twomaverix | A showcase of my professional work

A Jazz Riff For Your Eyes

Posted on May 4, 2013 by silvermic

From one angle, the towering overhead sculptures evoke leaping flames and dancing figures. Take a walk across the room and look back, though, and the same totems take on the profile shapes of animals and birds.

Legendary musician Herb Alpert reaches far beyond creating new sounds.

A renowned abstract artist, Herb is currently exhibiting his latest sculpture and paintings at the Robert Berman Gallery of Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station Arts Center.

Herb’s new exhibition, “in.ter.course”, opens today and features his “Black Totems” series of towering bronze sculptures, inspired by Pacific Northwest native art. On the walls are paintings in a range of warm earth tones: his “Coffee Series”. Continue reading →

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Posted in Featured Audio, Over Coffee | Tagged "in.ter.course", "in.ter.course" exhibit, abstract artist Herb Alpert, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Herb Alpert, Robert Berman Gallery | Leave a comment

Putting Thought Into Words

Posted on May 3, 2013 by silvermic

Gifted poet Rebeccah Sanhueza doesn’t just write verses. She sets herself a challenge!

Rebeccah, who is an English major at Pasadena City College, decided to create her poem, “7.20”, within the boundaries of a very restrictive format–Japanese haiku! The result is a vivid picture of a relationship that allows for more than one interpretation.

Rebeccah’s talents were rewarded with publication. PCC’s English division’s included “7.20” in their 2013 edition of their annual literary magazine, Inscape. Inscape is a compilation of the best work students produce in PCC’s Creative Writing courses, over the year.

Rebeccah read her poem, “7.20”, explained some of the imagery and talked about her plans for the future.

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Posted in Featured Audio, Over Coffee | Tagged Inscape, Inscape literary magazine, Pasadena City College, PCC English division, poet Rebeccah Sanhueza, Rebeccah Sanhueza | Leave a comment

Murder, Mayhem–and Humor? She Rules

Posted on May 1, 2013 by silvermic

Mystery author and horsewoman Gayle Carline has a sense of humor–and so do her readers.

According to her website, Gayle began writing after buying her first horse. Her writing career started with regular contributions to California Riding Magazine–and broke into a canter from there.

Since 2005, Gayle has been writing a humor column for her local paper. And in 2009, she ventured into new territory with the publication of Freezer Burn, her first funny mystery novel in the “Peri Minneopa” series.

Gayle has now written four “Peri Minneopa” mysteries, including her most recent one, The Hot Mess. She also has two humor books to her credit. This summer, though, she’s publishing a different type of story: From the Horse’s Mouth: One Lucky Memoir, about her horse, Snoopy.

At the recent Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Gayle talked about her mystery novels, her future writing plans and offered some great resources for aspiring writers!

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Posted in Featured Audio, Over Coffee | Tagged Freezer Burn, From the Horse's Mouth: One Lucky Memoir, Gayle Carline, humor columnist Gayle Carline, mystery author Gayle Carline, Peri Minneopa mysteries, The Hot Mess | Leave a comment

Memoirs, Music and Talent

Posted on May 1, 2013 by silvermic

Lani Hall Alpert has always told stories with her music. Now, she’s telling them in an equally compelling way in her new book, Emotional Memoirs and Short Stories.

Lani, a gifted singer, was the original lead vocalist with top 1960s group Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66. Her career highlights have included a 1986 Grammy Award for her third Latin album, Es Facil Amar, and two performances at the Academy Awards with her husband, legendary musician Herb Alpert.

In Emotional Memoirs and Short Stories, Lani interweaves memories of her early life in Chicago with fiction that is by turns tragic, warm, disturbing and hopeful. She explores themes like self-doubt, infidelity and family issues with courage and an honesty that is always captivating.

At the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Lani talked about the experience of creating her book, and explained the origins of one of her short stories.

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Posted in Featured Audio, Over Coffee | Tagged Emotional Memoirs and Short Stories, Herb Alpert, Lani Hall, Lani Hall Alpert | Leave a comment

Looking to the Future

Posted on April 30, 2013 by silvermic

Pasadena City College has made headlines recently–as a campus in crisis.

The college’s current administration has received triple “no-confidence” votes: from PCC’s Associated Students, Faculty Association, and, more recently, the Academic Senate, which approved a “no-confidence” vote of its own.

Simon Fraser served as President of PCC’s Associated Students throughout the past year, and was recently elected to serve a year as ASPCC’s Student Trustee.

Simon talked about his new role, and what it will mean in terms of the climate on-campus.