The most beautiful paintings I’ve ever seen!
Dear reader and writer,
Last weekend, Tom and I celebrated our 20th MeetaVersary by going to Boston for the night. We stayed at The Charles Hotel, walked the Freedom Trail in a lackadaisical way, ate the MOST DELICiOUS meal at Alden and Harlow in Cambridge (a roasted cauliflower caesar salad, crispy Thai-flavored Brussel sprouts with chopped peanuts, king salmon, pork belly), and best of all, visited the Museum of Fine Arts.
The John Singer Sargent exhibit was a show about portraiture and how much JSS cared about fashions. Tom really liked seeing the actual clothes JSS’s subject had worn while posing. I felt grumpy at first, thinking that here was an artist who’d always been blessed with fame and acclaim and got to do what he wanted, pretty much, all his damn life. It made me grumpy to learn that leisure-class women had dresses for things like “afternoon” and “walking.” But then I noticed the hands—claw-like and often out of proportion with the rest of the body. See below. Also, check out the weird hidden creepy ghost-face over the lady’s right shoulder! After awhile, I lost my grumpy and just enjoyed the glorious colors and textures.
You probably know this painting, Portrait of Madam X, which caused a big scandal and forced JSS to leave Paris and go to London where everyone knows the morals are looser.
Then I discovered the work of Matthew Wong. His paintings left me deeply moved and I just wanted to camp out in his wing and stare at them for the entire weekend. Each one had extraordinary texture and rewarded a long leisurely gaze. This one below, for example:
Oh, I wish I could bring you to see these in person, though. He sometimes layered on tons of oil paint, with different colors for each layer, then scraped off the top layers to reveal the colors below. I wish he were still alive so that I could write him a fan letter.
Artists inspire each other. Next to the benches in the Matthew Wong wing were a set of pencils and blank postcards, and a written encouragement to “write a poem.” Last month, I wrote thirty poems, though three of them were songs. I will sing my favorite of these tomorrow night, along with so many other wonderful poets and writers at the annual Reading and Celebration in Weinstein Auditorium at Smith College in Northampton. Please come and enjoy this evening, which always flows by so quickly—the wonderful Sarah Sullivan emcees the event and I’m always amazed at how well the program goes, how un-bored I am. I hate being bored. I’ll be attending in person on Wednesday Dec. 13, but if you are far away, there’s a virtual reading on Zoom on Sunday Dec. 17.
Need Gifts for the writer in your life? Consider a 10-Week Workshop or Daily Morning Writing!
Weekly Winter Workshops
Groups run for ten weeks from the week of January 8-the end of March. Only a few spots left!
Generative groups begin with a prompt, and then we write for an hour. The second hour, we take turns sharing what we’ve just written. Responses are focused on the merits of the new work we’ve just heard. No negative or prescriptive critique will be given. All generative workshops are either on Zoom or in Little Blue with a hybrid option.
All times below are Eastern Time.
Tuesday Evening: 6-8pm starting January 9, 2024 (Songwriting, Poetry, Prose, in-person and on Zoom) two spots remaining.
Wednesday afternoons: 12:30-2:30pm starting January 10, 2024 (Songwriting, Poetry, Prose, in-person and on Zoom) one spot remains
Wednesday evenings: 7-9pm starting January 10, 2024 (Songwriting, Poetry, Prose, in-person and on Zoom) Two spots remain
Thursday Fiction: 12:30-2:30pm starting January 11, 2024 (Fiction or Fiction-adjacent, Zoom only) Two spots remaining.
(Weeding & Pruning groups are full for the winter. To be considered for a Spring spot, please email Nerissand@gmail.com)
And Morning Seeding & Tending is GOING STRONG!
Morning Seeding & Tending meets Monday-Friday, 10-11am Eastern Time. Some people come daily, some weekly, some whenever they can.
Come and write alongside us for an hour in the morning. Folks from all over will be gathering on Zoom every weekday from 10 - 11am. This is quiet time for you to write. No fuss, no judgement, no distractions. Each of us will be setting down our words and setting our intentions.
Drop in as often or as little as you like. We'll be here. Join us.
After signing up, you’ll get a welcome email and thereafter a Zoom link which changes every month. Pay by the month, via subscription, or a month at a time via my website. The longer you commit to write with us, the cheaper it is. The month begins whenever you start payments.
By website, it's $25 per month. This is a great way to try it out.
By Ko-Fi subscription, it's $20 per month, with automatic payment (like Patreon).
More soon, friends! Please write me back and tell me how you are!
Love, Nerissa