Prosperity and Peace

Here's some end-of-2011 / beginning-of-2012 inspiration, from the calligraphic decoration on the above bowl:

Planning before work protects you from regret;
prosperity and peace.

The earthenware bowl—from "Iran, probably Nishapur, Samanid period (819–1005), 10th century"—is one of the many humblingly-beautiful pieces in the Metropolitan Museum's New Galleries for the Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Later South Asia. Watch this space for more oohs and aahs about the artifacts, especially the calligraphy that's woven throughout many aspects of the art.

Happy New Year! Here's to great planning, few regrets, artful work, prosperity and peace!

Families and Museums

I didn't see the exhibit "American Stories: Paintings of Everyday life, 1765–1915," but I did pick up the Family Guide for the exhibit when I popped in to see the (amusing, sociological, and silly-ish) Victorian collages. The strong, sans serif graphic muscularity of the Family Guide for "American Stories" surprised me—happily so. The bold design both grabs attention and signals that museums are lively. I'd love to know what Marla thinks about how kids might react to this family guide in particular and any other guides in general.