Traves Tangents

  A brief visit to the St Louis Art Museum today, the only building intact and in situ from the Worlds’ Fair in 1904. I was very taken with this pigment pot, it appears that he has a counterpart in the Ashmolean that I must look out for. These little creatures caught my eye…. …however… …I mainly went…  …to catch up with this old friend, a Bodhisattava Avalokiteśvara… …seated in a position of  ‘royal ease’. A piece of such exquisite beauty, that stays long in the mind after you see it.

Yesterday we had a trip to Grant’s Farm, part ‘Robber Baron’s Mansion’ (in this case the Busch brewing family)… …part historic site (this is Ullysses S. Grant’s cabin)… …part animal park (this is a zebra and a zonkey)… …part German theme park (yes that is a plastic crane on the roof). However… …I was there… …for the goats.  It is impossible… …to feel sad… …when there are baby goats to bottle feed.

Off to one of my favourite places today, the Missouri Botanical Gardens. It has a number… …of lovely pieces… …by Dale Chihuly. I am always excited… …to see them.   However… …the plants themselves… …are just so amazing… …that I was transported… …somewhere weird… …wonderful… ….and beautiful. I’m so glad I had the chance to come here again.

Today we podded off… …to the Missouri History Museum. A magnificent building, and one of the many… …free museums in St Louis.  We paid our respects to Lindberg’s incredibly… …small plane… …then went to see an exhibition… …about the 1904 World Fair and Olympics… …which took place the same year my hosts’ house was built. There were lots of… …interesting… …and pretty things… …as well as tales of woe and exploitation. However, I was most taken with Jesse Tarbox Beals, a female documentary photo journalist with ‘hustle’. I urge you to take the time to read up on her, she really was something:  https://hundredheroines.org/historical-heroines/jessie-tarbox-beals/  .  

Sad news from home today. My Uncle John, was a massive influence, and inspiration died today. It wasn’t unexpected, but it’s always a shock. I’d been able to speak to him pretty frequently while I’ve been away, and I urge you, if you love someone, tell them, and tell them often. I’m glad I did.

 It’s difficult to live so far from people you love, especially if they’re young folks. I’ve spent the last few days being throughly domestic, with my goddaughter, and her family. It’s meant going to a school theatre showcase… …in a wonderful, little theatre… …that dates from 1913… …and going out… …for amazing ice cream… …conscious all the time that I’m missing so much. Let’s see if I feel the same after the piano recital tonight.