Moo-Moo Ze Um: Of the Bucket List

#14. Visit half of the museums in Houston's Museum District (there are A LOT)

One. So far I've visited one museum. Or rather one and a half (the second exhibit at the CAMH* was under construction, awaiting next day opening). At such a slow rate, I don't see how I could possibly visit half of the Museum District before 2016, especially now that regular school is back in session. Should I amend this bucket list item? Should I amend ALL the bucket list items?! Because I sure haven't run any 5K or gotten strong enough to do more than five push-ups. Four months left. :o

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, free to the public on Thursdays, is magnificently expansive with the coolest exhibits. Check out Shadow Monsters below. A very non-traditional display, not what most would expect to find at a museum. The installation has three huge projection screens and a bucket of random props--bent hoola hoops, crowns, and hats. When you move in front of the screens, monstrous appendages appear off your shadowed body and props. The fascination and amusement last for almost ever, until the whole run ends after November 1.

Shadow Monsters was a nice highlight, but the rest of the sections I strolled through were just as nice. MFAH has its many traditional collections in addition to special borrowed or temporary exhibits--often the ones that cost a little extra moolah to see. Actually, the first thing I visited was this history of photography presented on two sides of a pathway. I am so enraptured by the idea of photography, so that was cool to look through. Technology (and those innovators who create it) is so amazing. To go from daguerreotypes to film to digital, from black and white to color, from dullness to the sharpness of HD-- the progression is interesting to see, especially when we live in a time where taking a photo is so effortless. As easy as it is, I do think we're losing an element of sharing photographs. They're now all trapped on flickr, photobucket, Instagram and Facebook. Forgotten almost as soon as the day they're posted, to make room for the next set of photos to like and favorite. We should at least print the special ones. Make simple albums for keepsakes. Yes...

*The Contemporary Art Museum Houston only hosts two exhibitions at a time, it seems. Whispering Bayou was open while the new one was in progress. This one was also somewhat interactive, like Shadow Monsters, but quite underwhelming to me. But since the CAMH constantly offers new and unique exhibitions, I'm sure there will always be something to interest a variety of people. I'll probably go back...to the CAMH and MFAH. And maybe some of the others...eventually.

in the middle

Every time I visit a museum, I like to look for anything West African. Then anything Nigerian. Then anything Igbo. 

Can this be considered art? Does MFAH take random submissions off the street?

Hip Hip Hooray for Monday! 

For Moo-Moo Ze Umz! 

For culture and intellect and throngs of beautiful people to people watch!!

Natural Hair Envy

original traced doodle with didlr

I'm on the shuttle, sitting behind this girl whose natural hair is artfully pulled up, pinned into a puff. The edges at the nape of her neck lay relatively flat--beautifully tamed-- and I assume the same is true in the front. From the light of the sun, I can see the dark brown at the ends. Her hair is wispy, like loosened raw cotton or clouds, and it becomes desired in my mind. It looks softer than mine, so it must be. I shrug as I think how I would like to have her hair. If only because it would be easier to manage. Easier to stretch, easier to manipulate and style. 

I think it's easy to confuse manageability with quality. Hair with a looser curl pattern that falls is not inherently better than hair with tiny zig zags that stands up and out. But with the hair typing system and the majority of natural hair representation in a lot of media subtly imposes the idea that a certain "grade of hair" (as Raven Symone would call it) is more aesthetically accepted, more "classically beautiful." The thing is, manageability can be learned. Everyone has to adapt to the features and conditions each is born with. With the luck of the draw, some people may have one aspect of their lives easier than another person. It's not bad and fairness plays no role; it's just the way it is.

As soon as I coveted this girl's hair, I considered whether I had a warped view of what good hair is (but bottomline, good hair is always healthy hair). I questioned why I would, in an impossible scenario, want someone else's hair texture. Reading the natural hair stories of others, some women expressed feeling quite disappointed when, after the big chop or the transitioning phase, their hair did not resemble that of Tracee Ellis Ross or Teyonah Parris or some other fabulous-looking famous or real-life woman. When I cut out my relaxed ends four years ago, I knew to pack away the fantasies I had had. I knew that my hair would be whatever it was meant to be, which is mine and nobody else's.  I generally accept my hair, it's magical (and frustrating) shrinking ability, its texture, and its length. I like it most days, love it some days, and hate it every other day.*

Not really wanting to repeat advice that already exists in a million places on the Internet, I will only say this about natural hair envy and acceptance: admire others, but also admire yourself. To admire yourself, you have to learn how to look and be your best (and I'm still learning, especially about hair...very slowly). Obviously this goes deeper than hair and other expressions of outer beauty. Because jealousy is not cute. Gush over so and so, but also work with what you got. 

Happy Thursday!

*I kid. Or do I? Nah...

L-O-V-E-E-E

Love

There are several pop culture references popping up in my head right now... 

First, 

I went to the McNay Art Museum for the first time with my sister and the name makes me think of that stupidly fun song "Drop that #NaeNae."  (much respect to the late Marion Koogler McNay) I might have been a little too energetic while touring the museum (to the chagrin of my sister), shimmying and dancing around the art.  What a shame that I did not think to drop that NaeNae. ☹  

Second, 

I don't wanna give you the wrong impression, I need love and affection.

And I hope I'm not sounding too desperate, I need love and affection.

Love, love, love, love and affection.

Love, love, L-O-V-E-E-E and affection

--Loveeee, Rihanna feat. Future

Thanks to Future for his seal-ish wails and half the inspiration for this blog post title.  To fully grasp the power (sweet desperation and awesome ridiculousness) of this song, you must have a listen if you haven't before.  The lyrics are just not enough. ☺

Third,

The Love Sculpture.  I knew I'd seen it somewhere (in a photo) and that somewhere was not San Antonio.  Philly and New York for sure, I thought.  The artwork by Robert Indiana was first created as a print image (on holiday cards and stamps) in 1964 and first made into a sculpture in 1970.  And apparently there are eighteen versions of Love in the United States, with the original sculpture in Indiana.  Thank you for fulfilling my curiosity, Wikipedia. And thank you for reading/skimming/browsing/glancing.

♥ Much love!

Mostly blue with a pop of red and a block of black

haphazard

Outfit Details

Cynthia Rowley tank // Forever 21 jacket // Kut by the Cloth shorts

Steve Madden red belt // Report oxfords // Rebecca Minkoff Mac bag

Can I get a source, please?

Love (Sculpture)

List of Love sculptures

Composition I in White, Black and Cream

Hey, hi, hello! Hope that you (whoever you are) have enjoyed your weekend.  That the weather was bearable or pleasantly indecisive day-to-day.  And that you were extraordinary in thought, action and presence.  For me today has been quite alright ♫ from am to pm ♩.  About this outfit of the day then...

I was instantly reminded of an iconic artwork once I put on this skirt.  I remember seeing it in the books of paintings from elementary school art class.  Mrs. Art Teacher would always introduce us to a technique or art movement to influence and inspire our newest projects.  A vague representation of the image flashed across my mind but I had no idea of its title or artist.  With my non-specific query, "art with squares and lines," Google came to the rescue.  Dutch painter Piet Mondrian created Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow in 1930 during his time in Paris. 

Credit: Barewalls

His artwork has clearly inspired the fashion world with designers creating "Mondrian" styles.  It seems that anything with colorblocking or the original primary colors can be Mondrian-inspired.  Rectangular (or other) panels with or without coloring, black and bold bordering too.  In the 1960s Yves Saint Laurent had a colorblock mod dress featured on the cover of Vogue (the least interesting and least relatable fashion magazine, in my opinion) and in this Millennium, an all leather interpretation in a dress.  Now you can buy pillows, shoes, posters, purses, T-shirts and more with the print... goodness gracious!

Credit: Teen Vogue

walk on the wild side

So never mind that the skirt had shifted on my waist (the cream panel is supposed to be in the middle) and that my left shoe is not buckled... I've ventured to the streets now!  Trying to step out into new territory for these outfit posts, daring to fiddle with a tripod and camera settings while vehicles drive by.  

Outfit Details

W118 by Walter Baker peplum top

White House Black Market skirt

Nine West heels ($7 at Ross!)

That Michael Kors clutch again (gotta get my money's worth)

Happy Sunday!