Iyer has travelled throughout the world and written extensively about it. He currently resides in Japan. Iyer just released his fifteenth book entitled The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise which I am going to put on my reading list and his writings have appeared in many prominent publications including The New York Times, The New York Review of Books and Time Magazine (to name just a few) on many different types of subjects including Cuba, the Dalai Lama, Islam, globalism, and stillness. Described by Brain Pickings as “one of the most soulful and perceptive writers of our time,” Pico Iyer has been interviewed several times on Krista Tippett's podcast On Being.

Puree of Celery Root Soup

Click to see how to prepare celery root (Celeriac)

This one is recommended from my friend Molly via the New York Times Cooking app. She says she made it without the milk and it was just as delicious. This is the kind of recipe you can fool around with, adding or subtracting ingredients to your desire.

PUREE OF CELERY ROOT SOUP
Recipe from Jimmy Bradley and Andrew Friedman Adapted by Marian Burros from the NYTimes Cooking app
Yield: 4 bowls
¼ cup olive oil
1 small leek, white part only, coarsely chopped
½ medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2½ cups peeled, coarsely chopped celery root (about 1 pound after peeling)
3 cups no-salt-added chicken stock or broth
4 to 7 tablespoons skim milk
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons sliced chervil or tarragon
* Step 1
In a saucepan over medium heat, heat 3 tablespoons oil and add leek, onion, celery and garlic. Sauté until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes.
* Step 2
Add celery root and stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until celery root is tender when pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes.
* Step 3
Using a blender and working in batches, purée soup until smooth. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and milk as needed to enrich soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, soup may be cooled, covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before serving. Reheat gently just until steaming.
* Step 4
To serve, divide soup among four bowls. Garnish with chervil or tarragon, and serve hot.

Painting of the Week

Working now on a piece similar to the one above for an office space in Boston…

Charity of the Week: National Dance Institute

Blog No. 109: Painter Gary Komarin, Eva Cassidy, Animal Reunions

January 21, 2023

Painter Gary Komarin

A contemporary artist that I admire a lot is a painter named Gary Komarin. I first saw his work in March, a home goods store in San Francisco, where they were showing a series of his most famous Cake Paintings...I myself like seeing and showing art outside of a pristine, sterile art gallery and actually prefer to show in a more "living with art" type of venue.

Below is a selection of Komarin's work and what strikes me is that although my work does not necessarily look like his, we paint from a very similar intuitive place. I couldn't help but identify with the words of Carol Diehl, who described Komarins' process in a 2012 essay for an exhibition of entitled The Road to Dialoro:
"For most artists there is no eureka moment; instead ideas develop through practice and over time, one thing leading to the next, and Gary Komarin is particularly sensitive to this intuitive process. If his marks appear awkward and childlike, it's because he has learned over the years how to turn off his internal critic and work from a place of detachment that allows for freshness, newness, and authenticity. Komarin has built into his working method ways of keeping himself from over-thinking or becoming too precious — techniques that allow him to get out of the way and almost let the painting paint itself. "When I have to become involved," he says, "is when it can feel burdensome." Komarin keeps things fresh and loose by doing several paintings at a time, working quickly on the floor on large squares of untreated, raw, canvas — sometimes even drop cloths — with big, inexpensive brushes and open buckets of latex enamel and other copious materials such as house paint or Spackle. There's an element of control, of course, but the paint may drip, splash or bleed in unexpected ways, gifts of accident that the artist may choose to keep or not. Those decisions, while still intuitive, draw on a stored knowledge base, a liftetime of observing and evaluating form, color, and line, so that when something happens, for better or worse, he recognizes it. Komarin sees this activity as a direct engagement with his materials, an exchange rather like collaboration, where he's not making something happen so much as encouraging it to happen. As he says, "I like to be surprised by my own work."

Singer Eva Cassidy

Click image to hear Eva Cassidy’s sublime version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Click to hear The London Symphony’s Orchestration of Eva Cassidy’s Autumn Leaves

I am not sure where I heard Eva Cassidy's voice for the first time--I think I was somewhere in California at the time but it was many years ago so I can't be sure--but what is unforgettable is her voice--if there was ever a voice of an angel, this is it. Her most famous songs have been compiled on an album of greatest hits. Here is a version of one of my favorite songs: It's a Wonderful World made famous by Louis Armstrong, which happens to have been one of her favorites too (and incidentally the last song she ever performed live). She died way too young and never had a taste of how famous and beloved she would become. But we do have her heavenly music to remember her by....Since her death, her recordings have sold more than 12 million copies.

Animal Human Reunions

I couldn't resist posting this video--it's for Morgan, whose dog Frenchy gets equally excited to see her again if she has been gone for one minute taking out the garbage or away for three days. These reunions are very touching. Warning: you might shed a tear or two like I did...

Paintings of the Week

My pieces in a gorgeous home in Ketchum, Idaho. Thanks Jami and Mark, two of my favoirite clients, for the photo…

Charity of the Week: National Dance Institute

Blog No. 108: Mark Morris Dance Season 2023, Another Mary Oliver Gem, Songs About Parenthood

January 13, 2023

Mark Morris Dance 2023 Season

The Look of Love celebrating the music of Burt Bacharach

Pepperland: a tribute to the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

I have written about the Mark Morris Dance Company before because I am a true enthusiast. I have listed below their 2023 performance schedule--I encourage you to attend if you happen to be near any of the following venues. It will be a guaranteed evening of color, exhilaration and joy, especially with this season's current offerings: The Look of Love, an homage to the music of Burt Bacharach and Pepperland, a tribute to the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Both of these productions involve the creative work of Ethan Iverson (composer, arranger, piano), long time collaborator with Mark Morris

2023 Schedule:

January 27, 2023 The Look of Love Alice Jepson Theatre Richmond, Virginia

February 7, 2023 Santa Fe, NM Pepperland Performance Santa Fe

February 11, 2023 Manassas, VA Pepperland Hylton Presents Series

February 17-19, 2023 Berkeley, CA The Look of Love Cal Performances

April 14-15, 2023 Urbana, Illinois The Look of Love Tryon Festival Theatre

May 6, 2023 The Look of Love The Granada Theatre Santa Barbara, California — United States

May 13, 2023 The Look of Love Sandler Center Virginia Beach, Virginia — United States

Another Mary Oliver

IN PRAISE OF CRAZINESS OF A CERTAIN KIND
by Mary Oliver

On cold evenings
my grandmother,
with ownership of half her mind--
the other half having flown back to Bohemia--

spread newspaper over the porch floor
so, she said, the garden ants could crawl beneath,
as under a blanket, and keep warm,

and what shall I wish for, myself,
but, being so struck by the lightning of years,
to be like her with what is left, that loving.

Songs about Parenthood

There really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child. — Anne Lamott

Click on the images below to listen to these songs related to parenthood.

Teach Your Children Well by Crosby Stills Nash and Young

Eric Clapton Tears in Heaven, Illustration by Keetatat Sitthiket

Paintings of the Week

Came across these Tree pieces from many years ago (mixed media on handmade paper) in a cottage on Candlewood Lake in Connecticut a few days ago. Nice to visit with them again after maybe thirty years!

Charity of the Week:

Covenant House was founded in 1972 to protect runaway, homeless, and exploited youth. They operate homeless shelters and youth programs in 31 cities throughout North America and Central America. Click image to donate.

Blog No. 107: Homeboy Industries, Emily in Paris, Rice Bowls

January 7, 2023

Homeboy Industries

Many of the images in this blog are linked to further stories so feel free to click on them…

“Wow, this is it…I am in the right place.!”

The catholic church gets a bad rap these days and a lot of it is well deserved but here is a church story that one can be proud of. When Jesuit Priest Gregory Boyle became pastor of the Los Angeles Dolores Mission church back in 1986, his parish had the highest concentration of gang activity and was home to the largest public housing facility west of the Mississippi. He was determined to service the community (there are currently approximately 120,000 gang members and 1100 gangs in LA County) and what began in 1988 as a way of improving the lives of former gang members in East Los Angeles has evolved into the largest gang intervention, rehab and re-entry program in the world: Homeboy Industries.

People Join Gangs Because of a Lethal Absence of Hope.”

"Nothing stops bullets like a job."

According to their website: "Father Greg popularized the radical notion that even the most demonized individuals can thrive when given a second chance. In the beginning he partnered with local Los Angeles businesses in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, encouraging them to hire homeboys and homegirls. Eventually, Homeboy Industries was established as a nonprofit and began creating and operating its own job training businesses. Now, Homeboy Industries has grown from a single bakery to almost a dozen social enterprises, which provide both a vital training ground for clients as well as revenue streams to support the mission. Expansion of our businesses proves that people can transcend their pasts and become valuable, empowered employees and business leaders." Gregory Boyle is, in my humble opinion, as close to a saint as there is on earth, with much wisdom to spread, as evident in this PBS interview with Kelly Corrigan and in his writings: Doyle has authored six books: his latest, Forgive Everyone Everything, The Homeboy Way, The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness, Creating a Culture of Tenderness, Barking to the Choir, and Tattoos on the Heart.

Emily in Paris TV Series

My favorite character, Sylvie Grateau (actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu)

Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit my unabashed love for the series Emily in Paris that many people would find trite and superficial but for the sake of honesty, here goes! I binge watched the whole third series last week and loved every minute of it. It is one stereotype after the next, full of predictable clichés about the Americans and the French. It is a romantic Hollywood style love story, complete with messy complications, superficial characters, and I probably should know better at my age...The New York Times wrote about it recently with the headline; "Emily Is Still in Paris. Why Are We Still Watching?." But what I love about it most is the fashion! The outfits are completely over the top, outrageous in all their glory, adorable, unexpected and oh so cool. Just check out the plaids paired with stripes!

Rice Bowls

Courtesy NYTimes Cooking. Romulo Yanes for The New York Times. Food styling: Vivian Lui.

Rice bowls are all the rage these days and I actually love that way of eating. The plate appeals to my sense of order--all neatly organized delicious ingredients, arranged into little stacks. You start with a base of rice (or quinoa or couscous or anything you want). What goes on top of the first layer is in small portions and you can choose exactly what you want to put in there based on what appeals to you. A rice bowl is a bit more substantial than a salad due to the carb and it is great for emptying out the leftovers you might find it your fridge. Here is a Sarah Copeland recipe from the New York Times Cooking app but feel free to substitute any of her choices for some of yours.

* 1½ cup short-grain or sushi rice
 ¼ head purple cabbage, very thinly sliced (8 ounces)
 ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
 1 tablespoon chile-garlic sauce
 1 tablespoon brown sugar
 2 tablespoons peanut, canola or grapeseed oil
 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
 3 green onions, thinly sliced
 1 to 2 cups kimchi, to taste
 2 cups raw or cooked vegetables (such as shredded carrot, sliced radish, avocado, edamame, grilled zucchini or steamed spinach)

* Step 1 Rinse the rice and cook in 2 cups water in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, covered, until tender, 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and keep covered 10 minutes more.
* Step 2 Meanwhile, toss the cabbage with the salt and set aside in a colander to drain. (It should be sliced as thinly as possible, so it wilts in the salt.)
* Step 3 Toss the shrimp with the chile-garlic sauce and brown sugar to coat. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook until just cooked through and slightly smoky, 4 to 5 minutes, adding the sesame seeds in the last minute of cooking. Season the shrimp with a pinch of salt.
* Step 4 Divide the rice between 4 bowls. Top with the shrimp, cabbage, green onion, kimchi and any other vegetables.

And here is another recipe from Kay Chun with salmon instead of shrimp but again, feel free to substitue any protein of your choosing:
Yield: 4 servings * ¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
 1½ cups sushi rice (short-grain white rice), rinsed until water runs clear
 1½ pounds skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1-inch cubes
 ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
 ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
 3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
 2 tablespoons safflower or canola oil
 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped scallions
 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger (from one 2-inch piece)
 3 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
 8 ounces green coleslaw mix (about 3 packed cups)
 1 avocado, halved, pitted and thinly sliced
 Torn toasted nori sheets, for garnish (optional)
*
 In a large saucepan, combine rice vinegar, sugar and salt; stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the rice and 1¾ cups water, and mix well. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. *
 In a small bowl, toss salmon with ¼ teaspoon sesame oil and season with salt. Once rice is tender (after about 20 minutes), arrange salmon in an even layer on top of rice. Cover and steam over low heat until fish is cooked to medium, about 12 minutes longer. *
 Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine soy sauce, white vinegar, safflower oil, scallions, ginger and the remaining ¼ teaspoon sesame oil. Mix well, and season with salt. *
 Scoop salmon and rice into bowls. Top each with some cucumbers, coleslaw mix and avocado. Drizzle with the vinaigrette. Top with nori, if using.

Painting of the Week

In process. Two of my Tree of Life Series mixed media on paper 60” x 22” each

Charity of the Week:

Blog No. 106: Street Art, Documentary Feeling Through, Poet Diana Goetsch

December 31, 2022

Thank you everyone…I am so grateful for all of you and wish you a happy and healthy 2023! And I wish for more peace & love throughout the world.

Street Art

I've always had the utmost respect for graffiti and street artists. It might look easy but it isn't--painting on the spot like that involves a lot of planning, the materials can be unforgiving and often the act of painting on walls can be dangerous due to height and hard to reach places, not to mention breathing in all those aerosols, which can't possibly be good for you.

Take a look at this video above, which shows a complilation of some some really cool street art done by artists from different parts of the world.

Short Documentary: Feeling Through

click above to see full 18 minute documentary

I am really excited about sharing the documentary Feeling Through with you. It is an extraordinary film which introduces many of us, for the first time, to the deafblind community. But most of all, it is an authentic film about humanity at its best...

Feeling Through tells the story of a homeless young man who randomly encounters a deafblind person in need of help crossing the street. It is inspired and based on the real life encounter the director, Doug Roland, had with Artemio, a deafblind man he met one evening in the streets of New York City. Feeling Through won sixteen awards and was short-listed for an Oscar for best live action short film in 2019. In addition to the film itself, here are two documentaries that show a behind the scenes to the film-making process Connecting the Dots, and another entitled The Road to the Oscars: Feeling Through, where you share in the excitement of all those involved, especially for the deafblind actor, who had no idea that he would ever act, let alone be nominated for an Oscar.

Poet Diana Goetsch

Love is love is love...it's what makes the world go round. And for those lucky enough to have felt it once or twice or twenty times in their life, there ain't nothing like the feeling...Here is a love poem that moved me when I came across it recently...

SWIMMING TO NEW ZEALAND
by Diana Goetsch

Once or twice in life you find a woman
you’d swim the ocean for. What are you doing?
friends will ask, as you perfect your stroke,
meantime pitying everyone outside of love.
Your only obstacle, the blue Pacific—
where your sun sinks, she’s dressing in the morning,
and when the dawn comes reaching back around,
turning up the volume in your city,
she’s drawing blinds, removing her make-up.
If you were Gatsby you would build a mansion
in some cove off the Tasmanian sea
and throw parties to lure her in. You’re not
of course—though nothing’s impossible,
except life without her, and so you swim.

The poet, Diana Goetsch, has had an interesting life. To read more about her transition from male to female, her background as a writer and school teacher, her eight other poetry publications, her new memoir, etc. click here.

Painting of the Week

Mitten Series, mixed media on paper, 22” x 30”

Charity of the Week:

Blog No. 105: Octopuses, Hyperrealist Howard Lee, Food Writer Linda Burner Augustine

December 24, 2022

Octopuses

Octopuses (yes, that is the preferred plural) are among the most fascinating and unusual animals on this earth as this documentary entitled The Insane Biology of the Octopus will tell you. Some even suggest that they might not even be from here--and the idea that we, as humans, are superior is challenged big time when you learn the characteristics and capabilities of these amazing toothless and boneless cephalopods.

Here are a few little known facts about them: they have a local brain in each arm, controlled by a central brain that oversees all the others. They are capable of unbelievable camouflage techniques, including disguising themselves as other undersea animals to escape danger. They can recognize individuals outside of their own species, including humans, as you can see in the film My Octopus Teacher about the real touching friendship formed in Cape Town, South Africa between diver Craig Foster and a wild octopus. And their brain-to-body ratio is the largest of any invertebrate and larger than most vertebrates, except mammals. For these and more images and facts, Nat Geo Wild has compiled a short video with some of these astounding facts. And if you are still hungry for more (I for one will never eat another octopus in my life), Christiane Amanpour interviewed Foster Craig Foster on his show Amanpour & Co. and Sy Montgomery's The Soul of an Octopus is on my list of next books to read.

Hyperrealist Artist Howard Lee

Check this out: English artist from Newcastle on Tyne Howard Lee is a hyperrealist who plays with illusion in his two dimensional drawings and videos. Using a wide range of materials, Lee's unique approach and imagination are captivating--I can sit for hours watching his videos and process...

Foodie Linda Burner Augustine

Linda Burner Augustine’s latest collaboration with Chef Jamie Callison

“Food is life, good food is good life” per chef, caterer, food writer, recipe developer and teacher Linda Burner Augustine, who I had the pleasure of meeting on my recent trip to Seattle. I found her inspiring as she talked about her love of fresh seasonal whole foods and family dinners--an appreciation she learned while living in France. She shares ideas and easy to follow, delicious and simple recipes in her food blog "A Year at the Table." "I believe in simplicity in cooking and will do all that I can to make recipes uncomplicated and easy,...keeping recipe ingredients to the most minimal..." Watch her talk about her passion on the morning show Day Northwest.

Painting of the Week

Tree of Life Series: Dove of Peace, mixed media on paper, 60” x 22”

Charity of the Week:

Blog No. 104: Michelle Obama, The Neighbor's Window, Music: Two Songs I Love

December 17, 2022

Michelle Obama on Jimmy Kimmel

Michelle Obama is the epitome of grace for me. Self assured, unabashedly herself, kind, open, so intelligent and now that she is no longer in the fishbowl of the White House, she can show her true colors in full glory. And she is not afraid of color--just take a look at her style! Watch her here on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, talking about her new book The Light We Carry. This woman has class and her own, expressive style...

The Neighbor's Window

In 2020, the Oscar was given to The Neighbor's Window for best live action short film. In the middle of the pandemic, many of us probably missed it. My friend Todd shared it with me the other day and I thought it worthy. It is a modern story about modern life in a big city, with universal truths, and as Marshall Curry, the filmmaker states, "a well told story is a powerful thing! It can change the way we see the world and it can help us to notice other people and care about those other people and maybe love each other a little bit more." He dedicated the film to his mom, whom he credits for teaching him his craft, where he learned his craft: "for her and all the other storytellers out there..."

Music: Two Songs I Love

One of the best things I did two years ago was to make a conscious decision to stop listening to cable news all the time. I have been a news junkie for years, obsessed with politics and gobbling up every dirty detail of human foibles. Maybe it was the guilt of having a mom who grew up in Nazi Germany, knowing that so many people just turned away and ignored what was going on...But I came to realize that I didn't need the 24/7 news cycle and in fact, to say it was toxic was an understatement...I finally did turn away from most of it and instead, turned up the music, which had always been a big part of my younger years. Am I glad I did! I really feel like a changed person because of it...I love to sing along too--something so uplifting about that--even though my voice has a lot of be desired. I try and make sure no one is really listening and I belt it out, mostly in the car or when I am painting...Here are a few songs a good friend shared with me recently--the first is a Stephen Stills, Judy Collins version of Handle with Care that I hadn't heard before and the second is an absolute unknown gem of a song entitled Bluebird of Happiness from an obscure British band called Mojave 3.

Painting of the Week

A little warmth and coziness for winter…

Charity of the Week:

My friend Emma, who lost her dad at 15, is raising money for Good Grief, an organization that helps kids deal with the death of a parent. Please consider donating towards her goal as she runs a half marathon.

Blog No. 103: Human Composting, Lopez Island Library, Sheila Metcalf Weaver

December 10, 2022

In the next few weeks I will be offering a giveaway of a large painting, in honor of the holidays and my 100th blog post. Stay tuned for details…

Human Composting: Return Home

Micah way back when I babysat for him. He was super intelligent and very personable, even then!

I bequeath myself to the earth to grow from the grass I love
If you want me again, look for me under your boot-soles
--Walt Whitman

The idea of human composting, an alternative to human burial and cremation, is gaining steam these days across the country. It is a way to gently transform human remains into fertile soil, give back to the earth and complete the life cycle in a non-polluting gift to the earth kind of way. You might have heard mention of it as it has been in the news a lot lately--it is legal in several states (California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and Washington and is being considered in New York State right now) and that number is growing.

Micah Truman the founder and owner of the largest human composting facility in the world, Return Home, a new type of funeral home (based in Auburn, Washington just outside of Seattle) has won numerous awards including Best Funeral Home in Washington State and one of three Best of the Best worldwide. It just so happens that I used to babysit for Micah (and his brother Sean) when he was a young boy.

If you would like to learn more about this method of burial, which actually gives back rich fertile soil to the earth, listen to Micah talk about his passion and business: Return Home.

Lopez Island Library (and Ramen Shop nearby)

Darren Hoerner, Librarian, Lopez Island, WA

For me, libraries are magical places and I try and make it a rule to visit them whenever I go into a new town. I just love being around books in general, as if the knowledge one can get from them literally feels like it is leaping off the pages...

On a recent visit to the greater Seattle area, my friend Lexi proudly took me on a field trip to her local library--a pure gem of one on Lopez Island. If the librarian is creative and visionary, as Darren Hoerner is, it can become a central hub of the locality, a place to gather and much vaster than just a place to house and borrow books. The quality of these institutions says a lot about the values of a community--how much effort and vision they are willing to put into these centers. If the montly newsletter is any indication, the Lopez Library is bustling with all kinds of activities, from lectures, knitting circles, game nights, holiday card making, open mike evenings, etc. They lend all sorts of musical instruments including large drums and bongos, board games, music, movies, and they have a fully stocked arts and crafts room where people can come, use the supplies and make art, often with intergenerations interacting. The library is inviting, filled with art and multiple large comfortable chairs and seating arrangements which give it a feeling of home and "hygge."

The Lopez library has been awarded "Star Library" status several times over (out of 7049 American public librarires, only 259 reach this distinction) and has also been selected as one of 15 public libraries in the nation to participate in the “Small Libraries Create Smart Spaces” grant project led by the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) in partnership with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).

And if you are hungry afterwards, go check out another gem of the Lopez community, the Setsunai Noodle Bar just nearby, where Josh Ratza and his family Michelle and Noah cook up and serve delectable healthy, locally sourced and organic Japanese inspired dishes including rice bowls, ramen and udon noodle soups, kimchi and other delicious creative inventions. As good quality as any other top quality ramen shop I have encountered...

Top notch Japanese inspired noodle bar Setsunainoodle on Lopez Island, Washington

Chef Josh Ratza, photo courtesy Mikaela Judd, who writes a monthly blog https://www.mikaelajudd.com/

Sheila Metcalf, Weaver

Midnight and Moonlight, my new vest woven by Sheila Metcalf

One of the best things about being an artist is you get to trade with other artists and artisans for some really cool stuff. I was especially lucky this trip to find the wonderful Lopez Island weaver, Sheila Metcalf, willing to exchange with me. The great thing about this type of transaction I find is that both parties end up feeling like they made off like bandits. I defintely felt that way with the vest below and another beautiful light blue indigo shibori longer version. If you are in the market for beautiful woven and hand-sewn one of a kind garments with hints of Japanese influence, please check out Sheila's work on her website: sheilametcalf.com. It is wonderful and very reasonably priced.

Unique Gifts for the Holidays

**For unique gifts, visit our artShop:** **www.pamelasmilow.com/shop-all**

Charity of the Week:

This is the charity closest to my heart in New York City. My daughter Morgan was part of this wonderful dance program in the NYC public schools in fifth grade and then went on to dance with them every Saturday as part of their SWAT Celebrations Team for the following four years. As a young deaf boy, Jon Hine, (pictured here), was an incredible dancer who lit up the stage and has gone on to do wonderful things with his life…This is defintely a charity worth supporting as it literally changes kids’ lives…

Blog No. 102: Our Canine Friends, Singer Songwriter Lily Meola, Dale Chihuly Glass

December 3, 2022

In the next few weeks I will be offering a giveaway of a large painting, in honor of the holidays and my 100th blog post. Stay tuned for details…

Our Canine Friends

My granddog Frenchy! We think she might be a mix of Basenji and pitbull?

I have just become a dog grandmother, and as such, have a new found interest and love for our canine friends. I grew up in a family that always had dogs, but as an adult living in a big concrete city, I didn't think it was practical. My daughter recently stopped listening to her pragmatic mom and adopted a rescue dog from Tennessee. Am I glad she did! Oh boy, do we love this dog and how much pleasure it brings us...

According to researcher Brian Hare, an evolutionary anthropologist at Duke University, we haven't paid near enough attention to the study of our man's (and woman's) best friends--they just haven't been studied as much as other animals, despite the fact that we evolved alongside each other for more than 15,000 years. Here is a very interesting story about Chaser, a border collie, whose extensive vocabulary was that of a 2+ year old toddler and capable of inferential thinking. Anderson Cooper did an interview about Chaser and the underestimated capability of dogs on on 60 Minutes. And if you want to put a smile on your face, watch this longer documentary about dogs entitled Seniors: A Dogumentary.

Lily Meola: Daydream

Here is a little song big on inspiration by singer/songwriter Lily Meola to remind us that life is not a dress rehearsal and to give us the everlasting message we all need to learn to stave off fear...Here's to daydreams...

Dale Chihuly

I have always wanted to visit the Dale Chihuly Museum in Seattle and yesterday it happened. What a wonder! This glass artist is fearless, ambitious and amazingly talented--no project is too big and he has the confidence to know that he will find a way...I watched a few short documentary videos of him at the museum and realized we have a common way of working. He doesn't think when he works (I don't either), he doesn't know where he is going with a piece and finds out in the process, he is interested in the architecture around his art, he often sticks to variations of one dominant color, and he tries to suspend judgment and just get to the point where something simply looks good...In other words, I think, like me, he relies and trusts his intuition and more than anything...

Unique Gifts for the Holidays

Charity of the Week:

Blog No. 101: Elizabeth Cotten, MOMA Favorites, No Knead Bread

November 26, 2022

In the next few weeks I will be offering a giveaway of a large painting, in honor of the holidays and my 100th blog post. Stay tuned for details…

Elizabeth Cotten

Print by JustaJar Design Press available for purchase on Etsy

On November 5, 2022, Elizabeth Cotten (1893-1987) was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some people thought it was long overdue. Working as a domestic and caregiver for the Seeger family (relatives of Pete Seeger), Elizabeth was discovered in a room one day picking away at the guitar. Totally self taught, Cotten had a very unique way of playing: she was left-handed and held the instrument upside down. "The Seegers hired Cotten, whom they called "Libba," to cook and clean and look after the kids. They were surprised to discover that she was a musician, too, says Peggy Seeger. "When I was about 15 I walked into the kitchen and I saw her playing the guitar that was hanging on the wall. And she was playing 'Freight Train.' Then she started trotting out songs. She knew a lot of songs. We would have been happy to do the cooking and cleaning if she would just play!" The Seeger family recognized right away her talent and eventually helped her to achieve a career in music. Most famous songs include Freight Train and Shake Sugaree but she has written many other great ones as well...For more of her folk and blues roots music, listen here.

A few MOMA favorites

I hate to sound so old and change resistant but in some ways I never really got over the Museum of Modern Art renovation or the return of Guernica to Spain. I liked the old museum! I knew where all my favorite paintings were and now I am lucky to even see a few of them once in a while...Here are a few Picassos that feel like old friends and that I have loved over all these years...

No Knead Bread

I probably shouldn't be eating so much bread but this recipe is so easy, so delicious and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and totally irresistible! I was graciously invited to a dinner at some new friends' house in Tenant's Harbor and Jo proved to be an amazing cook. The bread was only one of the many good things she made that day and she wasn't proprietary about any of the recipes. A few days later I made this no knead bread myself. Recipe below. You can substitute beer for water if you like...

NO KNEAD BREAD

Ingredients
3 cups all purpose or bread flour
1/4 teaspoon yeast (active dry or instant)
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water (or beer)
1 1/2 tablespoons extra flour for shaping

First mix dry ingredients together and then add the water (or beer), combining together (with your hands if you like--it will be sticky so put some flour on your fingers). Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and let sit out on the counter for 12-18 hours. Preheat oven and pan to 500 degrees (very important that both are very hot), shape the dough (by flouring the counter and your hands) into the shape you want and place in a dutch oven or loaf pan. Cook covered for 30 minutes and then uncovered for 15 minutes more.

Painting of the Week

When you live in Santa Barbara, you can even have paintings hanging outside on your terrace! Here is my friend Barbara Edelston Peterson, jewelry designer (https://projectbemoved.com/foreste-and-hils/) and founder of the Whole Champion Foundation, in her beautiful “tree house” home.

Unique Gifts for the Holidays

Charity of the Week:

Doctors Without Borders

Blog No. 100: Loreena McKennitt, Down to Earth Netflix Series, Vegan Broccoli (Cheddary) Soup

November 19, 2022

In the next few weeks I will be offering a giveaway of a large painting, in honor of the holidays and my 100th blog post. Stay tuned for details…

Loreena McKennitt Dante's Prayer

There are moments that you remember when you hear a piece of music and it just hits you. This is one of those songs for me. I hadn't heard of Canadian singer/songwriter Loreena McKennitt before and was introduced to her by a good friend, who by now knows what I like and often feeds me wonderful music. Maybe it was the setting I was in, not sure, but I remember the moment like I remember other big events in my life...And in some ways, I attribute Dante's Prayer to opening my heart just a little more when I didn't even realize it has been so closed...So here is the song...I hope its beauty and depth affects you too....It starts with a Gregorian chant...Click here for the song and the lyrics

Down to Earth: Netflix Series

Somehow the Netflix TV series Down to Earth, already on its second season, has not been on my radar, probably because instead of a television screen, I have just been gazing at a beautiful vast ocean for the last months. But a friend brought this series to my attention the other day and I wanted to share it with you. The show, hosted by the American actor Zac Efron, has searched the world for creative ways to live healthily and sustainably and as a result, discovered a group of extremely passionate, intelligent and dedicated people leading the way...This is very exciting tv, exciting news for the world, and I wonder why and only wish that the news media would focus on this type of news rather than doom and gloom and humans at their worst. This is truly human beings at their best--finding innovative ways of saving our planet, making responsible choices, and figuring our way out of this mess we have made of our planet.

I started with the second season, episode 1 of Down to Earth Down Under, which describes zero waste in many forms, from new ways to butcher fish with almost no part left over (did you know that with our precious and dwindling fish population on earth, we discard 50 percent of our catch!), to Joost Bakker and family's totally zero waste free new food system home, smack in the middle of Melbourne, Australia.

We are all capable of at least some of these practices so for some good ideas and inspiration, check this series out...

Vegan (Cheddary) Broccoli Soup

I am always looking for ways to eat healthier and this soup is a delicious option on a cold winter's night...It was served to me in Belfast, Maine by my friend Roberta, who shared this recipe from a cookbook she loves: Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Recipes by Isa Chandra Moskowitz.

VEGAN (CHEDDARY) BROCCOLI SOUP

Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 small chopped yellow onion
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cloves garlic
4 cupes chopped broccoli
1/2 cup peeled and chopped carrots
1/2 tsp ground tumeric
3 cups vegetable broth

CASHEW CREAM

1 cup cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours
2 cups vegetable broth
3 tbsp mild white miso
2 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
ground pepper to taste

In a 4 quart pot, sautee the onions in the oil, adding a pinch of salt, the garlic (cooked about 30 seconds until fragrant), then add the broccoli, carrots, tumeric and broth and remaining salt. Cover, bring to a boil and then simmer for approx 10 minutes until carrots are tender.
In the meantime, prepare the cashew cream. Drain the cashews and in a blender, place the broth, miso and nutritional yeast. Blend until totally smooth (may take 1-5 minutes), scraping sides to get everything blended.
When carrots are tender, add the cashew cream to the soup and puree with an immersion blender. Keep cooking the soup on low for another 10+ minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally. Once thick, add the lemon juice and pepper and serve.

Paintings of the Week

Unique Gifts for the Holidays

Charity of the Week:

Doctors Without Borders

Blog No. 99: Dave Evans, Michael Moore, Poem by Kyle Tran Myhre

November 11, 2022

Dave Evans Wake Up Call

click for a tribute to Evans on W. Virginia Public Radio

Vietnam Veteran Dave Evans is the subject of a beautiful documentary entitled The Wake Up Call (directed by Alison Gilkey and Eric Neudel) which I had the privilege of seeing recently at a screening in Damariscotta, Maine. The film is making the film festival circuit and I am unable to share anything more than the trailer, but be sure to watch for it. Born in the coal mining country of West Virginia, Dave Evans enlisted, like so many young American men, in the Marine Corps as a young man looking for adventure and a way out. And sadly, like so many other men his age, he was rudely awakened to reality when he lost both legs in an ambush soon after he first saw combat.

Returning to West Virginia as a very angry disabled man, Evans soon decided to channel his anger into something more useful: he became an outspoken activist against the Vietnam War and spent a good deal of time talking to young men like himself. Realizing how lucky he was to live in a country where medical care was accessible, he then turned himself into an expert on artificial limbs and directed at least some of his intense anger against the American government into a life of healing for others. He spent the next forty years of his life traveling throughout the world to many remote areas where medical care was completely lacking, fitting fellow disabled people with prosthetics that would utterly change their lives...Evans was a hero and savior to so many in Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Cambodia, Angola are other places where he ventured to help set up prosthetic clinics.

Michael Moore: Our Nation's Conscience

Illustration by KeithNegley.com courtesy of The New Yorker Magazine

All through this election process, when I dared not look at the news and truly, I am ashamed to say, buried my head in the sand, Michael Moore was my one source of comfort. His frequent optimistic emails entitlted Mike's Midterm Tsunami Truths (there were forty of them) showed up religiously in my inbox, and maybe yours too, giving us a ray of hope through such heavy dark waters and doomsday predictions. And the glimmer was brightened even more when I remembered that he was no sugar-coater--he was correct in 2016 when he almost solely predicted (like me) Trump's victory over Hillary. Well, he turned out to be right again!

This wise caring man, who tirelessly fights the good fight, has documented our nation's shame in over ten important documentaries (including such films as Roger and Me, Sicko, Where to Invade Next and Farenheit 11/9 to name a few). I think I am going to go back aned watch them all again.

Michael Moore is our nation's conscience and a true national treasure!

Poem by Kyle Tran Myhre

VOTING AS FIRE EXTINGUISHER

by Kyle Tran Myhre

When the haunted house catches fire
a moment of indecision.

The house was, after all, built on bones

Everyone who enters the house feels
that overwhelming dread, the evil
that perhaps only fire can purge.

It's tempting to just let it burn.

And then I remember:
there are children inside.

Smilow Mathiesen Swag:
Unique Gifts for the Holidays

Charity of the Week:

Warnock for U.S. Senate

My portrait of Raphael Warnock, used to make into lawn signs in Georgia. Click to donate and call me to get the image to make your own sign....

Blog No. 98: Billy Crystal on Muhammad Ali, Keanu Reeves, Kurt Vonnegut Documentary

November 5, 2022

This Robert Hubbell column today made me feel a little bit better this morning. It might do the same to you…https://open.substack.com/pub/roberthubbell/p/join-the-pre-election-discussion?r=4adbb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Billy Crystal on Mohammad Ali

Billy Crystal and Muhammad Ali had a friendship that spanned over forty years.

I have long admired Billy Crystal as a talented and wonderful, caring person and was not surprised to learn that, like me, he grew up in a home dedicated to civil rights. His father was a producer of jazz concerts and was one of the first to integrate bands in the forties and fifties. His family produced Strange Fruit, Billie Holiday's poignant song about the lynching of African Americans in America.

What I didn't know is that Muhammad Ali and Billy Crystal had an unusual and deep relationship and they considered each other brothers.

Muhammad Ali was a looming figure in my life--I admired him, not for his boxing prowess but because he was a hero to my father when he stood up against the Vietnam War and was a moral example for many young Americans who shared his belief that the war was just simply wrong and unjust...

I share with you here Billy Crystal's beautiful and very moving eulogy to Muhammad Ali, laced with humor, delivered in Louisville, Kentucky on June 10, 2016.

Keanu Reeves

Written by cultural critic Alex Pappademas, published by Abrams Books

Because this column is all about celebrating the unsung heroes of our world, here is a piece on Keanu Reeves that touched me.

"He was abandoned by his father at 3 years old and grew up with 3 different stepfathers. He is dyslexic. His dream of becoming a hockey player was shattered by a serious accident. His daughter died at birth. His wife died in a car accident. His best friend, River Phoenix, died of an overdose. His sister has leukemia.

And with everything that has happened, Keanu Reeves never misses an opportunity to help people in need. When he was filming the movie "The Lake House," he overheard the conversation of two costume assistants; One cried because he would lose his house if he did not pay $20,000 and on the same day Keanu deposited the necessary amount in the woman's bank account. He also donated stratospheric sums to hospitals.

In 2010, on his birthday, Keanu walked into a bakery and bought a brioche with a single candle, ate it in front of the bakery, and offered coffee to people who stopped to talk to him. After winning astronomical sums for the Matrix trilogy, the actor donated more than $50 million to the staff who handled the costumes and special effects - the true heroes of the trilogy, as he called them.

He also gave a Harley-Davidson to each of the stunt doubles. A total expense of several million dollars. And for many successful films, he has even given up 90% of his salary to allow the production to hire other stars.

In 1997 some paparazzi found him walking one morning in the company of a homeless man in Los Angeles, listening to him and sharing his life for a few hours.

Most stars when they make a charitable gesture they declare it to all the media. He has never claimed to be doing charity, he simply does it as a matter of moral principles and not to look better in the eyes of others.

This man could buy everything, and instead every day he gets up and chooses one thing that cannot be bought: Be a good person."

Humanity at its best.

Many people have stories about Reeves, since he often travels alone without handlers. Naomi Fry, staff writer at The New Yorker, wrote about some of these encounters in a short article entitled "Keanu Reeves Is Too Good for This World back in 2019.

Kurt Vonnegut Documentary

Documentary filmmaker Robert Weide was the principal director and an executive producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm for the show's first five years.

Whether you have been a big fan of Kurt Vonnegut all your life like the filmmaker Robert Weide and me or are just learning about him now for the first time, this documentary Unstuck in Time is a beautiful tribute to an amazing and influential writer who has a lot to say about life and the human condition. Vonnegut authored fourteen novels in addition to many essays and short stories. He tackled life's biggest questions with satirical humor and his unconventional style combined the philosophy of metaphysics with science fiction, mixed in with ramblings about the simple banalities of human life. Unstuck in Time is available on hulu and youtube and in my humble opinion, well worth the watch...

Photo of the Week:
My studio these days, Midcoast Maine

Charity of the Week:

ACLU Legal Defense Fund

Blog No. 97: Ignore the Polls, Ave Maria, Michael Singer Quotes

October 29, 2022

Ignore the Polls

Robert Hubbell’s newsletter started as a letter he sent out to his family.

Robert Hubbell sends out a daily newsletter on politics that is well worth the read. It originally started out as a letter to family members. He describes his intent as "a reflection on today's news through the lens of hope." I take a look at it every morning after I read Heather Cox Richardson. This entry today (October 27, 2022) is particularly good so I'd like to share it with you--important for all of us to read as we lead up to the elections.

Ave Maria

Two friends of mine who have a lifetime's intereest in music have a weekly radio show every Tuesday evening on WRFR.org, a community radio station in Rockland, Maine. It is always a treat to spend two hours listening to their eclectic mix of great music and hear the knowledgeable banter between two brothers who, amidst the teasing, clearly show that they enjoy each other's company.

All that to say that last night they played a surprising choice as part of their sweet lullaby section. It was R&B and soul singer Aaron Neville's version of Ave Maria. I am not a religious person and this piece of music has no religious connotation for me--all I can say is that this particular version of this song is beautiful beyond words...

There is a comment section under every video on youtube and I loved this quote from self professed heavy metal devotee Malin Choneska: "I'm a metal head to the bone. This song not only choke(sic) me up, but I actually shed some long overdue tears. How could this happen? I think I need those tears, not from pain, but from joy. There's now light at the end of this tunnel."
I couldn't agree more!

Liner Notes by the Whitt Brothers can be heard every Tuesday from 6-8pm eastern time online on wrfr.org.

Michael Singer Quotes

Michael Singer, illustration courtesy of nowwatch.org

I wrote about Michael Singer recently in another blog post. Here are a few choice quotes from him that struck a chord with me. I hope they interest you enough that you will want to look further into his books--they have had a tremendous effect on me!

"The mind is a place where the soul goes to hide from the heart."

“To get some distance from this, you first need to get some perspective. Walk outside on a clear night and just look up into the sky. You are sitting on a planet spinning around in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Though you can only see a few thousand stars, there are hundreds of billions of stars in our Milky Way Galaxy alone. In fact, it is estimated that there are over a trillion stars in the Spiral Galaxy. And that galaxy would look like one star to us, if we could even see it. You’re just standing on one little ball of dirt and spinning around one of the stars. From that perspective, do you really care what people think about your clothes or your car? Do you really need to feel embarrassed if you forget someone’s name? How can you let these meaningless things cause pain? If you want out, if you want a decent life, you had better not devote your life to avoiding psychological pain. You had better not spend your life worrying about whether people like you or whether your car impresses people. What kind of life is that? It is a life of pain. You may not think that you feel pain that often, but you really do. To spend your life avoiding pain means it’s always right behind you.”

"Do not let anything that happens in life be important enough that you're willing to close your heart over it."

“If you want to be happy, you have to let go of the part of you that wants to create melodrama. This is the part that thinks there’s a reason not to be happy. You have to transcend the personal, and as you do, you will naturally awaken to the higher aspects of your being. In the end, enjoying life’s experiences is the only rational thing to do. You’re sitting on a planet spinning around in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Go ahead, take a look at reality. You’re floating in empty space in a universe that goes on forever. If you have to be here, at least be happy and enjoy the experience. You’re going to die anyway. Things are going to happen anyway. Why shouldn’t you be happy? You gain nothing by being bothered by life’s events. It doesn’t change the world; you just suffer. There’s always going to be something that can bother you, if you let it.”

“There is nothing more important to true growth than realizing that you are not the voice of the mind - you are the one who hears it.”

“Imagine if you used relationships to get to know other people, rather than to satisfy what is blocked inside of you. If you’re not trying to make people fit into your preconceived notions of what you like and dislike, you will find that relationships are not really that difficult. If you’re not so busy judging and resisting people based upon what is blocked inside of you, you will find that they are much easier to get along with—and so are you. Letting go of yourself is the simplest way to get closer to others.”

Products of the Week:
Cutting/Cheese Boards

These Cutting/Cheese Boards (16" x 10.5" x 0.5") and more products available on our website: www.pamelasmilow.com/shop-all

Charity of the Week:

ACLU Legal Defense Fund

Blog No. 96: Neuroscientist Anil Seth on Consciousness, Maira Kalman, Mountain Gorillas

October 21, 2022

Ted Talk on Consciousness

Click above to see this mind blowing fake hand experiment

Anil Kumar Seth, British professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex.

Science was never my strong point but the field of neuroscience and the science of consciousness captivates me.
Here is a very powerful Ted talk in which Anil Seth, a neuroscientist from Sussex, England explains how conscious reality is just our brain hallucinating...Mind expanding! To prove one of his points, Seth illustrates an experiment involving a fake hand that can be mistaken as one's own...I'd write more by way of explanation but I think it is best you listen to him. And if you care to learn more, here is an interesting 2021 interview with Anil Seth in Quanta Magazine on the subject.

Women Holding Things by Maira Kalman

The Humor of the Every Day: Talk by Maira Kalman

I love New York! On any given day you have your choice of so many stimulating and inspiring things to do and tonight was no different. I attended a talk by Maira Kalman, one of my most favorite artist/illustrator/authors. To say she is one of the coolest people I know is an understatement: unabashedly herself, with an unbelievably great sense of humor (my kind of humor), truthful, open, and so creative! Kalman is author of some of my most treasured books...This new one is no different: Women Holding Things. Full of her colorful gouache paintings of unexpected people and objects, Kalman is her own quirky self--I find her so refreshing. Check out the long list of her wonderful books for children and adults. She is also a frequent contributor to the New Yorker magazine and The New York Times. If you happen to be in New York right now, check out the original illustrations from the book at her show at the Mary Ryan Gallery through November 12th.

Women Holding Grudges—Maira’s mother in law and twin sister who didn’t get along.

Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda

Silverbacks are mature adult male gorillas.

"It seems very unfair that man should have chosen the gorilla to symbolize everything that is aggressive and violent when that is one thing the gorilla is not, and that we are...."Sir David Attenborough

Growth of the mountain gorilla population in Rwanda is one of the few success stories in conservation history--their numbers has grown remarkably since Dian Fossey first studied them in the 1970s. To quote primatologist of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, "When you look in the eyes of a gorilla, you see a kindred spirit looking back at you. They are so much like us. They have friends, they have enemies. They love to play. They love to eat. They love to nap. They are incredible moms and incredible dads." To learn more, follow Charlie Annenberg, founder of Explore and Craig Sholley of African Wildlife Foundation as they guide us through Volcanoes National Park in this fascinating documentary about these mountain gorillas of Rwanda.

Gorillas share 98.6 percent of human DNA.

Products of the Week: Yoga Mats

These Yoga Mats and more by Smilow + Mathiesen available on our website: www.pamelasmilow.com/shop-all

Charity of the Week:

Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

Blog No. 95: Jo Malone Ad Campaign, Celery Leek Potato Soup, Tracy Chapman

October 14, 2022

Jo Malone Mental Health Video Clips

October 10th, which happened also to be my birthday, was named World Mental Health Day 2022--Many people are struggling around the globe one way or another, especially now after the pandemic. Jo Malone, founder of a British perfume and cologne company, started her own foundation dedicated to mental health. Their cool ad campaign, consisting of short little video clips, took me by surprise on the small screen in the back of a NYC taxicab the other day. Here are a few of these videos--I hope you think they are as brilliant and touching as I do...

Celery Leek Potato Soup

It's getting to be soup weather. Here is a recipe, courtesy of the New York Times, that looks good to me--aside from being delicious, I especially love the color!

CELERY LEEK SOUP WITH POTATO AND PARSLEY
By Alexa Weibel
serves 6-8
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 large leeks, cut in half lengthwise, sliced thin
3 sliced garlic cloves
1 pound celery (about 1 large bunch), peeled and thinly sliced (save leaves for garnish
1 large peeled russet potato, chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 bay leaves
1½ teaspoons thyme
1/4 cup dry white wine
7 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves, plus more for garnish
Crème fraîche or heavy cream, for serving

In a large pot, cook leeks and garlic, salt and p[epper in the oil until tender, approx. 7-10 minutes. Add the celery potato, preferably fresh thyme and bay leaves for an additional give minutes or so. Add wine to deglaze, then cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is almost dry, another approx. 3 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium and simmer until another 20 minutes until vegetables are tender and soft. Discard bay leaves. Stir in 1 cup parsley leaves.
In smaller atches, add soup to blender or use stick blender and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
In bowls, drizzle with olive oil and garnish with celery leaves and parsley and a bit of pepper. Serve with creme fraiche, sour cream or a little bit of heavy cream... ]

Tracy Chapman

I always loved Tracy Chapman--hadn't thought about her for a long while until I heard one of her songs yesterday...Thought I would share a few of my favorites....

All That You Have Is Your Soul

Change

Subcity

Sing for You

and of course Fast Car

Charity of the Week:

World Central Kitchen

Blog No. 94: The Year Earth Changed, Poem by Diane Zeuss, Beth Krensky Art

October 8, 2022

Couldn’t resist posting this utter piece of joy that has just elevated my mood tenfold this afternoon…—Mark Morris’ Dance Company hot off the press including the divine costumes by Isaac Mizrahi. The piece debuts in Santa Monica on October 20th but watch for it as it tours in a performance venue near you…

The Year Earth Changed

David Attenborough Illustration by Lulu Kitololo

My friend Tina is pure heart and she always gives me great ideas of what to include in this blog...Brought to you by David Attenborough, the important Apple TV film The Year Earth Changed shows us the positive impact the pandemic has had on animal and plant life and is a clear reminder of how much better off nature would be without us. It also includes some practical ideas of actions we can take to better coexist with our fellow inhabitants on this planet, while not destroying them in the process (which is exactly what we are doing at fantastical rates right now...).

Bobby by Diane Zeuss

As it appears in Poetry Magazine October 2022

BOBBY
by Diane Zeuss

All the actors from the sitcoms
I watched as a child are dead.
And the musicians, assassinated
or natural
causes. Take a hint
they shout from the top tier
of the ancient Roman
amphitheater. No
I will not take a hint. I still
make a mean
bowl of soup which can now
be poured directly
from a can and inserted
into a box that heats
via electromagnetic radiation.
I once owned
a guitar and learned me
some of the chords to “Me
and Bobby McGee” and damn
if I couldn’t sing
good.
My voice was not like Janis.
Nothing like Janis. It was high
serene
forthcoming
piercing
mezzo
very lyric
very trill
hugely skinny like a water spout
the neighbors complained about
its beauty I sang I sung I’m singing
I barely began to begun
and I’m not done.

Beth Krensky Art

One of the best things that came out of the pandemic is the fact that we can visit faraway places virtually and experience things that are not just in our local backyard. For example, I have been a regular visitor of programs at the The Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Center in South Africa. I have participated in film festivals in California, attended holiday events with distant friends and family strewn all over the globe. And in the case below, we can attend an art exhibit at Yale University by artist Beth Krensky, because an old client asked me to take a look at her childhood friend's current exhibit there at the Institute of Sacred Music. I found her exhibit and the objects in it mysterious, meaningful and intriguing...Krensky considers herself to be "a gatherer of things--objects, words, spirit--and a connector of fragments, to make us whole..." And in the words of the curator Maddie Blonquist Shrum, "This exhibition invites viewers to inhabit the space Krensky does herself: the in-between of matter and spirit, the profane and the sacred."

Take a look yourself at both the exhibit entitled Between Spirit and Matter and the catalogue which accompanies the show...and if you are anywhere near New Haven, the gallery is open weekdays from 9-4.

Paintings of the Week

Collaborative Animal Giclee Prints, 8” x 10” or in customizable sizes….www.pamelasmilow.com/animal=prints/

Charity of the Week:

World Central Kitchen