LA art part tres + i'm it!

Jean-Michel Basquiat Originally uploaded by dressform.

OK - one last bit of art goodness... the last big show that i saw in LA (i did see some stuff at galleries too, but i won't go into that... and i did see some agnes martin {one of my all time heroes} in a group show, but i've posted about her before... so....) Jean Michel Basquiat at MOCA. yes, it's the artist that they made the movie about (so you know the story... grafitti artist turned big time art star... died young... heroin... friends with andy warhol and the big painters of the 80's david salle and julian schnabel). i thought that i had seen a lot of his work (it is kind of all over - and he was incredibly prolific so there's TONS out there), but it was incredibly powerful to see room after room of these gigantic incredibly charged pieces. they picked really strong pieces for the show (yup, i got the catalogue), and they hung the show really well. like things together - not just in chronological order.

they are so raw. racism, classism, history.... all in your face. powerful and fast strokes and bold bold colors. they made my mom shiver.... as they should. the above is a rather tame one... but so clear... want to see more ? like the kilgallen show, i was struck with how completely influential he was as an artist. how he busted down the door, really, for "street art" (ok along with keith herring - and i think they were friends too)... how he made difficult subjects fashionable (of course the irony of this situation is a bit of a pill to swallow, but.... sometimes medicine is good for you)

onto things that are more uniquely blog like... i've been TAGGED (yikes! first time ever!) by kim OK, it's kind of like a chain letter, but... in reading what other folks have disclosed, i've been charmed... so.... 5 idiosyncrasies that are mine to claim:

1. i can't sleep if i'm totally nude. i can go topless, but i need something on the bottom. i have no idea why this is the case... but it's fact
2. when i eat something that i'm really enjoying i try to save the most savory part of it for last... this means if i'm eating an apple danish i eat it in circles. round and round to that the middle bite with the most apple goodness...
3. i don't like to walk around with one shoe on and one off - when i was a kid someone said that it was bad luck to do this and it sunk in... (this also applies to socks, but i'm a bit more lenient in that case)
4. i color code our "dog towels" in the laundry room. all of the like colors have to be stacked together... or else
5. my favorite place to read the sunday new york times magazine is the bathtub. i wish i was smart enough to schedule this in! it makes for a very nice leisurely bath... plus i learn something while i'm soaking....(multi-tasking at it's best!)

i'm supposed to tag 5 of you now... i gently (meaning no pressure!) tag the following fabulous 5:

1. i have just "met" you on flickr, but am enjoying your photos immensely and just found your blog... anke

2. this blog would practically go commentless with out you... my east coast pal who desperately needs some pom poms.... wendy

3. a completely amazing crafter and organizer of amazing lists of goodness... craftlog

4. subtle and sweet and my co-conspirator in the spread of all things tentacly.... two trees

5. last, but certainly not least, the amazingly charming, talented, fun to read, and new to the blog world... tara

have fun ladies... looking forward to your lists (or not!)