What made the Renaissance such a revolution in the History of Art was the emergence of sensuality and form as a metaphor for beauty and life. I remember the first time I wandered through the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and saw Botticelli’s depiction of the Birth of Venus and thought how the perception of the feminine ideal has morphed through the centuries. Drenched in a pure white light, this painting … Read More
Several years ago, on a family vacation in France, I took my history obsessed son on an excursion to Omaha Beach in Normandy. His passion at the time was everything he could learn about World War II and the parent in me felt compelled to give him this opportunity. Little did I realize the impact this memorial would have on my own familial vision. Both my mother and my … Read More
They say that indulgence is the original sin. I don’t agree. When I was married, child of the 60’s that I was, I shunned the whole elaborate wedding thing. I thought it “beneath” my bohemian lifestyle. Of course, I was in my 20’s and I was absolutely positive that I was right. I got married in City Hall. I could not rationalize the point of all the material seduction that … Read More
Sunday was Mother’s Day. Regardless of how you define the relationship with your mother, it is an indelible bond, part of your DNA. I loved my mother, fiercely, depended upon her support, and listened to most of her advice. When she tried to direct my behavior, I accepted her guidance, keeping most of my opinions to myself mainly as a gesture of respect. She was pretty good about letting … Read More