Nirmala NatarajSF Station Writer |
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Nirmala Nataraj's Articles
 | Artist, Icon, Revolutionary Frida Kahlo is typically rendered as either the eccentric lady artist of the mustache and unibrow, memorialized by Hollywood goddess Salma Hayek, or the shunned wife of legendary muralist and revolutionary Diego Rivera. In a new touring exhibition organized by Kahlo biographer and art historian Hayden Herrera, we get to see Kahlo in all her incarnations—primarily through a slew of seductive, mysterious, and sometimes claustrophobic self-portraits that describe vicissitudes of political and personal agony, as well as the ultimate triumph of self-definition through the manufacturing of Kahlo’s own image. More » |  |  | From Parody to Powerhouse Performance John Ford’s “’Tis Pity She’s a Whore", is one of the most gruesome morality plays in Jacobean literature. With its turgid sensationalism, brusquely candid treatment of incest, and unrelenting presentation of the bilious clash between church and state, there are obvious congruencies with Shakespeare, but this tragedy foregoes Bard-like suggestiveness for categorical bawdiness. More » | |  | The Final Three Shows of 2007/2008 Looking for a little summer entertainment? You’re in luck -- the next few weeks at the San Francisco Opera portend some of the most bombastic, entertaining productions of the summer season, ranging from anachronistic renditions of Norse mythology to insanity-addled tales of romance and longing. Simply pop out the binoculars and settle in for some classic divertissement, with a twist. More » | |  | Rest and Relaxation at Milliken Creek Inn & Spa So you don’t know what to get Dad for Father’s Day? Instead of fussing over nondescript websites in search of a stirring yet appropriately generic gift for the big guy, consider allowing him a pas de deux with nature and the promise of a good night’s sleep. While you might not be able to get him to pack his bags in time for Sunday, a belated sojourn to Napa Valley’s premier riverside retreat, Milliken Creek Inn & Spa, will be sure to impress. More » | |  | Around the World in Eight Days Tajikistan, Senegal, Hungary, Colombia, the Phillipines. Even if you’re a world traveler, it’s unlikely that you’ve trekked through all these terrains, but not to worry. If the globe-trotting budget is tight this summer, simply head on over to the 30th annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival to get your requisite dose of culture. The festival, which has wowed thousands of audience members for three decades now, has challenged the already-permeable boundaries of world dance (despite its “ethnic” moniker), as well as viewers’ understanding of the intersections between dance, tradition, and artistic innovation. More » | |  | A Nurturing Oasis in Our Bustling Chaos Sometimes, a haven away from home is necessary, especially if you’re plagued by officious roommates, a couch-potato significant other, or a floor plan that pretty much precludes luxurious lounging. Getting a facial or massage while you’re at it doesn’t hurt, either. Enter Marion Pernoux Henderson, the lovely, astonishingly grounded proprietress of Ensoma Spa. More » | |  | Three Spas for Summer Pampering and Wellness Summer’s around the corner, but getting prepared for sandal weather is about more than making sure your nail polish isn’t chipped and the soles of your feet aren’t scaly. The following three spas all approach beauty and well-being with the kind of originality, attention to detail, and holistic techniques that’ll make you do an about-face when it comes to how you think about pampering. More » | |  | A Multicultural, Multilingual Feat The South Asian production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” that is currently enjoying a run at the Curran Theatre seethes with the mischief and irrepressible sensuality that the Bard perhaps originally intended. This gorgeously hybridized, ingeniously rendered production is Shakespeare as you’ve never seen him before -- unloosed of the priggish, perfectly enunciated Queen’s English that tends to preclude any iota of visceral beauty and theatrical velocity. More » | |  | Treat Your Mama Right! Okay, we know that when it comes to the scoop on where to get the best pedicure, massage or facial, you’re pretty much keeping mum unless one of your really close friends begs you hard enough for the name of the person responsible for your glowing visage. Normally, I’m all for keeping your beauty secrets on the D.L., but considering that Mother’s Day is coming up, it’s time to share the wealth with the person responsible for ensuring you have any sort of aesthetic inclinations at all. More » | |  | A Mammoth Achievement The Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s masterful revision of the Mozart opera “The Marriage of Figaro” is less classical redux and more the sort of performance that brings a much-needed draught of fresh air to fustian art forms that have little or nothing to do with our lives. Theatre de la Jeune Lune’s “Figaro” throbs with the vigor and beauty of its operatic antecedent, but the company, who brought down the house two years ago with their traveling masterpiece “The Miser,” adds so many subtle embellishments (all without mangling the epic gorgeousness of Mozart and Lorenzo da Ponte’s beloved libretto) that the show transcends its formula quite effo More » | |
Nirmala Nataraj's Articles
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