LIVING WITH ART BLOG

The owner of one of the businesses in Paseo and I meet fairly regularly to discuss issues related to The Paseo. We are both are committed to the community and value the viewpoint and support of each other. One afternoon, several months ago, he came by the Gallery to give me a wooden Ruth Bader Ginsberg bobble-headed doll. Later he told me that he bought the doll for me because he admired both of us. He did not know how meaningful that doll was. For instance, he has no way of knowing that in the 1970’s I wrote my dissertation on the role of support systems in the attainment of women. He has no idea that I was a charter subscriber to “MS” Magazine. Nor does he know that while in graduate school I purchased a large monoprint of Bella Abzug, a former U.S. Representative and leader of the Women’s Movement, which enjoyed a very prominent place in my apartment. When John and I were creating our first home together, he took one look at Bella and offered to hang her in the laundry room. I congratulated John on his brilliant idea and told him it was a good idea because she would be company for him when he did the laundry. I still have Bella. No, my Paseo colleague did not have a clue that RBG was and continues to be a hero/heroine of mine. 

It might have been Betty Friedman’s book, “The Feminine Mystique,” or another book or magazine article of that era that introduced me to RGB. But I feel that I have always known that although she graduated at the top of her law class, she was unable to get a job commensurate with her intellect, education, and training. She, together with a legion of bright, capable, and determined women of a certain age, often found careers to be nonexistent or dead ended. They had to reorganize and follow circuitous paths in order to achieve success. In turn, most of those women became warriors in the movement working toward the equality of women and ultimately the equality of all, regardless of race or sex. Although RBG was, and will forever be, an icon, she was first and foremost a woman, a daughter, a wife, a mother, a friend, a colleague, in addition to being a Supreme Court Justice. Perhaps one of things about her with which I most identify was her marriage to a strong, capable man who not only was not threatened by her intellect, but actually enjoyed it. I, too, married a man who was not threatened by me and actively encouraged me to be all I could be. But, unlike RGB’s husband who became a gourmet chef, my beloved never learned to cook.

I appreciate the fact that RGB, the icon, relished life, loved and championed the arts. In addition to working extremely hard, she rode elephants, regularly did countless sit-ups and planks, and absolutely loved Opera, not the browser, but the art form. As you know Opera is a dramatic composition in which all the parts are sung. It incorporates all the art forms: artistic and painterly scenic designs, costumes, dance, orchestral and choral music, great comedic and dramatic acting in addition to singing. Since opera can be all consuming, I am sure it provided great relief from the tensions of her very important work. Also, I am sure that essential immersion put her in touch with what is really important in this world. When asked about her favorite operas, Ginsburg often cited Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” and “The Marriage of Figaro,’ as well as Verdi’s “Aida” and “Otello.” Another art form that RGB passionately collected and wore was decorated and ornamental collars. She had an enormous collection of interesting collars which she wore with her judicial robes. These collars were collected from all over the world. She had specific collars she would wear for portraits or to announce her opinions to the court. The collars hung in cabinets in her chambers on wooden and velvet hangers, except for two of her favorites, which were stored because they are covered with beads. Those elaborate collars were not just collectible and decorative art forms. She used them symbolically, as they have historically been used in the courts of royalty. Although RBG is no longer with us, every time I look at my wooden replica, I will think of the meaning, purpose and blessing of her extraordinary life and continue to be inspired.

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