This week, I’m thinking about synergy.
A few weeks ago, I was having brunch with Kate and we were working our way through our agendas (yes, we bring lists of topics to our dates so that we do not forget to cover anything important that we might have missed in between texts and phone calls.) She was telling me about an event and asked me if I wanted to be her plus one, but then she told me the date. I groaned because it happened to be on the same night that I wanted to go see an author who I was dying to meet because I was obsessed with her two books, but especially the most recent one.
Half an hour later, Kate tentatively recommended a podcast. Since I’m a hyper consumer of things, Kate almost never recommends stuff to me unless she thinks it’s reallllly worth it. She started telling me about Death of An Artist. It was the story of Ana Mendieta, a Cuban-American artist who died when she fell out of the window of her apartment, her partner, artist Carl Andre, who was accused of pushing her, and the art world.
She was describing (part of) the plot of Anita de Monte Laughs Last — the most recent book by Xochitl Gonzalez, who I was going to see the same night as Kate’s event. It was such an insane coincidence, we couldn’t get over it.
I started listening to the podcast as though I would be quizzed afterwards while simultaneously getting more and more infuriated that I’d never heard of her before all of this. To be fair, I only took one or two art history classes in college, but it feels like I should’ve known about this Latina artist from NYC! I am supposed to be the friend who knows about things!!
That same week, I was trying to decide what to read and kept waffling. I decided on Choose This Now. I was reading while waiting on a friend and on page 31 one character asks another: “Do you know Ana Mendieta’s work?” I wanted to throw the book across the room. I had never heard of this woman before and now suddenly, she seemed to be everywhere. Why was the universe rubbing salt in this wound?
I keep spiraling, reading interviews, and looking at her work online. I was irritated when I realized I’d recently missed this big story. And also, it is worth noting, that her work is incredible. It pushes boundaries and gets in your face. It is intimate and shocking. It didn’t take too long to complete my transformation into full on fangirl.
I needed to see her art for myself and was mostly disappointed by my limited options. The Whitney owns five, with none currently on view. MoMA has one on display. I couldn’t sort out how many New Museum owned, but they are closed for renovations anyway. The Met has two, with one on display, and since I love the Met, that is where I went.
Without sharing the specific details, I sent my friend Karen a text asking her if she wanted to meet at The Met for a quick visit. She said yes, no questions asked, because my friends are the best.
The piece is on display in Gallery 302 which is a tiny space under the main stairs which feels very Harry-Potter-boy-under-the-stairs coded. I tried not to take it personally on behalf of Ana, who at this point, I felt protective over.
Amategram Series - The Vivification of the Flesh
When I told Karen what we were doing, she showed me her previous lock screen: Flowers on Body by Ana Mendieta. I think my jaw scraped the ground. My brain was possibly exploding. Ana was everywhere.
Last night, I met Xochitl Gonzalez. She was in conversation with Taylor & Co.’s Andrew and hearing her talk about Olga, Anita, Raquel and Ana was magical. She mentioned how rewarding it was for the readers of the book to have discovered Ana’s work and I wanted to shout: ME! YOU MEAN ME! But I pretended to have some decorum.
Afterwards, I waited in line to have my book signed and thanked her for bringing Ana’s work into my life and how sad I was that it had taken this long. Xochitl replied, “and now she’s with you”
I like to think so too.
This week in reading. . .
I finished The Morningside and it was so so good. Then I read the new Emily Henry in 24 hours and she is just so consistently good, it’s rude. The List was a compulsively readable mess and wowwwww did I hate the emoji cover.
This week in listening. . .
Lindsay Peoples was GREAT on Longform.
This week in TV. . .
So so excited for a new season of Hacks.
Like so many people, I’ve been rewatching SATC, but rather than watching the earlier seasons or the Aidan ones, I’ve been watching season six for the Smith Jerrod of it all. He really was the best of all the boyfriends.
Ira Madison on the new season(s) of Survivor. I absolutely agree with his criticisms - dumb production twists! Longer episodes without enough gameplay! Jeff being annoying! (This predates the “new era”)
This week in a gif. . .
This week in movies. . .
After watching Anyone But You I am convinced that Glen Powell might have chemistry with a brick wall or a tree. But Sydney Sweeney. . .not my cup of tea.
I’d seen Inside Out years ago, but rewatching it as a parent basically left me in a puddle of mush. Can’t wait for the sequel!
This week in a newsletter. . .
This issue of Why Is This Interesting about parenting “rules”. (h/t MB)
Very long, very interesting read on the current state of publishing.
I do not know why Caroline Donofrio watched this dude eat all these cheese puffs, nor do I know why I read the entire newsletter about this experience, but here we are.
This week in google searches. . .
berry picking season
amy smart
pink flower emoji
This week in one good thing. . .
My grandparents and Zu have birthdays within the same week and it is already so incredible that she gets to spend real time with them, but every year the three of them can celebrate together is so special.
This week in a quote. . .
“You don’t miss 1994. You miss how good you looked that cool people talked to you on the street and invited you to parties in warehouses that nobody else knew about. You don’t miss the ‘70s. Or the aughts. Or the ‘80s. You miss that time in your life—” - Ada Calhoun
This week in artsy stuff and photo things. . .
This meditative site: one minute parks.
Video of NYC in 1993.
My dear friend Sloan wrote about queer design.
This week on the internet. . .
Goodness, 10000% this. My gmail archives are filled with gems and emotional landmines and lovely memories.
Sanibel Lazar on the sad rich girls of literature.
Gotta say, I don’t feel great about skincare being marketed to tweens.
This interview with Coach Monica from Cheer.
Sophia Bush is telling all her business and I am here for it.
This touching tribute to crossing guard.
J Wortham interviewed Brittney Griner. (gift link)
me, and my besties,
Leonor
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