This last weekend, in addition to the Matisse show, we also viewed another new offering from the museum’s collection. This exhibit featured Native American art of the 20th-century. Its detailed easel works covered many aspects of Southwest life that spanned the breath of the century. I am especially fond of Native American art, especially its more modern pieces. When we last visited Santa Fe, we enjoyed seeing a lot of it there that was very similar to the work in this show. I think that I liked this show more than the Matisse one.

Yesterday, we called Dan. I wanted to make sure that he knew that we would not be imposing on him and Britt this week, but I guess I had already let him know. If we get to NYC early enough, we can meet him for dinner. That will be our goal. Otherwise, we will have to wait another day and meet him for lunch. Our hotel is near Times Square, but looking at its location on a map, it looks more Times Square adjacent. Anyway, it is supposed to have its own parking. I will not be disclosing anything about his work. Sorry, fanboys! It is apparently more top secret than what William Donavan had been doing in Manhattan years ago.

That is except that he is still happy with his work and among his colleagues he is said to be the least angry carpenter that they have ever met. Typically, a carpenter walks into a room, looks around and then loudly accesses the situation, “Why did they do it like that? WTF were they thinking? #%$@&” That is not Dan though. I attribute his more genial demeanor to his Midwest upbringing.

Yesterday, we walked to the art museum. It was not near as crowded as the time before, during Art in Bloom. We saw the Matisse show, which was not a visiting show, but was created by the museum itself. I was impressed and I am sure that the art museum will lend it out, after this showing of it closes, as something to trade for other museum’s shows. This show covers the breath of his career, along with works from his contemporaries. Pictured is one of his cutouts, from late in his life, when the infirmities of age made painting too difficult, but he could still wield scissors.

David is in Florida today, on a weekend business trip to Universal Studios. It is part of his company’s fortieth anniversary celebration. Good work if you can find it. Maren’s folks, Kim and Bruce, came to Boston, to help her with the baby, just like we will be doing later this week, when it is her turn to travel. Declan is such a lucky boy to have six parents all to himself. 

Recently, the New Yorker featured this more famous Matisse painting in its cartoon selection. It was captioned, “I gotta say, this is some weird book club.” This painting is hanging at MoMA, where we might see it, if we attempt to perform one of the New York Times 36 Hours marathon tours there. We’ll see.