soapbox

So, we did an artsy thing yesterday, why should be stop there?

Today’s excursion was a trip to the Wadsworth Antheneum to check out their exhibit on surrealistic art. It turns out that they were the first museum in America to purchase art by folks such as Dali, Picasso, Magritte, and Ernst around the early 1930s.

The exhibition was pretty good and almost all of the works were from the Wadworth’s permanent collection (which is surprisingly good considering that it’s in Hartford and not Boston or New York). There were a good sampling of Dalis and Magrittes and just a good overview of Surrealism in general.

However, I had a problem with it… I don’t really like surrealism. Although I can see that a lot of it has artistic merit, it just doesn’t appeal to me. We also walked through a gallery with a bunch of Klimts and Monets and that was art that I’d consider hanging on my wall (assuming, of course, that I could afford it). I didn’t see any of the surrealist paintings that I’d want to own. Like I said though, that doesn’t mean that they weren’t ok.

There are some really cool upcoming exhibitions… one on Rodin’s sculptures… one viewing Samuel Colt’s guns as art (apt since he was a Hartford boy)… and then an exhibition of 103 vintage Edward Weston prints. If you want to come down and see any of them, just let me know.

In case y’all didn’t hear yet, Richard Pryor passed away earlier today.

Even though they’re quoting a heart attack as the cause of death, he’s been fighting MS for the last few years, so, as much of a loss as this is, it’s good to see he’s at peace.

So long, funny man; I know you sure made me laugh in your time.

So, there was some fun to be had in Lowell, MA, yesterday evening, assuming you were out to brave the snow and had tickets (either new ones, or the ones from last year’s show, which was similarly almost snowed out). On the whole, the experience was a good one, complete with a stop at a local Quiznos for dinner, which we ate while getting lost around Lowell trying to find the arena. Even though we wound up getting into the venue after a couple of songs had passed in Sara Evans’s set, we still got to enjoy most of the 2.5 hours of performance. Comments to follow; I’m fairly certain Becky doesn’t completely agree with me on all points (particularly #3 and #4):

[EDIT: Comments thrown into "Comments" for this post, to save front-page blog-space.]

Dactyl just rebooted and I’m trying to figure out why? Did the department just lose power?

It looks like carina’s UPS is working at the very least. No problems there, unlike last time.

Kirsten and I went to see Wicked last night and it was a pretty decent play. This brings to three the number of Broadway plays that I’ve seen touring (Madame Saigon and Rent being the other two. I saw Cats on Broadway, but that was a long time ago and not the touring cast so it doesn’t count.) and I think that Wicked gets number two on the favorites list after Rent.

It’s really a funny story basically showing how the Wicked Witch of the West really wasn’t evil at all and Glenda the Good Witch was both not that good and her best friend. There was a fair bit of political humor talking about regime changes and how the winners get to write history. Really, the only bad part of the performance was the fact that they actress playing Glenda (Kendra Kassebaum) seemed more interested in hitting high notes than she was in singing the words clearly. Elphaba, the soon to be Wicked Witch, (Jenna Leigh Green who played Libby Chessler on “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”) was really good.

So my general review is that it was worth seeing, but it’s not the best play ever.

One other funny thing to relate… Kirsten and I went out to a nice dinner before the play at Max’s Downtown. I got scallops she got surf and turf. Dessert was creme brulee and an apple tart tatin. As we were leaving, we asked the hostess how to get to the theater. When we made reservations, the woman on the phone had a nice soft, almost Southern, accent, and I figured that this tall blonde woman was the same one that we’d talked to before. So I was amazingly surprised when she busted out “Oh, you’re going to Wicked?” in a full south Boston accent. I don’t even know how to type out “wicked” the way she said it, just imagine you’re in Southy and someone just said “wicked smart”. It took a lot of self control to stop myself from just busting out laughing. There are very few moments more perfect.

So i still haven’t gotten “the oregon trail” working on my comp. so frustrating.

the good news? there’s a new release of Supertux, featuring a new bonus island. i think that’s all they’ve added. though i never finished the first bonus island. that stupid scrolling screen level drove me crazy and i gave up.