We only had three things on our LA to do list. “Monument Eternal” at Hammer Museum was at the top. The show is devoted to Alice Coltrane, who, imho, more than filled the shoes of her husband when he died so young. With four children, she mastered the harp and made some of the most beautiful music of the twentieth century.
A short documentary, made for National Education Television’s Black Journal, was my favorite part of the show. We get to hear Alice, in her own voice, describing how she chose to carry on after her John’s death, how John was a part of her and she, a part of him, both musically and spiritually. Case closed. She is a saint. I found the documentary on Criterion when got back.
We had lunch in dreamy Westwood, shopped at the open air market for fresh fruit, and then walked around UCLA’s sculpture garden which just about has one of everything (except Gaston LaChaise). I was struck by how the California light made Matisse’s four back sculptures look even better than they do in MOMA’s garden.
On the way back to Peggi’s sister’s we listened to “Alice Coltrane’s “Journey in Satchidananda” while Peggi made a movie of the neighborhood.
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