Monthly Archives: April 2013

Leslie Friedman: Behind the Velvet Curtain/Soiree San Francisco

Nienke Lels-Hohmann, founder of the European Soirees, San Francisco, presents Leslie Friedman, Thursday, May 23rd. Leslie will give a very lively talk, illustrated with many pictures, about her historic international performance tours. Dr. Friedman’s performances were presented by the US State Department and host nations including China, Russia, India, Poland, Romania, Spain, England and more. In most, she was the first American dancer or artist of any kind to be presented with joint sponsorship. Truly groundbreaking both artistically and politically. Do come! Details below:mail-2Flying leslie Left Small

WHEN:  Thursday, May 23, 2013 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
WHAT:  A fascinating lecture by a history professor transformed into an international dancer, Leslie Friedman.
Wonderful libations as well as sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, conversations, friendships, rencontres…
WHERE:  At the Arader Galleries, 432 & 435 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111, tel. 415-788-5115. (Parking at 250 Clay Street, open till 10:00 p.m.)
COST:   $60 per person and first-come, first-serve.  Please reserve by sending a check payable to Nienke Hohmann, to the following address: 2275 Broadway Street Apt. 206, San Francisco, CA  94115.   Only payments by check, no cash please.

Santa Clara University/Wynn Bullock

The de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University has opened “Seeking Answers” the Photography of Wynn Bullock. The exhibition opened on April 12 and closes on June 30. It is not to be missed. Bullock was a great California photographer whose life and work were part of the Adams, Cunningham, Weston era. He followed his own pathway with his gift for experimentation and his quest for a deeper understanding of life and art that could be found through photography. He is best known for black & white images of nature and figures in nature, and many outstanding images are in this exhibition. There is also a group of his color-light abstractions which are eye and mind opening. Bullock’s photos are on the ground floor; go upstairs (by stairs or elevator) to see Jonathan Clark’s beautiful and profound photographs of Bullock. Clark has captured his friend in the landscape, truly part of the landscape, and reveals so much about the land and man together. These photographs are powerful in the surprising insights they present about Wynn Bullock’s character and the deeper meanings of photographic art. Photo shows (L to R) Curator Lindsey Kouvaris; de Saisset staff; artist Jonathan Clark; Barbara Bullock-Wilson, Wynn Bullock’s daughter; Gene Wilson. The de Saisset has an important permanent collection of Bullock’s work. Barbara and Gene Bullock Wilson are the moving forces behind new exhibitions. The de Saisset museum is on the campus at 500 El Camino Real. Admission is free. May 15, 7 p.m., Barbara Bullock-Wilson and Curator Lindsey Kouvaris will share stories behind the exhibition, Seeking Answers. Free.374433_10151486779126100_707523021_n

Fromm Institute at USF Open House

thth-1Today was the Open House for The Fromm Institute’s spring quarter. Professors present brief descriptions of the courses they’ll offer. I’m always a little nervous and spend a lot of time thinking it over. This quarter, I’m offering Great American Dancers. Pictured above: The Nicholas Brothers(L) Gwen Verdon (R)Very great dancers. I won an award for my brevity: a bottle of Slimfast. Some professors won packets of instant oatmeal. Sorry to say it took me a long time to get it about the “fast” and “instant.” Sign up! 1-2:40 p.m Weds. 4/17/03-5/28/03 Here it is: I realize that for some individuals the notion of taking a course about dancers might seem frivolous in a world full of troubles. For example: There are Americans who text while they drive and who think the word text is a verb. North Korea wants to send America a message and here on our Peninsula we might be the first to receive it. It is highly likely that individuals with no sense of humor will soon get their hands on chemical weapons.  In the words of the great playwright, Moliere: “All the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill at dancing.” ———————————————-And so I stand here and suggest you meditate upon these words: FredAstaireGeneKellyBuckandBubbles. FredAstaireGeneKellyBuckandBubbles. Rogers, Miller, Powell, Jamison. Rogers, Miller, Powell, Jamison. “Beauty is truth, truth beauty” The Nicholas Brothers is all ye need to know. Please note: This course does not claim to present the ONLY great dancers. This course will present tap, ballet, modern, and other dancers. Why bother with this course if you are already a dance fan or if you are not now and never have been a dance fan?—– I will give you three reasons:                                                                                                            (1) Dance–which disappears as it happens–reveals the meaning of life. —                                     (2) Seeing Bill “Bojangles” Robinson can uplift your appreciation of the homo so-called sapiens species                                                                                                                                             –(3) Only those who take this course will learn the answer to an eternal mystery: Who’s got the pain when they do the mambo?