This Too Shall Pass

My sterling silver hand stamped This Too Shall Pass bracelets...still a SToNZ best seller.

Especially pertinent with the election looming, I think.

Also available in Spanish. (And in Hebrew by special order.)

גם זה יעבור

It is said that King Solomon was feeling blue so he asked his advisers to find him a ring he had seen in a dream.
"When I feel satisfied I’m afraid that it won’t last. And when I don’t, I am afraid my sorrow will go on forever. Find me the ring that will ease my suffering." Eventually an adviser met an old jeweler who carved into a simple gold band the Hebrew inscription "gam zeh ya’avor" – "this too shall pass." The adviser said, "Wear this ring always. Whatever happens, before you call it good or bad, touch this ring and read the inscription. That way, you will always be at peace." When the king received his ring and read the inscription his sorrows turned to joy and his joy to sorrows, and then both gave way to equanimity.

Checking Out The "New" CMA

The museum I grew up with, the one I knew like the back of my hand, has undergone a huge transformation in the past few years. They are not done with the renovations yet, but many galleries are open again, and the new atrium is just astounding. It's quite a thrill to enter this vast space. We visited last night briefly, but plan to go back when we have more time to take it all in. The Ai Weiwei bronze Chinese Zodiac sculptures are on exhibit there for a time. They are huge, but are actually a bit dwarfed by this enormous room.

For now, just a few quick shots of the new atrium. I have promised myself to return when I have more time to explore and linger.

To learn more about the Cleveland Museum of Art click here.

Melbourne, Australia...city of innovative graffiti. I mean, street art!

We just got home from the trip of a lifetime: two weeks exploring the Australian coast. 

I'll post more about the trip in the weeks to come, but for starters I want to share with you my shots of the colorful graffiti we found throughout the eclectic city of Melbourne. (pronounced "Melbin" by the Aussies, BTW)

I even caught a few artists in the act. (Boy was that alley filled with toxic fumes!)

Great stuff, though. It really transformed what might have otherwise been dirty depressing back alleys into outdoor art galleries. A real treat.

Click here to see how the city government of Melbourne feels about their painted walls.
You can click on each individual image to see it larger.

The Guggenheim

I hate to admit that the last time I was inside the spectacular Guggenheim Museum in New York City was probably twenty years ago. It is hard to believe that this modern architectural "sculpture" is more than 50 years old. It's still one of my favorite gallery spaces.

We really enjoyed the current Picasso Exhibition featuring black and white works by the artist.

Impossible to take photos there though, without getting scolded by guards. 

(I took my chances.) I really just wanted to photograph the space, not the artwork. No harm in that, is there?

The show closes in January, 2013. Get there if you can.

But keep your phone/camera in your pocket. And don't look down if you are prone to vertigo!
(The first two photos are mine...the rest are not. I swear.)