A Mad, Mad World

Have a wonderful holiday!

Albert Bierstadt, 1868, “Among the Sierra Nevada, California” is one of my favorite paintings. It is on view at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. Bierstadt often painted very large canvases. This one is 72 x 120 1/8 inches that’s 6 feet by 10 feet!

I found this bit of trivia on the SAAM Eye Level blog:

“Peer closely at Albert Bierstadt’s Among the Sierra Nevada, California—you need to be standing up close and personal, because you won’t find it even in a large image—and you will see, in the lower left-hand corner of the painting, hovering in a stream under the shadow of a rock outcrop, a trout. Only one trout, but he took the time to paint it. Many early American paintings feature livestock (symbols of hearth and abundance): Bierstadt’s little fish completes a scene of feeding ducks and elk.”

That makes me smile.

Last night’s Wild Women of the Accordion/ Accordion Babes Pin-Up Calendar Release party at Cafe du Nord was super fun and a resounding success. Several accordion goddesses helped out at the merch table selling all the calendars we had and autographing many for enthralled accordion babe fans. Kugelplex, Big Lou’s Polka Casserole and Renée de la Prade and friends dished up oh so danceable tunes. Rhian, the Mad Maggies’ whistle goddess worked the swag table with her vivacious charm. We made new friends. The moon was full. The air was warm.

Calendars are available for $20. They include a compilation CD with a song from each of the “babes”. The Mad Maggies all new online store will be ready in just a few days but meanwhile email me if you’d like one. And of course, I will be selling them at our upcoming shows.

Ms. June (Isabel), Ms. July (Joan), Ms. December (Amber Lee) & Ms. February (Mad Mags)

(l-r) Ms. August (Luz), calendar designer Tim Gennert, Ms. December (Amber Lee), Ms. February (Mad Mags), Ms. September (Diana), Ms. October (Big Lou), Ms. November (Skylar Fell

(click on photos to see them larger)

Meet many of the talented beauties of the Bay Area Accordion Babes Pin-Up Calendar!

Thursday November 13 8pm
Café Du Nord
2170 Market St
San Francisco CA 94114
415-861-5016
www.cafedunord.com

Big Lou’s Polka Casserole
Kugelplex w/ Isabel Douglass
Renee de la Prade and Friends

Tickets $12.00

Calendars will be on sale. Perfect holiday gift!