Daytime Curfew for Minors in Redding, CA

When something as alarming as the recently passed “daytime curfew ordinance” happens in my hometown, it reminds me why I moved to SF. The daytime curfew allows for anyone under the age of 18 to be subjected to a “search and seizure” by the RPD if found in a public place between the hours of 8am and 1pm.  

OK, so truancy rates are high, and public schools aren’t getting the ADA they need in order to maintain the fine establishments that they are, but is it necessary to divert law enforcement resources in order to hunt these “delinquents” down?  Is Senior Ditch Day going to turn into a big paddy-wagon roundup? 

It is the responsibility of the parents and schools to ensure attendance.  Why send the po-po on a city wide kid-hunt when truancy records are staring school administrators in the face? Have we really passed the point when parents are no longer have the right to discipline their own children? And what about the rights of our youths? Any student following an less- conventional education path (early graduation, homeschooling, college-connection, etc.) will be forced to carry “proof” of their “right” to be “on the streets” during the day.  

The whole mess is far too close to fascism for my comfort. 

Thanks, Erin Friedman for your letter to the editor. 

The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo

One of the films being screened at the SFMOMA exhibition is the PBS documentary, The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo.  Because I didn’t get the opportunity to view this documentary during my visit, I queued the film up on my Netflix account.  

For anyone with an interest in Srt. Kahlo’s life beyond what was depicted in the 2002 dramatization, Frida, I recommend either catching a screening of the documentary while visiting the museum, or renting the film.  

The documentary includes live, silent footage of Frida and Diego taken at the Casa Azul in Coyoacan. It also provides some insight into her legendary affairs with both women and men– most notably, the Russian Communist leader, Leon Trotsky. 

Frida Kahlo at the SF MOMA

I lucked out with an invitation to the press preview of the Frida Kahlo exhibition. My good friend is an editor at a magazine and I was her tag-along “+1.”  After comped admission and a delicious luncheon (complete with margaritas), I feel compelled to give back a little and spread the word about this enchanting show. 

To observe a Frida Kahlo self-portrait with her singularly poised gaze, is one way of understanding this complex woman, but the MOMA exhibition goes beyond that and offers an opportunity to journey through the years of her life and the progression of her pain, both emotional and physical. 

Another notable feature of the exhibit is the inclusion of photographs from Frida’s own collection.  These portraits of Frida, her husband Diego Rivera, her family and friends complement and contextualize Frida’s self-portraiture. 

The exhibit runs through September 28th but be sure to plan ahead, especially during weekends and peak hours.  The museum is implementing timed-ticketing for this exhibit in order to better accommodate the expected high-volume of visitors without compromising the experience.  Many of the exhibit’s paintings are small and controlled flow of traffic will allow visitors a more intimate experience with Kahlo’s work.