Monthly Archives: December 2014

The Books We Got for Christmas

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Marion

This year, we each got more potential books than physical books to unwrap. I got two gift cards to bookstores, including one to the Four-Eyed Frog in Gualala, and Spouse also got two. (One of his is for Mockingbird Books.) … Continue reading →

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Stay Tuned: @Large on Alcatraz Island

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Marion

On the ground floor of the Alcatraz cell house, the south-facing wing holds the cell-blocks. They look like every cell-block you’ve seen in every movie; two story,  tiny cells with barred doors, no privacy at all. @Large set up its … Continue reading →

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Bars and the Human Spirit; in the Cellhouse at Ai Wei Wei @Large

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Marion

The next two locations for Wei Wei’s installation were in the cellhouse, which is at the top of Alcatraz. It seems like an odd place to house prisoners, since the few windows there  boast stunning views of the city and … Continue reading →

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Three Braided Strands; Ai Wei Wei @Large

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Marion

Nearly a week after seeing Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei’s installation @Large, located on Alcatraz Island, I am still overwhelmed by its depths, and struggling to find a way to write about it. It is a rich, thought-provoking, heart-touching exhibition. … Continue reading →

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The Art of the Sell

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Marion

Mark, one of the owners of Mockingbird Books, is diligent at what I would call up-selling. When a person comes to the counter with a Stephen King paperback, he always remembers to point out the hardcovers on the 50% off … Continue reading →

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Creativity or Desperation

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Marion

The first part of this post is going to be in code because I don’t want to name the writers. That is mainly because I want to talk about the practice and not get off-topic into a discussion about the … Continue reading →

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