Question: What's beyond graduate school? Answer: Things you've been wanting to do for a long time. I began "post-grad school" by running for the 3rd time on the Jungle Rot team in the Great Lakes Relay. I had some extra beautiful blisters this year which was one way of keeping me from trying to do everything as usual. I HAD to relax. I did just that in Traverse City immediately after running almost 30 miles across the state of Michigan with 9 other fabulous relay team members. I spent a couple days with one of my favorite gals in the world, Chelsea Bay Wills, by throwing a bridal shower for her and getting to know other great people in her gorgeous Northern Michigan world at Left Foot Charley Winery. The yellow paper drawing pictured here was our attempt to figure out how we all know each other. All lines point to Chelsea! It was great to visit the ever-growing artsy corners of Traverse City, including a gallery where a special dress was being made and some jewelry was being custom made for a special occasion...
I soon traveled down to suburban Detroit to try out motherhood for 10 seconds. Elliot looks uncertain in his shopping cart seat. Stacie and Greg graced me with their Royal Oak hospitality and a trip to Hamtramck for meat (oops!) and Polish beer... and later a Gillian Welch concert randomly enough in Royal Oak, Michigan.
The best additions to metro Detroit this year.
The grand staircase with cheese being made below.
Then, I drove on the hottest day of the year yet to Pittsburgh to see an old college friend Becky and her husband Jon. I was told that if I got into Pittsburgh fast enough, I could ride in Jon's cheese delivery truck. That's right, I sweated through 110 degrees in a car with no A/C to see sweaty cheese balls. All the while, I had a wine bottle exploding in the back seat -It was so hot that when I presented a bottle of wine to my hosts, I had discovered that the heat in the backseat of my car had uncorked the bottle-I did end up getting to witness local cheese, Arsenal Cheese to be exact, get delivered to bars around town after all. It was worth it!
The street where Arsenal Cheese is made and Becky and Jon live. The white truck is the delivery truck! I should also note their was no hipstomatic filter used to create this photo. This part of Pittsburgh is naturally hip.
Jon, the cheesemaker, samples his cheese at a local bar.
Arsenal Cheese is a prominent item on this bar's menu!
My great great great great uncle Franz?!
We escaped to air conditioning for a large part of my time in Pittsburgh. I had a personal tour by the great art educator, Ms. Becky Utech Gaugler at the Carnegie Museum, giving special attention to the decorative arts collection and to a special Dutch painter Franz Hals. Who needs Vermeer when you've got Franz Hals?! I took note of the peculiar similarities of Vermeer paintings and Pittsburgh backyards.
The cheesemaker and art educator in their backyard.
Little Street by Vermeer. (Not in Pittsburgh)
It was such a treat to stay with friends who make their own sinks in a house from the 1890s. Becky and Jon rock! Eat local cheese!
Here is a picture that my grandma had from the same wedding featured in the film.
From L-R Top (Correct me if I'm wrong!): Joe, (Sheila, face turned away in back), Jim, Tom, (Jean, little hat in back), and Dave. Bottom: Luke (Bud) and Patricia. Thanks to my father's vast knowledge of WW2, I was also able to frame this film in a very detailed historical context. He writes to me and my siblings:
"Here is a very rare 8mm color movie taken outside of St. Gertrude's Church in August 1945 at the wedding of Patricia Hoffmann and Luke (Bud) Cunniff. As you can see WW2 was just about over and so all of grandma's brothers who were there were still in their US Army uniforms except your great uncle Bob who was in the US Navy. He was still in the service in the Pacific."
He later explained that since this wedding took place August 11, 1945, this was only days after the bombing of Nagasaki on August 9th and Hiroshima on August 6th. The war in Europe had ended in May so the army uncles were all back. The one uncle in the navy, however, is obviously not in any of the footage.
He goes on to explain, "Your great grandmother Elizabeth and your great grandfather Luke Cunniff are walking up the steps at about 0:54-58 on the film. Your grandfather Richard Fitzgerald is there in a bright tie at 1:47-48. Your grandmother Jean Cunniff Fitzgerald is at 2:51 wearing a pink hat and she is with her mother Elizabeth who is wearing the flowers on her head."
I'd like to mention that Jean Fitzgerald (who I am named after) is wearing a pink mini top hat. That is evidence enough to prove she was an amazing person.
My dad continues in his email, "I was about 4 months old and not in these pictures and your uncle Luke was just a twinkle in your grandmother's eyes. The two priests were brothers of Patricia Hoffmann who officiated at the wedding. Grandma's sister Sheila Cunniff Kownick is in the picture at 2:32 - 2:35 and she has the long curly hair. Sheila is then about 1 month shy of her 13th birthday!"
Thanks to the cousin who transferred this to youtube!
Even if you are not related to the people in this video, you still might appreciate its rarity. Chances are though if you are Irish or have ever stepped foot in Chicago, and you are reading this, you probably are related to the people in this video.
I mean, if anything, look at the kids walking by in front of the church. Look at their socks! They're brown! And all the old cars were probably made before the war! It's not hollywood, it's real people in fancy dresses, men in uniform, old bicycles and strollers and cameras and ladies' hats and gloves...
and I think there are probably more Catholic priests in this video than there are currently in the City of Chicago!...and it's all in color! My father also reminded me that The Wizard of Oz--one of the first color movies-- only had come out 6 years earlier.
My friend, Liz, who is featured in the portrait, had much to say about the original painting. This seems to be true of anyone who has their portrait painted. It was time for this painting to evolve and I documented its metamorphosis. Hopefully Liz will have new things to say about the painting now.
I also thought moving frames and fancy audio might bring you closer to the painting. Most people probably aren't reading this though and have already hit 'play.'
