As time goes by

J. and I have a new ritual in our rare times away. We've been going to museums; partly to see the art, and partly to have a peaceful place to talk. There's something about museums that calms us both and shakes loose a bit of perspective.

Several weeks ago, we took a walk among the cool granite walls of the grandly named California Palace of the Legion of Honor, and had a chance to see a fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls on loan from Israel. It sat, just a tiny fragment, in a dim recess, illuminated by the slightest hint of light. It was magical, and a little spooky, to see something so ancient and yet so unprepossessing, and know that it was written nearly 2,000 years ago. I kept thinking that, as Bogie so memorably said in Casablanca, "the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world."

I snuck away briefly today to go to an open studio on my own and visit a painter I admire (more on that in a future post). But some of the most memorable art of the day was on the outside of the building--a mural that I couldn't resist photographing.

Tomorrow we're planning to take Isaac out and see the Gilbert & George exhibit at the de Young.

*
It was an edgy day, brightened by the fact that Isaac read his first story: "Once upon a time, there was a boy, and he was very sleepy so he went to bed. The End." Now, as my eyes droop shut, I think I'll do the same.

The End.

Comments

[Niksmom]

Incredible mural! I can't wait for the day when I can take Nik somewhere for the sake of actually seeing or hearing something specific. Right now, we're still in the "burn off all the excess energy" phase.

That bedtime story is just my kind of story! LOL

[Emily]

Awwwww, I miss the Palace of the Legion of Honor. Yes, I do. Our sole art museum here SUCKS, and I love museums. Probaby the most soothing indoor place in the world to me is a room full of classical statuary...Louvre, Met, and once upon a time, at UT-Austin (their Battle collection) before they reduced it to six statues and ruined the whole thing.

Anyway...yes, museums rock. I'm also jealous of your sighting of the Dead Sea Scrolls.