Create like Jackson Pollock

by Jamie Rhein on

Jackson Pollock’s studio in East Hampton, Long Island, methods and personality are featured quite nicely in this less than 4 minute YouTube video where he talks about his life and work. He mentions Cody, Wyoming and where he learned his techniques. It’s clear that a sense of place was important to him. Years ago my brother rented a house for the summer with another friend at East Quogue which is almost next door to East Hampton, but at the time was its less glitzy cousin. The first time I went out on this part of Long Island I was surprised by its beauty. The beaches here are quite lovely and there was a sense of remoteness, quite the opposite of Jones Beach near Manhattan. Pollock’s talk about painting sounds a bit like a world traveler’s process. He says “Because painting has a life of its own, I try to let it live.” Isn’t travel that way?

Outside of the house where Jackson Pollock lived and worked looks just like the place where I stayed. It’s a place that brings out one’s creativity and musings. In my search for Jackson Pollock stuff, I also came across this Web site where you can create like Jackson Pollock. Just move your mouse. I’ll let you figure out how it works since that’s part of the fun. Watch this short video for some inspiration.

Going to Brazil for carnival or cosmetic surgery?

by Abha Malpani on

What better way to hide that you are going to get your physical imperfections perfected than to say you are off to Brazil for the Carnival! A nip and tuck here and there, some suction down and under, followed by some raucous dancing, drinking, and bronzing on the beach will make you a new person and everyone will think it was your holiday! That’s the main pitch of an ever growing wave of surgery tourism in South America, with Brazil being the center of it all.

Brazil has long been the cosmetic surgery capital of the world, providing easy, not to mention cheap, access to qualified cosmetic surgeons. Brazilians have no shame touching up their bodies so they can flaunt their “dental floss” thongs. Prime example is Brazilian carnival star and supermodel Angela Bismarchi who plans to dance at this year’s Rio carnival (2-6 February) almost nude in front of a 300-person drum group after her 42nd (!!!) plastic surgery. Nylon wires will be implanted in her eyes to make them look Asian so they accentuate the theme of her parade team that will celebrate the centennial of Japanese immigration to Brazil.

I wasn’t surprised to read that Brazil is an image-mad country where the pressure to look hot is so high, even the poor get surgical enhancements on an installment; it’s an added bonus that Brazilian butt and belly surgeons are amongst the best in the world. According to an article in the Guardian: Exact figures are hard to come by, [but] it’s known that Americans spent around $12.4bn (£6.5bn) on plastic surgery in 2005, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery; they say Brazil is not far behind.

So whether you want to look oriental, or scrape off some flab and not be too obvious about it, there is definitely a cosmetic surgery tourism package for you. Frommers has a decent round-up of your options, check them out here.

Jackson Pollock’s studio and house in East Hampton

by Jamie Rhein on

When I was finding out details about Cody, Wyoming for my post on Cody Cowboy Village, I found out that Jackson Pollack was born in Cody Wyoming in 1912 and yesterday (January 28) was his birthday. Jackson Pollock is one of those artists whose work I admire tremendously, but don’t know exactly why.

One of the things I remember about my first trip to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City is Jackson Pollock’s paintings. A long time ago I took the Foreign Service exam just to see what would happen and found out that there are some things I just don’t know. What I did know, was Jackson Pollock’s picture. There was a photograph of him painting and I recognized him immediately.

To celebrate his birthday, I looked into what mark he made on the world besides his art that you can see in museums. I did think about making a list of museums where you can see his work, but instead am happy to report that his former studio and house is now a museum and study center in East Hampton, New York. The house built in 1879 belonged to a fisherman’s family. Now it’s the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center and is where Pollock did most of his work from 1946 until his death. Visiting here is one way to soak in the atmosphere and belongings of a person who is certainly one of abstract art’s most energetic contributors. The house is open seasonally. Visits begin again May 1.

By the way, East Hampton is also a gorgeous, trendy place to spend some time, but bring money.

Balloon Twisters Convention: Quest for balloon dresses

by Jamie Rhein on

Watching someone make a balloon animal, particularly if its the two balloon variety is like watching magic happen in a way. Last year I learned how to make a mouse, although I wasn’t very good at it. Yesterday, when a relative sent me one of those forwarded emails that add a bit of whimsy and amazement to a day, my balloon animal mouse seemed much less of an accomplishment. The email included several photos of balloon dresses with women in them.

Since I had no idea where these women were or who did the balloon art, I poked around for some answers. This was not at a kid’s party for sure. As it happens, at the Balloon Twisters Convention in Burlington, Massachusetts near Boston, February 20-24, people do wear balloon dresses. At least there is a picture of one woman wearing balloons on the Web site. At the convention with an aim to elevate balloon art, people who are experts at turning balloons into objects compete to see who is the best. They also give instructions and conduct classes on how to make balloon animals and other whimsical creations. Plus, there are balloon twisting supplies for sale. This is one place you might learn how to make a balloon dress.

To see loads of wondrous balloon art creations, go to the Balloon Twisters Convention Web site. You’ll find images like this one, and more.

Cody Cowboy Village in Cody, Wyoming: a family friendly place

by Jamie Rhein on

Cody Cowboy Village’s name grabbed me when I was reading over Trip Advisors’ Best of 2008. It’s number 7 on the Best Bargains list. We head through Wyoming by car almost every year, and as timing has it, we usually stay for the night in a hotel somewhere in this state so we aren’t totally road weary by the time we reach Montana.

Cody Cowboy Village looks like a good road trip stop for more than a couple of days. One thing that attracts me is the log cabin style rooms that are grouped into a setting conducive to feeling like you are part of a place. The decor captures the ambiance of staying in the West–much more interesting than another chain hotel that looks like all the others, no matter the location. According to the Web site there’s a large swimming pool which is an item we list as our must haves after hours of driving. Staying in a hotel with a pool is one of the carrots we dangle to our son so that he gets the idea that road trips are fun.

Cody, Wyoming is worth a stop for a few reasons. A big one is the Buffalo Bill Historical Center that pays tribute to Buffalo Bill Cody, one of the American West’s iconic cowboys. In this museum center there are other museums that highlight the Plains Indians, Western art and natural history. Check out the center’s calendar for special events throughout the year. Cody is also only 50 miles away from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park and has a rodeo every night in the summer. Rafting trips and fishing are two more area offerings.