Monday, July 30, 2007

Adventure

Yesterday we went to the newly re-opened Seattle Art Musee. It wasn't quite what I expected. And we agreed- it still isn't as good as the Phoenix Art Musee. And no where near LACMA. But there you have it.

I saw some good things. A bust by Houdoin was particularly great- of his 4 year old daughter. Truly wonderful. Even captured the shadow of her dimple. There was a model of his Voltaire in the Phoenix museum. Loved it too.

And the Boy finally got to see in person my abject and total fear of African art. Masks in particular. Ditto Polynesian masks. And most Native American masks. Total gut churning fear. Cannot stand to be in the room. Must escape from the eyes.

Why, you ask? Well, mainly because they are so damned chock full o hoodoo. And I don't think they belong in museums being stared at by me. They had a different purpose, and really are too chock full of hoodoo to piss off. Bad, bad karma to touch them. Even worse to own them.

And there you have it. One of my very few, but sometimes awkward little superstitions. I felt like apologizing to the masks when I entered the room. But there were people around, and I didn't want security to escort the crazy chick out of the building. I think that The Boy thought it was funny.

But I'm sayin- bad, bad hoodoo. Gak.

Then I came home and took a nap. As advertised previously.

3 comments:

zombieswan said...

Have you ever seen the episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer where this mask comes to life and wreaks havoc? You probably shouldn't, on further reflection. But it would fit your phobia.

I'm not a big fan of putting things into museums that aren't meant to be there, either. And to me, usually, those kinds of pieces feel too power filled (hoodoo indeed) to be mere "art." They are someone's bad love, someone's coup d'etat, someone's murderous impulse. So you're right. But it probably does appear rather amusing to outsiders. I myself quite hate the "Voodoo doll kits" and stuff like that because you know, it's a real religion, and it's not like many people would laugh if the blasphemy were on the other foot (imagine a doll of Christ that you could stick pins into, to like, redeem one's own sins. Horrifying, right? The Same Impulse is in mocking/commodifying other religions.)

/rant. Sorry. :)

slyboots2 said...

I haven't watched nearly enough Buffy. I tend to avoid scary tv and movies- Twin Peaks is about as intense as I can handle. Which given my fear of African masks, is probably understandable. Weeny alert.

X Files used to give me nightmares. As do some video games if I watch someone else play them.

I am a delicate flower. (snort)

(S)wine said...

people who play those video games
give me nightmares.
twin peaks rocks.
i often wake up
thinking Bob is at the foot of my bed.
i love Bob.