Reminder: OFTA (Old Friends Talk Arts) on Wednesday morning

I know it's a couple of days ahead of time, but I'd rather be early than late in posting a reminder that Henry Joe will be the featured speaker for this Wednesday's (10 Oct. 2007) 10:00 a.m. meeting. He is expected to discuss his exploration of Early American salt-glazed pottery.

As is mentioned by Jim DeYoung in his post at Stirring the Pudding, Henry Joe is a Professor Emeritus of Art at Knox College -- the rival to my own alma mater, the college at the heart of this community of Monmouth, IL. But what Jim doesn't say is that Henry and his lovely and talented wife Pat are long-time residents of Monmouth, and have many deep ties of friendship here.

This is why I can't give an unbiased report of Henry and his lectures -- Pat is one of my two closest friends (bestest in the whole wide world) , and her family is rather much an extension of mine. But I can tell you that, every time our families sit down for a relaxing evening of conversation and companionship, I come away feeling as though I've been subject to exceptional enlightenment. If you come to the OFTA meeting, be prepared: Henry speaks softly and carries a big idea (or two or three or more).

I hope to see you there.

Beezzy beezzy day

Maus trap

This morning, I captured Maus. Not that it was all that difficult, or anything. She's becoming quite tame, as feral kitties go. I stuffed her into a pet carrier and toted her off to Mom's, where we hopped into Mom's car and toted Maus off to the Monmouth Small Animal Hospital.*

We didn't have an appointment, since we couldn't really guarantee there would be a set time I could catch Maus. But they took her right in, and said they'd get to her when they could. Five hours later, she's hiding under one of the beds in my folks' guest room.

In the intervening hours, Mom and I attended the meeting of OFTA (Old Friends Talk Arts), downtown at the Buchanan Center for the Arts . This month, the guest speaker was Wendy Allaman,
who owns a glass bead- and ornament-making shop just down the highway from here. She gave a 40-minute presentation on her craft and the inspiration she draws from it and puts into it. She brought the most portable of her equipment, and, once she began to demonstrate her work, the audience was riveted.

Mom and I stayed around for a few minutes after the meeting was ended, to catch up on what was new with a few of the other members (sometimes, it seems a little strange that I am one of only three members that I know are under 65 years of age, but then, who else has time to play in the middle of a weekday morning, but retirees and the ungainfully unemployable?).


At any rate, the morning vanished into only two events.

Now, I'm playing ketchup. ;-)


*we needed to get her fixed ASAP. The tomcats are flocking to my house again.

Gratuitous postcard: Arty Party on a Friday evening!

If you're going to be anywhere near Monmouth, IL, tomorrow, (Friday), please come to the Buchanan Center for the Arts between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. They're hosting a reception for the artists whose works are on exhibit for the Security Savings Bank 26th Annual Amateur Photography Contest. This is the first year I've entered anything (having only recently taken up photography) -- and I expect, of course, to take Best of Show, wink wink -- but even were I not an entrant, I'd hope attendance will be great. There's a lot of real talent and marked skill in this sleepy little hamlet. The world deserves to see it.

Oh-- and as a follow up suggestion, in case I forget amid all the fuss of the coming week, Old Friends Talk Arts (OFTA) will be meeting at the Buchanan Center, next Wednesday morning at 10:00. According to the e-mail from Jim De Young (our faithful OFTA guy):

For your enjoyment and edification, the Ms’s Linda Sickmon and Carol Tenold, the proprietors of Smithcreek Pottery will address the “Soul of the Potter” on Wednesday, July 11th at 10:00 AM at the Buchanan Center for the Arts in good
Old downtown Monmouth USA

They’ll bring some pots and you should bring your questions.
Hope to see you all there.

He also wisely mentions that my mom will be bringing the treats. Just thinking about Mom's culinary skills causes some people to put on twenty pounds or so, making it appropriate that we should be surrounded by camera art...

The meeting, as always, will be open to the public and free of charge.

Y'all come!

Y'all come to the next OFTA meeting

This month's is now past.

It started out as pretty much all our meetings start, with Jim DeYoung
making the morning's announcements -- such as the upcoming art show at the Buchanan Center for the Arts (where we meet each 2nd Wednesday). This Saturday afternoon at 2, the Buchanan Center opens its Annual Town & Country Amateur Arts Show, featuring works from students attending all area schools. It is a judged show, with ribbons and goodwill -- and quite a few artistic surprises, for those who aren't familiar with our little backwater area. We meeting attendees got a sneak peek at some of the work before it was all in place, but the judges won't even see the works until (most likely) Friday.

Also mentioned was that there are still applications available at the desk for the 4th Annual Adult Amateur Artist Competition, which goes up at the end of the kids' show. He forgot to mention that the rules and apps may also be downloaded here.

Jim mentioned that there were refreshments available during the meeting -- coffee, and some Danish Puff Pastry and coffee cake, prepared and by Judy Roessler. Bad for me. I gained five pounds looking at it all.

Eventually, Jim got around to introducing Donna Hauge, director and visionary leader of the Monmouth Civic Orchestra (MCO)

Still, the majority of the meeting was consumed by the lovely performance by Lionel Marcoux, of songs by Rogers and Hammerstein -- some of what will be featured at the MCO's concert on 22 April.

Lionel was accompanied by Julia Andrews, from the Monmouth College music department, on the piano.

Lionel's baritone voice rang sweetly in the accoustically-challenged BCA main gallery, as he made his way from The Sound of Music through Carousel. He finished his "regular program" with "You'll Never Walk Alone", which he admitted held a special place in his heart, as he had been asked to sing it at his high school graduation a few years ago.... Quite a few members of the audience appeared to be struggling to hold back tears during this number -- Lionel really seemed to hold nothing back, during this song.

Curtain call, and then a none-too-frivolous performance of a piece from "Faust", and the performance was ended.

Julia needed to leave immediately, but Lionel stayed around afterward to answer questions, and then members were invited to lunch with him and Donna Hauge, et al, at the Soda Works, a couple of blocks away. I'd have liked to attend that, but deadlines brought me back home. sigh.

If you missed the meeting, there's still a chance for you to hear Lionel sing -- and Monmouth's Janet Gaskil, as well -- to the sound of our Civic Orchestra, a week from this coming Sunday, at the First Lutheran Church (where the accoustics are much better than at the BCA). Please say you'll come, if you're within a reasonable driving distance.

Community arts need all the support they can get. And this will be worth your while -- unless you're a complete snob. In which case, just send them your money, to show you believe in the cause, even though you wouldn't be caught dead joining a club which would have me as a member.

Medieval Mercenaries: meet the author

I just received this message, forwarded to my e-mail:

The Warren County Public Library, in conjunction with OFTA “Old Friends Talk Arts,” reminds you that Professor William Urban, the Lee Morgan Professor of History at Monmouth College will speak about his recently published book titled Medieval Mercenaries: The Business of War on Tuesday, February 27th at 7:00 PM at the Warren County Public Library.

There is no admission charge and free refreshments will be available.

I've mentioned Dr. Urban's book before. And I doubt I've mentioned it, but the good perfesser is also a good lecturer, dynamic and entertaining -- albeit not a stealth educator, as you know from the start he won't let you leave the room with less comprehension of the subject than when you entered.

I am planning to attend, this evening. If you are within a reasonable driving distance of Monmouth, IL, I invite you to join me there. It should prove a fine experience.

Beezy beezy day at OFTA

What with having to finish my column and get it in ahead of deadline, plus a few other events, I am only just now settling myself in online. Not yet a chance to read the news, no chance yet to check e-mail, just wanted to give a little background on this morning's activities downtown:

OFTA (Old Farts Friends Talk Arts) met at it usual hour, 10:00 a.m., at the usual place (the Buchanan Center for the Arts, on the Square), for a visiting lecture from Ralph Rehbock, a survivor of the Holocaust.

These meetings are open to the public, but since they are always in the middle of a weekday morning, OFTA is primarily composed of retirees and the occasional under-employed nutcase like me, plus the rarer person who can break from the hustle and bustle of Monmouth business life to come see what's going on in the arts community. Today, though, we had a group of students attending.


After OFTA's master of ceremonies, Jim DeYoung, gave his fifteen minutes of announcements and introductions, Mr. Rehbock began his lecture with what could best be described as a pop quiz on history and math, asking what year marked the beginning of the official Holocaust (1933, when the Nazi party won the elections by a plurality) and what year was its end (1945, Germany surrenders)... you do the math. He discussed the "root causes" -- WWI and the costly reparations, rampant inflation throughout Germany, followed by unemployment, followed by full-on Depression, followed by scapegoating...

Mr. Rehbock and his family were among the fortunate few to make it out right as the concentration camps were first established, and he wanted to stress that he and his family could not have done so without the help of a number of separate individuals who, each independent of others, made each step of the departure from Nazi Germany possible.
He was lively and engaging, offering first the general history, then bringing it around to his own family's experiences, presenting several original documents (passport, certificate of sponsorship signed by an uncle in Chicago, wedding photo, and other such treasured memorabilia) tying each page to a more general issue or event in history by making it clear his family was not the only one to have lived through this, and that it was single, decent, honorable individuals who made it possible.

His positive and inspirational presentation was well-received, tying in well with the current exhibit in the Buchanan Center. He had a few minutes to answer eager questioners
and to continue a few discussions

before being forced to admit he was out of time, he had miles to go before he sleeps (actually, he said he needed to get to Havana, IL).

All in all, the event was a success.