New York, New York 2008

Fascinated images of the American West  from 1850 to 2008 at MoMA presented in the exhibit titled "Into the West". It brings the work of over 70 photographers like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Carleton Watkins, Cindy Sherman, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Adam Bartos, Larry Clark, Robert Frank, Lee Friedlander, William Garnett. From 19 century landscapes (for example work of Carleton Watkins captured beauty of Yosemite Valley) and modern urban, industrial and rural landscapes of the West to portraits representing  a diversity of the West: Native Americans, cowboys, gold miners, drifters, starlets. In conjunction with the exhibition a series of films will be screened. I went to see fascinating  one minute long documentaries from 1984 presenting Sioux ghost dances,  one minute long  Anne Oakley shooting presentation and then film "Wild Bill Hickock" (1923) with William Hart accompanied by live piano music. Great experience. While watching the movies or looking at the photographic images I connected to my childhood memories: small town movie house in Poland and the westerns. World in Technicolor, amazing landscapes, gun fights, world of men ruled by violence and death.

Last Sunday my friend and I went to Harlem to visit small ju-jitsu dojo on 135 St. I am huge fun of martial arts. I love Hong Kong movies, often think about martial arts as a subject for the movies. I fall in love ten years ago with "Ashes of Time" by Wong Kar-Wai and saw it again last year- fascinated work! I also had been trained for couple of years in one of the Manhatan's many dojos and learn a lot about myself. Our visit in Harlem was interesting and inspirational. I met friend of my friend, a Lithuanian woman ( more the 10 years in martial arts), her husband (more then 20 years in aikedo) and her teachers. I was amazed by the atmosphere in this small basement dojo. I trained in huge school and there it was-totally different experience. The martial art there is not only about physical training  more about connection, friendship, family. One of the instructors spent whole life in the neighbourhood and from the way she talked about her community you can tell she loves it and puts a lot of work to create it. I listened to the stories about life: life in Lithuania, America, about community at 135 St, struggles and worries and successes. It was amazing afternoon.

Very intense last few days. First very vibrant and vital this year The Armory Show. Then yesterday the press opening of Art of the Korean Renaissance (1400-1600) presenting painting, ceramics, metalware and printed books at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts with its masterpieces like this magical landscape painted gold on the black silk by Yi Jing. The curator of the exhibition, a beautiful, young  Korean woman told us in details about history and art of this revolutionary period in Korean art and ended on very personal note telling about her travels: first to Korea, then from Seol by small plane, then taking a bus and then travel by foot in the mountains to the small village to confirm that one of the scrolls is original and now we have a chance to look at  it in Metropolitan. 

waiting for spring to come...