Maira Kalman
So.
The day finally came.
We'd been talking about seeing the Maira Kalman exhibit since last year sometime, when it was in Philadelphia but we never made it.
We went on Saturday and we drove into town because our train was not running and we got a perfect parking spot. We walked a few pristine blocks, admiring the homes and listening to the quiet of a neighborhood we never visit.
It was surreal and wonderful.
And then we were there...free admission on Saturdays...cool and quiet inside...through security and around a corner to see this
the back of my head and Ms. Kalman and Mr. Meyrowitz's subway food map.
Both fascinating and wonderful. I'd encourage you to enlarge it and study it.
Up a glass blocked stairwell we went. I can't even tell you how excited I was. I have been, you see, an enormous fan of Ms. Kalman's work since...well, since Oldest was a baby, I think.
I read him her books over and over again so, when I got to the top of the stairs I was fairly overwhelmed.
We did sneak some pictures.
An enormous wall of tiny figures
like the endpapers of a book - but those were there too.
A self-portrait to start things off.
The viewer moves through the rooms in order - there is a progression to the pictures and objects.
I could hear myself reading this page to tiny Oldest. Seeing this one, in particular, made me cry.
There were some I had only seen in print. I loved them even more in real life.
I cannot explain why her work resonates with me so significantly. I really can't.
There were small collections of things that I, too, have a fondness for: buttons and tags and ladders and buckets.
Oh, and, string.
It was all very wonderful.
I remembered, after I went home, how terribly sad I was on the first weekend of 2000. After reading for years about Maira Kalman and her family and their travels and projects, after marveling over stories about her children and admiring the work of her husband, I read this.
Time has passed. I've met her and told her how much I admire her. I worked hard not to be creepy or gush, but the fact of the matter is, I am completely in love with her.
The day finally came.
We'd been talking about seeing the Maira Kalman exhibit since last year sometime, when it was in Philadelphia but we never made it.
We went on Saturday and we drove into town because our train was not running and we got a perfect parking spot. We walked a few pristine blocks, admiring the homes and listening to the quiet of a neighborhood we never visit.
It was surreal and wonderful.
And then we were there...free admission on Saturdays...cool and quiet inside...through security and around a corner to see this
the back of my head and Ms. Kalman and Mr. Meyrowitz's subway food map.
Both fascinating and wonderful. I'd encourage you to enlarge it and study it.
Up a glass blocked stairwell we went. I can't even tell you how excited I was. I have been, you see, an enormous fan of Ms. Kalman's work since...well, since Oldest was a baby, I think.
I read him her books over and over again so, when I got to the top of the stairs I was fairly overwhelmed.
We did sneak some pictures.
An enormous wall of tiny figures
like the endpapers of a book - but those were there too.
A self-portrait to start things off.
The viewer moves through the rooms in order - there is a progression to the pictures and objects.
I could hear myself reading this page to tiny Oldest. Seeing this one, in particular, made me cry.
There were some I had only seen in print. I loved them even more in real life.
I cannot explain why her work resonates with me so significantly. I really can't.
There were small collections of things that I, too, have a fondness for: buttons and tags and ladders and buckets.
Oh, and, string.
It was all very wonderful.
I remembered, after I went home, how terribly sad I was on the first weekend of 2000. After reading for years about Maira Kalman and her family and their travels and projects, after marveling over stories about her children and admiring the work of her husband, I read this.
Time has passed. I've met her and told her how much I admire her. I worked hard not to be creepy or gush, but the fact of the matter is, I am completely in love with her.
Comments
So much fun and also moving to read. My favorite is the Self-Portrait in her favorite brown jacket...
Great hair, by the way. And sent your brother good thoughts via twitter...hope i didn't scare him.
Thanks...
To share such a private love, something involving your first child ... it takes a huge heart to do that. I would normally be very protective and secretive about it.
Hat to you.
As always.
And BOY do you look HOT with your new hair!
You hair is longer than I imagined.