Jane Tam and Polixeni Papapetrou

dim sum on newspaper Jane Tam

Nymphoto's newest member Jane Tam is the featured artist of the month on the Nymphoto site. Go check out the Conversation and the rest of her work on her site. I love the light and simplicity of the image above from her Foreigners in Paradise series.

Jane has been contributing so much to the group and blog since joining. She posted an excellent Conversation with Polixeni Papapetrou this morning whose work and background I've always been intrigued by. Thanks Jane!


The Fall Polixeni Papapetrou

Eggplant Lasagna

We had a ton of vegetables left from our CSA, my aunt's garden, and Pond Eddy so I looked for a recipe that would use most of it up. I found this recipe (in the comments section) for Eggplant Lasagna and made it last night. This is a noodle-less recipe. It turned out super yummy (and I've never made lasagna before!) I didn't follow the recipe exactly so I will put my variations in parenthesis.

1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 teaspoons olive oil
500 g eggplants, sliced lengthwise, unpeeled about 5mm thick (or 17.6 oz) (I used one regular eggplant and one Asian, plus three zuchinis)
1 (440 g) can tomato puree (or 15.5 oz ) (instead of tomato puree and tomatoes, I chopped up about 10 fresh tomatoes into cubes and cooked it down to a thick sauce)
1 (440 g) can tomatoes, drained and chopped (or 15.5 oz)
1 tablespoon finely chopped oregano (didn't have any fresh, used flakes)
1 tablespoon chopped basil
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 garlic cloves, crushed (forgot to add to the sauce so I added the garlic raw when I was layering, still yum!)
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs (just eyed this, didn't measure.)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (would increase this to at least one cup, I used more than a half cup but didn't measure.)
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese (used Oaxacan cheese available at the Associated supermarket next to our apt. Also used an extra layer of crumbled Mexican white cheese that I'm so in love with. Overall I probably used a cup of each cheese.)

Preheat the griller.
Combine the lemon juice and olive oil and brush it on the eggplant slices.
Lay them in a single layer on a nonstick baking tray and grill both sides for about 3 minutes each or until golden brown.
Preheat the oven to 180C degrees.
In a bowl combine the tomato puree, tomatoes, oregano, basil, cayenne pepper and garlic.
In another bowl combine the parmesan and breadcrumbs.
Spoon one third of the tomato mixture into the base of a lasagne or casserole dish.
Sprinkle with one third of the breadcrumb mixture and cover with a layer of eggplant.
Spread half the ricotta cheese over the eggplant and continue to layer in the same order, ending with the breadcrumb mixture (in my case hopefully).
Scatter the mozzarella cheese over the top and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Serve with salad and crusty bread.

While I would totally make this again, I need to do something about my grilling situation. I was using our mini George Foreman grill (which I hate) and a pan to do the grilling. Needless to say, it took forever! We didn't sit down to dinner until after 9 pm (way too late for me). The sauce also took a while to cook, maybe an hour? However, I was very successful in clearing out our countertops and refrigerator while making a yummy and relatively healthy meal. I even managed to try two new "local" cheeses!

(sorry there isn't a photo, lighting in our apt. isn't so great for photography at night.)

Around

My work has been slowly making the rounds of the photo blogs. Most recently on i heart photograph (thanks Michael), and 52 photographers (thanks Andy).

The Cats

I'm so glad that G made a project about the cats. Tokyo was such a good model.


Pose from "Cats in Space" Geoff Hutchinson

Here's T with Boom Boom.


Awkward Youth from "Cats in Space" Geoff Hutchinson

Bye Boomie.

Summer meals

The wonderful abundance of summer!


Peach pancakes topped with Greek yogurt, more peaches, and some maple syrup.




Summer classic: mozarella, tomatoes, basil, and a bit of extra virgin olive oil.

Jane Tam

welcome home Jane Tam

Nymphoto's own Jane Tam is participating in a two part group show. Part I opens tonight! (too bad I will be out of town.)

Hun Gallery: The Circular Exhibition: Term I
http://hungallery.org
Aug. 22. 2008- Aug. 28. 2008
Opening Reception- Aug. 22. 2008 (6pm-8pm)
12 West 32nd street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10001

The exhibition will then travel to Seoul, Korea and be exhibited at:

Gallery Ho: The Circular Exhibition: Term II
http://galleryho.com/
Sep. 11. 2008 – Sep. 20. 2008
Opening Reception- Sep. 11. 2008 (6pm-8pm)
Seocho Dong 1538-4,
Seocho Gu, Seoul, Korea


can i come home with you? Jane Tam


can i come home with you? Jane Tam

Eminent Domain at the 42nd and Fifth

There is one week (closes August 29) left to see the New York Public Library's Eminent Domain show curated by Stephen C. Pinson. The artists participating in the show are Thomas Holton, Bettina Johae, Reiner Leist, Zoe Leonard, Ethan Levitas, and Glenn Ligon. I thought it was a well curated show and well worth the time.

These words that were part of Glenn Ligon's piece really resonated with me. "I was born here in New York, and like many other New Yorkers lack imagination: the idea of living somewhere else has never occurred to me. Indeed, to live in New York is to have lived everywhere."

Nina's Coversations

White Horse Tema Stauffer

Nina Buesing has been blogging for a little less than a year and that voice has grown to capture the hearts of many, including mine. She blogs on ninacorvallo.blogspot.com and is also the main voice behind the Nymphoto blog, to which I contribute. Checkout Nina's Conversation with Tema Stauffer which she posted earlier today.

Hole in the Wall

Jumping Off Hole in the Wall Geoff Hutchinson

Summer has come and almost gone. Tomorrow I will go up to the house to take care of the cats for G. Geoff is off to Canada today, I am totally jealous. Ardshona is a real treat.

Exposure

Ben at the The Exposure Project was kind enough to post some work from The Hold Over Water.

Hidemi Takagi on Nymphoto

Nigeria from "blender" copyright Hidemi Takagi

I forgot to post here that I put up a coversation with Hidemi Takagi on the Nymphoto blog last Friday.

Momma's Man

copyright Nina Buesing

Nina has blogged about her friend Aza several times. He is Azazel Jacobs, director of Momma's Man. The movie tells the story of a man, Mikey, who when stranded in NY amidst airline cancellations, decides to stay put in his parents' Tribeca loft. The loft is Jacob's family loft where his parents live and is a gem of a set. His parents play Mikey's parents in the movie. As the stay progresses, he starts digging through old boxes of memories and becomes entangled with the past and no longer wants to leave, or return to his wife and child in LA. This article in the NYTimes is a good read and features Nina's photo of Aza. I went to BAM last Friday to catch the movie in the midst of the thunderstorm. I have to say that it was well worth it and Flo Jacobs was amazing in the movie. Go catch it at Angelika, starting this Friday.

New Ideas

Most of you should have heard about the Young Curators, New Ideas show at Bond Street Gallery by now, if not, you should check it out. It's a great new space. Michael Buhler-Rose is one of the curators for this multi curated show.

New Vac

We just got this Hoover cannister vacuum from Best Buy at work. It's cheap ($60) and it's great at sucking up all the dust bunnies. Easy to use and lightweight. I might get one for home!

(image from Best Buy)

1000 Words Photography

Snake, Laudat, Dominica, 2003.

Tim Clark from 1000 Words Photography magazine posted some work I sent to him a couple of days ago from my The Hold Over Water series on the blog. Thanks Tim!

One mile at a time

I guess I'm on a blogging break. Somehow August isn't so relaxing and there are lots of things I need to get done. I have to get back into my gym routine, one mile at a time. I'm completely inspired by Murakami, and the Olympics (if I can find some time to watch it).

Miracle fruit

Have you ever heard of the miracle fruit? I hadn't until this weekend. I'd like to try some.

The Hold Over Water

I spent the weekend scanning and updating my website. I've been working on a body of work that I have loosely titled "Water Management" since 1999. I retitled it "The Hold over Water." I added a new statement and some images.


Dry River Bed, Dasi, Taiwan, 1999.


Hover Dam, Nevada, USA, 2008.

Check out the website for the full portfolio.

There's a hybrid diesel VW Golf on the way!

Unfortunately, on the way means the end of 2009, but I'm excited nontheless. Read about it here and here.

Jessica M. Kaufman

Untitled, Jessica M. Kaufman

I just posted a conversation with Jessica M. Kaufman, whose work is breathtaking, on the Nymphoto blog.

Summer food

Some stuff I made with CSA goodies.


Golden beet, cucumber, and feta salad (feta from Titan Foods in Astoria).


We got twelve peaches so I made a peach cake with a recipe from the July issue of Martha Stewart.

Jean-Do

I watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly last night. The camera work, editing, mood were all brilliant. But the truth wasn't told. It's always a problem with book adaptations.

Summer reading

Two weeks ago, J gave me Atonement, by Ian McEwan to read. It was better than I expected, a bit wordy in the beginning but interesting throughout. She also gave me a copy of the movie, which I saw this weekend. Unfortunately, that was a disappointment. The acting was pretty good, but the directing left more to be desired.

This morning, R gave me Murakami's new memoir, What I talk About When I Talk About Running. I read the piece ( an excert from the book) he had in the New Yorker a couple of weeks ago and put the book on my wish list. It's exactly what I wanted. Thanks for spoiling me. What a sweet gift. Thank you!

Random

Last night when I got home from the gym, I threw my gym stuff and a load of laundry into the machine. Ten minutes later, I realized that I had forgotten to take out my earphones, which was tucked between my sweat towel. I retreived the dripping thing and laid it out to dry over night. I'm happy to report that it's actually working! Hooray!

Two tutorials via How About Orange:
Covered kitchen doors
Baby Kimono

Hot air balloon ride above Central Park

You can now take a 10 min. hot air balloon ride 300 feet above Central Park. For more info read this. (Through Aug. 22)

Raindrops

It was dark and moody when I walked through the park this morning. Even though we're at the height of summer, it reminded me a bit of the coming Fall. I saw this rainy day in autumn fabric from Lara Cameron and it made me long for cooler, milder weather.



(image from Lara Cameron)

Some recipes

I've decided not to make any more LA entries. Most of you have probably been there anyway. I've been busy with random stuff like cleaning out old shoeboxes filled with sanpshots- totally guilty- I know they should be in something archival. Well, I threw almost all of it out (I'm learning to be a minimalist, and don't worry, I have plenty left). I was a horrible photographer who gave too much money to the film companies and my local photomat. In between the heat and cleaning the underside of my bed, I tried out some new recipes in the kitchen.

spicy radish sandwich (By the way, I love Eating Out Loud.)

strawberry shortcake

jalapeno cornbread with cheddar cheese (with extra jalapeno, cheddar, corn and no sugar)

We had an abundance of carrots and cucumbers (from the lovely CSA) so I semi-developed a black bean dip based on one that I had in California. I dumped everything in the blender and mixed it every so often to even it out. I just added everything to taste so I have no measurements. Here are the ingredients:
can of refried black beans with jalapenos (from Trader Joe's)
can of grabanzo beans (TJ's)
some orange muscat wine vinegar (TJ's) (I would normally use fresh lemon juice but I just didn't have any.)
extra virgin kalamata olive oil (Fairway)
sea salt
cayenne
fresh ground white pepper
cumin
coriander
celery seed
(you could also try adding some tahini.)
serve chilled with carrot and cucumber spears and TJ's vegetable flax chips.

Stay cool!

Tri lured me to Facebook

Over the weekend I succumbed to joining the popular networking site facebook. Why? (I keep asking myself whether or not I have the time to maintain yet another thing amongst my blogs and sites.) I had good reason. My friend Tri emailed me a link to his facebook page with some new photos. Now, they're not just some random snapshots, he's a great photographer photographing Buddhism in Asia. Tri moved to Singapore about a year ago and I dearly wanted to see what he'd been up to. Here are two photos, one from Vietnam and one from his transexual series.




copyright Tri Luu

Thanks Tri!

The Getty

I visited the Getty Center in LA and the Getty Villa in Malibu. The Center was as bright as the rest of LA (something that just made my eyes tear and hurt). The stones they used for the building and grounds bounce light all over the place. I enjoyed the August Sander and Bechers show while there.

Here's a shot of the dining area (in the cool shade!). I have to say that the heat didn't really bother me at all because it's dry heat. I sweated much less than I would in the same temperature than let's say, oh, Bangkok. Plus at night, it always cooled down nicely and was comfortable without ac.


I was really into these "trellises."


A close-up.


These were so soft, I kept running my hands through them.


The Getty Villa combined with some beach time makes for a super day trip. Remember that you have to reserve tickets in advance to get into the Villa, but it's free. J.P. has a great collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art. The villa setting is really nice, reminds me of what the Cloisters is to the Met.


Super long fountain.


Interlocking Greek Key


Herakles.


Nice pattern on stone floor.


Roasted veggies sandwich (I highly recommend the food here, very affordable and one of the yummiest meals my whole time out West.)


A secluded beach in Malibu.

City of Angels

An angel seen along the Venice Canals.

I've been back from LA for oh 3 wks? I still want to share the trip with you so I'm going to divide it up into several posts over the next couple of days. This was my second trip to California, first to LA and it made a pretty big impression on me. There are some things over there that we just don't have on the East coast.

This chicken man for example...these and other huge figurines (in sombreros) are in abundance there. The signage in general was ultra fabulous.


Then there's Clifton's Cafeteria in downtown. It's part theme park and part seedy. The food is ok.






There's the abundance of taco trucks and stands. (That's a satisfied customer by the name of Maggie.)


And the abundance of fruit trees in people's yards. These are from the huge bucket of lemons we picked off Maggie's tree in the side yard and made into honey lemonade. I knew fruit trees existed in peoples yards but to experience it was so fun and exciting. (This is coming from someone who totally grew up in Queens.) I love fruit and I want to have a fruit tree in my yard!