Boston Ballet: Pricked Dress Rehearsal: Études

It's such a thrill to watch a live performance of the ballet and I'm so grateful to be working with the Boston Ballet  for costume production, opening nights and on occasion photographing from the wings!

Last night I had the honor of attending the Dress Rehearsal for the Boston Ballet's newest production: Pricked, a repertory program with the first being the breathtaking "Études", an ode to classical ballet.

The other two pieces in Pricked are making their American premieres, "D.M.J" is a heart-breakingly beautiful piece while "Cacti" (with real cacti on stage) is invigorating, powerful and truly a work of art.

As is the Boston Opera House. Without the hustle of the crowds and ushers, it really was a treat to take in the beauty of the interior, and also pick a different seat during intermissions. :) During a dress rehearsal the curtain stays open and the artistic staff, including director Mikko Nissinen, choreographers and ballet masters interact with the company of dancers.

So, with only the orchestra between me and the stage...here's a look at Pricked: "Études"...

Opening night is TONIGHT, May 8-18.

Boston: MFA, John Singer Sargent Watercolors

Violet Sleeping, ca. 1907-1908, Brooklyn MuseumIt's always such a treat to visit the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Remember this?

For me, it's a way to decompress, find inspiration and reflect on my work as a photographer. There's always so much to learn. With the MFA's newest exhibition of Johh Singer Sargent's Watercolors, it's the first time that his most significant collections of watercolors from both the MFA and the Brooklyn Museum have been exhibited together.

I invited some of my favorite ladies in Boston, Elizabeth S who I love to see at Neiman Marcus events, Elizabeth H who I recently dined with, Ana and Alaina who I often have tea with, to join me at the MFA. We were honored to get an inside look of Sargent's Watercolors from the MFA's own Croll Senior Curator of American Paintings, Art of the Americas, Erica Hirshler.

When I studied Art and Art History back at the University of Toronto, John Singer Sargent was always one of those painters who we looked to for his work in oils and always for his ability to capture LIGHT. I had never had the opportunity to view his watercolors in person, until now and they are beyond exquisite.

My favorite piece  "In Switzerland" dated to 1905 is of Sargent's friend Lawrence Harrison whose lanky frame barely fits the bed. The fore-shortened view adds to the interest of the painting, highlighting the shoes dangling off the bed frame.

Sargent's watercolors can be looked at as fragmented moments captured in time; little snapshots, all of which speak volumes of an artist ahead of his period. It's incredible to think that his works were created on moving gondolas, along the hillsides of the Alps, situated in middle eastern bedouin camps, even such challenging locales as the Carrara marble quarries in Lucca.

If only Sargent could have used Instagram....

Croll Senior Curator of American Paintings, Art of the Americas, Erica Hirshler, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Simplon Pass: Reading, about 1911, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Simplon Pass: Reading, about 1911, Museum of Fine Arts, BostonSimplon Pass: The Green Parasol, about 1911, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gondoliers' Siesta, 1902-1903, Museum of Fine Arts, BostonBedouins, 1905-1906, Brooklyn Museum

Thank you to the Museum of Fine Arts for having us!

The Sargent Watercolor exhibit at the MFA is on now until January 20 2014, for tickets visit the MFA website.

Fly Porter

Ever since Toronto introduced the "Toronto Island Airport" I've been a fan. A city airport? What a great idea! First it was the convenience of it being in the heart of the city and the incredible Porter lounge, outfitted with MACs and a kitchen with Starbucks beverages, and all the snacks you could want.

Soon, the service and reliability of flying Porter became apparent and now, it's expanding! Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will soon have a pedestrian tunnel between the mainland and the island. As it stands now, the ferry ride between the two may not make much logistic sense although it serves as a nice break for passengers to take in the gorgeous Toronto skyline.

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Throwback Monday: N'awlins June '08

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Merry Christmas, 2011!

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