For the Greener Good: Urban Architecture

While it may not be in San Diego or Southern California, I still wanted to bring attention to an event at the National Building Museum in Washington DC. On January 26, 6:30-8:30, part of a public series, For the Greener Good, which focuses on environmental sustainability. The upcoming event, Urban Architecture, will involve a discussion with industry professionals and innovators. With the recent focus on carbon footprints, eating locally, and increasing our impact on the earth, this discussion will focus on ideas, experiences and solutions on how to increase farming inside our city limits. There have been some amazing strides to create farms in unordinary places and spaces. I wish very much that I could attend this event, and encourage anyone that is in the DC area to check it out!

Behind Closed Doors: SDMART

The San Diego Museum of Art's The Gallery is hosting it's first event of 2010.  Should be an enjoyable time, good company and great insight into the museum's collection!  

* Frank Stella (from Google images)

Behind Closed Doors:
The Making of an Exhibition

Thursday, January 21, 2010
6:30—8:00 PM 

Join us for The Gallery’s first event of the year on Thursday, January 21st. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn how museum curators put together an exhibition—from selecting artworks to painting the walls. For this event you’ll have exclusive access to the museum’s galleries during the “installation” phase (think crates, examination tables and half done walls) and you’ll get a preview of the exhibition that will feature major modern works by such artists as Frank Stella, Robert Delaunay, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Diego Rivera in Art of the 20th Century, scheduled to open to the public mid-February. Cap off your night at the Museum with a sneak peak of Art of North America (opens officially on January 23rd), an exhibition of works by Thomas Eakins, John Sloane, George Bellows and more.      

LUX@Night: Iva Gueorguieva

The Lux Art Institute, in Encinitas, is hosting an event tonight, free to the public ($5 suggested donations), featuring the work of the new resident artist, Iva Gueorguieva.  Her large, energetic abstract oil paintings have been shown both Nationally and Internationally, from CA to TX to NY to the Netherlands.  Born in Bulgaria, she resides in Los Angeles, and will be in studio through 6 February (on exhibit through March).   Lux at Night is a great opportunity to meet the resident artist, as well as enjoy an evening with hosted refreshments and music.  Tonight, jazz guitarist Todd Pyke will be playing live in the Lux studio.

San Diego Restaurant Week: 17-22 January 2010

For all those foodies, San Diego Restaurant Week is upon us.  Starting Monday, 17 Jan, and lasting through 22 Jan, the week-long event is back for it's tempting winter edition.  There are a handful of new additions to the list (170+ restaurants), which gives us all a great excuse to try out some of the new local eateries or classic establishments.  Food ranges from $20-$40 per person on a three course prix fixe menu, showcasing everything from fresh sea bass to fillet.  My choice this week: Cowboy Star in East Village!

Anne Kyyro Quin

A few months back I had seen a set of laser cut felt placemats in a boutique in New Zealand and my wheels began turning on how I could re-create them. Since then, felt has consumed my imagination and I have had a handful of ideas of felt based designs. But, with time not on my side, I have yet to take a stab at any of them. I was online last night and came across this UK based designer, Anne Kyyro Quinn, who's felt interior textiles are essentially works of art. Each piece is custom cut, sewn and finished by hand. The wall panels are not traditionally flat, but instead undulate in three dimensions, eliciting the urge to touch. I can only hope that her pieces can inspire my own future innovations.

Tara Donovan @ MCASD

I have been a fan of Brooklyn based artist, Tara Donovan, for a while now.  Her work is impression, innovative and a nod to reuse of material.  She is currently showing in downtown at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego through 28 February 2010.  Her sculptural installations are adjusted for the spaces they are shown, expanding and shrinking depending on the gallery.  Although comprised of unusual materials, like styrofoam cups, the result sometimes feels organic.  The forms appear to resemble biological forms, like clouds and soft landscapes.   

Butternut Squash Soup with Chicken

Although its a rarity, some days I get lazy when it comes to cooking dinner.  Last night as we sat around sipping on wine and grazing on brie & fig jam, I decided that we needed something quick before heading out to meet friends.  I ended up making a delicious butternut squash soup.  I bought a prepackaged organic soup and added some boiled chicken and green onions.  Topped with sour cream and some croutons, I was happily surprised at how tasty this quick creation turned out to be!  * picture from google, not my meal :)

Avery Grace

i heart Avery Grace.  my little niece was born in winston-salem, NC on Dec 29.  she is the sweetest angel.  i can't wait to get my hands on her :)  i am so excited for my brother & sister-in-law - they are all doing great, learning how to be new parents and enjoying every minute of this precious time.  all my love to them!

Lightening

I finally finished painting Lightening this afternoon.  The sunshine and warm January afternoon gave me this wave of motivation to work on my series.  After thickening up the web of branches, I decided it is now time to apply the text. I had pulled a quote from the November 2009 issue of Vogue from Tad Friend, "Sometimes remembered lightening was just a lightening bug" The painting reminds me of a spring evening growing up in the south east and chasing lightening bugs around my lawn.  Together the color and text leave me with such a pleasant memory!  Final image to come soon......

Artichoke, Lemon & Chicken Stew

To start off 2010, we whipped up a delicious dinner (recipe came from my brother in North Carolina) of artichoke, lemon and chicken stew over pine nut preserved lemon couscous. Between preparation, cooking and simmering, the entire dish took about an hour and half to make, but it was worth every minute! All the flavors were well balanced, mixing warmth and zing.

Cheers to a New Year!

Recipe:

Chicken Stew:
1/3cup EVOO
4 Chicken Breasts
1 shallot chopped
2 large garlic cloves chopped (or from jar)
1 TBL chopped fresh rosemary
6 ounce jar Artichoke Lemon Pesto
4 cups Chicken Stock
1 tsp Thyme
1/4 cup chopped Italian Parsley
1 can Artichoke Hearts
Salt & Pepper

Cous Cous1 box Israeli cous cous
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
2 TBL chopped preserve lemon (or zest)
2 TBL EVOO
1 TBL lemon cream (optional)

In a large heavy saute pan with lid heat 3 TBL EVOO, add chicken until brown (~3-4min/side). Once browned, transfer to a plate. Add remaining EVOO to pan and add shallots, garlic, and rosemary. Cook until soft (~10min). Stir in pesto, stock, thyme, parsley, s&p. Bring to gentle boil, cover & simmer about 1.5hours. About 5 min before finished, add artichoke hearts.

Cook cous cous per package directions. Once cooked add toasted pine nuts, preserved lemon and lemon cream. Stir.

Serve chicken over cous cous and garnish with parsley & pine nuts.

YUM!