Well, folks sorry for the delay in updates… it´s been a hectic few days getting ready for my showcase tonight!

I wanted to report on Bilbao and how totally awesome it is.  I was there on Saturday which was a day ofter a car bomb went off.  So going was maybe a little risky but I realize that I wasn´t going to be riding in any cars there so i went ahead with my plans.  I am so glad I did because it is a lovely city!  Throughout this trip I have tried to make comparisions about the cities to others I´ve been to as a sort of context for myself.  I equated Barcelona to San Franciso;  Zaragoza to a kinda clean, without the ghetto Philly and Bilbao to Vancouver.  Bilbao is very green and lush; built right into the hills and mountians and is right along the water.  It also is smaller and easy to find your way through.  I got a map from teh bus station and was thinking I would have a lot of walking on my hands again but the map was so clear and before I knew it, I had arrived at my destination- the Guggenheim!

I have to say the Guggenheim is worth all the excitement that is recieves.  The building is truly magnificient.  I was so excited that as I walked down the street and turned the corner, beyond all the policemen, helicoptors and security stops- I saw the huge flower dog and the shiny facade in the distance.  I think I might have audibly giggled with excitement!

I spent a lot of time walking around the front of the building and yes, took many many pictures (so Liz I think we have to get together when I return!).  When I finally got inside (after about a half an hour outside just snapping pics) there was exploding cars in the atrium suspended from the ceiling.  I find out that this was from the Cai Guo-Qiang exhibit that later just blew me away.

I was admitted into the museum but not allowed to bring my handbag.  So I checked that, got my camera and was ready to see everything.  I go back through security and they bag my camera.  It seems I´m not allowed to take pictures.  ANYWAY… I headed and began with the video installations and quickly left them because they did not resonate with me.  It just seemed like bad movies.  I headed for the Richard Serra wing and I have to say, was totally impressed.  Richard Serra´s work has such volume and grace that it is hard to fathom it´s construction.  They have a quiet magnificience.  I walked inside and around all of them and then noticed people snapping pics… this made me mad because i walked with a bagged camera while flashes went off all over the place.  So I went inside one of his sculptures and pulled out my camera and snapped a few… I only have largely abstracted shots in Serra interiors but at least I have some.  I then shoved my camera back into the bag and kept moving.

The second floor was the Cai Guo-Qiang exhibit and most of you may not know that you have seem his handywork before.  He is the first Chinese artist to ever be granted a show at the Guggenheim and he is known primarily for his explosion happenings.  I was so completely moved by the enormous gun powder drawings that he had done early in his career which was probably my favorite aspect of the show.  The gun pawder ignited and left burning, charring and patina to the paper… beautiful patterns full of chance happening. 

His work is influenced by Chinese history of fireworks and such but all by Taoist cosmology, Buddhist philosophy and Chinese medicine.  He also claims extraterrestrial observation as an influence as well.

So I mentioned you may have already seen his work… he was instrumental in designing the explosion happenings for the Beijing Olympics 2008.  He designed the giant´s footprints to walk across the sky as well as all the other explosions that happened that night.  I saw his gunpowder drawing for the event which was probably about 10 ft tall by 20 ft long.  It depicted the city with the explosions overhead.

I then walked around the rest of the museum and perhaps the art institutions here in Spain are conspiring against me because the permenant collection was closed (one whole floor!).  So that makes the one wing of the Picasso Museum and the entire Modern Art Musuem of Barcelona, and now the Guggenhiem permenant collection something to return to see.

So then it was time for a cafe con leche and I sat outside on the terrace.  After recharging (I had only slept 3 hours the previous night because I was on such an early bus), I took a walk behind the building and soaked in how the building shifted and changed.  This was right along the river so to walk and sit and reflect was really nice.  The building has an interesting, very comic book graphic bridge that overlooks it and a number of sculptures that keep it company.  I walked through all of those and then headed down the river and walked through a sweet little park.

That was about all about my day… very leisurely with time to really take in my surroundings.  Just what I wanted!

There are just so many more pics… hook up with me when I get home to see the rest!