Category Archives: Blog

This week-end, while in New York City for a Sufism seminar at Columbia University, I had a chance to see the fabulous Warhol (my Slovak brother!) exhibit at the Whitney–highly recommend! The exhibition brings to life not only his famous pieces but his under-studied and under-appreciated earlier works. Warhol once said, “It would be very glamorous to be reincarnated as a great big ring on Liz Taylor’s finger.” He’s been, in a sense, reincarnated in this exhibit–as one artist friend of mine said, “I used to think that Warhol was too traditional, and now he seems so radical compared to today.”

It’s striking how productive he was in different mediums, despite his insistence that just being alive took up so much work. In the words of Warhol: “I suppose I have a really loose interpretation of ‘work’, because I think that just being alive is so much work at something you don’t always want to do. The machinery is always going. Even when you sleep.”

I met up for brunch this week-end with Jody Milano, a producer of Law and Order who was my boss for years on the show. She’s been such an amazing mentor to me these past two decades, always such a blast when we get together.

My friend swung by my H Club, the hotel where I stayed in London, to take me out for a day out on the town before it was time for me to get ready for the premiere (and premiere party) of All About Eve. First we went out for my favorite cuisine in the world–Ethiopian–which was such a treat.

After our vegetarian feast, we went to Tate Modern for the Pierre Bonnard exhibit and to enjoy the collection. The day only got more perfect when it was time to go attend the premiere of All About Eve and then party afterwards with the stars.

I had the joy of attending the Rebellious Lawyering conference this week-end here at Yale Law School. I particularly enjoyed the panels on disability healthcare activism and the legal case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Best of all, though, was connecting with the students organizing and attending the conference–their revolutionary and radical politics give me hope and inspiration for better days ahead.

I’ve been very busy all year giving talks here at Yale, and it was my honor and pleasure to give this recent talk on Sufism in Central Asia.

I was grateful to be invited to the premiere and premiere party of All About Eve–starring Gillian Anderson and Lily Jame–in London. The premiere was also attended by cast members from the X Files, Sex Education, and Downton Abbey (and model Twiggy too)–I had so much fun partying the night away at the Waldorf Hilton with friends at the star-studded event. I chuckled at the Yale line in the play that’s also in the movie: “I have not come to New Haven to see the play, discuss your dreams, or pull the ivy from the walls of Yale. I have come here to tell you that you will not marry Lloyd.” More to come soon on the premiere, the party, and my time in London–stay tuned.

While in London for the premiere (and premiere party) of All About Eve, I got taken by my friend to see war photographer Don McCullin’s Tate Britain retrospective of his photographs from Lebanon, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Congo, and many other conflict zones–a phenomenal show.

Tonight at our Javanese gamelan rehearsal at Yale, we prepared for our upcoming spring gamelan concert and wayang (shadow puppet performance). Check back for more details soon on the dates, times, and location.

My recent adventure to Jamaica was a total blast! I didn’t do any research beforehand, but fortunately it all worked out perfectly. I will be blogging soon about all that I experienced while I was there–stay tuned for many photos and details about how to visit a number of special corners of Jamaica.

This tiny mallet gives me life! Love playing Javanese gamelan every week at Yale–a joy to have performed this meditative music from Indonesia around the world…

I was reunited with my favorite Javanese gamelan instrument tonight at our rehearsal at Yale–so grateful to have played it in concert for two decades. I can’t imagine my life without it…

Best way to wake up in Jamaica? With coffee on the balcony of the penthouse at Lashings looking out at the sea. I will be blogging soon about my adventures in paradise in Jamaica–stay tuned!

I recently returned from a fabulous trip to Jamaica, and will be blogging extensively about it soon–stay tuned!

Last night, our Javanese gamelan group, Yale Gamelan Suprabanggo, performed at Yale in concert for the community. It was a delight to perform again with my gamelan teacher from Java (master player and teacher Darsono Hadiraharjo) with whom I studied while on a Fulbright in Indonesia and my gamelan buddies with whom I’ve been playing for nearly two decades in America (and Solo).

Fortunately, we had some strong, able-bodied Yale students to help move the instruments (cue the football tight end) from our practice room to the stage. To adjust to the acoustics of the concert hall, we rehearsed all of our meditative melodies before the audience arrived.

I was impressed with how much the Yale students had learned in just one semester of studying gamelan with Maho A. Ishiguro, and it brought back fond memories of first studying gamelan as an undergraduate at Brown University. Such a privilege and joy to share the beautiful music of Java with the Yale community in concert!