This week marks the one year anniversary of my trip to Africa. While there, as with any of my travels, the majority of my camera disk space somehow seems to be filled with photos of the insect life.  I find the colors,  shapes, even the movement of the worlds bugs  as exotic as the landscapes, climates, and cultures I visit. I was just thinking how cool it would be to have a bug art exhibit when I found two exhibits at the same gallery that already fit this concept. Both Jo Whaley – The Theater of Insects and Life Cycle – Photographs of Susan Middlton are exhibits currently showing at the De Saisset Museum in Santa Clara. So it wasn’t my idea, but great minds think alike do they not? Of course, my photos here are nothing compared to the stunning marvels of Jo and Susan. Take a gander and  check them out for yourself. No passport required!

Surrounded by artists and the internet all the time, you are bound to learn something new each and every day. Today, even I was surprised to discover that Romania has had a long love affair with film. Leave it to the folks as Stanford to inform me of and expose me to not only the shining cinematic past, but the recent endeavours of the  Romanian  cinemanistas  with their very own Romanian Film Festival. Now THAT is a niche market. And THAT is what I love about our community and let’s face it, Artsopolis and my job. Go be awesome this week and beyond Artsopolites! The Princess commands it!

 I started my journey with the last item this past month at the South Bay Guitar Society’s 25th Anniversary Gala. Among the auction items available to bid on were 3 guitar lessons. The bidding was rich,  but in the end, my paddle produced the final bid. And so, there I was with an envelope of potential waiting to be unleashed. My guitar is in fact the gift of a friend who, years ago, was cleaning out a storage unit prior to moving to Germany. He had no need for it, and well, I didn’t have NEED of it, but it was a guitar. And free. And yes it only had 3 strings. And, no I had never played on in my life, nor exhibited any real musical talent. But think of all that possibility! And so, with a gimp of an instrument and an instructor for hire, all I was left with was stringing and tuning. Thanks to a bit of Facebook pimping, I discovered that my friends and acquaintances are quite talented. Through photos of stings I had and my lovely guitar, we resolved I needed different strings to accompany my Latin, Classical guitar (who knew) and once those were obtained I’d be ready to be re-strung and tuned. Coordination of schedules is always a trial with these artist types, but I am now set up to do a drop off and pick up next we, as so we get closer. But the impatient virtuoso-to-be in me is left wanting satisfaction NOW.

I  may be a few weeks away from my prodigal strum, but I don’t have to be sad. This week very weekend, I can  get my fill of guitar and then some at the 2011 Guitar Solo and Ensemble Festival. There,  not only will I be entertained, but perhaps inspired, and most certainly humbled by the talents of international guitar names as well as those a year or two into their training! A variety of paid and free concerts and master classes, at a couple of different venues make up this annual event that is full of  musical delights! A local treat that will tide you over until I’m ready to give my own concert. Date to be determined…but don’t hold your breath.

There is  a corner on South 2nd and San Carlos in Downtown San Jose, where for lack of a better phrase, there is this perfect storm of art going on daily. The Camera 3 Cinema (which specializes in showing independent, foreign and cult classic films) Comedy Sportz (featuring everything from family friendly to Adult Centric Midnight Show competitive improv) and Psycho Donuts (featuring quirky local art hanging on the walls and  a unique artistry of the donut kind) live in chaotic, hilarious, and creative harmony on this corner. It is a corner filled with colors. You can see these colors, hear them, smell them and taste them. A feast for the senses and an upbeat little collaborative, this corner serves up a genuine happiness and celebrates the weird, wild, offbeat, and sincerely fun part of life. Gallery, Bakery, Theatre, and Comedy Club, it’s all covered and waiting for you to discover and rediscover it!

Unless you have been living in a cave (in which case, I’d be über shocked if you were reading this) you’re probably aware of the buzz around a particular naughty Black Swan. Certainly, some of you may have seen the Oscar-nominated film, The Black Swan, but long before Natalie Portman plucked imagined feathers out of her back, the real drama of Swan Lake made it the talk of the town. One of the most beautiful, timeless, romantic, tragic and passionate of the classical ballets, Swan Lake has MADE the careers of dancers and made audiences rise to their feet in awe and appreciation. One such dancer to repeatedly have this effect on people is famed cuban dancer Carlos Acosta. An award-winning and much sought after guest artist, he will be dancing a role he is known for (Prince Sigfried) in the February 25th and 26th performances of Ballet San Jose’s Swan Lake. This is not only an opportunity to see one of the best dance a wonderful ballet, but a chance to hear the Symphony Silicon Valley play Tchaikovsky’s brilliant music on new state of the art mics, tuned specifically to each of the instruments. This riveting story of love, loss, deceit, and well…swans is only here for 3 short days. Ballet buffs and those new to the art form will experience and enjoy a top-notch presentation of this undisputed crown jewel of classical ballet. Go see what all that buzz is about!

Birds do it. Bees do it. So why can’t you and your partner of choice head down to Happy Hollow Zoo after all the kids go home  and do it. NOT THAT. I mean go and get the more “adult” story behind the dating and mating rituals of the animals there.  Hors d’oeuvres included at this Woo at the Zoo  program on Monday, February 14th! Just $15 per person! Educational, fun and who knows…maybe it will bring out the animal in your partner?

A littlemore on the  nostalgic side? Wanna “dress up”? Think George Pappard is hot? Then grab your cocktail dress and tiara and head down to the Retro Dome in San Jose, February 11-13th for a showing of the timeless cinematic classic, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  You are highly encouraged to sneak some smoohces in the dark theatre,  be out all night and grab breakfast at the jewelry store of your choice, just promise me you won’t go shoplifting from the toy store after your all-nighter. Boy, I love it when a plan comes together.

There’s nothing like anecdotes about the amazing way couples have found each other and survived the test of time and no one knows this better perhaps than author Max Fallon. Max will be sharing from his book Couples…An Eclectic View which highlights ninety-four intriguing international couples. Join Max and no doubt a few couples for his free presentation at Books Inc.  in Mountain View,  Sunday, February 13th.

Want to go all out, traditional, uber-romantic? Like to be treated like royalty? Want a cabaret night club jazz experience full of sultry soul and belting blues? The Theatre on San Pedro Square has JUST what you need to make it a De-Lovely evening! The Tabard Theatre Company presents Juanita Harris and The Jack Conway Trio with a wonderful program of cool jazz and romantic standards, Monday, February 14th! With hosted drinks, food, and a long-stemmed red rose per couple included in the price and the smooth piano stylings of popular local performer Bob Visini from 7-745pm, in the most charming, historic, and fantastic venue, you never knew about, you will be in seventh heaven. And bonus, parking is a bargain (free on the street and $4 in the garage across the street.) 

If you are an intellectual couple that likes to wax philosophical and who dwell dangerously close to the line between  debate and argument  (if only so you have an opportunity to make up) than you might enjoy the West Coast Premiere of Taboos by Carl Djerassi (inventor of the birth control pill!). Playing February 10-12th only in Palo Alto, this  is a disquieting comedy about keeping it all in the family as it explores the unexpected — and often messy –results that arise when emotions and science collide. Get super smarty-pants after the Feb. 12th matinée performance, when there will be a panel discussion held in conjunction with the Stanford Medical School.

According to the Chinese Zodiac I’m a Yin Woood Rabbit. I like emeralds, the arts, “management” (read: being bossy) I dislike touchy-feely people, abrupt curves in my routines and I’m sneaky, fashionable and obsessive. Sounds about right. 2011 is the year of the Rabbit, and this Saturday, Redwood City will be celebrating “my year” with all the things a rabbit likes. Acrobats, martial arts, lion dances, crafts,  food, and brightly colored clothing. I don’t know about you but the opportunity to learn how to play Mahjong and make paper boats from chopstick wrappers is reason enough to head on up to RC (that’s Redwood City, not Rabbit City.) It’s an all day celebration, an opportunity for learning and reverie! Gung Hay Fat Choy Artsopolites!