Tag Archives: dogs

We’re back!!

28 Jan

Sammy says as soon as she wakes up from her rash of recent museum excursions, she’s ready to share what she’s seen… but for now, she hit the snooze button until brunch…

Man’s best friend…and woman’s, too!

12 Apr

Good morning & a happy Wednesday to you all! I hope you’re enjoying the lovely summer weather. It will be 80 degrees today!

My lil pup..

Its been a rough week for my little chihuahua and so here’s 2 images to consider: Ertè & Mae West …


Mae West & her Borzoi pups

Until next week’s newsletter & , our April 18   in person Art history class…

Regards, Val 

Christmas Puppy Pajamas & the doc WE DON’T DESERVE DOGS

27 Oct

Hello all!

As an update to this post, I thought you’d like to see what Mei Mei & Sammi girl ( otherwise known as Lil Mouse & The Yapper and also Spinner & Scooter; and most affectionately, Thing 1 & Thing 2) are up to this Christmas. They’ve been modeling their matching family pajamas, as well as working on their smoldering looks for their upcoming calendar.

Meanwhile, so many of you really enjoyed our Saturday art walk in person at Pepsico Sculpture Gardens at the end of October and you have reached out to let me know how you’re looking forward to the art walk. Don’t worry – you are heard!

I am already working on our next in-person art walk happening in Katonah. And, as per usual, we are back in our virtual meeting room for weekly art history.

Now, let’s take a peek at this incredible documentary on dogs, their humans , and how lucky we are to have them in our lives.

Mei takes it all very seriously…

Originally I was working on teaching a class on the film Dog Years, but switched to the incredible documentary, Why We Don’t Deserve Dogs, for a variety of reasons. This film from 2020 is a remarkable look at the relationship between human beings and dogs.

It spans the globe from Chile to Scotland to Uganda and various countries in between. It is a quiet, contemplative look at the way dogs affect people, whether it be truffle hunters, former child soldiers, or shepherds. With their patience, constancy and unquestioning devotion, its no wonder dogs are loved and revered in so many parts of the world.

They have the power to redeem us, rescue us, entertain us, and most importantly, love us unconditionally.

Charles Schultz was right!

10 Oct

Puppy perspective on the world-

30 Sep

Of Dogs and Men:Skyfall & Amores Perros

4 Dec

Since things have finally gotten back to (almost) normal since Hurricane Sandy, I can fill you in on the great art and films that I’ve been both seeing and teaching the past several weeks. 

First of all, two days before Hurricane Sandy hit, I had a great class over at The David M. Kendall Art Gardens at Pepsico’s world headquarters in Purchase, NY. With several Henry Moore works, Snelson’s tensegrity piece Mozart II, Segal’s Four People on Bench  and a few Wynnes ( the angular metalic Girl with Dolphin and Girl on a Horse are tied for my favorites with his massive, voluptuous stone Grizzly Bear), there is always something somewhere in the garden in an organic setting to delight you.  The frog pond complete with water lilies  and frogs ( both static and living), the  Giacometti outside the conference room window, and Victor Salmones’  haunting work, The Search ,  hidden in the outer reaches of the property all factor in as my favorite works there.

come due cocodrilli poster Last month included screenings of wonderful Italian director Giacomo Campiotti’s bittersweet film, Come Due Cocodrille,about the ultimate in sibling rivalry, and  the Mexican tour de force Amores Perros, one of a trilogy by director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.  I’ll talk more about these films in a future post because they are so gripping in the ways that they comment on family, society and relationships.

                                                             

Finally, saw a screening of  Skyfall –not the most believable plot but it served its purpose in changing up the cast of characters ( if I tell you more you’ll have to kill me – for ruining the plot).      All the fun Bond elements – great opening credit sequence, fun chase scenes, interesting questions of loyalty and duty,  as well as an unexpected nod to the question of age and relevancy…but really, the best part of this  Bond was his chest…and by that I mean, Daniel Craig shirtless.  This film was chock full of eye candy for the women that go to see Bond in all his glory – Daniel Craig shirtless can never get old (see earlier comment on age and relevance issues).  Thank you Sam Mendes for utilizing all aspects of your lead actor’s talent. Keep working out, Mr. Bond.  Age is just a number, and yours seems to get better as it gets bigger.   more later…