Staying Strong + What to See Spring 2025
Breakfast @ Tiffany’s April Newsletter 2025
My new artwork above is titled All the Things You Will Never See. I wanted to convey the idea that when you meet someone, like the figure at the top of the sculpture, you never see all the roots and strength from their past experiences, but it’s all there. The roots, like tree rings, documenting the time lived on this earth.
This is both a sculpture and a framed print. It will be shown along with my other sculptures and photographs at the art fair Expo Chicago this week at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery Booth along with other artists. The theme of her booth is Rapture of the Tiny. I will be there on preview day Thursday April 24. (If you would like details on the artwork let me know and I can connect you with my gallery.) I wanted to start with that image because during this super-challenging period, we all must remember the strength is there even when we can’t see it.
There is so much to worry about (arts and research grants being withheld from many of my friends, people disappearing, the governor of Pennsylvania’s house being torched for being Jewish, the hostages that are still held, the wars that still rage, the stock market) but I am going to write about things that have given me strength since my last newsletter in March in addition to protesting. Ken and I attended a very powerful dinner. It consisted of four tables of eight people, including Black leaders, Jewish leaders, and leaders who are both Black and Jewish. We had a moving evening filled with vulnerability, listening, and some intense moments, ending with all of us feeling stronger together and very connected. The evening was organized by an initiative called “EXODUS Over Dinner.” Over 500 people have attended these kind of dinners so far, and the goal is to have 5000 attend soon. This is what the world needs: gathering around the table for dinner and focused conversation. Will keep you posted on these dinners. Each week, Ken and I gather around our table in our home for Shabbat with friends and family and many new people in our lives, and it’s always powerful experience.
I also visited Detroit (loved it!) where I spoke about my tree ring sculptures including Dendrofemonology: A Feminist History Tree Ring and learned a lot about new dendrochronology research at the American Association of Geographers’ conference. It was great being in the place where my family is from. I spent time with many amazing people (looking at you Wendy, Gretchen, Olivia and Jenny!), saw great art (The Shepard), ate amazing food (Marrow) shopped (Coup D’Etat) — art was everywhere. There is a renaissance happening there!
The Webby Award winners just came out, which to me is always a beautiful moment. Love seeing all the nominees and the winners. After devoting nearly a decade of my life to found The Webby Awards along with my best friend Maya Draisin and others, we always kvell when they are announced. They are now in their 29th year. It’s an incredible feeling to have worked so hard on something, then eventually know I wanted to sell it to create other things, and see it grow and continue to honor people. Love that.
For those of you who are new to this newsletter, I wrote an introduction to who I am and where I am coming from in the “About” section in Substack, which was an interesting exercise in trying to tell you who I am today, at this moment.
One note, please be sure to click on the “read more” so you see the whole newsletter —there are 40 highlights of good work (art, films, books, podcast, music, events and more to check out:). This newsletter is always free but if you want to support the work that goes into it by me and my editor Jenny Traig, we would be grateful. It takes a lot of work. Thank you to all the many paid subscribers who have come on board since we moved on substack! Also for all people who do support this newsletter, I will do a Zoom 2x a year, where you can ask me anything you want for an hour. My first one will be June 3 at 10am PT/1pm ET.
Support this newsletter and become a paid supporter here→
In this month’s newsletter: Things to listen to including Ken on Freakonomics as well as Noga Erez, Lubiana, Claire Brooks, Dan Schifrin ; art from the Shepherd, Ruth Asawa, Andy Rappaport, Floating Art Museum, Naomie Kremer, Marin MoCA, Gray Area, di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, the de Young, the New Museum, and Victoria Miller; books from Emily Schrader, Blake Flayton, Kimberly Brooks, Debbie Millman, Kevin Smokler, Jacqueline Suskin, Elisa Altman, and Liz Dubleman; events including Mil-Tree & Capacitor’s Cross Pollination; Holding the Widest Tent; BAMPFA, Mill Valley Music Festival, Jewish Culture Festival, Nova Festival Exhibition, and a benefit for di Rosa; films including JOLT, October 8, Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, Ada: My Mother the Architect, Lilly, the SF Film Festival, and DocLands; and things to check out including Biblioscents by Mandy Aftel, the Edge Bag from NeonHope x Kikiito, Mill Valley evacuation drill, Vintage Ruse, and the Friendship Bench.
It was just our family very loved dog Rosalind Franklin’s aka Rosie’s fifth birthday, which for big dogs like Rosie is 35 in dog years. She’s in her thirties! She has brought a love into our home that there are no words for. Her love, intuition, and joy in the present moment is the greatest gift. She and our cat Midnight seem to be walking love. They lean on us, we lean on them. Animal love. The purest form.
To dogs, cats, horses, unconditional love, staying strong and leaning on each other.
Love,
Tiffany Shlain
2025 Webby Award Winners
The Webby Award winners were just announced; check out the full list here.
Expo Chicago Art Fair
Above is an image of another one of my new miniature sculptures Becoming.
Those of you in Chicago, hope to see you at Expo Chicago tomorrow Thursday, April 24th (the one day I will be there). Nancy Hoffman Gallery NYC is Booth #336 and her Rapture of the Tiny will have a lot of interesting small scale artworks. Can’t wait. Heading to the airport soon. Here’s more info on Expo Chicago. The whole fair runs from April 24 to 27th.
LISTEN
“Can Robots Get a Grip?” with Ken Goldberg on Freakonomics Radio
This is a terrific new interview with Ken on Freakonomics Radio discussing the future of robotics and AI. Listen here.
Noga Erez on Tour in North America
Noga Erez’s music and moves are mesmerizing. Watch the video above to see what I mean. So excited this Israeli band is finally coming to North American. Many dates are sold out but I was able to get tix on Stubhub for SF at Bimbo’s (where the first Webbys happened in 1997); see dates here.
“Mother Medicine” by Claire Brooks
My niece Claire Brooks has a new song that I love, “Mother Medicine.” Watch the music video here.
Lubiana, “Earth Is a Woman” (Farafina Mousso/Women’s Anthem)
Belgian-Cameroonian singer Lubiana calls this song “Women’s Anthem.” It is what you need to hear right now. Watch and Listen here.
Art & Other People
Dan Schifrin’s new podcast exploring the importance of art and creativity just came out. Can’t wait to check it out. Listen here.
ART
The Shepherd in Detroit
This arts complex on the site of a former church is amazing. They’re about to open a new bar called “Father Forgive Me.” The exhibition is spectacular. If you’re in Detroit, check it out.
Ruth Asawa at SFMOMA
This retrospective of Bay Area artist Ruth Asawa is so good! In addition to the art, I loved seeing the photo of her family home where she created all the artwork while raising her children. Highly recommend. More info on SFMOMA exhibition here.
Andy Rappaport: [not] TEXT at Catherine Clark Gallery
Love Andy Rappaport’s new “Ephemeral Poetry Generators,” that create new poems and images in real time in response to user input. They were first presented during the Catherine Clark Gallery exhibit Rope and Revolver and can be viewed at EXiT. Read more about them here.
Floating Art Museum in Alameda
The Floating Art Museum, founded by artist and collector Marta Thoma Hall, showcases amazing art on a barge on the Oakland Estuary. Check it out here.
Naomie Kremer: Duende at Modernism Gallery in SF, Mar 6 - Apr 26
I love Naomie’s gorgeous paintings. Check the show out here.
Future Flows at Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Apr 19 - Jul 6
Marin MoCA has this powerful new show curated by Devon Bella and Jodi Roberts. See more here.
The Incorrect Museum: Northern California Art from the di Rosa Collection, Opening May 3 in Napa
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art’s new, expanded collections exhibition, The Incorrect Museum, will be available for public viewing by ticketed reservation and features works from di Rosa’s permanent collection of Northern California art. Opening reception is May 3 at 6 pm at their Napa location. Learn more here.
Wayne Thiebaud Exhibition at the Legion of Honor—& Great Talks About It
A Talk by Curator Timothy Anglin Burgard
Highly recommend seeing the Wayne Thiebaud exhibition at the Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. He was one of California’s most compelling painters. Watch this talk on his work by Curator Timothy Anglin Burgard here and get tickets to Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art at the Legion of Honor here.
Smugglers and Thieves: A Talk on Mid-Century American Painting + Art History by Curator Lauren Palmor
Associate Curator Lauren Palmor’s talk on mid-century American painting was also fantastic. Watch here.
I got to see both of these talks live (highly recommend) and am so glad they are also available online. Thank you, internet.
The New Museum’s Neighborhood Tour: Art, Love, and Friendship in NYC
The New Museum in NYC offers monthly neighborhood tours of the Bowery, with stops in front of historic artists’ homes and studios, featuring Mark Rothko, Lynda Benglis, John Giorno, Bob Thompson, Eva Hesse, Sol Lewitt, and Adrian Piper. Get tickets here.
Victoria Miller, “Blushing”
Victoria Miller’s gorgeous photos of Italian silk color-shifted and printed on aluminum are stunning. See more on Instagram here.
Missing Objects Library: Carbonivore at Gray Area with Asma Kazmi and Jill Miller, Apr 22-Jul 20
I can’t wait to see Jill Miller’s new work. See more here.
READ
10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College
10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College aims to give Jewish students essential knowledge and tools to navigate college life. Authored by Emily Schrader and Blake Flayton, and edited and illustrated by my sister Kimberly Brooks, it offers concise insights into Jewish history, Israel, and geopolitics. There’s a powerful cover story on it in the Jewish Journal here and you can learn more about the book here.
Love Letter to a Garden by Debbie Millman
I was truly delighted by Debbie Millman’s new book about her love affair with gardening with recipes by her wife Roxane Gay. It’s a love letter to many things and reading it felt like being immersed in a beautiful bouquet. Also check out the NY Times article that just came out about her art-filled home. Will be seeing Debbie in person this weekend for her book event and can’t wait. Book tour info if you scroll down on this page.
Break the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers by Kevin Smokler and Save the Date May 22 for our Talk in SF
I loved the multiple conversations I had with Kevin Smokler for his new book Break The Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers. Our conversation became a chapter in the book alongside chapters on Barbara Kopple, Alice Wu, Cheryl Dunye, Julie Dash and more. We will also be doing a book launch event on May 22 at Booksmith on Haight Street in SF 7pm. Hope to see you there and you can preorder the book now.
The Verse for Now by Jacqueline Suskin
Jacqueline’s poetry is always sublime.
Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create by Elisa Altman
Elissa Altman’s searing honesty and humor is always inspiring to read. Her new book Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create will help you write your own memoir. Get the book here.
TheWriteKit
Those of you on here who have written a book know that Liz Dubleman gets it right when she describes it as “like giving birth to a rhinoceros.” Spot on! Liz offers authors amazing support launching their books with TheWriteKit.com She also helped me figure out Substack so I could send this newsletter. Thank you Liz! Breakfast @ Tiffany’s readers get a 20% discount off her services. Use code tiffany25 for 20% off. Info here.
“Make Sunday Boring Again: How an End-of-Week Shutdown Could Save Us All” in UK’s Independent
If you have ever considered trying one day a week without screens, here’s a good place to start→ I was recently inteviewed by UK’s Independent about it; read more here.
EVENTS
Mil-Tree & Capacitor’s Cross-Pollination at Joshua Tree, CA, April 27
Led by Jodi Lomask, Capacitor.org, creativejourney.us, who leads an embodiment workshop and performance on her sculptural stage, Cross-Pollination is a one-day event at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center featuring a fusion of movement, ritual and storytelling. It’s designed to foster connection among veterans, service members, and civilians. Learn more and get tickets.
Holding the Widest Tent: Jewish Culture in the Current Moment, May 4 in Berkeley
Looking forward to this panel featuring curators from the Jewish arts and literary world who are wrestling with this question of what it means to be Jewish now. Catch it at the Jewish Arts & Bookfest at UC Berkeley’s Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, May 4 at 12 pm. Many of my favorite people are speaking on this panel!
BAMPFA 2025 Art & Film Benefit, May 10
The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive are Bay Area treasures. I spent a lot of time in both as a student at UC Berkeley. This annual fundraising gala is a terrific way to support this institution. This year's event will honor filmmaker Cheryl Dunye and artist Trevor Paglen, with proceeds going to support all BAMPFA programs, especially ones focusing on student engagement. I'm on the host committee with Ken and we hope you can join us! Tix here.
Mill Valley Music Festival, May 10-11
Always love the Mill Valley Music Festival! It kicks of summer in my mind. This year’s lineup includes Gary Clark, Nile Rodgers & Chic, and more. Get tickets here.
Jewish Culture Festival at California Academy of Sciences, May 15
Value Culture is producing and curating a Jewish Culture Festival on Thursday May 15th, 2025 from 6pm-10pm (21+) at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. This event will celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, Lag BaOmer, and the first ever SF Jewish Week. Enjoy music, comedy, food, art, speaking panels, and more. I will be speaking and showing a new tree ring sculpture that hasn’t been shown yet in the Bay Area, and there will be music performances from Kosha Dillz, So Called, and others. Tix here.
Nova Festival Exhibition in Toronto, Apr 23 - Jun 8
This incredibly powerful exhibition shows visitors what happened at the Nova music festival on October 7. It opens in Toronto this week. I just was at Coachella with Ken and Blooma and definitely thought about Nova. Learn more here.
Expression Ball for di Rosa Center for the Arts, June 28
Ken and I went to this Expression Ball Benefit for the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Arts last year and loved it. This year they will be having the event at their stunning new location in SF. The evening will celebrate San Francisco in the ‘60s where counterculture thrived, freedom of expression ruled and Rene di Rosa dared to collect the offbeat and unforgettable. Tickets here.
WATCH
October 8
This important film directed by Wendy Sachs, about the explosion of antisemitism on college campuses after October 7, is now streaming. Please watch this film. Jews and allies, it’s so important to see what’s happening.
Janis Ian: Breaking Silence
Let’s just say the song “At Seventeen” by Janis Ian is the song that brings my entire youth rushing back. I can’t wait to see this documentary about her whole career.
ADA: My Mother the Architect by Yael Melamede
ADA: My Mother the Architect by Yael Melamede about her brilliant mother is a powerful documentary about career, motherhood, and sacrifice premiering in NYC at Angelika Film Center May 8. Join the filmmaker for Q&A following. More info and tickets here.
Lilly
Rachel Feldman’s Lilly starring Patricia Clarkson, tells the story of Lilly Ledbetter’s courageous fight for equal pay. Opening May 9th. Watch the trailer here.
SF Film Festival, April 17-27
The annual SF Film Festival always features an amazing lineup. Happening now!
JOLT Films
My executive producer, mentor, and dear friend Geralyn Dreyfous is one of the people behind Jolt, an incredible new way to experience documentary films. So glad she and others are making this happen. Check it out and be sure to watch Zurawski v Texas, a very important film about reproductive rights. Please watch.
DocLands Documentary Film Festival in Marin, Apr 30 - May 4
California Film Institute’s all-documentary film festival features fantastic work. So many of my friends in my women’s film director group have films there this year. See the incredible lineup and get tickets here.
EXPERIENCE
Biblioscents Bookmarks by Mandy Aftel
When I went to UC Berkeley, I lived next door to the famed perfumer Mandy Aftel. I have fond memories of having tea with her with the hundreds of tiny bottles lining all of her walls with scents with the afternoon light streaming in. Just ordered her scented bookmarks.
The Edge Bag by NeonHope x Kikiito
Victoria Hope Lyseggen’s designs, especially the EDGE bag, are so architectual and chic. Handcrafted in London from Italian leather—a design collab with Kiki Ito blending timeless craftsmanship with modern style. Shop here.
Mill Valley Wildfire Evacuation Drill, Apr 26
I know readers on here are from all over the world, but there are people who also live in my hometown of Mill Valley. On Saturday morning, April 26, the City of Mill Valley will hold a community-wide Evacuation Drill to help residents prepare before a real emergency strikes. What happened in LA could happen here. This is your chance to practice evacuation in a low-stress, real-world scenario—so when it’s time to go, you and your family are ready.
Vintage Ruse in Mill Valley
I love thrift shopping, costumes, vintage fashion. Always have and especially now with craziness going on with the world with the tariffs. Vintage Ruse is such an incredible emporium of thrift. The owner Jules has become a good friend and beautifully curates a collection of vintage items. It’s also the home of Mercery, which offers lots of sewing classes and workshops. It’s brings the funk that I remember from the 70’s back to my hometown of Mill Valley. Visit here.
“The Friendship Bench”
Loved this article about a grandmothers’ friendship bench project in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper. Read here.
To staying strong and together, and fighting for what we believe in,
Love,
Tiffany
I love your newsletter. Thank you for your guidance, wisdom and generosity!
What a beautiful and powerful update—thank you for sharing it. I was especially struck by your new work, All the Things You Will Never See. There’s such a poignant feminism at the heart of it—the way it honors unseen strength, layered experience, and the quiet resilience so often carried (but not always recognized), particularly by women and marginalized individuals. The roots-as-record metaphor resonates deeply—it recalls how women's histories, emotions, and labor are so often buried or unspoken, yet foundational. Your Dendrofemonology piece also feels like such a profound contribution to feminist art history—an embodied archive that grows with time, bearing witness to lived realities and feminist milestones in a format that's at once natural and deeply symbolic.