Directing A Museum

I don't know what made me even bother to look at the requirement of qualifications needed, to be considered for the position of a director, of The Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona. (MACBA - Museo de Arte Contemporanio de Barcelona). They are inviting qualified applicants for this very responsible job, examined, selected and governed by an association, together with the Town Hall of Barcelona.

The intrinsic requirements are few and clear, but given that the interpretation of many talented minds could be vastly different in reference to art, the selection is anything but simple, as knowledge of art in it's multifaceted forms is but the basic requirement, not the only one.

The new director's salary is very much superior to that of the president of the Spanish government. He/She must have accredited experience and professionalism in the direction and administration of contemporary art, to correctly assay the value of each piece. At this point, I guess the number of hopeful applicants would have already shrunk. They are asking a lot more than that!!

Apart from the expertise of museum administrative skills and experiences, they also demand the qualities such as, besides the knowledge of contemporary art, also that of languages, culture past and present, and the history local art of the country throughout the centuries. Competence to interpret and reflect in terms of art, a prospective vision, able to anticipate artistic tendencies, capable of leading, organizing and communicating, both inside and outside the institution; and having the personal criterion to establish an original project of the museum. So if the professional requisites were just technical, it's logical to seek candidates coming from the artistic sphere.

But, since it seems that they also asked notably for someone being a good theorist and strategist of the advanced communication, at the service of the key institution of the State, the director has to be, apart from being expert of art and organization, wise in cultural and academic administration, in architecture, history, anthropology, sociology, pedagogy, communication and publicity. Humm ..., is that all I thought!

Summing up, it seems the job is more suited to a politician specialized in the administration of culture. Or, better still, of a philosopher with certain capacity of organization, and with the demonstrated interest for art. If art today is everything goes, but a museums are temples, then it's better to trust them all to philosophy.

All of that is far, far beyond my comprehension not to say capability. I am doomed to stay jobless.

Tags:museumdirector,historian,philosopher

Current Mood: Artistic

Picnic In The Sky

Sounds great doesn't it? A picnic in the sky and under the stars. You can, literally, well almost. Some of you probably know about this already or have tried it. The funicular service is now working overtime on Tuesdays, transporting diners up and down the mountain Montjuic in Barcelona at nine O'clock in the evening, the habitual time when they usually close, but not on Tuesdays. They would take you up the top and bring you down, and you will be served a 3 course picnic meal on the way! In your own compartment/carriage (not sure what the official name is when referring to just one of the many on the same rail, the Spanish use the word cabin).

This is a combined project by Moritz the beer company, and the Time Out Magazine. To the delight of many romantics who wish a meal way up in the sky with great birds' eyeview of the city, and the spirit of adventure or simply being playful. The route is very short, normally takes only 8 minutes to cover the 752 metres height and the inclination of 85 metres. Naturally that's hardly enough time for taking even a hurried meal let alone a romantic one.

The organizers reduced the speed of the run to the minimum, 15 minutes to go up and same again to come down. And this is done twice, so the diners have a little over an hour to enjoy the meal and the view. The experience starts off exactly punctual. The door of each cabin opens automatically, inside there's a table firmly anchored to the floor, covered with a pretty cloth, a candle, and all the things one sees in a normal restaurant. And, 3 mini blankets, in case the air at that altitude becomes too cold for comfort even in summer.

On the way up to the castle one is served with aperitifs: The service is correct and attentive, the meal good, even with attention to artistic presentation. It consists of stuffed olives and potato crisp and mini croquettes, with beer - with or without alcohol -, and water for those who prefer it. When it reaches the top, The door opens and a tray with a small tureen of Gazpacho, a salad with goat cheese. At this point, a musician sitting on a high stool plays romantic songs with his guitar! On the way down, there is a little intermission on the Viewpoint, and you are provided with more beers and water. The main course is smoked duck breast with pear, which is served in the interior of the station. There's only 15 minutes to eat the duck as you need the little time left to have your fruit cake on your final stretch down.

By reservation only. The price for this unique experience is 40€ + IVA (Tax 7,5% ) per person in the cabin for 6 people. Lovers who wish to have the cabin for themselves have to pay 160€ extra, + IVA. One can book by phone: 93 414 6788 or online. This fiesta is simply called 'Picnic In The Sky'

I am a very slow eater, physically not possible for me to eat fast. Nor do I like a hurried meal. I enjoy lingering at the meal table with leisure. For this picnic, I need to eat something first before I go, so that most of the meal could be left on the plate without me feeling hungry. But then, without the meal, I might as well just go up by day, any day of the week.

See you there next Tuesday?

Tags:SkyPicnic,Funicular

Current Mood: Content

Once Again, The English, The Scottish & The Irish

After having dug to a depth of 10 metres last year, English scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the English, in the weeks that followed, Scottish Scientists dug to a depth of 20 metres and, shortly after, headlines in the UK newspapers read: 'Scottish archaeologists have found traces of 200 year old copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the English.'

One week later, 'The Kerryman,' a southwest Irish newsletter, reported the following: 'After digging as deep as 30 metres in peat bog near Tralee, Paddy O'Droll, a self taught archaeologist, has reported that he found absolutely nothing. Paddy has therefore concluded that 300 years ago Ireland had already gone wireless.'

Tags:English,Scottish,Irish

Current Mood: Amused

Friends Without Faces

Friends Without Faces

We sit and we type, and we stare at our screens

We all have to wonder, what this possibly means.

With our mouse we roam, through the rooms in a maze

Looking for something or someone, as we sit in a daze.

We chat with each other, we type all our woes

Small groups we do form, and gang up on our foes.

We wait for somebody, to type out our name

We want recognition, but it is always the same.

We give kisses and hugs, and sometimes flirt

In IMs we chat deeply, and reveal why we hurt.

We do form friendships - but - why we don't know

But some of these friendships, will flourish and grow.

Why is it on screen, we can be so bold

Telling our secrets, that have never been told.

Why is it we share, the thoughts in our mind

With those we can't see, as though we were blind.

The answer is simple, it is as clear as a bell.

We all have our problems, and need someone to tell.

We can't tell real people, but tell someone we must

So we turn to the 'puter, and to those we can trust.

Even though it is crazy, the truth still remains

They are Friends Without Faces, and odd little names.

Take the time to have fun and be sure to let those "friends

without faces" know how much you appreciate them.

Tags:friends,faces

Current Mood: Calm