Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist

Today, March 18, 2022, marks the 32nd anniversary of the art stolen from Boston's Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum.   Those irreplaceable, invaluable art objects have yet to be recovered . . . So sad . . .

N.B. Thanks to Deron of Manhattan for the sorrowful reminder!

Haig Der Manuelian (May 23, 1926, to December 1, 2016)

 May God welcome you into His Kingdom, Haig!

It is with heavy heart that Marash Girl learned today of the passing of her long-time friend and mentor, Haig Der Manuealian, Founder and Board Chairman of the Armenian Library and Museum of America (Watertown, Massachusetts).  Haig and his brother Vigen, along with Rev. Vartan Hartunian and other stalwarts of the Armenian community, founded the Armenian Library and Museum of America early in the 1970's (or earlier?) and encouraged Marash Girl to persist in her interviewing of survivors of the Armenian Genocide, to persist in recording their oral histories  on audiotape for use by future generations of academicians, genealogists, and family members, oral histories now available for research at the Armenian Library and Museum of America, Columbia University, the Armenian Assembly and UCLA.   Haig, thank you for all you have done for the Armenian community.  You will be missed.

MASS MoCA on a Beautiful Summer's Day

Karoun Charkoudian, experienced Yoga practitioner and instructor, holds up the supports of the Sprague Family Bridge at Mass Moca (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams, Massachusetts.                                                                               Photo by Marash Girl

The visit to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art left Karoun and Marash Girl in awe; whether or not the trip was worth getting lost on a narrow curvy mountain road at sunset in North Western Massachusetts is the question.

Photo taken by Marash Girl from a "factory" window at Mass Moca.  As Karoun commented, "Unlike the factory workers of today -- i.e., the folks who work in office cubicles -- the factory workers of yesteryear had only to look out of the window (if they were given that opportunity) to find  beauty all around them.        Photo by Marash Girl

There's a hole in the bucket!

One of our favorite songs ("our" being Marash Girl's two grandchildren -- scroll down to previous post to see their photos -- and Marash Girl) is the old folk song which begins, "There's a hole in the bucket . . ."  (see lyrics below), a song that Marash Girl et al sing whenever they're going on long trips or long walks, a song which ends with the three of us in gales of laughter.

Was Marash Girl ever surprised when, wandering through the Fine Arts Museum in Springfield (Massachusetts), she saw the painting below with no identification of artist or title.  

Whether the painting was painted after the song, or the song was written after the painting, she'll never know, but of one thing she's certain: 

there's a hole in the bucket!

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

        Then fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
        Oh fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.

With what shall I mend it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I mend it, dear Liza, with what?

        With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
        With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a straw.

But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.

        Cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
        Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it.

With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?

        With an ax, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
        With an ax, dear Henry, dear Henry, with an ax.

The ax is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The ax is too dull, dear Liza, too dull.

        Sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
        Oh sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, hone it.

On what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
On what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, with what?

        On a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
        On a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, a stone.

But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.

        Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
        Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.

With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, with what?

        Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
        Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry,use water.

In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, in what?

        In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
        In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, a bucket.

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

Dinosaur at the Springfield Science Museum

 A visit to the Springfield Science Museum, Springfield, Massachusetts, 

created more excitement than Marash Girl had bargained for!

And speaking of art . . .

Wondering what to do with all that art work you've collected over the years?  Follow the latest  advice from MOMA  P.S. 1:

     "THROW YOUR ART AWAY"  (probably right into their bins for future display!)

The very first exhibit on display at the entrance of the new MOMA P.S.One, New York City . . . Photo by Marash Girl

Exhibit of American Quilts at the MFA Boston - A Must See!

Marash Girl's favorite quilt in the exhibit of American Quilts at the MFA Boston?  The quilt that contained the colors of an Eastern Anatolian flat-weave carpet, of course!!

Marash Nakhush - Embroidery from Marash at the Armenian Museum of America

Having been given the royal tour of the Armenian Museum of America (Watertown, MA) by Curator Gary Lind-Senanian -- as much of a gem as any of the gems in the cases --  Marash Girl was caught by the beauty of the 19th Century embroidery (probably a bed covering) from Marash -- embroidery done on hand woven cloth -- stitched crosses upon stitched crosses upon stitched crosses.  Marash Girl recognized the embroidery, of course, because she has a piece in that very style framed and hanging on the second floor wall of her Victorian home . . . She will picture her piece in a future post -- but for now, here is the piece of Marash Nakhush hanging on the wall of the Armenian Museum of America.

Closeup of a section of Marash Nakhush.

Reverse side of Marash Nakhush 

Marash Girl's photo does not give the piece the justice it deserves!

Armenians in Watertown: The Artwork of Philip Hagopian

Randomly, Marash Girl left Joe’s and wandered into the newly-named Armenian Museum of America — and there was Gary Lind-Sinanian at the front desk, encouraging Marash Girl to head upstairs to the third floor gallery.  “The artist is up there now hanging paintings for his exhibit . . . you may like the paintings!”  And sure enough, Philip Hagopian was there mounting his often multi-dimensional (especially the ones inspired by his stay in Hayasdan) and neo-impressionistic (especially the paintings of Vermont) paintings.  Busy about his work, Marash Girl did not want to interrupt, but felt honored to be able to see the canvases before the crowds arrived on opening day (the very next day).  Heading back to the restaurant where she was to meet Marash Boy, she carried the image of one of those paintings with her and there, sitting at a table in Watertown Square's Not Your Average Joe’s, was the female subject painted in the Hagopian paintings Marash Girl had just viewed in AMA's third floor gallery.  Marash Girl approached her:  "Didn’t I just see you in the paintings hung on the museum walls upstairs?”

Philip Hagopian introduces his multi-dimensional paintings at the Armenian Museum of America.

Naira Hagopian photographs the audience, as they listen intently to her husband,
Philip Hagopian, talking about his paintings.

Old friends from Springfield, Massachusetts meet, and new friends greet. . .

"Our home in Vermont."

Naira Hagopian, modeling beneath the painting for which she was the model.

"You're so lucky to be living surrounded by Armenians.  We live in Vermont surrounded by mountains.  Not only are there no Armenians in Morrisville, Vermont, but when folks ask me where I'm from and I tell them Armenia, they answer, "Oh, yes, I know.  My grandfather was from Romania, too!"  (Marash Girl replied, "Better than saying, 'Oh, yes, I know; Turkish, right?'")

N.B.  Philip Hagopian was born in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts; his wife, Naira, was born in Armenia.

Happy Birthday To You from all of us AND all of the wait staff at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum!

The first snow of the season was falling this morning (if you look hard , you can see tiny white spots which are not a dirty camera lens, but real snow), snow appearing, no doubt, to celebrate the birthday of Marash Girl's first child!

To have a real opera singer sing happy birthday to you in the crowded restaurant of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum -- that tops all!

Trinidadian born tenor, Roland Mills, just returning from a performance in New York City, stops all conversation in the lunchroom of the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum as he sings his operatic versions of
 Happy Birthday to the Birthday Girl!

Advice on Wholistic Medicine at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston this afternoon, Marash Girl had the opportunity to reminisce with one of the guards about the room in which they were standing -- the room in which, many years ago, she had taken her little girls to listen to early music concerts, walking them to the front of the room (much to the consternation of the ushers who feared, of course that 2 and a half and 4 year old would disrupt the concert -- Marash Girl had to assure the ushers (or was it usher the assurers?) that her daughters were perfect and would be too busy watching and listening to create any havoc whatsoever . . .  of course Marash Girl was right! ] The little girls . . . Marash Girl's little girls . . . were able to hear the early music  and see the early music instruments and musicians creating the music --  all without craning their necks -- How the conversation went from there to wholistic medicine is unclear, but it did . . . and Marash Girl found herself talking to the guard about her father's memory of healing infected wounds by placing moldy bread on the open wound.  (See http://marashgirl.blogspot.com/2013/10/cure-for-infected-wounds.html)  It was than that the young guard, a musician himself and a believer in wholistic medicine added to Marash Girl's store of knowledge for healing infected wounds.  He instructed, "You can use coffee grounds, too . . . or place maggots into the wound!"  Marash Girl wondered what her father Peter would have to say about that!

Iffar and Enila visit the Springfield Museum Complex, Springfield, Massachusetts

  Visiting blogger Enila writes . . .
  
     While looking thru the window of the butterfly exhibit at the Springfield Museum complex, we were confronted by a young guard who accused us of sneaking into the museum -- Why?  Because we were not wearing stickers.  Immediately feeling guilty, although we had no reason to, we turned back to go to the front desk so that the guard there could confirm that we were members . . . on the way, we were diverted by the goodies in the gift shop, or should I say the gifties in the goods shop . . . As we drooled over all of the overpriced items that were for sale, knowing that once they got home, they would be immediately lost under our beds, the very same guard came up to us and gave us the stickers that we should have been wearing from the first moment that we walked into the exhibit hall.  Well, I guess we learned our lesson.

     Comforted by our stickers, we proceeded across the courtyard (passing the Dr. Seuss stick house on our way) to see the motorcycle exhibit.  Interested in the "action" that the exhibit offered all comers, we were able to try on the leather jackets, mount and pretend to ride an Indian Motorcycle, a motorcycle that had been manufactured in Springfield, Massachusetts, by the famous, though now defunct, Indian Motorcycle Factory.   Photos to follow.

Leather Jackets & Motorcycles in Springfield, Massachusetts

Kenar tries on a black leather jacket for her ride through the corridors of the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts!

Remember 7th Grade? Mugsy McGovern? Reed Murphy? Wolfie Boven and the gang? That's where Marash Girl first experienced black leather jackets, "DA's" and gangs!  Years later, (that is, on July 5, 2013), she was allowed to try on one of those black leather jackets and hop on one of those bikes!  As she couldn't take a picture of herself, Marash Girl photographed Kenar (see above) who apparently in her youth rode up and down Monson Road in Wilbraham, on the back of an Indian Motorcycle, one of the motorcycles built at the Indian Motorcycle factory in Springfield, Massachusetts, while the "tester" tested the latest model of the Indian Motorcycle on the S curves of that road, the S curves that have long since been eradicated.  As her sister wrote after seeing the photo, "Fantastic!!!  She looks great!  Better than riding and hanging on the back of a young guy testing Indians up and down the S curve in Wilbraham back during WW II."

Check out the exhibit -- it's worth the trip to the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts in Springfield, Massachusetts, and don't forget your camera!

Discovering the Discovery Museum

Perfect for ages 6 to 10, possibly 12, the Science Discovery Museum in Acton, Massachusetts, offers never ending rooms of hands-on discoveries [accompanied by scientific explanations, should the parents be interested :) ], but the all time favorite for Iffar and Enila was the room with an arts and crafts table and a tool bench & tool wall covered with every tool that any craftsman could want.  The children, after covering their eyes with protective eye goggles, worked with hammer and nail, vise and saw, screwdriver and screw,  hasp and sandpaper, creating their inventions.  It was a room they never wanted to leave. (Of course, this was the one day that Marash Girl did not have her camera with her!) Marash Girl cannot recommend the Discovery Museum highly enough.  The children cannot wait to return.

N.B. While in the crafts room, the children learned that most Home Depots offer  free Saturday workshops for children, teaching them to build from wood such items as bird feeders, pencil boxes, etc.  The children await that experience with great excitement!

Sculpture in Springfield, Massachusetts

Gallery of Ancient Sculptures, Springfield Museums, Springfield, Massachusetts

Throughout the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, sculptures reign, both ancient and modern. From the sculpture galleries in the Springfield Museum,  to the outdoor sculptures in Springfield Museum's permanent Dr. Seuss installation, to Springfield's Basketball Hall of Fame to the contemporary sculptures throughout the city, Springfield, Massachusetts has sculptured surprises awaiting its residents and its visitors.  Below are pictured only a few of the many works of art that stand throughout the City of Springfield, Massachusetts.

Gallery of Ancient Sculptures

Sculpture of Dr. Seuss (hugged by Iffar & Elina in 2011) in the Dr Seuss Sculpture Garden, Springfield Museums,
Springfield, Massachusetts

Photo Credit: Karoun Charkoudian

This bust is named McKinley
The tower is an earlier Hampden County Courthouse designed by H.H. Richardson one of two of his eight commissions in Springfield still standing. 

To see more of Springfield's sculptures, go to http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=668302614039424658#editor/target=post;postID=6624848095265067920

30th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival, Part 4: The Coast Guard

This is what Marash Girl saw as she approached the first table under the Vendor's Tent:   Life Jackets Save Lives. The table, manned by a member of the Coast Guard and his daughter, was there to convey an essential message for all seafarers: LIFE JACKETS SAVE LIVES.  The Coast Guardsman's daughter was a living example.  A seasoned boat woman, she had been in a boat race wearing heavy clothing when her boat capsized.  Her life jacket kept her upright until help arrived, even though she had on heavy boots that would have taken her to the bottom of the ocean, had she not been wearing a life jacket.   Father and daughter went on to explain that most folks who lose their lives in boating accidents would be living today had they been wearing a life jacket, and many of the folks who lost their lives in boating accidents were seasoned swimmers boating in calm waters.  For more information on life jackets and the saving of life through the wearing of a life jacket, see  the Coast Guard's website on the subject:

 http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/life_jacket_wear_wearing_your_life_jacket.aspx 

and PLEASE, wear a life jacket whenever you go onto the water in a boat.

On the cheerier side of boating, the Coast Guardsman was demonstrating how to tie knots.    Below are photos of the Coast Guardsman showing his daughter how to tie various types of knots important when sailing.

"Tying knots is the most important skill that a sailor can know!"

Oh, and swans were among the many visitors to the 30th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival!

30th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival, Part 3: On A More Serious Note

Now to get down to the more serious aspects of the festival.  Sunday's activities began with a Service of Worship for Boaters, beginning with the Call to Worship: "Blessed be God, who created us, and gives us the gifts of the sea. . . " followed by the singing the Mariner's Hymn:

Eternal Father, strong to save,

Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,

Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep

Its own appointed limits keep;

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,

For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard

And hushed their raging at Thy word,

Who walkedst on the foaming deep,

And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,

For those in peril on the sea.

The Old Testament reading was the story of Jonah, the New Testament reading, Mark 2:1-12.

The service was closed with the singing of the last 4 verses of the Mariner's Hymn (above): Eternal Father, Strong to Save.  Rev. J. Loring Carpenter, Executive Director of Seafarer's Friend located in the Ports of Boston, Portsmouth (NH) and Portland (Maine) since 2005, conducted the service and blessed individual boats as he made the rounds of the docks following the service.  

The day ended with a general Blessing of the Boats,  the boats responding their "Amen" with their bells, whistles and horns.

30th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival, Part Two

More  from the 30th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival

                           The way to the boats. . . the ramp gets steeper as the tide goes out!

                       Old Timey Music played by The Ancient Mariners Dixieland Band

The Adventure Chantey Singers in "Heave Away Haul Away", a classic sea shanty.

Nantucket Lightship/LV-112

"A Captain  knows a good hooker."

"The WRECK of the GLOBAL ECONOMY - BAILOUT LEDGE"

"Buy a cookie for $18 and get a free T-Shirt!"

Deborah Pascale of Pascale's Books (North Reading, MA) displays a scarce maritime book:  THE YANKEE WHALER

Robert Brun,  Marine Art and Prints, the artist who loves to paint antique and classic boats!

Painting by Robert Brun for sale at the Antique & Classic Boat Festival this year