March

MARCh 2022

New Moon = March 2nd | Full Moon = March 18th

It's pisces season, a contemplative yet celebratory time of year. I find myself eliminating items from a forgotten closet and storage bins like I want to shed a layer. The anticipation of Spring is realized through my constant vacuuming and dusting of corners. I am paying attention to my finances and budget, saying that March is the month of responsibility. When really I want to go back to Mexico for a week at the end of the month and I am figuring out how to make that happen. It is my birthday and then Melissa's right after. We are almost exactly 30 years apart in age, to the day. March is about being honest with what you want & then sharing that truth with the world. This list is in the spirit of that attitude. Happy Birthday to us!

People
	Melissa & I both read Suleika Jaouad's book "Between Two Kingdoms" this month. It is the type of book I read in five days when I could have devoured in two. One of those reads where when I realized I was more than half way through, I became aware of my pace and intentionally slowed down so the book wouldn't end. I signed up for Suleika's newsletter moments after finishing the book. We dream of collaborating with Souleika's project The Isolation Journals one day.
Christina Najjar aka Tinx is famous on TikTok for being herself with a mini mic. She coined the term Rich Mom Energy and uses humor in a relatable, thoughtful way. Google her rich mom starter pack videos for a good laugh. She is smart. We have been admiring her rise and see her as someone who is adding something valuable to popular culture. Her new podcast airs twice a week in 15-20 minute soundbites and soon she will have a radio hour for live Q&A. We see her expanding her offerings into book deals, her own talk show & live tours. What I especially loves about Tinx is that she doesn't gatekeeper, she is into sharing because sharing is cool.
	At dinner one night months ago our friend Jenni told us about this amazing memoir titled "Crying in H Mart" by Michelle Zauner. Melissa bought the book immediately, read it and ordered a copy for me soon after. Michelle shares how complex mother / daughter relationships are. How fierce maternal love is grounding and chaotic all at once. Michelle is also the lead singer in the band Japanese Breakfast. I love their album Soft Sounds From Another Planet. It came out in 2017 which is the year we opened ON&ON, I remember it as a soundtrack to that era of life. Listen to Japanese Breakfast and read Michelle's book!
Architecture
Last month I visited Casa Organica outside of Mexico City. My friend Maryellis emphasized I make a reservation, it was worth the 45 minute drive. So I went with my friend Jenna and we were in awe the whole time. Speaking in a low whisper to each other as our eyes darted in excitement, not wanting to miss a thing. Javier Senosiain is the genius architect who designed and built this home and a few other properties on site & a new project nearby. His dedication to organic architecture is solidified in these amorphous structures mainly made of concrete. In the office upstairs there is an eye, the pupil can be removed to reveal a telescope that looks directly at his mentors public sculpture down the hill. This touched me the most, his reverence for his teacher & friend.
	In 2016 I went on a two week trip to Japan, alone. It was on this adventure that I discovered one of the most beautiful museums and collections I have ever seen. The Chichu Art Museum was built into the hillside on a tiny island in the Seto Inland Sea called Naoshima. It was there that I discovered the power and quietness of Tadao Ando's work. There are strictly no photos allowed inside and there are proctors watching to ensure you experience the space without documenting it. This aerial photo shows the top of the museum, those shapes are windows. They are the only form of light in the museum.
Zaha Hadid is an iconic architect, artist and designer. She is someone who was brave enough to design and erect structures that I consider to be monuments, massive sculpture. These buildings are her testaments to beauty, material, form & function. They take up space and demand your attention and relationship. She passed away in 2016 however her legacy continues in her absence, her studio is still active today.
Art
	Mario Barberis was an Italian artist from Rome. This piece is titled "The Mirror of the Iris" it is pastel on paper and he made it in 1920. I love how he used pastel to create a sense of light, it feels like looking at a rainbow in the early first morning light. I have seen some of his other work on art auction sites. I can't find much information on him. If anyone has info on him and his work, please reach out :)
Agnes Pelton is one of my favorite painters. My friend Corinne introduced me to her work. It makes me want to cry knowing a woman made this work. If you click the image, you will be taken to an artforum link where you can read all about Agnes.
	Ariana Papademetropoulos is a contemporary artist whose work I have been following since 2016 or so. Her work was recently featured in an all star group exhibition in LA where her painting hung alongside Agnes Pelton with a Mike Kelley sculpture in the foreground. I wasn't able to go to the opening but I heard doves were released. Check out her website and watch her video where she floats on a bed with a candelabra through Grecian caves.