It does not seem possible that it's been almost five years since our March trip to northern Italy in spring 2018. It still resonates. It looked like we might do Tuscany by now but coronavirus, medical stuff, and other things for CDS and me kept getting in the way. Medical stuff also got in the way of Germany with Daniel and Gary this past fall.
But reading compensates. I'm nearing the end of reading Lotharingia by Simon Winder. The subtitle is "a personal history of Europe's lost country." The region between France and Germany and its art and architecture has long been of interest and Winder's way of writing is delightful, blending then and now. Plenty of Burgundy and Flanders. There are two more books in Winder's trilogy about Central Europe (which came strongly recommended by Daniel).
The year started with a week in New York City, not prompted by a conference or other special event. Just by a need to have some NYC. It was a flurry of art exhibitions and some visits with friends. One of the treats was introducing my sister Cathy (who converted to Judaism and lives on Long Island) to the Jewish Museum where there was an interesting show focusing on Vienna and The hare with amber eyes. Reading Mr Beethoven and Memorial and getting started on Shuggie Bain. When the NYTBR asks me what my ideal reading place is, I'll probably have to say sitting in a café.
There were also a couple trips for in-person conferences. I drove to Baltimore for the Visual Resources Association conference. Baltimore is a bit closer to Alfred than NYC. I flew to Chicago for the ARLIS/NA conference. I was involved with two sessions: a 50th Anniversary panel of reminiscing oldtimers and moderator for a panel on Wikidata. The last day was a tour of the Edith Farnsworth House, about an hour out of town. What a treat. In the summer, I read Broken glass about Farnsworth, Mies van der Rohe (architect), and their struggles. I'm glad they got the house done and that it is now part of the National Trust.
I didn't go to the in-person June conference of the American Library Association in Washington. My main meetings were being held virtually and it was up against a visit over July 4th to Provincetown with Bill. As usual, it was a delight to be on the Cape. I also got in a couple days in Boston, including a visit to the Addison Gallery of American Art for an exhibition on Arthur Wesley Dow. What was on display from their permanent collection was also wonderful. I went on up to Maine to see CDS for a couple days and stopped at MASS MoCA on the way home.
Summer closed with a lovely visit to Alfred by Daniel and Gary. Our bucolic days started with me picking them up in Buffalo, going to the Burchfield Penney, stopping at Letchworth State Park and a vegetable stand on the way home, and then sharing in the preparation of the freshly bought corn on the cob and other vegetable matter.
I also went to Boston in October for Bill's birthday. A zero year. We did some art stuff which included a day trip to Mystic Seaport to see Sargent, Whistler, and Venetian Glass. Wow. What great stuff, on a glorious bright autumn day. The gold show at the Gardner was a fine mix of Simone Martini and some contemporary artists who use gold in their paintings. They had several of the "Flemish" portraits by Kehinde Wiley. The Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester (just an hour or so from Alfred) also has one of his "Flemish" portraits. On that way home, I stopped at the Williams College Museum of Art.
All pretty heady, no? I did get immersed in Bridgerton, streaming around the loop several times. Both Downton Abbey: A New Era and Bros came to the cinema in Hornell (12 miles away) and I went several times to each. It isn't often that they show films that I want to see. The fourth time I went to Bros, the clerk said go on in, you've already paid enough. I was the only person there each time.
Speaking of immersion, I have been thinking about doing a subject heading proposal for Immersive art experiences but I haven't figured out whether I want to submit it. "Immersive" is a hot word in art writing at the moment and has been used both for the Van Gogh and Klimt grand extravaganzas and for thorough and compelling retrospectives. What is the fundamental thing I want the subject heading for?
My assignment at the ceramics library has shifted. I was finding the Sunday hours a bit of a drag and it gets in the way of traveling. I had always done a bit of cataloigng and that is something that is really worthwhile to the library. The Sunday duty is pretty transferable (most anybody could do it). So now I'm doing a few hours a week on cataloging support, flexible hours. And lollygagging on Sundays with the Times. I am still doing my Avery indexing and love the content.
So what am I looking forward to: road trip to southern states just after Christmas, starting with the Sargent show in Washington; dropping off some periodicals from my stash to USModernist; seeing Elizabeth in Washington and Elizabeth in Orlando (different Elizabeths); Tuscany in February/March; ARLIS/NA is meeting in Mexico City in April; thinking about Portugal and Germany trips; more reading of course. Still, I know some of this will happen, some won't. Fortunately, most planned expeditions have some surprises.
Best wishes for the holiday season and the new year. May they bring you joy and peace and wellbeing.
Sherman Clarke
33 South Main Street
Alfred, NY 14802
sherman.clarke@gmail.com
http://artcataloging.net
http://shermaniablog.blogspot.com
(books read in 2022: http://shermaniablog.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-books-i-read-in-2022.html)