Creating, collecting, and sharing thoughts and ideas. And learning along the way.
Category: The Show Must Go On
Plays, concerts, shows, and other events that I’ve been to in the flesh. Or have had an out-of-body experience about. Also, other items and events that inspire me, and are no less than a “show,” be it in my mind’s eye or in my backyard.
The Art Gallery in the Department of Art isn’t too far from where I am, and yesterday, on my lunch break, I stopped in to take a peek.
I was pleasantly surprised to find an eclectic variety of pieces ranging from sketches, oils, pastels, mixed-media and photography. Plus there were a few most unexpected pieces: the huge windows that framed the scene outdoors were the most unique of all.
Thanks to the graduate students in the MFA program in the Art Dept., the WSU community as well as the general public may avail of this treasure Tuesdays through Fridays.
If you can’t make it, check out the few pictures I took of the exhibits:
Last evening, I had the pleasure of attending an exquisite show at the Power Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the University of Michigan. There were four pieces each unique in style and composition. The official write-up of the event is as follows:
The University Dance Company’s 2011 concert celebrates the intertwining of music and culture throughout the Americas. Acclaimed dance artist Dianne McIntyre creates a new work set to music inspired by Bo Diddley, Eric Dolphy, and Dizzy Gillespie played by students in the UM Jazz Department. McIntyre’s extensive career has stretched from performing to choreographing for modern dance, theatre, television, and film, as well as winning numerous awards, including the 2009 American Dance Festival Award for Distinguished Teaching. “One of the most engaging [dancers] you’ll see anywhere…McIntyre whips together narrative, exceptionally fluid dancing, and music.” (Sarah Kaufman, The Washington Post). Sandra Torijano premieres Tango con la vida, a work examining the deep, shared spirit underlying Latin America’s rich dance and music cultures. Towards a sudden silence by Melissa Beck is inspired by the poems of American poet, UM graduate, and Hopwood Award winner Marge Piercy. Rounding out the evening will be a MinEvent, presenting an uninterrupted sequence of excerpts from masterworks by Merce Cunningham, accompanied by John Cage’s “Cartridge Music” played live by the Digital Music Ensemble.
Last summer I had the pleasure of watching Natalie Merchant perform at the local Borders bookstore.
She was promoting a new CD, but she did many of her older songs, one of which was Wonder, one of my all-time favorites. Here are some photos I took with my lowly phone at the time:
Six months ago, these were some of life’s simplest pleasures that I was enjoying. The seasons couldn’t have been more different– it was the middle of summer just as it is the middle of winter right now…
Having already celebrated the beauty of winter just a few days ago here, I juxtapose and contrast it with the memories and beauty of another season: summer.
BTW, the storm last night was a huge disappointment– we got a mere six inches and the blizzard warning was downgraded to an unimpressive winter-storm watch.
The simple pleasures of summer captured on my then lowly phone are here:
FANtastic new project by Google. Click on the link below the YT video for the full article in The Washington Post today.
Unfortunately, the Louvre in Paris is not part of the project, so you’ll just have to go there yourself to see the mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa. I made that trip four summers ago! If you’ve been already, that’s very cool. If you haven’t, here she is!
Yet another old post first published on my private blog on Wednesday, October 29, 2008, made new today because it is worthy of finding a home here. It’s about having had the pleasure of attending a Coldplay concert, and reflecting on some other related and not-so-related things! And of course, there’s an audio clip of the post for your listening pleasure!
Click here for the audio recording of the post below:
So, I won tickets to a Coldplay concert on the radio this morning. It wasn’t my first time at winning freebies on the radio. Actually, its happened many times before. I must have good timing or something. Or, maybe like my friend says, I’m just lucky. Whatever the case, it’s a great feeling to get something for free, and to then also feel special in the knowledge that I beat someone else out to get them.
And that got me thinking… aren’t those two human qualities universal: the feeling of pleasure in receiving something for nothing, i.e, getting an undeserved or unpaid-for favor, and secondly, the feeling of pleasure in being a winner.
Kind of like the gift of eternal life, you see. It’s free, and it’s actually there for the asking. For anybody. And there’s nothing you can do to get it on your own, even if you wanted to. You can’t buy it, and you certainly can’t earn it. But you must ask for it, that’s all. Oh, and here’s the other thing: it’s never forced upon you, albeit free; it’s something you’ve got to want to ask for– all on your own. Amazing concept, isn’t it? How could something so valuable be absolutely free? And besides, why is it being offered free in the first place? And that too, to me? What’s so special about me?
Well, that’s what’s called grace or unmerited favor. Grace that is borne out of love. An incomprehensible Love (with a capital L) that reaches out to offer me something that I don’t deserve. And makes me a winner!
Better than Coldplay tickets. I’m serious!
Reminds me of this lovely song by this other group called Casting Crowns. How ironic and awesome that it is my very insignificance that makes me eligible for such an honor! I am a flower quickly fading… check out the rest of the song for yourself, at:
And the full lyrics are as follows:
Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling,
Lord, you catch me when I’m falling,
And you’ve told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.
Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.
The pictures? Well, the one right here is Casting Crowns. The one on top is Coldplay.
The Village of Dexter is a charming little village situated about thirty minutes from home. It is the perfect distance to go for a ride on a gorgeous winter afternoon. To take in the beauty of the season: the snow from a couple days still a brilliant white, forming snow banks along the highway and the evergreens looking picture post-card perfect.
There is a stark beauty to this season. So long as you’re bundled up when you’re outdoors, and have reliable transport to get around, what’s not to like about it?
Here’s a picture-story of our trip. the houses, barns, churches, schoolyards, and shops in the village looked perfect against the beautiful white landscape.
And the Red Brick Kitchen and Bar on Main Street in Dexter wasn’t too shabby either– I highly recommend their Red Brick Beef Tips With Au Jus that comes with country-fries.
Earlier this week, I took in an absolutely lovely art exhibit on my lunch hour at the Jacobs Gallery on campus. It is an exhibit that features work from more than 15 artists from around the country displaying various painting styles.
A write-up on the exhibit appeared in the campus newspaper this week, and can be found here.
The exhibit is called Painting Coast-to-Coast and runs until March 11.
Stop by, if you can. If not, check out the pictures I took while there. Amateur though they might be, they do capture the remarkable beauty and character of each of the pieces, I think. The slide show follows:
