Mark Rothko (1903 – 1970) was an American painter of Russian Jewish descent. He is considered one of the most famous postwar American artists along with Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. Generally identified as an Abstract Expressionist, he himself rejected this label and even resisted classification as an “abstract painter.”
The most important aspect of painting for Mark Rothko was the creation of space within it. For him, artists were seekers of truth and he sought to communicate his understanding of the world, not through colour, as we might imagine, but through a sense of space within the work.
Mark Rothko along with Adolph Gottlieb published the Abstract Expressionist Manifesto, which read as follows:
‘To us art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can be explained only by those willing to take risks. This world of the imagination is fancy-free and violently opposed to common sense. It is our function as artists to make the spectator see the world our way – not his way. We favour the simple expression of the complex thought. We are for the large shape because it has the impact of the unequivocal. We wish to reassert the picture plane. We are for flat forms because they destroy illusion and reveal truth… ‘
‘You might as well get one thing straight. I’m not an abstract artist...I’m not interested in the relationship of colour or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions – tragedy, ecstasy, doom and so on. And the fact that a lot of people break down and cry when confronted with my pictures shows that I can communicate these basic human emotions…The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience as I had when I painted them.’
I’ve been taking a veggie capsule called “BioSil” for almost a year which claims to promote healthy hair, skin & nails among other things (like bones & joints) and overall I have noticed an improvement especially in my hair and nail growth. BioSil is the only thing I can attribute this to.
I realize that this is beginning to sound like a testimonial more than a product review. There is an active ingredient in the capsule that helps to generate collagen (collagen accounts for around 30% of the protein content of the human body) which diminishes significantly as we age. In simple terms, collagen is considered to be the “glue” that holds the body together. Even so, I wasn’t actively looking for this, just noticed it on the vitamin shelf of a health food store and it looked worth giving a try. Now I’m almost through my third bottle and will continue to take this supplement – because I’m crazy for keeping the glue together.
This from Preferred nutrition:
Molecular biologists have pinpointed the key structural protein integrally involved in creating smooth skin, thick strong hair, and strong nails. It’s your body’s beauty protein, collagen. Collagen is an essential building block of your body, making up 70% of your skin and 30% of your bones. During youth, you have a rich abundance of collagen, which arranges itself into a resilient and flexible “tight mesh” matrix . This “ideal” collagen condition prevents wrinkles from forming, gives skin elasticity and helps create thick and strong hair. But over the years, collagen diminishes and undergoes other changes.
For years, scientists searched for a method that would give the human body the ability to regenerate its own collagen. But it took the discovery of BioSil’s™ patented choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid (ch-OSA®), the active ingredient in BioSil™, to make genuine collagen regeneration a reality.
BioSil™ “turns on” the body’s actual collagen-generating cells, known as fibroblasts. Because BioSil™ works through your body’s natural pathways, the collagen it generates has your own DNA fingerprint. BioSil™ has been tested in rigorous double-blind placebo controlled trials which have consistently shown its safety and effectiveness for collagen regeneration and improved appearance of skin, hair and nails.
In one study, 50 women with sun damaged skin took BioSil™ or a placebo tablet for 20 weeks. At the end of the trial, women taking BioSil™ showed significant improvements in skin smoothness and strength, and in nail and hair strength.3 In yet another study, BioSil™ supplementation for nine months increased hair thickness, elasticity and strength in women with fine hair.4
Collagen: Generate It – Don’t Eat It
It’s important to note that BioSil™ is not made out of collagen. Instead it triggers the body to generate its own collagen. There’s a big difference. When you ingest collagen, the human body breaks it down and uses it as food. By contrast, BioSil’s™ patented ch-OSA complex is absorbed by the body, where it acts to promote the production of collagen, boosting your body’s collagen levels, and slowing the loss of this essential building block that occurs with age. As a result, BioSil™ provides superior support for stronger, healthier and thicker hair; stronger nails; fewer fine lines and wrinkles and denser and more flexible bones.
It would have been a blast to attend “The Greatest Art Basel Party in the History of Mankind”
The Invite
Arrangements Corporation of North America, you are cordially invited to the greatest Art Basel Miami Beach party in the history of mankind. Humanity has yet to behold such a truly magnificent party, with a gathering of luminaries, celebrities, socialites, sociables, sociopaths, bons vivants, and hangers-on, the likes of which haven’t convened since the sinking of theTitanic.
The festivities begin at the private residence of some private individual who’s probably (though privately) extremely rich, with an extremely privately private dinner. We will be celebrating some artist whose name we forget (that’s literally his name—some artist whose name we forget—all in bolded lowercase) and whose work you surely don’t know because it’s pretty obscure (literally the exhibition’s name—pretty obscure) and, in all likelihood, you probably aren’t supposed to be here. (Literally, you aren’t supposed to be here. We’re looking at you.)
This extremely private dinner, set to honor the artist some artist whose name we forget, will be celebrating the release of his new film, film, and will also honor the gallerists, curators, collectors, and Madonna (the Virgin Mary, not the pop singer) who made his book, book, such a huge success.
Many of the MacArthur Causeway’s northbound lanes have been shut down and turned into the Veuve Clicquot Art Basel Miami Beach Chevauchement e’ Glissement, a champagne Slip ’n Slide spanning the length of many football fields, ensuring that there’s absolutely no chance of escape.
All at once and quite suddenly, the heavens shall open up, wingéd cherubim shall appear carrying trumpets, which they shall blow in a spectacle of magnificent sound, in order to herald forth the culminating moment of the greatest Art Basel party in the history of all mankind, the likes of which humanity has never beheld.
That’s really too bad. After all, I fall into the “sociable” category and I love to hang on to things. I also appreciate South Beach (the most fun part of Miami) and Art.
I promise not to miss the next one and I won’t even attempt to escape!
Once in a while an amazing hair product grabs my attention.
So far I find this hair product from L’Oréal Paris Absolue-tly amazing . It could be the best and easiest hair coloring kit ever invented. It met all the requirements. Easy to apply, non-messy (a real plus) with little to no odor. But the BEST THING about it – drumroll…..it’s reusable! The formulas are preserved in airtight tubes so you can stash the device away and re-use it as needed.
click to enlarge
Hair products for the most part seem to escape my interest so I concentrate on reviewing makeup and skincare products. It’s not that I don’t like them or need them but my routine is relatively unfussy and I don’t like to use much product – my hair is fine so too much product will weigh it down. Whenever I ‘m at my hairdresser she ends up putting mousse, then a color enhancer, then a little Moroccan oil (I love that oil) and then ruins it all by using hairspray. I keep saying “no” (I do not like hairspray overload) but she does it anyway. It looks great for one day and then it will take some effort on my part to get it to looking like I just left the hairdresser. And I hate to put a lot of effort into my hair. Maybe I should care more but I don’t want to spend a lot of time fussing. I haven’t been to a hairdresser to color or highlight my hair in a long time preferring to do it at home. I found a few easy root touch up kits and even a highlighting one. The drawbacks are that they tend to get messy (I have a white sink & tub) and there’s always waste.
This new hair dye from L’Oréal has been selling in Europe for quite some time so we’re really lucky the company finally decided to send it this way.
Here is what the company says:
L’Oréal Preference Mousse Absolue is the first automatic and re-usable hair color that’s, dare we say, quite the revolutionary product. After 10 years in the making, L’Oreal Paris has devised a canister with dual chambers that seamlessly combines the color dyes and color developer together at the push of a button.
I’m trying… I am trying to be more minimalistic…..and have almost succeeded. Don’t laugh, it’s true.
I wasn’t going to post anything about closet cleanup &
this time (did you see my post re: needing more space?) https://intrigueimports.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/personally-speaking-i-need-more-space/ Where do we even begin? Is there a certain sequence to follow? And then just as I was putting this together…Boom…a post shows up in my inbox from fellow blogger Chelsea Spear. On her blog “Seablanket” she walks us through her near perfect solution. I say “near” because it might be a tiny tad unrealistic for people like me (who have a closet elsewhere to hold items they don’t have room for at home) but I do admire Chelsea’s method and it’s something I want to aspire to. Easier said than done right?
chelsea spear
Five Solutions according to Chelsea:
One of the questions I’m asked most frequently regarding my minimalist lifestyle is where I store all my “extra stuff.” There is a very simple explanation, which is truly that I don’t have any extra stuff. I realize it’s easy to say but not to do, so I decided to take the opportunity to show you exactly what I mean, and be transparent about how this lifestyle looks for me.
Spring is here, and like many of you, I have been feeling a need to purge my closet and make room for warm weather and a fresh looking wardrobe. The hard part for me: I find it terribly hard to justify buying new items for my wardrobe when I don’t know enough about what I already have. What requires mending or replacing, what pieces I desire or exactly what I NEED?!? That’s last one is the most important. Below I’ll walk you through my own methods and hopefully help some of you as you take on the seemingly monstrous task of spring cleaning your wardrobe.
I start by emptying my entire closet. That includes, shoes, socks, undergarments, each and every piece of clothing or accessories you own, take them out of the closet and don’t put them back until you’ve asked yourself the following questions:
1. Does it need mending or replacing? Here is where you get to weigh your options. Will mending do the trick? If so, why haven’t you gotten around to it yet?… could that be a sign that you don’t desire it any longer? Would it be best to replace the garment? Is sentimental value the only thing keeping it in your closet? Keeping items around that aren’t being worn because of the garments poor quality? Let it go!
2. Have I worn this in the last season (or if it’s “special” ask yourself if you’ve worn it in the last year)? If you answer no, get rid of it. Sell it, donate it to a Salvation Army or Goodwill near you, seal it away in your attic for safe keeping, just get it out of your closet and free yourself of the distraction. If you’re like most people you think this rule won’t apply to you, because you spent your hard earned money on it, and it’s yours. But in all reality, most clothing pieces that aren’t worn are no longer desired by the owner. Chances are if you’re not wearing it this year, you won’t be wearing it in the future.
3. Does it have stains or holes or runs?
Yes or no, bottom line?! Toss it if it’s looking gross. Even if the item is super comfortable or you’ve had it since college so it’s sentimental, quit looking like a homeless person and trade in your over-worn and over-loved garments for something fresh, clean and simple.
4. Does it fit? Is it flattering?
This one is probably the most difficult, because it requires you to be 100% honest with yourself. If it’s too hard to decide on your own, grab a trusted friend and ask them for help. I always ask my friend Bethany, because she not only understands who I am, and how I wear my clothes, but she also knows my sense of style and my fashion goals. She will tell me if I’m heading in the wrong direction with a piece, or if it’s just not achieving the look I wanted. That honest but loving input is incredibly helpful and will save you a lot of time and bad decision making.
5. How many of these do I need? Again… be honest with yourself. Do you really need all these graphic tees? Do all 15 pairs of blue jeans really look different, or are they just there cause you can’t let anything go? Go ahead… let them go, and keep the best.
While all of these spring cleaning “steps” may seem incredibly challenging, the rewards do pay off. For instance, I like to deep clean my closet with each passing season, and when I do I make a list of items that number one : I Need, and number two : I Want…. which means (say it with me) “I GO SHOPPING!” I do discipline myself to make sure that each pieces of clothing is pulling it’s own weight in my wardrobe, and if I buy something new, I make sure it’s replacing something else. That stained pair of jeans gets tossed when I bring home a new pair. That jacket goes away because it’s out of style but I know I can replace it this fall, with something more current.
My wardrobe is so streamlined these days that I can pretty much write on my calendar when I’m going to need a new pair of jeans or new socks, and when last years sweaters will need dry cleaning, mending and finally replacing. I am also able to continually update my look with each season, staying relevant to the trends or style I admire, without breaking the bank.
These addictive energy bars are easy to make, easy to store and really easy to eat!
1 cup whole raw almonds
1 cup pitted dates (unsweetened) – about 12
1 cup raisins (unsweetened & *unsulphured). *No preservatives.
2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp. flax seeds (I buy the kind already ground with blueberries)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Put all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until ingredients form into a ball (the dates hold everything together, so if you need, add more). Pour the mix onto parchment paper & pat down with your hands. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Cut into squares, wrap in parchment paper and store in your refrigerator. You can freeze them too.
Tip #1: Cut a small piece of parchment paper to help pat the mixture down with. This will prevent mix from sticking to your hands.
TIP #2: Medjool dates are the best. You can try different combinations like cranberries instead of raisins, or a combo of half sour cherries & half raisins. Experiment.
TIP #3: The whole recipe is rounded out to a total of 2000 calories (It’s actually a bit less) so let’s say you cut the bars into 10 equal size pieces it works out to about 200 calories per bar. Not bad considering how rich & filling they are.
Basel (pronounced the same way as the herb) is a charming city in Switzerland. Basel is so tucked away on the northern edge of the country, bordering both France and Germany, that it’s not on the regular Geneva-Bern-Lucerne-Zurich route and is often forgotten. And what a shame that is (I’ll tell you why in a minute).
But first A LITTLE HISTORY:
It’s worth a visit even to just ride the buses
Basel is Switzerland’s third most populous city (approx. 195,000 inhabitants) and is located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet with suburbs in France and Germany. Basel straddles Europe’s greatest river – the Rhine. A small part of the city (Kleinbasel) sits on the northern shore, even though the rest of that riverbank is German – and so acts as Switzerland’s gateway to the sea. It’s a very pretty little city too.
Basel on the Rhine
CULTURE: for many Swiss people, Basel means the three Fs: football, Fasnacht (a large popular festival) and pharmaceuticals, all loved and hated in equal measure. But Switzerland’s third largest city has a lot more to offer than some effing stereotypes, a fact that is also lost on many foreigners visiting Switzerland. ART is a BIG deal. So are museums.
Amid all the museums and galleries that crowd into Basel, perhaps the quirkiest is the one dedicated to the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely, aptly named “The Tinguely Museum.”
Jean Tinguely
Tinguely was born in Fribourg but grew up in Basel, and created the most amazing sculptures you are ever likely to see. Many look like they were put together by a mad scientist using laboratory leftovers. If you thought the Swiss were dull, this museum will change your mind. But I never thought they were dull. I had a Swiss German friend (a girl named Simone) who I met travelling in the Philippines who was extremely avantegarde and fun.
Moving right along, do you know what Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong have in common?
All three cities stage premier international art shows, providing a platform for artists and gallerists from all over the globe. It is considered the world’s largest and most prestigious fair for modern and contemporary art – goes by the name “ART BASEL.” Heard of it?
Art Basel was founded in 1970 by Basel art gallerists Ernst Beyeler, Trudi Bruckner and Balz Hilt. They put their passion and determination behind a visionary idea of their city anddecided to feature only museum quality art work. Art Basel was founded and met with an immediate approval, with more than 16,300 visitors its inaugural year. The fair used a selection process which chose the most elite and exclusive art galleries to participate. These special exhibitions allowed visitors to experience the art on a more global scale, as well as focus on particularly important featured artists.
After more than 30 years of shows, Art Basel extended its fair from Switzerland, to Miami in 2002. Just last year, Hong Kong was added to the list of art-forward cities to participate. Art Basel currently hosts 300 exhibitors from all over the world, with a reported 75,000 to Miami’s location, with many of the exhibitors entirely selling out.
The Art Market’s boom amid world economic sluggishness is a sign of the growing gulf between the rich and the super-super-rich. Taken from The Wall Street Journal (on Opinion Europe – June/20/2013):
A Matter of Taste and Millions
Samuel Lynne Galleries
Art Basel is the world’s largest and most prestigious fair for modern and contemporary art. Art Basel offers collectors the most expansive and high quality buying venue of the year. It provides an extraordinary overview of primary and secondary market material. And, increasingly, it is responding to the growth of the global art market, offering a more comprehensive look at galleries and art making practices around the world. It has for a long time set the standard among art fairs.
In school you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.
If you have learned to disagree without being disagreeable, then you have discovered the secret to getting along – whether it be business, family relations or life itself – Bernard Meltzer
A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.
You can hardly grocery shop without being bombarded by products promising you more vitamins, more fiber, more nutrients, more everything. Almost half of all new items that make their way to store shelves carry at least one health claim on their packaging. Below is a listing of reality-check lingo so you know exactly what you’re getting from your favourite foods.
Claim: with Omega-3s
Truth: don’t get too excited as heart-healthy omega-3s get top billing on everything from peanut butter to milk and breads. Some products contain only 32 milligrams of the healthy fat per serving – one tenth the amount in a half ounce of salmon. You’re better off following the American Heart Association’s guidelines, which recommend eating at least two weekly servings (3.5 ounces cooked) of fatty fish like salmon or trout to get the most omega-3s in your diet.
Claim: Good source of Antioxidants
Truth: Packaged foods need to contain only 10 percent of your daily intake of antioxidants, like vitamin A, C, and E, to be considered a “good source,” according to the Food and Drug Aministration. Instead, consume a full spectrum of antioxidants from natural sources like fruits and vegetables. One small carrot, for example, provides more than twice the amount of Vitamin A than a full serving of one antioxidant-enriched cereal does. Aim for four servings of fresh fruits and five servings of veggies per day – the more colourful they are, the higher the antioxidant levels.
Claim: High in Fiber
Truth: Some loaves of bread, energy bars, and even waffles can deliver up to 35 percent of your daily fiber requirement per serving, but much of the added fiber can be man-made or extracted from plants. And while studies have shown that a high-fiber diet may reduce the risk of heart disease, the research applies to naturally occurring fiber. To meet your daily needs, stick to natural sources like bran, oats, berries, and broccoli.
Claim: Made with Whole Grains
Truth: Crackers, breads, and cereals that carry this promise must offer some whole grains (higher in fiber, vitamins, and minerals than their refined counterparts), but companies aren’t obligated to disclose the actual amount, and there’s no required minimum. In fact, one popular brand of “whole-wheat” crackers contains a measly five grams of whole grains per serving – 1/16 of your recommended daily intake. Avoid confusion in the bread aisle by choosing foods that say they’re “100 percent whole grain” – that label ensures that the product contains no refined flours.
The most important aspect of painting for Mark Rothko was the creation of space within it. For him, artists were seekers of truth and he sought to communicate his understanding of the world, not through colour, as we might imagine, but through a sense of space within the work.
‘To us art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can be explained only by those willing to take risks. This world of the imagination is fancy-free and violently opposed to common sense. It is our function as artists to make the spectator see the world our way – not his way. We favour the simple expression of the complex thought. We are for the large shape because it has the impact of the unequivocal. We wish to reassert the picture plane. We are for flat forms because they destroy illusion and reveal truth… ‘
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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