Tag: Frau Kolb

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Upon Arrival in The Paris of Frau’s Dreams!

On Thursday… I think this is the first day I was here. I arrived early and exhausted, having guzzled entirely too much Champagne on the plane and barfed several times before landing. I even left my hot pink mobil on the plane and had to turn around when I was already on line to customs and the man, my seat mate, travel buddy, who may have kissed me on the lips, after my first few glasses, departed leaving me his telephone number scribbled on his plane ticket.

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Fortunately, I got my phone back, took a taxi, and made it to sleek and immaculate Hotel Pullman, in view of the Eiffel tower. At first the room looked tiny; the balcony, a joke. I began to unpack and put my swollen right foot (which ALMOST caused me not to travel, to chicken out on this seminal voyage… which would have been really terrible) up. In contrast to my expectations, I waited for Hartmuth to arrive before venturing out. As I rested the room grew bigger, unfolding into a lovely well-furnished space to spend a few days. I read one of the many guide books, short stories, and novels I’d hauled cross country and the Atlantic Ocean. I floated off into jet-lagged sleep and when my husband arrived I was dressed and ready to venture out.

Frau Kolb Loves Paris
Frau Kolb is in bliss/shock to arrive in Paris!

Slipping out of the Hotel Pullman, onto the Paris street, “Gustave Eiffel,” we walked like jet-lagged in love zombies, hand-in-hand to the monument. Seeing it up close for the first time is quite the shock. It is so beautiful.  She is perfect.  I love grids and she is the grid going to town. She is divine. She. “La Tour,” they call her because she is undeniably a lady, a lady that loves her visitors, and welcomes all from every corner of the planet to drool over her long and lovely legs. We did not have the strength to climb La Tour immediately. Our bodies demanded nourishment. Thus, we pushed forward a few steps and went to the Cafe Champs de Mars.

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We ordered, “Deux Coupe Champagne,” pate, and escargot. Tears of joy, washed down my face as I took my first sip since barfing on the plane to Paris. I was HOME. I was living the dream, inside the picture, which I’d carried in my head of Paris, made complete by the handsome French waiter, in white dress shirt black vest and neck tie, everyone dresses better in Paris…. even the homeless show so traces of style. My husband squeezed my hand and kissed me. I relaxed and took a sip of sparkling water, feeling blessed to finally be an American in Paris. I’ve dreamed of this very thing, my entire life. So far, there was nothing but bliss in being here. Puking and swollen foot aside… Frau Kolb has arrived.  Paris embraces. Frau melts into a happy pat of Parisian sidewalk joy, nibbling on a chewy (delicious) snail (thank you snail for giving me your LIFE) in butter and herbs.

Merci!

 

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ON Skip Snow’s Intervention/Exchange V: OUTSIDE LACMA

Now, in this piece, shot mostly with my iPhone we explore the edge between amateur/outsider and savvy insider.  This frequently explored yet rarely documented gray zone demands attention. (The fact that I actually own a tripod and a better  camera is made evident in this short digital documentary.) Thank you for viewing.

Last week.  Last Tuesday.  It feels like ages ago…

31 May 2013

img_6357_medIt was the James Turrell exclusive donor opening, elegant guests were dressed in formal attire.  Tall skinny European looking models waited to greet invited guests at the entrance to Los Angeles’s most esteemed art venue, the Los Angeles County Museum and we were outside LACMA, rather than inside, sipping Champagne… as we’d been IF we had so desired.  Snow, had an invitation, after all.  Yet, WE were OUTSIDE LACMA performing our fifth and most singular Intervention/Exchange in Skip Snow’s Art Project.   Rather delightfully and in-line with narrative expectations, WE experienced our first BUST.  In other words, this was the first Intervention that FAILED to relieve Mr. Snow of all six of his give-away original works of painted art on nicely labeled on stretched linen canvas, (professional gallery paintings, really).

I must admit that I benefitted by the lack of interest in our performance by the few guests that even cast a patronizing glance in our direction, I took home the penultimate painting.  I wanted it at first sight.  From the start of the evening I had my EYE on Snow’s Hammer.  Truth be told: I’d have gladly paid Skip Snow good money for the piece; which is of a portrait of HAMMER with this wonderful digital scroll of binary code wrapped around it like smoke.  I LUCKED OUT!  I’m pleased as punch because I had my EYE on this piece the moment I saw it.  I coveted it for MY (growing) ART COLLECTION!

Anyway… Todd Gray walked away, at THE END before THE END, which is always…a little sad.

Anyway… IT wasn’t an entirely “successful,” evening.  Snow had to take one excellent little painting home with him and yet… we did it AGAIN!  I collected some quirky and intriguing footage of the almost ideal performance outside LACMA during an exclusive event people by well groomed, the presumably, 1% crowd.

The well coiffed important people in formal attire did NOT bother to entertain SNOW’S sidewalk offer of a FREE painting. 

He could NOT give ‘em away.  You should have seen, the suspicion with which he was regarded.  It was criminal, the way they regarded him as street vermin, and so blatantly mistrustful!  Have these art patrons NO INTEREST in street art?   It was LIKE we were BEGGARS: Skip Snow, Todd Gray and I.  Frau Kolb in a sexy black leather jacket, standing in front of LACMA being pathetic and BEGGIN’ for attention, faithfully documenting the sweet people that went out of their way to show support to our creative collaboration.  It was so sad.  SO SAD!  HEART WRENCHING! And yet… inspiring.  AH!  I’m so glad Snow invited me to document his work.  It is a pleasure to behold the unfolding of this series of explorations of context and value, identity and worth.  Excellent, really.

However, we will recover.  ONE thing about us here at the TALKINGGRID is that we are quick to bounce BACK!   WE are ready to move forward with the project, as we set our sights on our next and final target.  Where will it be?  Where will Skip Snow’s ART PROJECT Intervention/Exchange VI take us?

Well… hold ON TIGHT and stay tuned for more on the adventures of artist Skip Snow, Frau Kolb, and Todd Gray’s collaborative miracle, the ONE and ONLY, SKIP SNOW’s Intervention/Exchange Art Project 2013.

Much LOVE,

Frau Kolb