Fun
Maira Kalman and Alice B. Toklas
Dear Ann,
The artist and writer Maira Kalman always makes me smile, and think, at the same time. She follows her interests where they lead, even if they lead somewhere odd.
Maira’s most recently published project is her illustrated edition of Gertrude Stein’s book, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, first published in 1933. If you haven’t read the book since you were an Omaha North High School senior dreaming of Paris—or maybe that’s just me—Maira’s illustrated version is a revelation, full of humor and joy.
This past January, as part of the book’s launch, Maira dressed up as Alice B. Toklas and walked around Manhattan with a videographer. As you do. The video is up top, and the New York Times article about it is here.
In these days of empty streets, the line in the article that made me smile the most is: “The amount of people who didn’t notice. OK, there’s this woman with a lot of makeup and this gigantic nose”—the makeup artist gave her two, over her own. “OK, there’s another person in New York. Nobody’s normal. And that’s why we live here, right?”
That’s why we live here.
For more Maira Kalman, here’s another video, and there are a couple of links below. I hope they give you a smile.
Love,
Kay
Love this. Love love love it. Thank you for sharing it 🙂
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I read the famous autobiography and own the cookbook. Toklas’s essay Murder in the Kitchen is a great piece of comic writing. I can’t wait to buy the book. Toklas and Kalman. What not to love? Miriam
OMG–thank you–I needed that. I do love this woman. And there’s a book!
Awesome! Thanks so much!
Dancing down the rainy night sidewalk! The whole film was a delight, thank you!
Maira, you have brought it once again.
What a WONDERFUL treat!!! Makes me want a hot dog!! A real day brightener. THANK YOU!!
I love this vignette, I discovered my school library had an Alice B Toklas cook book on it’s shelves when I was about 14,1965, it was the infamous version with the hashish fudge recipe, she in-stilled in me a life long love of cooking and was influential in my decision to become a chef [against much parental opposition] a decision I have never regretted, now retired I split my time between cooking, knitting and gardening.
And if you want to know how the kids are doing: here’s a real uplifting YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJM-u6IABGQ&feature=youtu.be
That is so cute!
Oh my…. this was so bazaar that I just couldn’t put it down. Now I can’t stop pondering.
Wonderful petit video. Put a smile on my face!
I can’t believe how much I love this. Thank you thank you!
Loved this letter and have been reading the archives! You guys are the best!
Wait, you weren’t too Omaha North High? What year did you graduate?
delightful! ordered the book from a local bookstore. thank you.
Absolutely brilliant! One of your best… it gave me such a chuckle. ✅
Omigod, I love her so much! Thank you for this.
Do you suppose her choice of Satie’s Gymnopaedie was a nod to My Dinner with Andre? One of my all time favorite pieces of music, and movies. Delightful! I also wonder how she decided on the accent/voice?
Love this . Makez me think.
I can’t find the bookmark for this entry, which I know it’s quite possibly a result of me losing my mind.
Love love love this! Suddenly I’m 19 again and taking my first writing workshop in NYC
I loved this-sweet, funny, sad, wistful. A year ago my family and I were walking the streets of Paris and I love the streets of New York.