Author: jmerhar
Rosa Lewis: The Queen of Cooks & Cockney
The lady from Leyton was notoriously elusive, especially in death. My only means to get close to the woman newspapers hailed in the 19th century as, “the greatest woman cook in the world” were three parchment remnants. Two books accompanied me on this journey, …
Château de Malmaison: Where Roses Reign
Many tourists traveling to Paris look for a dose of sugar coated history by heading to the Palace of Versailles or Fontainebleau. Both famous residences are dripping with opulence, but there is a hidden gem waiting patiently to be unwrapped by those interested in the …
Persian Rice (Karl Müller & Co)
This Persian rice is meant to be a side dish, but it really doesn’t need an accompaniment. It’s savory, sweet and filling. The combination of pistachios, currants and mint transport taste-buds to the Middle East, without the hassle of packing and jet-lag. Preparation is easy: Saute …
Gruene Hall: A Snake. A Beer. A Memory.
Walking into Gruene Hall, boots are greeted not only by worn wooden floorboards, but with a clacking sound as heels scoot over weathered metal license plates that are nailed to the floor. I wasn’t sure if their purpose was to add visual interest or just plain necessity to cover …
Sarah Lucas: Au Natural
The Hammer Musuem’s senior curator, Anne Ellegood chose Self Portrait with Fried Eggs to headline their exhibit, Sarah Lucas: Au Natural. This self-portrait of the artist is raw and hard, unlike the eggs over easy propped on each of Ms. Lucas’s breasts. The verbiage Ms. …
Mithu Sen: (Not so) Pretty in Pink
( Sen, Mithu, Banana Couple, 2006. Dental polymer, artificial teeth, glue, and thread, 10 x 3 x 6 in.) Artist Mithu Sen smiles recalling the story of when she was a little girl, dressed in a pretty pink frock she overheard a guest mention to another, …
Lee Krasner: Unencumbered
(Krasner, Lee. Prophecy, 1956. Oil on Cotton Duck. 58 1/8 x 34 in. Private Collection.) Lee Krasner exhibit at the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt. Closes Jan. 2020. American Abstract Expressionist, Lee Krasner was born in 1908 into a Ukrainian Jewish family in New York. …
Diana Krall: Under the Stars
Sitting under the stars of Ghent was a woman far from home. She spoke fondly of traveling with her two children and husband across the ocean. Her black attire was both practical and highlighted her golden shoulder length hair. Her flawless porcelain complexion didn’t compete with color stained …
Barefoot in Paris: Père Lachaise
Cemeteries train the eye to glance downward. As if the thought of death weren’t somber enough, most are flat and gray. The only breath of life – occasional wilting flowers that rest beside headstones. If you have the opportunity to visit the cemetery, Père Lachaise in Paris, you’ll find it …