It's the Simple Things

Little Iain received an outrageous number of Christmas gifts, especially given the fact that he's only two years old. Everything from an obnoxious light up monster truck (okay, so it was a gift from a 10 year old boy) to Thomas and Friends trains to cool Automoblox wood cars designed by industrial designer Patrick Calello to a spiffy Razor designed for the youngest scooter enthusiastic. However, his favorite gift by far was a cheap light up spinning top ball point pen from Target (a stocking stuffer: thanks Santa). This magic pen could heal sore muscles, whiten teeth, fix boo boos, shoot lasers, etc. Hmm, it's the simple things that seem to capture the imagination of the youngest creative minds.

Happy Flowers

Last weekend, I had the utterly inspiring and mind-blowing experience of seeing the ©Murakami exhibition at MOCA in L.A. The youngest art critic in our family gave the show a big thumbs up and spent two hours in rapt fascination at the sight of Murakami's superflatalicious paintings, sculptures, animations, and glorious installations. I was overwhelmed by the explosion of color, pattern, imagination, insanely surreal imagery, and, of course, happy flowers. To see Murakami's work in person is transformative—for both children and adults. There are some naysayers who take issue with the conflation of art and commerce, but, I view the interweaving of high and low, culture and consumption, museum and boutique as a brilliant commentary on the current state of the bizarre world in which we live.

Speaking of consumption, one of my favorite forms of shopping is consuming the pre-consumed. After the Murakami show, we visited our friends Jeffery and Rita in Claremont. Rita is the director of the Oldenborg Center, where, several years ago, I gave a presentation on the Superflat phenomenon to a fantastic audience of young, dare I call them: scholars. Last week, this supercool (1970s?), wonderfully kitch coffee dispenser was unearthed from some forgotten corner in Oldenborg. Isn't it Murakami-esque? It is now in my possession and I can't wait to have an opportunity to fill it with mulled wine or hot cider or the strongest of holiday spirits—glogg—and bust it out at my next party. The perfect excuse to wear my bright yellow, holiday caftan from Palm Springs. Thanks, Rita.