About a week ago I was contacted by a man putting on an exhibition about the Salton Sea who wanted to know if I could provide scans of the vintage postcards that I'd shared on my blog. I suggested that he could probably contact the Salton Sea museum, which Dave and I got a private tour of on our visit in 2010, and acquire the real ones for his exhibition as they are actually genuine postcards that were on sale in the Salton Sea Yacht Club in the sixties.
Sadly, he informed me that the museum had recently closed and was no longer there. I was happy to send scans of my postcards, but was disappointed by the news. In fact, a bit more research confirmed that the museum had been unable to secure a lease agreement with the Yacht Club.
I'm still fascinated by how much has changed around the Salton Sea since my first visit in 2009, however the recent developments seem far from a surge of prosperity. It was announced on the Museum's facebook page that they will be relocating to Mecca, CA and reopening on February 3, which is great for the sake of sharing the history, but it's not the Yacht Club. There were plans to relaunch the speed boat races also (like the ones they used to have in the sixties) but those plans have been postponed due to lack of sponsorship now.
It's two steps forward and one step back at the Salton Sea.
I'm all about collecting. If someone leaves me a cool note, if I like a picture, or if someone sends me a postcard, it's just one of the many opportunities I take to cycle inspiration around the bulletin boards above my desk.
I think it's important to surround ourselves with things that trigger memories, influence our thoughts, and remind us of our aspirations. My boards are busy, but purposely so. I like that I can still look at them and see something in a way I might not have before. It's a simple concept, but I like inspiration that comes cheap.
Here are some of the items on my boards at the moment.
The Oscar nominations came out on Tuesday and so, like I do each year, my goal of screening as many pictures as possible before the broadcast is officially underway. My Week With Marilyn just opened at the Monarch Theatre last night and so it was the perfect opportunity for Andrea and I to head down and check it out.
First things first, Michelle Williams is spot on in her portrayal of Monroe. You might expect something shamelessly camp, but what's delivered is vulnerable, emotional, and intelligently nostalgic. It's a well earned Best Actress nomination for Williams, and her performance alone is a strong enough reason to see the film. Thankfully, the supporting cast is no let down either and I was thoroughly engrossed throughout.
What I've always found fun about the Oscars is the variety of films that you can discover if you're willing to take a few chances. I had a good feeling about My Week With Marilyn to begin with, but there are several flicks I know nothing about this year. When you've grown up addicted to movies, sometimes it's just fun to find more ways to feel connected to them.
The Monarch Theatre remains a great venue for watching smaller, more dramatic films. It was packed last night because it was 5+5 Wednesday - $5 ticket and $5 pop and popcorn. If you live in Medicine Hat, you really should visit the Monarch. They still have some of the best theatre seats in town.
