Munich Overtures

Last week we spent four days in Munich participating in the exhibit and panel discussions at Overtures – Cultural realms in the post-fossil age. It was a part of the larger Klimaherbst ongoing series of events. Elizabeth was there as the Dubai based representative of Hot Spots and I was offered to sit in as an interdisciplinary participant which meant that I got to go around to all of the artists and have really fascinating discussions with each of them about their work, the world, art and climate change. It stimulated many ideas for everyone about new projects and collaborations. artcircolo kunstprojekt coordinated the event and Serafine Lindemann, artcircolo’s director did a wonderful job of organizing everything and leading the two day panel discussion. It was a part of the larger art series, overtures.









Our first day out, we headed to the Pinakothek Der Moderne.



Beth’s scarf matches the new Brandhorst Museum!




Inspirational fabric geometry of scaffolding.


Bikes!





Charging the Tesla fully-electric car. We had the great fortune of coordinating with the sales team at the Tesla Motors showroom where hot-spots set up its exhibit.






The Tesla Motors showroom is like a Pre-museum with exhibits of objects that are not yet, but in the near future will be a part of our daily lives. They have on display the exposed drive train and battery system which adds to the museum effect.









Photos of the Overtures exhibits and panel discussion.

The next morning we went to the Hausderkunst Museum to see the Ai Weiwei exhibit So Sorry. It was great as you can see below. On the way we spotted some adventurous urban surfers hitting the waves of the canal.



















A ton of tea.




Walking around the English Garden.


White Rose Society monument.



















Right-wing demonstration. They were very loud and angry.











These above are designed by Picasso.







Puppet theater museum was definitely a highlight.















Dubai Metro!

I took the metro yesterday for the first time. It’s been open for a month now, but there are only a few active stops and the usual places that we commute to and from don’t afford us the opportunity to use it. There is a stop still under construction right at American University in Dubai and we can’t wait until the day that one opens. That probably won’t happen until next spring though. But here are some pictures of my ride from the Mall of the Emirates and the Jafiliya Station just past the central business district. It was smooth and comfortable. The train kept pace with the 100km/hr traffic on the adjacent Sheikh Zayed Road. It took 15 minutes from boarding to disembarking for an approximately 20km journey.



































Timeless? What time is it? But at least you can’t fault the designers for being timid with color and texture…

American Vacation: Chicago and NACHC’s New Chair!




Views from the Hilton


HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius


Representative Danny Davis


And now…..


The new Chair of the Board of Directors of the The National Association of Community Health Centers: Anita Monoian!



Barack Obama impersonator Reggie Brown. He was great.

After the ceremony and a wonderful speech, it was time to party!








American Vacation: San Francisco for the wedding of Zachary and Dera-Jill

The week in San Francisco begins with oyster shucking up at Hog Island Oyster Company.

















Brutalist sculpture and the Ferry Building



This sculpture could have also been a wind turbine?







In Berkeley: First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1911 – This Bernard Maybeck building was less impressive in person I have to say. I had built it up in my mind too much from the old photos. It has not worn very well and seems to have undergone some insensitive repairs. It was still very good to see it.






Berkeley has some fine examples of wood form in-situ concrete construction like this one. The formwork creates a woodgrain impression in horizontal bands.



Buena Vista Park







Palace of fine Arts in the distance (also Bernard Maybeck – 1915).






On the Southeast corner of the Presidio — looks like a country road in the middle of the city.



New good architecture.


I love the way these trees follow the form of the wind.



Picnic on the Panhandle.




Art Oasis Opens at WAFI

The Art Oasis exhibit, A Green Vision, opened yesterday. Elizabeth co-curated the show along with Beth Carruthers, an artist from Vancouver. It is a great show with a lot of interesting work and it is receiving excellent reviews so far. We’ll continue to bring updates on the show, with a focus on the piece that Elizabeth and I created for the residence, The Ibn Al Haytham Pavilion for Mushrif Park.




Gita Meh – Simorgh: To Think Locally is to Act Globally


Anupama Jain – Untitled


Michael Bray – The Tipping Point Duet


Michael Bray – Deserted Hare




Nividet Saha – First Entry Series 1


Jala Abuthina – New Surroundings


Ozant Kamaci – Pause Series


Mohammed Buleiyah – untitled


Rebecca Rendell – Anian Dau and Anian Tri


Zain Mustafa – Carousel




Abdul Rahim Salim – Tyre Landscape


Noora Dakhan – Foog o Tahat


Rob and Elizabeth win an award for their piece






Sarah Lahti (not in picture) – Relocated Elements of the Crazy/Happy Scientist
Installation being used by crazy/happy kids as intended.






(left to right) Nerissa + Nick, Elizabeth, Beth, and Hetal


After Party!