Esalen, Art, History of the Webby Awards in Inc. Magazine, Books & More
Breakfast @ Tiffany’s May Newsletter 2025
Ken and I recently went to Esalen. Esalen is the opposite of all that seems to be happening in the US. My parents both taught there from the ‘70s to the ‘90s, and it is pretty much one of the most magical places on earth. If we could put all the people defunding the arts, banning books, taking away services for the good of society, into the hot springs at the edge of the earth at Esalen, give them some love potions, and send them to a transformative workshop, the world would be in a much better place.
But here we are. But there are things that are keeping me going right now:
The SAVE CARE ACT that tried to stop 79 million women from voting, (if women’s birth certificate name didn’t match their driver’s license names) did not pass. The universities and law firms standing up to undemocratic demands. Wisconsin, Canada, Australia, the new Pope and Edan Alexander being reunited with his family.
I also recently learned a new fact: there are more museums than Starbucks in the United States.
Inc Magazine just did a comprehensive history of the 25th anniversary of the 2000 Webby Awards which was during the decade I was creating it. That particular year was like building and driving a rocket ship at the same time. My team and I worked so hard on it all and Inc. Magazine interwove many memories from people involved. The in-depth article with many photos absolutely captured the zeitgeist of it all!
I had just seen Alan Cumming in Cabaret on Broadway and cast him as our Master of Ceremonies. He was so electric. He perfectly encapsulated the vibe of the web when it was edgy and new and alternative, before commerce started dominating. I had the brilliant dance troupe Project Bandaloop rappelling from both the outside of the Masconic Auditorium and from inside the ceilings of the theater.
“This was Web 1.0’s Gatsby moment.” -Inc. Magazine.
“I wasn’t alive when Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic. But it was that kind of feeling that you were sort of at the beginning of something monumental.” - Charles Altshul, Attendee and Digital Educator Pioneer.
It was so great looking through all the photos and talking to my amazing team from that time. Here I am with my best friend Maya Draisin, who was president of the Webby Awards and co-founder with me of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences along with Spencer Ante.
And last night, I loved hearing Walton Goggins five-word Webby speech in New York.
Read an outside the paywall version of the Inc Magazine Oral History of the 2000 Webby Awards article here→
And back to the things keeping me going right now: There are so many people I know, love, and respect creating powerful things for the world. All listed below in my table of contents. Here are a couple I’m involved with:
First, this Thursday, Adam Swig of Value Culture is putting together a great night at the Academy of Sciences for Jewish Heritage Month. There will be music, comedians (including one of my best friends, Rabbi Syd Mintz) and Manny Yekutiel interviewing Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann. I will be giving a talk showing art and film clips at 6:30 pm in the African Hall. This all kicks off Jewish Week in SF. Get tix here.
Here is the ultimate conundrum that I feel as a Jewish American: There is real antisemitism that needs to be addressed in colleges, education in general, everywhere, and yet, using “antisemitism” as a way to do so many horrible things, like withholding medical research funding and more, completely distorts and deforms what antisemitism means.
Writer Kevin Smokler has been working on a book interviewing women film directors including Barbara Kopple, Alice Wu, Cheryl Dunye, Julie Dash and more. I was honored to be interviewed for the documentary section and will be in conversation with him to launch his book in SF at BookSmith, May 22nd at 7pm. RSVP and tix here.
Artwise, my sculpture Dendrofemonology: A Feminist History Tree Ring will be continuing its moveable monument journey, first to Women’s Art Center of the Hamptons. I will be there to give an artist talk on Saturday, June 21st 3 to 4 pm. Let me know if you are in the area.
Lastly, I am doing my first “Ask Me Anything” for an hour on Zoom for Substack subscribers on June 3rd at 10 am PT/1pm ET. If you become a paid subscriber you can attend. This newsletter will always be free, like it has been for 28 years, and if you want to support it and attend these Zooms (which I am super curious about) subscribe here→
In this month’s newsletter: New writing from Rachel Lehmann-Haupt; new podcast from Lauren and Michael Schiller; a Holocaust story from Taffy Brodesser-Akner; New restaurant alert: Side A in SF; books from Sarah Thornton, Monique Jenkinson, Dr. Nancy O’Reilly, Cynthia Weiner; highlights from Chicago Expo; art from Amy Sherald, David Hockney, Enrique Martinez Celaya, and Catherine Clark Gallery; guided art hikes with Djerassi; help LA’s water after the fires; SF Jewish Week; Paul Holdengraber at Calabash Literary Festival; an op-doc from Shaina Feinberg; ; films from Julie Wyman, Yael Melamede, Catherine Gund and Tanya Selvaratnam; and lastly a tribute to my father’s work on the sixteenth anniversary of his passing.
xo,
Tiffany
READ
My Visit with My Dead Father’s Brain
One of my best friends, Rachel Lehmann-Haupt's father, Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, the renowned New York Times literary critic, donated his brain to science after he died in 2018. Expressive aphasia had already stolen his words. Rachel’s search to understand what happened led her to the world’s most macabre lending library. A prelude to her new book.
Rachel and I love talking about neuroscience and this article is incredible. Read it here in Nautilus.
LISTEN
New Podcast: Relativity: Every Family Is a Story
I absolutely love this new project from my dear friends, award-winning producers and siblings Lauren and Michael Schiller. Relativity is a beautifully made radio show and podcast about family. The pilot airs TODAY, May 13 at 6:00 pm PST on KALW. Please listen and donate to help bring the full season to life!
‘This Is the Holocaust Story I Said I Wouldn’t Write’
I found this piece on The Daily’s Sunday’s Read so incredibly powerful. I highly recommend listening to it versus reading it in the NYTimes. “When Taffy Brodesser-Akner became a writer, Mr. Lindenblatt, the father of one of her oldest friends, began asking to tell his story of survival during the Holocaust in one of the magazines or newspapers she wrote for. He took pride in telling his story, in making sure he fulfilled what he felt was the obligation of all Holocaust survivors, which was to remind the world what had happened to the Jews.” Listen here and read here.
Great New Restaurant in SF: Side A
Side A is a fantastic new restaurant in SF! It’s a modern American bistro where music and dining play together Founded by husband and wife team Parker and Caroline Brown, Side A offers an intentional take on American cuisine in a space where carefully curated vinyl sets create a warm and inviting atmosphere in the former Universal Cafe space in San Francisco. Side note, Caroline DJ’s my parties so I know the music is going to be smokin’.
BOOKS
Tits Up by Sarah Thornton, out in Paperback Today
I loved the hardcover of this book and I’m so glad it’s now out in paperback. As Lucinda Rosenfeld of the New York Times Book Review perfectly says “[Thornton’s] impassioned polemic makes a convincing case that the derogatory way Western culture views tits…helps perpetuate the patriarchy…Tits Up asks readers to reimagine the bosom, no matter its size and shape, as a site of empowerment and even divinity." An innovative investigation of the significance and status of breasts in America.
Get the book here
Faux Queen: A Life in Drag by Monique Jenkinson
Faux Queen follows the fierce and fabulous journey of Fauxnique, the first cis-woman to win a major drag queen pageant.
Dr. Nancy O’Reilly at Roosevelt House Publc Policy Institute at Hunter College, June 3 at 6 pm
Dr. Nancy O’Reilly will be speaking at Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College in New York City on Monday, June 3rd, 6-8 pm, in celebration of Mission Matters: Mission-Based Leaders Share Stories on Power and Purpose. She will also introduce her latest book, Timeless Women Speak: Power, Purpose, and Feeling Your Best at Every Age. Dr. Nancy is such a courageous leader and I know this will be a powerful event. RSVP here.
A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner
If you came of age in the 80’s this book is for you. I am half way through and loving it. Check out Cynthia Weiner’s new novel, Gorgeous Excitement.
ART
Dendrofemonology: A Feminist History Tree Ring at Women’s Art Center of the Hamptons, June 20-22
Looking forward to having this work installed at the Women’s Art Center of the Hamptons. I’ll be there for an artist talk on Saturday, June 21st at 3-4 pm.
Expo Chicago Highlights
Loved being in Chicago to share my work in Nancy Hoffman’s booth at Expo Chicago. I love the way she installed all the miniature sculptures next to the print of one of them Nothing and Everything.
Amy Sherald: American Sublime at the Whitney Through August 10
Amy Sherald’s brilliant SFMOMA exhibition is now at The Whitney. Highly recommend this amazing show.
David Hockney 25 at Foundation Louis Vuittonin Paris Through Aug 31
This looks like a phenomenal show. I will be there to see it. So excited.
Enrique Martinez Celaya: The Wilderness at Gallery Wendi Norris
This show at Gallery Wendi Norris just closed but you can watch two videos with the artist here and here.
Where Have All the Flowers Gone at Catharine Clark Gallery Through July 31
Love that they choose this title of one of my favorites songs from when I was a kid, Where Have All the Flowers Gone. EXiT at Catharine Clark Gallery’s first group exhibition Where Have All the Flowers Gone? features artwork by Lenka Clayton, Arleene Correa Valencia, Timothy Cummings, Reniel Del Rosario, Michael Hall, Julie Heffernan, Al Lewis, Brian Singer, Stephanie Syjuco, Tina Rath, Josephine Taylor, Amy Tavern, Masami Teraoka, Imin Yeh, and Wanxin Zhang.
Djerassi Resident Artists Program Guided Art Hikes
Each summer, the Djerassi Resident Artists Program invites the public to explore its stunning 583-acre property through Guided Art Hikes. Over the course of a 3-hour, 3.5-mile hike, participants are guided along a trail that winds through redwood forests, open meadows, and scenic vistas, encountering more than 40 site-specific sculptures and installations, created by past Djerassi artists-in-residence. Register for the artist hikes here
ISSUES
Toxic Fallout from LA Fires Threatens Ocean Life
The recent LA fires released toxins into storm drains, poisoning marine ecosystems. My friend artist Nellie King Solomon recommends the following ways to help: Reline drains. Rotate urban goats grazing critical fire areas. Write to the press.
EVENTS
SF Jewish Week 2025 is a new initiative presented by Value Culture to celebrate the vibrancy of Jewish life in San Francisco. This citywide celebration will highlight the cultural, artistic, and communal contributions of the Jewish community through a week of engaging events including speakers, live performances, community gatherings, small businesses spotlights, and more. I’ll be speaking at the May 15 event at the Academy of Sciences that kicks off the week. Tix here.
Paul Holdengraber at Calabash Literary Festival in Jamaica, May 23-25
I know there are people on this newsletter from Jamaica, so this one’s for you. Paul Holdengraber interviewing Micahel Ondaatje at the Calabash Literary Festival. I wish I could be there!
Tribeca Film Festival, June 4-15
This is always a fantastic festival and this year’s lineup looks great. I have loved having my films screen there.
WATCH
“I Almost Quit My Career for My Kids. Then I Met Joan Darling” NYTimes Op-Doc by Shaina Feinberg
I loved this op-doc 7 min doc from Shaina Feinberg. WATCH!
The Tallest Dwarf
I am in a wonderful women film directors’ group that just celebrated its tenth anniversary. I love these women. It’s such a supportive group. I got to catch up with Julie Wyman whose new documentary is finally out. Cannot wait to see it. “A filmmaker’s exploration of her own dwarfism leads her into a community in flux—and a question: Can we see beauty and power in disability.” Catch its East Coast premiere at DC Doxfest.
ADA: My Mother the Architect by Yael Melamede
ADA: My Mother the Architect is a powerful documentary about career, motherhood, and sacrifice. It plays this weekend in SF at the Roxie!
Paint Me a Road Out of Here screening at The Brooklyn Museum Sat May 31st 2 to 4pm
Catherine Gund’s documentary feature about the artists Faith Ringgold and Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter was co-produced by my dear friend Tanya Selvaratnam. Love Faith Ringgold’s work screens at the Brooklyn Museum on May 31st. Get tix here.
How the Invention of the Alphabet Usurped Female Power in Society and Sparked the Rise of Patriarchy in Human Culture
On Mother’s Day, it was the sixteenth anniversary of my father’s Dr. Leonard Shlain’s death. I can’t believe it’s been that long. While he is not here physically, he is everywhere to everyone who loved him. And his ideas live on in all of his books. I’ll leave you with a beautiful article by Maria Popova about his book The Alphabet Versus The Goddess in what was then Brain Pickings, now The Marginalian.
Until June…
Wow! I was working at ThriveOnline, which won a Webby in 2000. Those were the days. My dad loved to show off my business card that said "Producer, Sexuality."
Love all your news and amazing work! Thank you for sharing my article about my dad’s brain, and all your amazing work curating other artists!