Florence Highlights I could see the Piazza del Duomo from window of the plane as I arrived. It was the first of my Florence Highlights. Brunelleschi's dome, crowning the Duomo, was easy to spot. It glowed in the sun above the city's tangle of red tiled roofs. At that moment I was unaware of the amazing effects of the … [Read more...]
English Garden Style From Roses to Highrise
English Garden Style With Roses When roses bloom in the English Garden it is time to head to Mottisfont Abbey. Nestled in Hampshire's Test River valley, it has a world- famous collection of pre-1900 old-fashioned roses. I was there this week. There were thousands of blooms in borders and clambering on walls and trellises in the vast walled … [Read more...]
San Francisco’s New Art Cornucopia
Expanded SFMOMA Opens This weekend, May 14, SFMOMA opens to the public. It is the catalyst for San Francisco's new art cornucopia. With the new 235,000 square foot ten-story addition the museum becomes the largest contemporary art space in the US. San Francisco's New Art Cornucopia The catalyst for expansion was the 100 year loan of … [Read more...]
John Dolan and the Dog who Transformed his Life
John Dolan was once homeless, down and out. That was before he and his dog George found one another. Times have changed. He recently had a successful one man exhibit at London's Howard Griffin Gallery, his book, John and George: The Dog Who changed My Life, is being published by Random House and he is preparing for an exhibition of his work in Los … [Read more...]
Awakened and On The March
When I stood in the vast hangar-like museum at Xian and gazed at the life-sized army of marching men, horses and chariots I understood why some call the Terracotta Warrior site the 8th wonder of the world. They march in silence. Generals, lieutenants, cavalry, foot-soldiers, archers, horses and chariots, enigmatic emissaries for their emperor … [Read more...]
