Category: USA

Ski Joering or Skikjoering

Ski Joring (Joering) originated in Scandinavia, but is done all over Europe, Canada and the USA. Basically it is skiing behind a horse a couple of dogs or cars or motorbikes.

The first time I saw it in real life was in the mid fifties on lake St Moritz, the famous Swiss wintersport resort. In 1928 when the first Olympic Winter Games were held in St Moritz, Skijoering or skikjoering was a demonstration sport. Thereafter it didn’t come trough however.

In the next video you can see that it is embedded in the White Turf racing days on the ice of lake St Moritz between proper horse racing with a jockey and trotting races where the jockey is behind the horse in a cart (sulky):

In the USA it goes a bit different. There the skier has to slalom and take some obstacles. More with a Mid West air to it.

USA Election Day – Humilitas Odiosa Superbis

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Humilitas Odiosa Superbis

Is the motto engraved in the facade of one of the city palaces in Jesi, an Italian city in the Marche region, not afar from the Adriatic sea bordering city Ancona, and yes very close to the recent earthquakes of Norcia and Perci by the way.

Humilitas Odiosa Superbis means so much as humility is wasted to the well to do.

I had to think of Mr Trump off course in his Titanic battle against Hillary Clinton. I hope if he happens to win he earns some more sensitivity….

Jesi is where the Italian Componist Pergolesi was born. Pergolesi is most know because of his Sabat Mater…. nomen est omen

Ed Ruscha: Ostend – La Jolla – Venice – The Hague

Brave Men Run in My Family Ed Ruscha I56A1143 kl

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Ed Ruscha: Ostend – La Jolla – Venice – The Hague

An acrylic on canvas painting by Ed Ruscha, but also a Mural at the La Jolla Branch of the Museum of Contemporary Art of San Diego, California (see the second photo right).
1995-1996, acrylic on PVC coated fabric. Collection Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Museum purchase with proceeds from Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Art Auction 2006, and from prior donations by Susan and Frank Kockritz and Mr. and Mrs. Norton S. Walbridge. © Ed Ruscha.

Ostend?

I took this photo in Ostend, Belgium at the exhibition The Sea which became a memorial to Belgian Museum curator Jan Hoet. I found it in Mu.zee. There the caption is Brave Men From La Jolla and the ownership attributed to Studio Ruscha

Clearly there is a Flying Dutchman analogy which connects the quote “Brave Men Run in My Family” to the sea.

Venice?

My first encounter with Ed Ruscha was in another Seafaring City, Venice, Italy at the occasion of the 2005 Venice Biennial. There he presented mono color work from his Blue Collar series with new work which he called Course of Empire (see this Traditional Fine Arts Organization writeup)

Strangely enough I took only photo’s from the mono color work and not from the multi color work. With hindsight I believe I found the black and white work much more impressive, especially in the USA pavilion.
Tool and Die Ed Ruscha 2005 Biennial Venic IMG_0464
Telephone by Ed Ruscha Venice Biennial 2005 IMG_0460
Tech Chem Ed Ruscha Venice Biennial 2005 IMG_0463
Tires by Ed Rucha Venice Biennial 2005 IMG_0462
Trade School Ed Ruscha Venice Biennial 2005 IMG_0461
US Pavillion Venice Biennial 2005 IMG_0465

The Hague?

The connection is this: After Venice the Ruscha paintings were exhibited in the Whitney Museum NYC. Currently the Whitney museum is on the move from its Breuer designed museum to a Piano designed new Museum that will be opened spring next year. Soon the US Embassy in the Hague will leave its Breuer designed building for a newly built Embassy. I hope the US will show the same respect for the only Breuer designed building we have in The Hague as the Whitney museum did by making a deal with the MET. See this NY Times article.

Happy Birthday John Cage

Happy Birthday John Cage from HappyHotelier on Vimeo.

This year the 100th Birthday of a famous American composer, John Cage, will be celebrated.

This Birthday cake installation for John Cage I found in an exhibition in the Museumsquartier of Vienna that I visited quite unexpectedly earlier this week. I made a small piece of video so that you get a feel of why all small loudspeakers were used to decorate the cake.

Featuring more than hundred different works, “MEMBRA DISJECTA FOR JOHN CAGE: Wanting to Say Something About John” is an homage to John Cage, whose hundred birthday is being celebrated around the world in 2012. The Latin term “membra disjecta” in the exhibition title indicates John Cage’s method of working with a scattering of elements from various sources. The subtitle refers to a multiple that John Cage created in Marcel Duchamp’s honor after his death: “Not Wanting to Say Anything About Marcel.”

If you happen to be in Vienna shortly a must visit exhibition!

Below is a trailer for an memorial of John Cage in The Hague on March 10, 2012:

Honeymoon Suite Whirpool for Two

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Roman Towers Romance

Seedy, stylish, romantic or just fun this Whirlpool for 2 in your honeymoonsuite?

Its in an all inclusive couples only resort in the Pocono Mountains PA, USA.

Toast your romance with a sensual soak in the world-exclusive, 7-foot tall Champagne Glass Whirlpool Bath-for-Two. Set on Pocono Palace’s golf course, The Roman Towers are designed in a Grand Roman theme with floor to ceiling columns, stunning arches, vaulted ceilings, covered walkways and a private, arched underpass for parking. A cathedral window offers a panoramic view of Pocono Palace’s lush surrounding landscape.

Via the Roman Tower

I’ve quickly looked at their Tripadvisor reviews….mixed…