Institute of Contemporary Art Boston (ICA)

This past weekend during our mid-winter heat wave (the temps were above freezing) I decided to emerge from hibernation just long enough to enjoy all the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston (ICA) had to offer.

Designed by award winning architects Diller Scofidio and Renfro the 65,000 sqft building housing the ICA is a masterpiece of its own. The building was designed to echo the appearance of the nearby gantry cranes. It is 4 floors designed for galleries, education, theatre and dining/shopping. Its appearance has attracted both awards and criticism but either way it has definitely made a splash in the revitalized seaport district.

There were four exhibitions on display at the ICA Boston during my last visit.

When the Stars Begin to Fall: Featured 35 artists who share an interest in the American South, this exhibition explores the relationship between contemporary art, black life, and “outsider” art. Some of the pieces really caught my eye like Je Minter’s work titled “Housewife”. Made from vintage Kirby vacuum cleaner heads and a mannequin it spoke volumes of about the gender fight amongst southerners.

I also enjoyed the geometric work titled “The Eyes of the Universe” by Henry Ray Clark that made you feel watched no matter where in the room you might be. I think it is symbolic of the lack of privacy people have today even in places they call their own.

While there we got to listen to and interact with guest speaker and assistant professor of African and Afro-American & Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Brandeis University Jasmin E Johnson. Her interactive gallery talk discussed many topics from black life, slavery, and the black rights movement and how the south has shaped black history. It was an informative and educational conversation.

The next exhibit was not only a visual delight but a full immersion of sight and sound. Titled Sonic Arboretum we were immersed into an environment where the sounds of Andrew Bird added another layer to the beauty of the colorful horn speaker’s collection by artist Ian Schneller. The music makes you want to close your eyes and imagine the world where the symphony might exist but to do so would rob you of the visual delight of the hardware producing it.

The hardware is a unique thing of its own. Ian Schneller’s creations are sold and branded under the Specimen Products name and the horns are made from recycled newspaper print, dryer lint, baking soda and shellac before being mounted to the also handmade tube amplifiers. The quality of the sound and the visual appeal make them both a sight and sound to be remembered.

Before taking in the next exhibition we took a few minutes to enjoy the beauty that is the view of Boston Harbor from the panoramic windows of the Founders Gallery. This breathtaking room measures 80feet long and 33ft wide and has floor to ceiling windows.

The next more unusual exhibition was that of Adriana Varejão one of Brazil’s leading artists. This exhibition is her first solo museum show in the United States and embodies a macabre artistry. It is her interpretation of cultural cannibalism. Some of her works like “Corner Jerked-Beef Ruin” mix the simplicity of a while tiled wall and the gruesomeness of a marbled meat interior.  

Other works like her “Wall with incisions a la Fontana” reflects to me an anger and frustration with the purity that a clean white tiled wall represents. The incisions are not clean and crisp but jagged and made as if by a passion gone awry.

Another piece that at first I thought was a tattoo map turned out to be the skin fileted and laid flat called “Exploratory Laparotomy II” for me it was too much of a visceral image to be appreciated. All I could think of was an autopsy.

The last gallery on current exhibition was ICA Collections: In Context which featured works that explore social and political issues while transforming the genre of landscape by the expansion of the medium to include drawing, photography, sculpture, and video.

With the impressive architecture of the facility, the educated and thought provoking gallery talk by Asst Prof Jasmin E Johnson and impressive collection of contemporary art the ICA lived up to expectation in causing the mind to broaden its vision and see past the normalcy of our lives. The sounds and sights of the Sonic Arboretum took you to a place of peace and tranquility while Adriana Varejão’s work elicited the anger feel anger and violence everyone sometimes feels. The vistas of the Founders Gallery eased the mind and allowed you to quietly contemplate the questions in your mind. All in all you left feeling more enlightened then when you arrived.

USAF Band Of Libery Farewell Concert

Early in the week my mother sent me an e-mail about the Last Hurrah concert for The United States Air Force Band of Liberty at Mechanic’s Hall in Worcester, MA. The best part of the concert was the cost. It was a community program and was free of charge to anyone who wanted to attend. Use of the hall was donated by the Worcester County Mechanic’s Association who operated Mechanic’s Hall.

The concert marked a farewell for the band that has a 30+ year history of performing for military and civilian audiences throughout New England. A little research tells me the band is made up of 45 active duty personnel who are assigned to two primary ensembles--the Concert Band and the Afterburner popular music group. The band performs approximately four hundred engagements a year, and has appeared at such venues as Lincoln Center in New York City and the Hatch Shell in Boston.

Known originally as the 541st Air Force Band of the Southwest stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, the unit relocated to Pease AFB, New Hampshire in 1978. Renamed the Air Force Band of New England, the band brought its musical message of pride, patriotism, and professionalism to concerts and events throughout New England. In 1991, the band received its current name and was assigned to Electronics Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, in Massachusetts. In July of 2012 the Band of Liberty was reassigned to Air Force Lifecycle Management Center.

The concert was a fitting tribute to their years of service and many of the past commanders’s got one final chance to lead the band as they played 15 songs and a couple more encores. In addition to those playing instruments there were several vocalists who serenaded us with their sweet voices. Among the songs we heard was the Star Spangled Banner, The Typewriter, Route 66, and America the Beautiful. While many recordings of the Band of Liberty exist the 5 parts below are from the actual Farewell Concert. Please take a moment to listen to them and enjoy the beautiful music they make.

The United States Air Force Band of Liberty is dedicated to using the power of music to inspire our Air Force members and the great nation we serve, producing innovative musical programs and products, and communicating Air Force excellence throughout New England and around the globe

Boston Pops Holiday Concert

To get into the holiday spirit my parents and I attended the The Boston Pop’s Holiday Concert in Worcester, MA. The Boston Pops and conductor Keith Lockhart dazzled the city and the audience with their sold out holiday concert at the Hanover Theatre. They were accompanied by vocal group Five by Design, the Seven Hills Charter School Show Choir, and Jolly Ole’ St. Nick. This performance by the Boston Pop’s marks their return after having broken their 27 year tradition of coming to Worcester in 2008. This year they moved from the larger DCU center to the more intimate Hanover Theatre. This more intimate setting, where the venue is known for its acoustics, proved to be a success with not a single empty seat.

After a brief introduction by Hanover Theatre’s Troy Siebels, the Boston Pop’s and Keith Lockhart started the show off with a bang with Christmas Canticles. The concert featured classic music of the holiday season with a unique twist. The vocal styling’s of Five by Design added a retro swing style to the performance. They performed such Christmas songs as Carol of the Bells, O Come O Come Emanuael, Holly Jolly Christmas and a special reading of how the Grinch Stole Christmas.

After a brief intermission they started the second half with an amazing rendition of Joy! followed by Noelle Scarlett from Grafton High School reading the classic Yes. Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. While they continued with more classics like Sleigh Ride, Home for the Holiday’s and Twas the Night Before Christmas you couldn’t help but want to sing along with the beautiful music.

The show wrapped up when Jolly Ole’ St. Nick joined Keith Lockhart on stage and the Seven Hills Charter School Show Choir performed Light the Candles. They then lead the audience in a sing along of some of the classic holiday songs like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Have yourself a Merry Christmas, Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire, Winter Wonderland, and Jingle Bells.


After a standing ovation for their performances we were treated to an encore performance of Silent Night sung by Five By Design. The concert was closed by the Boston Pop’s with a solo orchestra performance of holiday medley of Christmas Favorites Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells.

Panorama of The Hanover Theatre from the Balcony with the Boston Pop's on Stage

 



Task 38 - Deep River Muster

(38) Visit 10 Festivals or Fairs (09/20)

Event: Deep River Ancient Muster
When: July 21, 2012

Location: Deep River, Connecticut

Rating: 4 - Stars

Traditions are held dear in New England and if you live or spend time on the Connecticut River Valley during the summer months you are sure to include the fife and drums of the Deep River Ancient Muster as part of the sounds of summer.

Always held the 3rd Saturday in July the Deep River Ancient Muster is a gathering of Fife and Drim participants and enthusiasts from all over the world. It is known as the "Grand Daddy of All Muster". The parade started at Devitt's Field and proceeded down Main Street for roughly a mile.

This year I counted over 50 different groups. The groups were lead by the Local Deep River Drum Corp. Each group had their own uniquely colonial uniforms/costumes and marched down the street playing some old favorites like Yankee Doodle.

The groups came from near and far and included paritcipants of all ages. Those gathered along the mile long route also varied greatly in age and type. This is an event that many generations of families have at one time or another attended or participated. I know I have been coming here for years every summer with my parents and until this year with my grandmother.

I recorded some of the groups as they walked by and put together this compilation.



Task 38 – Open Road Music + Arts Festival (Worcester, MA)

(38) Visit 10 Festivals of Fairs (03/20)
Festival: Open Road Music + Art Festival
Location: Worcester, MA

Website: http://www.openroadfestival.com/

When: September 10, 2011

Rating:  3-Stars

Today was the 1st Open Road Music + Arts Festival. It was held in Worcester’s Institute Park and is Worcester’s first sustainable and earth-friendly music and arts festival. It had over 30 Vendors and 11 Bands. The goal of Open Road is to raise the awareness of alternative and sustainable lifestyles while bringing the Worcester community (and beyond) together to enjoy local art and extraordinary music.

 I didn’t even know the festival was happening until a co-worker of mine called to tell me to come out and enjoy. Her boyfriend’s band was one of the groups performing in the festival’s lineup. Their group is called WHAT and they played a 30 minute set of great music. They played on the newly renovated main stage in Institute Park. It was under construction for a large portion of the spring and early summer. It was nice to see it being used and looking great.

The festival was definitely a very different festival. There was one vendor Vegware who specialized in sustainable packaging and utensils and others who sold nothing but organic clothing and apparel. Of course there was also the food vendors including Cedar’s who was there offering free samples of their humus and a new type of organic chips they are working on. Evo from the Living Earth was also there providing some of their organic creations many of which I have sampled in their dining room and love. Another interesting vendor was the Vegetable Circus who were performing with hula hoops and doing face painting. It was a very eclectic group of patrons including families, college students, hippes, and professional types alike. Everyone seems to have been really enjoying the entertainment and vendor offerings. I also think that many people turned out because they too believe in what the Festival’s organizers have stated as the principles of their group.

I hope to attend the 2nd Annual Open Road Music + Arts Festival next year.