"The Earth Laughs In Flowers"
Breakfast @ Tiffany's Newsletter: Art + Film + Books + Events
Ralph Waldo Emerson said many things I love, including “The earth laughs in flowers.” It inspired me to make the lightbox artwork above. I spend a lot of time looking at the earth’s laughter. Beauty that stops you in its tracks. There’s this magnolia tree in a park near my house that Rosie and I visit multiple times a day with its blooms looking so sumptuous. Even on days when I carry the worries of the world, I watch the white velvet petals cocooning seeds and then an open flower and it takes my breath away.
In making The Earth Laughs in Flowers, I tried to convey my awe of flowers. Flowers bring in the light. Actually, the plants eat the light and the flowers are the outcome of a really inspiring meal.
In this newsletter, I’m sharing many people’s flowers in the forms of art, books, films, podcasts, and events for you to take in this June:
Art from Klára Hosnedlová at the New Museum, The Whitney Biennial, Marcel Duchamp at MoMA, Iris van Herpen at Brooklyn Museum, The Dome Show at di Rosa SF, Maren Hassinger at BAMPFA, Nellie King Solomon at SALA/Marinship Studios, Andy Goldsworthy and Jess Curtis at Fort Mason, Howard Schwartz, and Nengi Omuku at the de Young; books and articles from Cannupa Hanska Luger and Ayin Press, Vendela Vida, David Katznelson, Ulf Olfsson, Marc Pincus, Sherry Turkle, Andy Isaacson, Tina Sharkey, and Dr. Nancy O’Reilly on the Equal Rights Amendment; films from Tribeca Film Festival in NYC, and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival; California State Parks Week, Take the Lead’s Power Up Conference in DC; an article featuring Ken in Scientific American; the Poet and the Bench at their new location; sewing classes at Vintage Ruse, Eva Joan Mending Studio, and a great new therapist, Jordan Gill, MFT.
I am looking forward to some downtime with Ken, Odessa and Blooma for our summer trip. Ken and I are heading to the Venice Biennale tomorrow, so looking forward to experiencing that again. When the girls were young, we stayed in Venice during one of Ken’s sabbaticals, and that city is all muse. I cannot wait to take in the art and beauty of the city. I welcome any recommendations on restaurants or particular art you loved at the Biennale.
To the earth’s laughter in flowers…and the Knicks!!
xo,
Tiffany
ART
Klára Hosnedlová: GROWTH, 2024 at the New Museum
I saw Klára Hosnedlová’s show in Berlin last summer and it moved me so deeply. Be sure to check out her show GROWTH, 2024 at the newly expanded New Museum.
Whitney Biennial through August 23
The new Whitney Biennial has such powerful work in this stunning exhibition.
Marcel Duchamp at MoMA through August 22
The father of conceptual art, Marcel Duchamp (don’t worry, Yoko Ono was the mother;), has such a spectacular retrospective at MoMA.
Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses at Brooklyn Museum Through December 6
Love Iris van Herpen’s dreamy fashion/art all in one in this new Brooklyn Museum show.
The Dome Show at di Rosa Center for Contemporary Arts, May 2-Sept 12
Twyla Ruby has curated this fascinating new exhibit of work by the radical live-work community The Dome, started by Peter Voulkos in 1976 and blurred the boundaries between life, labor and art. The result was a fertile ground for creativity that continues to shape Bay Area art today. Definitely check it out.
Maren Hassinger: Living Moving Growing at BAMPFA, June 6 - Nov 29
Maren Hassinger’s compelling multimedia art addresses interconnectedness and the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Cannot wait to see this career retrospective co-curated by Margot Norton and Anthony Graham with Omar Jason Farah at BAMPFA of her work when I’m back.
Nellie King Solomon: Always Happening at Marinship Studios Sausalito, June 14, 5-8pm
My good friend Nellie King Solomon’s work is being presented by SALA Society of Living Artists activation at Varda Landing at Marinship Studios, 265 Gate 5 Road, Sausalito. Those of you local, today, Sunday June 14, there will be a gathering there 5-9pm. I love her work and our Sausalito arts community.
Andy Goldsworthy: Red Flags at Fort Mason, July 1-30
This exhibition by Andy Goldsworthy presented by FOR-SITE and Fort Mason Art with support from the Haines Gallery features fifty flags stained red with earth collected from one of the fifty US states. Goldsworthy is one of my favorite artists. Learn more.
PLEASE. STAY. TOUCH. Jess Curtis Experiments with GRAVITY at Fort Mason Opening June 20
This immersive, multi-sensory experience showcases the kinetic, empathetic, tactile work of the late Jess Curtis.
Howard Schwartz’s Botanica
Howard Schatz is a dear family friend and also like my father came from medicine and then moved into art. This collection of his botanical photography is stunning.
Nengi Omuku: The Gathering at the de Young, June 27-May 14, 2028
Nengi Omuku’s dreamy work draws on Nigerian art traditions and imagines a better world for young people in her home country. Looking forward to seeing her first solo American show curated by Natasha Becker.
READ
SURVIVA: A Future Ancestral Field Guide by Cannupa Hanska Luger
This publisher Odessa is working for, Ayin Press, is amazing. Their book, Surviva by Cannupa Hansker Luga, just won a PEN award. Read an interview with the press founder Eden Pearlstein here and check out more Ayin books here.
Out of the Darkness Edited by David Katznelson, Vendela Vida, and Ulf Olsson
Swedish literature is rich and varied but rarely translated into English. This collection edited by two of my very close friends Vendela Vida and David Katznelson, along with Ulf Olsson, is a great introduction to classic Swedish short fiction.
Preorder Life at the Speed of Play by Mark Pincus
Mark Pincus is a friend from the early days of the web and always innovating. His forthcoming book is a very helpful hands-on guide to launching products.
Preorder Artificial Intimacy by Sherry Turkle
Sherry Turkle is someone I have loved talking to over the years about the relationship between humanity and technology. AI is bringing a whole host of new issues and reshaping the way we interact. Can’t wait to read her vital new book on this very timely subject.
ARTICLES/SUBSTACKS
“What the Brain Knows” by Tina Sharkey
Tina Sharkey, one of my BFFs, gives a recap of the very powerful Brain Salon gathering she co-hosted with Zem Joaquin at Tishman Speyer with one of the top neuroscientists, Dr. Eddie Chang from UCSF her in recent Substack. Her story behind it is riveting. Read here.
“Equality Is Not Guaranteed” by Dr. Nancy O’Reilly
Dr. Nancy O’Reilly is an inspiring leader in the gender equity space. I have loved working with her on many projects over the last decade. Check out her recent post about the Equal Rights Amendment.
“Sites Unseen: What Travel Is Like for Those Who Can’t See” by Andy Isaacson
This NY Times article by my friend Andy Isaacson is a great glimpse into the way travel is experienced by blind people. Read here.
FILM
Tribeca Film Festival, June 3-14
I have loved having my films play at the Tribeca Film Festival. Those of you in NYC, tonight is the last night to see their films! Check it out and get tix here.
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, July 16-August 2
The SF Jewish Film Festival is the oldest and biggest Jewish film festival, now in its 46th year! Such a great gathering of mishpacha. Check out this year’s roster of films here.
EVENTS
California State Parks Week, June 10-14
The fifth annual celebration of California State Parks features 171 activities that highlight “This Is Where You Live,” celebrating the people, places and programs that make California’s 280 state parks truly special. Registration for events is now open.
San Francisco Art Book Fair, MSP July 23-26
Minnesota Street Project Foundation presents this exhibition and celebration of art publishing and print culture. Long live books!
Take the Lead’s Power Up Conference in DC, August 25-26
Margaret Atwood is headlining this powerful gathering hosted by Take the Lead co-founder/president Gloria Feldt. I wish I could go. Those who can, definitely check it out. Learn more and register here.
EXPLORE
“The Entrepreneurial University” in Scientific American Featuring Ken
Love seeing Ken and his colleagues featured in this Scientific American article on the great work being done at UC Berkeley.
Red Tent Fund Impact Report
The Red Tent is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting reproductive rights in line with Jewish values. They just released a report on the impact of their first year.
Poet and the Bench in Mill Valley
This shop from Jeffrey Levin and Bonnie Powers has so many things you’ll want to wear, use, and surround yourself with. Like look at the candlesticks I got there for our Shabbat table!
They just moved to the center of town, what I think of as the “g-spot” of Mill Valley. Definitely worth a visit.
Summer Sewing Classes at Vintage Ruse in Mill Valley
Vintage Ruse is one of my favorite vintage stores and run by the fabulous Jules Mercer who can sew and repair anything. Their craft space The Mercery offers adult sewing classes on Fridays as well as youth sewing classes as well as crafting workshops. Check out their full roster here.
Eva Joan Mending Studio in NYC
This studio in the West Village can repair your clothes or teach you how to do it yourself. Check out their offerings here. Will definitely be checking this out with Odessa and Blooma next week.
Jordan Gill, AMFT
My good friend Jordan Gill just became a therapist. He is the perfect person for this role and I love hearing of so many of my male friends becoming therapists. Jordan is currently accepting new teen, adult and couples clients in the East Bay. Sessions are available in-person in Berkeley, or virtually anywhere in California. Learn more.
It was a great delight to discover Heather Garges created a graphic story of my book about my practice of unplugging from screens one day a week 24/6. You can check it out here. If you have ever been compelled to try bringing in an analog day into your life one day a week, the summer is always a good time to start.
Loved all the responses to my new word “joydenfreude.” I hope you have found times to use it. Taking Rosie to the beach fills me with pure joydenfreude; she moves in a different joyful rhythm that like looks like a horse prancing. (Since she is a doodle, Ken calls it “doodenfreude.”)
Here’s to the dog days of summer.
ps. A beautiful share studio space just opened up right next door to me in Sausalito. Please let me know if you want to find out more.
This was a beautiful reminder that awe is still available, even on the days when the world feels heavy. And I love the idea that flowers are simply the result of plants having a really good meal of sunlight.