I saw a woman walking down the street of my small town the other day. That’s not out of the ordinary but the pretty little sun umbrella she was carrying was an unusual sight.
It was one of the rare sunny days we’ve had recently and she was equipped with something akin to a Victorian parasol made from what appeared to be modern umbrella material.
This made me happy.
Us pale folk could use a helping hand in protecting our complexion. Plus, it’s hot in the sun and then there’s the risk of cancer to drive us all into the shade. While I have often thought about embracing the sunny day umbrella, it doesn’t really suit the vibe of most places I go.
It reminded me of a woman I saw carrying a beautiful parasol at the Great Salt Lake several years ago. I admired its practicality and aesthetic value.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll see me tooling around town with a parasol one of these days!
Yesterday I took you to the Columbus Museum of Art. Today we’ll go back and talk about the modern art wing. I love the Impressionists and the light and dark of nineteenth century Danish landscape painters because they’re beautiful. Modern art is less my thing but I appreciate that modern art makes me think. I like that it makes me pause even if it’s only to wonder what the heck the artist was trying to accomplish.
Adam was especially taken with a series of three wall sculptures made of found objects like gears, chains, musical instruments and scrap materials fashioned into unique shapes. While it’s fun and creative, there’s something a little creepy about how they change with how you view them. On one side of this piece, they seem chaotic and on the other, it’s clear the pieces create a head, spine and organs.
As for me, my favorite piece was this larger than life copper sculpture called Nocturne Navigator. Created by Alison Saar, it commemorates the legacy of the Underground Railroad. She’s illuminated from within and the skirt shows the constellations of stars that guided freedom seekers on their dangerous journeys to a better life. She’s a permanent installation and helps to tell the story of the more than twenty documented Underground Railroad stations in central Ohio.
She is breathtaking.
I made far fewer pictures in the modern art museum and that’s a clear indicator of my level of engagement with the art. I best engage with the world by photographing it so I wonder how much I got out of it. All the same, I think it’s important to open your mind to things you wouldn’t ordinarily choose for yourself.
Be sure to read the first story about the museum if you haven’t read it!
Art museums tend to be favorite destinations of mine simply because you never know what you might find. Adam and I hit up the Columbus Museum of Art over Memorial Day weekend and saw all kinds of curiosities and beautiful objects.
I like seeing new things but always look forward to seeing some specific pieces like this gorgeous, larger than life Chihuly piece. The space it’s in is gorgeous and drenched in light making it the perfect spot for a glass exhibit.
I’m also partial to this Norman Rockwell painting. He is too broadly viewed as a cliche in my opinion and I think he deserves more credit for the stunning details in his slice of life paintings.
This piece always excites me as well. It’s called “The Little White Church,” a carved and painted wood relief made by Elijah Pierce in 1936. I see something new with every viewing.
Museums are also a great place to people watch. They rightfully don’t like when guests get too close to the artwork but there were a number of people ignoring that rule. We saw one gentleman taking selfies with busts and paintings, standing close enough he very easily could have fallen into any of the artwork he was trying to photograph.
This gentleman appeared to be photographing every piece in the museum. The wall color in this room was exceptional and really made the 15th century Tuscan processional cross pop!
Seeing how people interact with the art is fascinating to me. Do they stroll through? What grabs their attention and makes them stand and stare? What motivates them to like or dislike a thing? People are interesting and what they like or dislike is a window into their personalities.
I will note that museum admission is free on Sundays so that’s a great opportunity to check it out. However, it’s important to note that lots of people take advantage of this deal and it tends to be busy. People allowing their young children to roam and run freely among the art made me nervous. It’s worth the price of weekday admission to be there when it’s quieter.
However, if you’ve never been to an art museum and don’t want to invest in tickets, this is a wonderful way to just go look around and see what the fuss is about!
There is a fee for parking but they will valdiate if you spend that amount at the cafe or gift shop. Check out their website here to learn about current exhibitions, hours and more.
There is also a modern art wing. I’ll take you there tomorrow.
Sometimes the tiniest thing can make our day. That was certainly the case this week when I felt eyes on me at the gas station. It was clear someone was watching me but it took a minute to identity their hiding place.
He was keeping a low profile but didn’t miss a thing!
Yesterday morning I published a picture and a reminder that some days aren’t meant for big victories. Some days it’s all we can do to just survive.
That was at about 4 a.m. By 8:30 a.m., my community was in crisis. An orange cloud filled the sky at the Austin Powder Red Diamond plant near the village of Zaleski. They manufacture dynamite and nitric oxide was unexpectedly released from a 5,000 gallon tank at the plant.
Residents in a three mile radius of the plant were evacuated. Volunteer firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, and the EPA rushed to help. The Red Cross came. Locals donated snacks and water to an emergency shelter. People prayed and many worried for their livestock, drinking water, and neighbors.
There was commotion and confusion, fear and pride as we saw unfold something we all dread and that our first responders had trained to handle.
Small communities like mine hear a lot of negativity. People underestimate us because we are rural and lack the wealth, infrastructure and resources of a city. What we lack in this department we make up for with community spirit, compassion and kindness.
We tend to flourish in the face of crisis and know how to overcome troubles. I’m proud of my community and those first responders who bravely worked to keep everyone safe.
