The Half-Life of Marie Curie and The Art of Dr. Beata Mierzwa at New Village Arts

 by Patricia Frischer

Dr. Beata Mierzwa

At the play The Half-Life of Marie Curie, I learned a lot about Marie Curie that I did not know in the angst filled performance by Rachael VanWormer, which was delightfully counted by Leigh Scarritt as Hertha Ayrton, the engineer and suffragette. Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize TWICE and in two different scientific fields. She had an affair at a time that women simply could not do what men did without being labeled a harlot. I learned to see how “half life” can refer to a change in elemental make-up, a change in life direction and even as a concept of a further life after death.  The play Half-Life of Marie Curie at New Village Arts until March 9 does this all in one act of 70 minutes.

I was mesmerized by Leigh Scarritt who controlled the stage with her sidesways glances and moveable face. I knew nothing of Hertha Ayrton, but she is now seared in my memory and this role was made for Scarritt. A minimal stage with terrific lighting affects was the most visually artistic part of the experience besides the display by Dr. Beata Mierzwa in the lobby. 

I was moved by the notes in the playbill: 

Kym Pappas Director’s Notes:
"This is for the women. You who are strong. Resilient. You who combine courage and compassion. Thank you. This is for you. The Fearless. This is for the Mothers. For the Grandmothers. For the teachers. You who are sanctuary. This is for you. For the warriors. The ones who are deemed loud…assertive…demanding. Thank you. This is for you. This is for the poets. For the ones who speak…for the ones who dance…for the bitches and the witches too. Thank you. This is for the geniuses. For the girls who struggle in math class and the ones who excel. This is for you. This is for the ones who travel, who carve a path for all to follow. For the ones who strut. The ones whose laughter could heal a nation. The ones who love the animals. This is for you. This is for the ones who write the words and speak the words and sing the words too. Thank you. This is for the ones who feel like they just cannot anymore. Those who carry the dark. This is for you. This is for the ones who show up, who bring the light. This is for you. Thank you. This is for the women. For all of the ways we show up in the world, for all of the ways we get each other through. Thank you"

 Rachael VanWormer as the  scientist Marie Curie 

Leigh Scarritt as Hertha Ayrton, the engineer and suffragette.

A wonderful drunk moment in the performance

Special lighting by Curtis Mueller

Dr. Beata Mierzwa is a molecular biologist working on division of animal cells. Her works of art are based on this subject and her goal is to help communicate science in a different way. She uses fundamental scientific aspects to create drawings for both scientists and non-scientists to discover the beauty in fundamental biological principles. Her works for this show are printed and presented in rich color and a reflective surface. On display is also one of her fashion designs…fabric and jewelry as well as a digital game Microscopya. 

Dr. Beata Mierzwa

Dr. Beata Mierzwa

Dr. Beata Mierzwa

Dr. Beata Mierzwa

Dr. Beata Mierzwa

The Half-Life of Marie Curie
Ray Charles Stage in the Conrad Prebys Theatre at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center
Jan 24-Feb 23, 2025
Written By Lauren Gunderson
Directed By Kym Pappas
2787 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008
760-433-3245

Form and Shadow with furniture by Paul Henry at PHES Gallery

by Patricia Frischer

Paul Henry

Sometimes I think that Paul Henry is one of the best kept secrets in San Diego, but then I realize how famous he is for his amazing furniture designs since he has been here so long and knows everybody who knows anybody. The wide breath of knowledge extends beyond the history and skill of woodcraft. He listens to people, to their stories and concerns. The opening of PHES  (Paul Henry and Ellen Speert) Gallery gives him ample opportunity to expand those conversations.

And I truly believe those conversation exist between his furniture pieces, maybe not during that day but after 7pm when no one is around. I can see Paris, 1755 speaking down to Baltimore, 1810 and Vienna,1814 confiding to New York,1825. You see, many of his pieces are titled to reflect the originals of their inspiration. Henry delights in drawers and you can imagine those flapping well into the night. Not that they would have any complaints about their construction. It is impeccable, even when amazingly complicated.

In this show you also get a chance to see a collaboration between Paul Henry and his wife Ellen Speert. The cabinets doors, decorated with fret work from an old guitar, open to reveal a lovely little cloud painting on the background panel. Henry has been collecting bits and pieces of veneers and old parts of instruments and antique furniture, even rare wood and he upcycles those into modern works that cry out to their histories.

The Form and Shadow part of the show really references the black, white and shades of grey works that are on the walls of PHES.  Lisa Croner’s works is  subtle and seems to shimmer with silver hues. Lisa Archilla photographs have that look of a gelatin silver print*. They are printed on metal, but none of the metal shows through. Instead, I think, it is just the contrast of the dark and light that give these beautifully mounted works their exception quality. Rin Colabucci gives us starker images but they are still delightfully playful.

 *gelatin silver prints are black-and-white photographs made using a light-sensitive emulsion of silver salts and gelatin.

Paul Henry (detail)

 

Paul Henry

Paul Henry

Paul Henry with cloudscape by Ellen Speert 

Paul Henry

Lisa Croner

Lisa Croner

Lisa Archilla

Lisa Archilla

Lisa Archilla

Rin Colabucci

Rin Colabucci

Form and Shadow
PHES Gallery
Until March 9, 2025
PLEASE NOTE: The Gallery will be closed February 13 through 23 for Spring Break.
2633 State St, Carlsbad, CA 92008 
paul@paulhenryfurniture.com (760) 696-3022
Thursday – Saturday
2 p.m.-7 p.m. and by appointment