Live from Loring Park: Sukhum adds new dimension to painting

Amazing. A perfectly good adjective that's become verbal filler, the new "uh," for a generation that can't find a thesaurus on Google.com.

Instead, let's use astonishing to describe the piece of art that Pamela Sukhum produced last week before a paying crowd of about 100 invited to her Infinite Vision Art Studio in Loring Park. The painting performance was part of a Minneapolis Institute of Arts "Circle" event. Wish I could show you the entire 14 minutes and 7 seconds of Sukhum's performance. At startribune.com/video you will, however, see enough of Sukhum's wondrous and staggering painting to make your jaw drop.

Sukhum has created a difficult-to-replicate technique of painting.

"I do several different styles of painting, definitely the thought crossed my mind [that she was revealing too much technique]. A lot of the techniques that I have are unique and I have developed over years through trial and error," said Sukhum, who has a degree in biology.

Those who might attempt her style "are never going to capture the spirit of the artist who began that," she said. "More than anything what I wanted to do with the performance is create an environment that mimics the environment I feel before starting a piece. That's why we black out the space. There's a lot of mystery. It's almost like going into a void. [Guests were] ushered into complete darkness; they don't know what's going to happen. That's the creative process. You don't know what's going to come out next."

The painting will go through weeks of additional artistic embellishments before it's completed. "We might have a reunion with the piece with the MIA," she said.

Word has it that political benefactors Sam and Sylvia Kaplan are going to "Ambassador School" soon.

I'm guessing that's in D.C. and not Morocco, the country to which Sam Kaplan, a high-powered Minneapolis attorney, is expected to be named ambassador any day now by President Barack Obama.

There are some Minnesotans who were probably pretty proud to see K.J. throwing that basketball to President Obama in the Oval Office during NBC's Tuesday special on the White House.

Katherine Johnson, Obama's secretary, has grandparents here. I anticipated outrage from Obamahaters over the ball toss in an office filled with antique furnishings and artwork, but haven't heard any yet.

Has my favorite Chicago radio talk show personality had HAIR PLUGS installed?

There was something different about the forehead of former KDWB deejay Steven Cochran the other day while making one of his regular appearances on CNN with Lou Dobbs.

"Absolutely not," said Cochran. "I am bald and proud. It's like being black and proud but I never got to be black."

I thought his blond locks looked especially thick. "No. The more disturbing thing other than my hair would be that Lou suddenly transitioned into talking about premature ejaculation."

It was must-not-see TV for a few minutes there, although Dobbs' other guest, radio psychologist Dr. Joy Browne, introduced that subject. "What the hell was going on there?" Cochran asked me. Hey, these are his high-powered media friends; I can't explain them.

Cochran ended his participation in the show by calmly cleaning up a certain current TV ad for Viagra by saying something like, "If you're still tingling four hours after watching Lou, call a doctor."

"SenatorColeman" tweeted: "Tim Pawlenty's not running again. How sad. The prospect of a Dem governor and Dem legislature should make Minnesota liberals nervous!"

Maybe Norm Coleman can contemplate something he can do to save the liberals?

Casting is underway for the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

And somewhere, every pore in my being tells me, Tina O is workin' it like you would not believe to get on that Bravo show. That is, if the Minnesota interior designer-comedian is still out there. Since the casting call was announced, I have asked half-dozen people in Minnesota who know her if they think she is angling to get on this show. They all said absolutely. No word yet from the last e-mail address I had for her.

If that little gal can wheedle her way into a skirt-raising appearance on NBC's 2007 "Victoria Beckham: Coming to America," Tina O can easily cajole her way onto this worn-out Bravo concept.

Something BIG is due to happen Monday. Specifics would spoil the surprise. I'll tell you more on the other side of the BIG moment in someone else's life. Joyous tears will fall.

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count. Attachments are not opened, so don't even try. More of her attitude can be seen on Fox 9 Thursday mornings.