I’ve been in school since I was five. And though in two short weeks I’ll begin my 30th year of teaching, I’m still thrilled to be as much a student as when I walked into Mrs. Monday’s Head Start Class–minus the dog ears and knee socks. As I tell my kids, the purpose of education is to learn to critically think and to discover the joy of lifelong learning. Last summer while in Barcelona I fell in love with the architecture of Antoni Gaudi. This summer on a staycation stop encore, thanks to my daughter, Taylor, I fell in love with the photography of Richard Avedon. That’s the thing about classics–whether books, movies, music, or art–they never go out of style so their appeal is cross- generational. Like a fine wine they become more valuable when vintage. And when seen, shared, discussed with others we often see something new we missed the first time through.

I wrote last month about the Golden Age of Couture exhibit which I saw with friends on a Frist Friday. Today I went again with my mom, sister, and daughter. I knew Taylor would love the clothes given she plans to study fashion marketing this fall. But because she also has a huge interest in photography, she called me over to the photographs she really adored and told me they were all by Avedon.
After stalking him on the internet, I realized I’d fallen in love with some of his work long ago…like pictures of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller and of John Jr. and Jackie O. I discovered new photos as well. Among the favorites below, my top pics are in the collection touring this year: The Kennedys: Portrait of a Family…as well as my boy Brando. Then there’s my second imaginary boyfriend, Elvis, who I fell for at the age of six (at five my first was Ringo Starr). Enjoy…