Dawn Holder’s installation in the ArtWalk Gallery at the Hartford Public Library is like visiting Florida at this time of year. The porcelain garden is a foray into an otherworldly springtime.
It made me nervous as hell.
Not particularly clumsy, but not particularly graceful either, I fall into the category of worrier. In all my time working retail, I was fortunate to have smashed only one item. It was a large, Waterford crystal vase. It cost more than I made in two weeks at the time. While ringing it up, I was very mindful of handling it carefully when somehow it slipped. The crash was heard on the other side of the large store. While worried that I would have to pay for it (I didn’t) and embarrassed for being careless, I still enjoyed the bright, tinging sound it made as it burst apart. If you can ever afford to smash a hefty piece of crystal, I strongly recommend it.
I did not know who made the vase I broke, but I do know Dawn Holder. Knowing how awful I would feel if I decimated a piece of her artwork, I tried to keep a safe distance from the flowers that seemed to grow out of the library’s floor. Continue reading 'The Idea of This Perfect Edenic Place'»
After the Red Carpet segment, I have always just shut the television off because the award portion of the Oscars felt pointless. The types of films I see in the theatre tend not to be the blockbusters that everyone talks about or nominates for awards. This year, I could have reason to pay attention to at least one category.
On Saturday I got to see the animated short films that have been either nominated or given praise. I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen the Real Art Ways theatre this full. Having kids in the audience (quite the change from the typical demographic there) was fun. During Matter of Loaf and Death there is a reference to Ghost, which everyone was laughing at, but the child behind me blurted out, loudly, ‘What is so funny? Why’s everyone laughin’?” which provoked more laughter, since there were amazingly people on the planet whose brains were not wired to associate a pottery wheel and “Unchained Melody” with anything. Only one of the films, the last, was dubbed to be not child-friendly, and I feel for the loss of the parents who missed out on the experience due to having to shuffle their innocent progeny out the door before obscenity could rain upon the little ones’ ears. Continue reading 'Animated Shorts at Real Art Ways'»
With Valentine’s Day approaching, and with a close friend going on a top secret date which led to discussion about what makes for a great or horrible date, and with an acquaintance asking me last night what I like about Hartford, I write this report on what I think makes for a (nearly) perfect night out.
Before riding my bicycle to the Wadsworth Atheneum, I began by having an impromptu conversation with my neighbor and was then joined by another resident on the block. There was a fire in a nearby house early Thursday morning, so we were all updating each other and feeling grateful that nobody was injured.
Upon arriving at the museum, I had my choice of parking spots: an entirely empty bike rack that meant my walk from parking spot-to-front door was under thirty seconds. After stashing my helmet and jacket inside one of the museum’s lockers, I grazed from the snack table and listened to the dj. When he was there a few months ago, I did not care much for his musical choices, but he had selections from an entirely different genre this time. Friends and friends-of-friends trickled in; among them included Jude, who writes about the MATRIX exhibit far better than I could. When I first began visiting the museum in the 1990s, the MATRIX was among my favorite sections of the Wadsworth. Continue reading 'On Any Thursday'»
Free events that feature family activities make the Wadsworth Atheneum buzz with life. The museum was a good kind of busy. It was not silent like it usually is when I go mid-week. That’s uncomfortable, to be the only person on a floor, to have five security guards able to follow me at any given time. It was also not as busy as the larger museums in New York City that make the experience deafening and stressful. I don’t mind waiting for a few people to observe a painting and then move on, but I never want to wait in a line to catch a glimpse of something. Today’s WAMA population was a happy medium.
For the kids, there were hands-on art projects, like postcard creation. Maybe my timing was perfect, but while I was there, I was not forced to endure the screaming or crying of any kids (or their parents). The children seemed amused by the museum and the activities.
After checking out the Digging Deeper exhibit for the billionth time, I wandered off to explore the rest of the museum. I noticed that the mummy was moved. Not only was he removed, but his exhibit left some small holes in the floor. I was disappointed, mostly because it’s a tradition of mine to visit him and marvel at how the henna dye in his hair lasted thousands of years, but if I go to the salon and dye my hair, it disappears in weeks.
Continue reading 'Monday at the Museum'»
This quilt is on display in City Hall. Each square tells part of President Obama’s life history. It’s located on the same floor as Council Chambers.
If you need more of an Obama art fill, you can head over to the Amistad Center — located in the Wadsworth Atheneum — to see a few pieces of Obama-themed items on display in the Digging Deeper exhibit.
If having to pick favorites between the first season Ebeneeza and the one I saw last night, I would have to choose the former.
Continue reading 'An Almost-Fiery Ebeneeza'»
I was able to preview the 36th Annual Festival of Trees and Traditions at the Wadsworth’s First Thursday event last night. Here are a few images from the display and the event:
Continue reading 'Festival of Kitschmas'»
Just as I was lamenting my inability to go see the Hartford Symphony Orchestra this year, I received notice from a friend that part of the HSO would be performing for free at Trinity College last night.
Continue reading 'Free Culture'»
A press release from the Institute for Community Research:
Hmong embroiderers, Burmese Karen weavers, a Liberian tailor, a Lithuanian book illustrator, and a Somali basket weaver are just some of the artists who will demonstrate their crafts and sell their work at a folk artists’ marketplace on Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 11 am to 4 pm at The Institute for Community Research (ICR), 2 Hartford Square West, Suite 100 in Hartford, CT. The event, which is free and open to the public, will include rug weavers, crochet artists, and jewelry makers, representing immigrant and refugee groups from across Southern New England. Organized by ICR’s CT Cultural Heritage Arts Program (CHAP), the marketplace is part of Hartford Open Studios Weekend, a creative showcase for local artists held annually in Hartford.
“We are happy to present this opportunity during Hartford Open Studios Weekend for rarely seen artists to meet the public and to market their work, all of which is unusual, beautiful, and exquisitely made,” says CHAP Director Lynne Williamson.
CHAP has developed an initiative to encourage production and sales of traditional crafts among the many immigrant communities in the Greater Hartford area and across the state. A number of the artists have had success selling their work at area venues including the Billings Forge Farmers Market and the University of Connecticut, and several of the pieces won first prizes at the Berlin Fair. “This effort is really important for ICR because part of our mission is to work with local communities whose voices are not often heard, and who are hoping to expand their access to cultural resources,” says ICR Executive Director Margaret Weeks, Ph.D.
At this time of year, the marketplace is also a great place to find special holiday gifts while supporting local artists in their new venture. For more information, contact Lynne Williamson at 860-278-2044 ext. 251.
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