Monmouth's Living Windows draws good crowds

Thursday night we in Monmouth were hit with a couple of inches of snow

so conditions were pretty good by Friday evening, when Downtown Monmouth had its Living Windows Festival. I got a call from my friend, Janet, asking me if I'd like to join her in exploring events at the downtown extravaganza, so I agreed to meet her about an hour before things were to start.

I got there just a little early, so I took a few pictures of some of the bigger, better buildings in the downtown area, like the Court House

and the Colonial Bank, in full Christmas regalia

and a shot of the barber shop near the old theater.

My friend Marsha's store window was filled with fun -- Santa and his elf, Eric were getting wild and crazy

On the square, Ronald McDonald greeted cookie-buyers and cocoa-hunters

while, in the Christian book store, sweet songs wafted across the shelves, a cappella

and an electric piano accompanied three members of a barber-shop quartet (with surprisingly good results!), at the Wells Fargo bank.

But the big draw is always the Buchanan Center for the Arts/Warren County Library corner. Crowds outside were, sometimes, ten bodies thick, to see

the kids performing in the windows of the BCA.

From the inside, you could see how much magic was in the air

Ghosts of Degas

Past and present

Back out on the street again -- rides in horse-drawn carriages were available for a small fee.

Santa's helpers were following in Hermey's footsteps

To cap off our evening, Janet and I made our way to Turnbull Funeral Home, where, each year, the Monmouth College bagpipers have come to perform in the main parlor...

Following a rousing performance of Scotland the Brave, Janet and I went to the Maple City Baptist Church a block away, where members of the congregation were serving a hot supper -- coffee, cocoa, choice of chili or hot dog, and a variety of deserts. We ended our evening at the door, after having our fill. We said our farewells, I drove home and collapsed, falling almost instantly to sleep, with visions of sugarplums dancing in my head (or, maybe it was sugar-Clydesdales?).

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.

Mike DiFuccia, R.I.P.

My mother & I received an e-mail yesterday from our former neighbor and associate, Jim DeYoung. The message read thusly:

Mr. Mike Difuccia, the executive director of the Buchanan Center for the past nine years, suffered a massive heart attack over the weekend and passed away. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time, but I will get you information as soon as I have any more details.

Mike was a good man, and a very good administrator for the Buchanan Center for the Arts, here in Monmouth. He will be sorely missed.


Update, Wednesday, 26 September: Services are this evening, up in Port Byron, IL. For further information, see here.

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.

What are you doing this Wednesday morning?

I'm talking about 11 July, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. CDT, if you're anywhere within a reasonable drive -- or walk -- of Monmouth, IL.

Tomorrow morning, Mom and I will be taking lemon bars and lime bars, as well as the singularly appropriate mixed nuts, to the July meeting of OFTA (mentioned in the lower half of the linked article). There also will be free coffee, as well as the presentation on "the Soul of the Potter," by Linda Sickmon and Carol Tenold.

Plus, if you come to the Buchanan Center while I'm there, you can meet me in front of my prize-winning photograph. (Did I forget to mention I received an honorable mention for my first time ever entering in a photo show?)

Once more, the show must go on

I've been bullying the Bat all day about getting up and getting out. Mostly it's because she has spent the week recovering slowly, she's a little reluctant to attempt to thrust herself into a crowd. But tonight, the Buchanan Center for the Arts is hosting a reception for all us amateur artists who entered our works in the 4th Annual Adult Amateur Show.

After much fuss, I think I've persuaded the Bat to at least make an appearance for a short while. We've dug out her walking stick, so she can tripod her way around, and in case the room spins again, I know where the BCA stores its extra chairs.

If you're going to be anywhere near Monmouth, IL, this evening, come downtown to the Public Square and see what's up, and maybe I'll even keep a civil tongue...


nah. not that. but I promise not to bite.

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.

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine...

This Saturday, the Buchanan Center for the Arts will be hosting a fund-raising food-and-drink event, the annual A Taste of the Arts wine-tasting and dinner. The funds the BCA raises at A Taste go not only to visual arts (my preferred medium, when I get manic), but they also help support the Monmouth Civic Orchestra, another artists' group I can't help but enjoy.

I'd love to attend the event, myself, but (a) it's got that wine thing going for it, and I have an allergy to grapes, and (b) I don't have the requisite bucks to toss around.

So here is where you all come in:

Contact the office & make your reservations. If you're a member of the BCA, it will only cost you $30. For anybody else, it's only $35 -- five bucks more, for a fine wining and dining experience. As a bonus, you'll have the pleasure of hanging out for an evening with Monmouth's best people (plus a few of my friends, as well).

And then you'll have bragging rights over me, too.

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.