Finally Friday - Myth and Marble at the Kimbell

The Torlonia family amassed a huge private collection of ancient Roman sculptures.  Now  fifty eight pieces are on tour - Chicago, Fort Worth, and then Toronto. The Kimbell is privileged to show these large scale pieces from 5th century BC to 4th AD. 

Gods,  Children, Mythology, Power  - the pieces are breathtaking.  Notice in the background, the busts showing succession of  emperors and their family. 

Stunning

This was a statue of a slave.   He was massive.   At each sculpture, there was a drawing showing what  was original and what had been "fixed" or "added on to" through the years.  This piece was perfect. 

Some statues had been "cleaned up" in the late 1600s by Bernini!   That man knew how to work the marble. 

Excavations on the Torlonia property yielded huge sarcophagi. The carvings signaled wealth and importance. 

Ray and I enjoyed our art stroll and learned a bit about ancient Roman sculptures.  

P.S.  We were not allowed to touch anything.  I SO wanted to.   But I also do not want to get kicked out of a museum.  There were a noticeable amount of guards for this special collection. 

Thank you Kimbell Art Museum and curators for  bringing us  fabulous shows.  
 

Whatever Wednesday - A Flower Interlude

Let's take a Wednesday break and just enjoy August at Longwood Gardens.  Such  a spectacular treat.
 

fountains galore

wooded path

mounds of flowers

color  mixes for  the eyes. 

Thanks Lori  for being a member.  A lovely garden stroll. 

Monday Moments - Downton Abbey - The Grand Finale

Downton Abbey fans - rejoice.  The Grand Finale film is a must see on the big  screen. It's a lovely two hours with old friends.  The swell of music, the grand estate, the stunning costumes, posh accents, and a step back in time.

But  times are changing and this film is a bit of old guard relinquishing to the younger  generation.  We've watched Daisy grow up and now she's ready to run  the kitchen.  Andy's not a kid  anymore and he's ready to be head footman.  Carson needs to enjoy retirement. Mrs. Pattmore should just  cook for her husband Mr.  Mason.  

 And then  there's Lady  Mary.  Is Lord Grantham ready to acknowledge that she's been groomed for the position for  years?  She knows  the family history, but also knows changes must be made to keep up with the times. 

Yes, the plot's predictable but  welcoming.  And it was fun watching it at our theater. Collective chuckles at  some references to the Dowager (RIP Dame Maggie  Smith), some moments between Mary and Edith, and then some sniffles as the movie comes to  a close. 

I saw the movie with a friend and we enjoyed discussing it over  dinner afterward. Well done cast and crew.  And thank you Julian Fellowes for  entertaining us for years.  Jolly good! 

(PS - a private sniffle  for  me.   My father loved  the show. Rather sad that he's no longer alive  to enjoy this last movie treat) 
 

Finally Friday - Go Blue Hens

When I was up in  Delaware in August, I visited my sister's  alma mater - University of Delaware.  Lovely campus.  

Nice message for students as they begin a new school  year. 

Dramatic statue in the quad area. 

Good luck scholars!
 

Whatever Wednesday - Art Unites

Earlier this year, Ray and  I participated in a little art project at the library.  You could paint 3x3 canvases. 

Over three hundred folks participated at several events.  Each tile became a part of this community tree. 

How fantastic is  this?   Every time I walk into the library now, I stop  and marvel  at the  variety of each image, and how the patchwork looks united on  the wall. 

Community and Heart.   Art!

 

Monday Moments - Irving Art Center Variety

Took a quick ride over  to the  Irving Arts Center on Friday afternoon.   Several new little  exhibits. "Rooted  Visions" featured works by over 25 Southern  Black artists - most born in poverty, never trained, just producing their  lives.  Resilience, storytelling, and powerful folk art. 

This is Moved  by the Word (2001) Ransom "Rocky" McCormick.   Obviously spent some  time in church.  Do  I hear an "Amen"?

It Cost to Hate by Ruby Williams.   Simple and striking. 

In the Dupree Lobby Gallery - photos by Bill Thompson.   This one is Threshold 

In De Profundis: Echoes From the Deep, Giselle Castro-Brightenburg captures the beauty of the natural world and explores complexities of the human  experience. 

Mesmerizing  colors

Altogether, a forty minutes art stroll.  Relax and expand  the mind and the heart.  

Have a good week. 
 

Remember 9-11

 

I like the Auden poem for any salute to the  dead. 

Whatever Wednesday - Revisit the Michener Art Museum

Doylestown, PA is a quaint town with an artsy bent.  A gem to wander is the James Michener Art Museum.  There's his donated  writing office complete with typewriter, papers,  books, and memorabilia.  He was born in Doylestown. 

This piece is called "Bloodlines" by Holly Wilson.   Very cool and  the bodies are made from cigars. 

 A special exhibit featured Judith Schaechter.   This was the  ceiling for  a special chapel she created. The  colors glowed

Outside, sculptures  abound.  This was a  Holocaust memorial piece.  

And  a clever poem

The museum also features artists from the  New Hope area and Pennsylvania Impressionists.  The building  is  the former Bucks County Jail.   So  much history and art to appreciate. 

September - I am back

 My two weeks in DE and PA were filled with friends and family.     I've known Debbie since  sixth grade.  Here we are at Glencairn Museum

Yea for my sister Lori.  She put  up with me for a  week.  Had lots of fun.  Here's a lovely trek to Longwood Gardens

Old high school friends  unite on Janet's patio.    It's Cindie,  Janet,  and me - lots of laughs

And me, Mary Ellen, and Joan at the Michener Art Museum.    Smiles here,  but we were quiet in the museum.  Did  not want to get kicked out.

More fun travel posts  to follow.  There's so much to see and do in the  area.  

Finally Friday - Play it loud

First, get out your Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tunes and crank up the volume.  American Girl, Breakdown, Don't Come Around Here No More, Learning to Fly, and so many more. 

Next, settle in to read Mike Campbell's memoir Heartbreaker and learn how a young lad found his soul in a guitar and learned to play like crazy. Then, meet an assortment of like minded musicians and the leading muse, Tom Petty.  Out of hardscrabble Florida, the band played every joint in Gainsville. Slowly, they made connections and pushed to make a touring  dream come true. 

Mike Campbell was lead guitarist and also helped  write countless famous songs - Refugee, Here Comes My Girl, You Got  Lucky, and Runnin' Down the Dream. 

Lots of ups and downs, fights, drugs, and grueling work.  Campbell  doesn't hold  back and his memoir paints  a very complete picture of a band and a dream.

RIP Tom Petty

 

Whatever Wednesday - September

Here in Texas, kids are back to school now.  The summer freedom of just hitching a ride on a big kid shoulders is over.  It's trudging with backpacks in the continued heat. 

It's Labor Day week which now means "Yea, I'm still retired and doing what I want week."
 

Beaches are cleared of crowds.  Now's the time to go!

What does September  signal to you?    Enjoy.