Friday, June 19, 2009

WE ARE MOVING



We have had extreme difficulties with this blog site. Formats change at random, uploaded pictures disappear...frustrating and impossible.

We will in the future record our salon experiences, notes, messages and pictures at the Salon colada web site: http://02056c5.netsolhost.com/saloncolada.html

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

TOURISM!!

Quote of the evening: GO NATIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!




Sunday, June 14, 2009

NEXT! TN at SC on TOURISM


THEORY NIGHT, Ruba Katrib's "activities and assignments", is a meeting of the minds to discuss contemporary issues and art. It is with our pleasure that the next TN will be at Salon colada.


Tourism, the life blood of Miami, and the engine that drives the superficial vibe of our city, will be the topic. Sex, semiotics and overcoming tourism will be grist for the mill (http://activitiesandassignments.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/theory-night-tourism/).

Thursday, June 11, 2009

The White Tiger Salon





The White Tiger Salon
June 8, 2009 at Salon colada
Menu!

Main intellectual course:

Discussion of The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

Wonderful dishes that widened the visual and gustatory experience were brought together by the salon participants:

Samosa, with a filling of potatoes, green peas, fennel, cumin and mustard seeds, corrinader and still other spices

South Indian Curry, a pleasant melding of coconut, sweet potato, russet potato, tomatoes, carrot, and green beans

Basmati rice

Raita, a refreshing combination of yogurt, cucumber and dill

Punjab chhole, chick peas with ginger, onions, tomatoes and a blend of spices

Three lentil Dal, with red lentils, split yellow peas and pigeon peas seasoned with tumeric, cumin seed, cayenne pepper and coriander

Naan off the grill
Chutneys: Coriander (wow!), Mango ginger, Mango

Desserts to finish with tea

Cardamom Cookies

Pitted dates filled with almonds, rolled in merangue, and baked

Libations:
Kingfisher Premium Lager Beer, brewed using only the finest malted barley and hops

Chilled Mango colada, a rich mix of fresh mango, pineapple, lime juice, cream of coconut, light
rum, crushed ice



















Saturday, May 30, 2009

MOCA video

Jacinto Astiazaran, LA videographer, shot video during THE MOVE on May 19, THE FIRST SALON on May 20, and in our living room at MOCA. The 15 - 20 minute video loops on a monitor in our MOCA living room. Here is his work: http://www.fritzhaeg.com/webvideo/saloncolada.mp4

Jacinto will be back in July for a few days to record progress at Salon colada.


Fritz and Jacinto (right) in our living room on May 18 interviewing us (the interview forms the framework for the video).

Friday, May 22, 2009

MOCA OPENING MAY 21
























































PICTURES FROM THE FIRST SALON












































MOVE OUT MOVE IN

May 19, the move, then rest at Roma's with a colada...


































The First Salon


The First Salon was convened on Wednesday, May 20, 7 PM, at Salon colada. Through the hard work and sometimes stressful preparations of many people The First Salon by all accounts was a success!
On the morning of May 19 the furnishings of our living room were removed and packed onto an American Van Lines truck for transport to MOCA on NE 125 Street. While STUFF moved out the door, one piece at a time, large black trash bags filled with comfy green pillows and cushions were squeezed in the front door by Kevin Arrow of MOCA, Fritz Haeg and Mindy. It was all surreal. Keith commented to Fritz that he suddenly realized that he might miss the STUFF! The living room was finally empty, voices echoed and were amplified. Fritz spent the remainder of Tuesday looking for more cushions and pillows – he had already exhausted Ikea’s in-store stock! Mindy and Keith cleaned – some old dirt was disclosed by the emptiness. A person from MOCA delivered a 4’ x 8’ board and two 2 by 4s (?)
Thursday came quickly and Fritz arrived early with more pillow and cushions, some new lights and two rugs, and four cement blocks - Salon colada began to take form – in GREEN. A low table was configured in front of the fireplace, pillows and cushions were placed against the walls in the other space and carpets placed in the center. It was done! – the green furnishings glowed in the naturally lit yellow room – Ann commented that it looks like a beautiful garden room.
Final preparations at Salon colada ran down to the wire. Willing participants began to flow in to inspect the new salon-friendly digs, have a drink and some food, and lively conversation in the dining room. Attending were people from all parts of our lives and people who became part of our lives only during that night – neighbors, friends, professional colleagues, artists, scientists – an array of interesting, exciting, thoughtful and interactive people. Beer, wine, and other drinks lubricated the approximately 25 guests, young and older.

Images were projected into the fireplace from under the table; these images suggested the ideas and issues that will be part of our salon series through September 15. Guests recorded their ideas on coconuts that rested on the table or in the corner behind a curtain for private conversation with a camcorder.

We finally asked everyone to grab a spot on the floor in the garden room. Keith explained the process that led us to The First Salon, then Mindy performed her poem:

Ode to Fritz, by Mindy Nelson

this is an ode to Fritz
who delivered our writs
to make us use our wits
to go out of our zone
and be less alone
and off the phone
to tone down the drone
of everyday life

to create something new
for me and you
we haven’t a clue how to do
or woo you to do
what isn’t so easy
it makes me queasy
but Fritz seems so breezy
so we tell our friends

we explain
as we squeeze their brain
they don’t seem in pain
but they think us insane
and so we declare
our stuff goes there
Fritz brings new stuff here
but wait, I don’t get it

they look bemused
totally confused
then, finally, amused?
where will you sit to watch t.v.?
to relax and read and drink your tea?
we have to go to MOCA to see
you?

no, at home we host each gathering
invite people, see what they bring
for ideas, exploring, tinkering
we hope to create opportunity
try to build community
mix some creativity
with a touch of ingenuity
and learn about what happens

an experiment of the social kind
where we are the subjects and must use our mind
do what we are not inclined
not a reality show gimmick
but to give us a kick
to find out what makes us tick
kind of ironic
that we would be picked
after all these years of watching fish and honeybees

this is an ode to Fritz wearing a Tom Sawyer smile
like Tom, it seems to beguile
as he waits awhile
to see
if we
flee
or find the key
to mixing life with art


We asked several guests to read definitions – salon...community… colada… living room… but it was the definitions of ART and SCIENCE that sparked the conversation for the remainder of the evening.

What is science, what is art, how do they differ, how are they the same? What elements drive the production and “value” of scientific investigation, what elements drive the production and value of art? What does “value” mean in art? What part do colleagues play in molding scientific research and art production? This was an amazing start that we can build on when we convene future ArtScience salons.

Billie asked: How would a scientist address the very experience we were having? How would an artist do it? It was a disarming question, the quick paced discussion halted for a few long moments of silence!









Friday, May 8, 2009

Introducing Salon colada

Friday, May 08, 2009

Salon colada is coming together in Coral Gables.

What’s a “colada” without the lead modifier, Pina? A colada in these parts is a large cup of well sweetened espresso served with tiny plastic cups for sharing. We’ve been the recipient of the small shot many times - waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting for a tire repair at Good Year… It’s a great Cuban tradition.

The Miami salon series is the idea of Fritz Haeg, LA artist and architect, father of Edible Estates and the Sundown Salons (
http://www.fritzhaeg.com/salon/miami.html). Fritz is one artist in a show at MOCA NOMI (http://www.mocanomi.org/) called Convention that will run all summer.
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CONVENTION

Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami
MAY 21 – SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

Convention takes as its premise the predominance of mega cultural events such as conventions, festivals, fairs, expos and other social gatherings in an international society. In a city such as Miami, where a convention center is continuously being filled with various social and professional groups, notably Art Basel Miami Beach in the winter, this exhibition explores the impact of this phenomenon on a city. Convention takes an unconventional, critical and humorous approach in considering the historical models of world fairs and the latest flourishing of international biennials and contemporary art fairs in relation to the museum. The exhibition is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami and is curated by Ruba Katrib, MOCA Assistant Curator.
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Salon colada is the satellite show that will feed the salon experience, including outcomes, into Fritz’s exhibit at MOCA, which by the way, is our living room! Yes, our living room furniture and furnishings will be moved to MOCA for the duration of the exhibition. A few hours after our furnishings leave, Fritz will move comfortable furniture designed specifically to enhance the salon experience. We have not yet seen it. A glance of our collaboration can be seen in the May 2009 Biscayne Times (
http://www.biscaynetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=302:ultimately-its-all-about-people&catid=38:art-a-culture&Itemid=154).

This blog will be the site where we document our salon experience and that of our guests. If you are interested in coming to a salon, let us know (bombus2001@aol.com).

Coming soon - the logo and the early salon topics.