spending the afternoon with the world-class artist Michele Oka Doner

At the meal following the YoungArts gala, I had the privilege of being seated near Michele Oka Doner, the renowned sculptor, jewelry maker, fashionista, space maker.  Her work can be seen at MOMA, the Louvre, the Cooper-Hewitt, and the FIU-Wolfsonian, where a mural painted by my great uncle Lloyd Morgan, an architectural designer in the firm of Schultze and Weaver, is hung (below).  Michele's art can be experienced in retail stores (Tiffany's, say, or Macy's, or Fifty One East, the luxury superstore in Doha, Qatar), in public sculpture gardens, in the Herald Square Subway Station of New York City, and at the Miami International Airport, where she created a nearly mile-long floor of dark terrazzo celestial sea forms in bronze and mother of pearl. 

Actually, I'm just scratching the surface here.  Michele's work is everywhere.

I'll be joining Michele as one of her new pieces gets cast, and I'll be writing about the experience for the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

This is how fate takes us.  This is the experience we lean toward.

My great uncle Lloyd Morgan, a visionary architect, painted this imaginary skyline of the many buildings he helped design as a member of the Schulze and Weaver design team—the Pierre, the Waldorf-Astoria, the Sherry-Netherland, the Miami Biltmore, the Breakers—and hung the painting in his Tarrytown, NY, home throughout the years when we visited him as a family.  After he passed away, the painting was adopted by my father, who ultimately had it restored and shipped to the FIU-Wolfsonian.  I was able to reconnect with the painting for the first time two weeks ago, when I visited the quite beautiful Wolfsonian during my experience at YoungArts.

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a Beth portrait (courtesy of Julia)

I make sure, most of the time, that the lens of the camera is pointing far away from me.  But when Julia Hogan, one of the fantastic young writers of YoungArts asked if I could stand in the sun beside her for just a small, small wedge of time, I said yes.

And here we are.  Two lovers of words.

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the answer to the question: which two teen books were named by teens as influential?

A few days ago I made reference here to books that appeared on lists prepared for me by the twenty-four uber-talented teen writers selected for the National YoungArts program, being held this week in Miami.  I'd asked the young writers for the names of books that had changed their idea of story, on the one hand, and their idea of language, on the other.  Only two had been published for teens. 

I then asked you, my faithful blog readers, what you thought those two titles might be. 

The first, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, was guessed by many of you.  The book that did not appear in your comments was the second—Maggie Stiefvater's Scorpio Races.  I'm spending some time thinking about all this—and I'll be reporting back on my thoughts as they come into clearer focus.

Thanks to all of you for playing along with me.  I'll post another contest soon, so that that promised copy of Small Damages finds its proper home.

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Frank Gehry: YoungArts Master Class

I'm addicted to watching these YoungArts master class films (first aired on HBO).  See what happens when Frank Gehry invites five young visual artists to design a city for a million people, and then five individual buildings.  He makes things impossible for them.  That's part of the plan.

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Edward Albee teaches aspiring authors at YoungArts

Those who love the arts and love to watch young talent absorbing the making of art really must watch the YoungArts series that celebrates the idea and act of mentorship.  This is a link to Edward Albee teaching four YoungArts writers.  Other programs in this series feature Bill T. Jones, Julian Schnabel, Frank Gehry, Liv Ullmann, and Renee Fleming teaching what they know to those who yearn to know it.

Watching these segments this evening I feel even more honored that I will be joining the YoungArts program in Miami this coming January as a writing instructor. 

Oh, the things I will learn.

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important (and thrilling) news: Teaching a Master Class for YoungArts (young artists, read on for the chance of a lifetime)

On this very beautiful Philadelphia day (blue-drenched skies and clouds a-wisp in both directions), I share news that I've wanted to share for the past many days.  Amy Rennert, my long-time agent, is the one who whispered this in my ear.  I have her to thank for bridging me toward that very thing that makes me happiest in life—hanging out with urgent, passionate, striving kids and helping them grow.

So here we go.  This coming January, I will be joining the glorious YoungArts program in Miami—"the signature national organization that recognizes and supports America's most talented 15-18 year olds in the visual, literary and performing arts."  Do you want to fill this very hour with beautiful things (music, HBO film, photography, stories)?  Then go to the YoungArts website, grab a root beer or a cup of tea, and sit back. Just let it happen.

Since 1981, YoungArts has given young people from across the country the chance to learn from giants such as Edward Albee, Robert Redford, Julian Schnabel, Michael Tilson Thomas, Bobby McFerrin, Frank Gehry, Placido Domingo, Liv Ullman, and Kathleen Turner.  It has helped nurture stars such as Viola Davis, Elizabeth Kostova, Allegra Goodman, Nicki Minaj, and Vanessa Williams.  It has elevated culture.  It has made people dance.  It has mattered. 

And you, my young friends out there—you still have a chance to apply.  Applications for this could-it-be-any-better-than-this? opportunity can be filed up through October 19, 2012.  Those who are selected—in nine disciplines—are eligible for the week-long immersion in the arts (Miami, early January), for U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts recognition, and for monetary awards. 

This year, I will be teaching writing to high school students in a botanical garden.  Over the course of that same week, Marisa Tomei, one of my favorite actresses (did you see her in "The Wrestler?"; don't you just love her whole, authentic self?), Bill T. Jones, that sensational choreographer and teacher, and Lourdes Lopez, recently named the artistic director of the Miami City Ballet, will be conducting Master Classes as well.  The evenings will be filled with performances.  A gala dinner will be held.  And I will be there, happy.

My young talented friends, consider applying.  Amy Rennert, thank you.  And Lisa Leone, the real Lisa Leone (vice president of Artistic Programs), you are one talented photo/movement-goddess.  I encourage those reading my blog to visit The Real Lisa Leone and to discover, among many fine finds, a certain Marisa Tomei hula hooping her way to glory. 

Gotta go run and touch the sky.

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