Nimaasted was a judge, scribe, and priest in the 5th Dynasty Old Kingdom in ancient Egypt. In a way, Nimaasted was the handsome bureaucrat that kept things going. You can see the sculpture of Nimaasted in the Treasures of the Pharaohs at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco.
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| Nimaasted, 5th Dynasty Old Kingdom, Egypt |
"Treasures of the Pharaohs", now exhibiting at the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park, brings together 130 works from ancient Egypt including the U.S. debut of newly unearthed objects from the Golden City near Luxor. The works span from stone statues to common everyday tools used by ancient Egyptians. The artistry and craftsmanship of ancient peoples always fascinates me.
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| Mayor Senetfer and Family, 18th Dynasty Egypt |
We were attempting to get into the DeYoung Museum for the Pharoah exhibit, but it was way too crowded and sold out. So, it was a nice day to peruse the permanent collection at the DYM. One painting that always captured my imagination was a portrait of Cizahaka by Henry Inman. The portrait depicts the handsome Cizahaka and the beauty of his dress, but I always wondered about the coloration of his skin - which to me looks a little too "red".
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| Cizahaka, Henry Inman, DeYoung Museum, 8/2026 |
CoWaBunGA!
Walking into Fog City Java, I was hoping to see the new artist for the month of August 2026; but, the walls were bare. Amber and Bonnie explained that nobody signed up for August or September. We could not let that stand. Natalie and I put our artwork together and installed a "Back-to-School Art Show and Sale"
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| Bill's artwork sale |
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| Natalie's salon style exhibit and sale |
Stop in, grab a coffee and donut, take in the art, and enjoy the beach afterward.
CoWaBunGA!
From the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Asian Art Museum (AAM), two vessels from ancient times show the relationship between artists and the animals that inspire them. These vessels could have been designed strictly to follow the functions of their use, but their makers incorporated animal forms into their design.
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| Crab vessel from Columbia, 1500 BCE |
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| Rhino vessel from China, 1100 BCE |
CoWaBunGA
Much thanks to everyone who came out to the Old Oakland Summer Stroll last night. It was a fun party with food, custom cars, vendors, music, and art! Additional thanks to those who supported local artists and purchased an unique work of art.
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| Old Oakland Summer Stroll |
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| The party was just getting started... |
While visiting the new Geffen addition to LACMA, I ran into one of my favorite Impressionist painters: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Although from a wealthy family, Toulouse-Lautrec lived a relatively hard life due to his health and short stature. He haunted the underworld of Paris society, enjoying the theater, night life, and depicted those experiences in his paintings.
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| Messalina, Toulouse-Lautrec, LACMA - 7/2026 |
Late in his life, he was inspired by the opera Messaline and painted six works of the opera. The colors are so rich and the depth of the composition puts you right on the stage.
CoWaBunGA
