Covid-19: Virtual art exhibits

The May 18 issue of the New Yorker arrived today, together with an announcement of our nephew Trey's graduation from high school—virtually, of course. There will be no graduation ceremony, no collective tossing of mortarboards into the air, no cheering. This will be a graduation the class of 2020 never . . . forgets? remembers? knows how to process?

I mention the New Yorker for two reasons: first, the cover is a worthy accompaniment to the graduation announcement:

. . . and second, I was glad to see an article by Peter Schjeldahl about a couple of MOMA virtual art exhibits that I look forward to exploring slowly: one featuring the photographs and writings of Dorothea Lange, the other on the work and influence of French art critic, editor, publisher, dealer, and collector Félix Fénéon, who helped launch the careers of Seurat, Signac, Bonnard, and Matisse, among many other post-Impressionist and symbolist artists.

Dorothea Lange, One Nation Indivisible,
San Francisco, 1942

Paul Signac, Opus 217, Against the Enamel of a Background
Rhythmic with Beats and Angles, Tones, and Tints,
Portrait of M. Félix Fénéon in 1890

I have peeked at both landing pages, and they are rich with material: each includes a Q&A discussion by artists (the one on Lange features photographer Sally Mann), and there are various focuses, such as Lange's photos of children or Fénéon's daily three-line writings in Le Matin. One can spend hours exploring—not quite as if one were wandering the galleries of MOMA itself, but still satisfying in its own captive-screen way.

Peter Schjeldahl himself was diagnosed last year with lung cancer, which prompted a touching piece—in the New Yorker, of course—titled "The Art of Dying." Scott Simon also interviewed him on the subject, a six-minute listen. I've long enjoyed Schjeldahl's writing—it's sharp and smart and generous. I'll miss him—but I was glad to see today's piece. I'll continue to enjoy him as long as he remains with us.

Oh, and by the way: a while back—maybe not here, maybe on Facebook—I posted about the art replication project (using three items from your home) on Instagram called tussenkunstenquarantaine. People continue to post there, and the results are spectacular. Check it out if you haven't. Here's an example:

12/24/23: On rereading this post, I looked to see if Peter Schjeldahl is still with us. He is not, sadly. He died on October 21, 2022. And I learned that his father, Gilmore, invented the air-sickness bag. Which I don't recall seeing lately. No great loss, that. But Peter? He had a lot to say. I will miss him.

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Monterey County's confirmed cases inched up by 5, to 322; sadly, there have been 2 more deaths, bringing the total to 8. Seventy-seven percent of active cases are in the Hispanic community.

Stay well. Keep enriching yourself. Have hope.