TRAVEL HERE: THE LAKEPLEX OFFERS VARIETY

Dallasites have a long hot summer ahead of us.  My husband and I have just returned from a glorious river cruise vacation, so we won’t be leaving anytime soon.  Not to worry, there’s plenty to keep us busy.  Here are some of the things we’re looking forward to.

In Rockwall County

We’re lucky to live in Rockwall County which is sort of a destination of it’s own.  The Hilton at The Harbor is one of the top venues for conferences and conventions in Texas.

Restaurants like Gloria’s and Dodie’s line the patios of The Harbor complex.  Couples and family of every description frolic on different levels, enjoying fountains, views and often entertainment.  On Summer Thursdays, the Concert by the Lake Series brings in a variety of tribute bands that will get your toes tapping and inspire you to get up and dance.

If you’d prefer to be on the water then you want to Sail with Scott.  Captain Scott offers two ways to enjoy Lake Ray Hubbard:  The Seawolf and Harbor Lights.  The Seawolf is a 40 foot long hand-built catamaran of Spanish Cedar.  There are daily cruises at 1,3,5,7 &9 costing $30 per person – but go online and make reservations, because Scott won’t be there if no one has made a reservation.  You are welcome to bring your own refreshments.  Whether you need a little “me” time, want to have a special evening for two or to plan a party for you and 48 of your friends, the Seawolf is a great option.

If you’ve got a larger group to entertain, then you’ll want to talk to Captain Scott about chartering a Harbor Lights cruise.  Habor Lights is a 57-foot double decker party barge accommodating 95 passengers.  It can be chartered for weddings and other special events or you can join one of the public cruises.  For instance there will be a Memorial Day Cruise complete with BBQ and swimming.  The price is $50 per person (less for kids depending on age) and all you have to do is bring your swimsuit.

Downtown Rockwall is another fun place to visit, the old courthouse square has been beautifully renovated and the square is lined with darling shops of many varieties and a smorgasbord of restaurants.

The San Jacinto Music Series started May 13.  Every Friday and Saturday night through the summer the  San Jacinto Plaza plays host to musicians from 6:30 to 9:00.  The concerts are free and you don’t worry about a map.  Downtown is at the intersection of 66 and 205.  Park by the courthouse, listen and follow the music.  You can bring your own vintages and victuals or try out one of our delicious restaurants sprinkled around the courthouse.  Some seating is available, but you can bring your own or make yourself at home on the brick sidewalks.

On Saturday mornings you can find me at the Rockwall Farmers Market.  If you like fresh, you’ll love this!  You’ll find some of the most gorgeous vegetables you can imagine here, grown by local farmers and everything was just picked.  But there’s more than fruits and vegetables to enjoy.  Musicians play in the shade of trees.  Fresh-baked pies, home-canned pickles and a variety of specialty foods are also available.  Sampling is encouraged!  It’s a fun morning and quite relaxing, because it’s hometown style rather than downtown style.

I haven’t even mentioned Buffalo Creek Golf Course, San Martino Winery or the huge Harry Meyers Park.  You’ll just have to check us out!

TRAVEL HERE: GREAT CONTRIBUTORS EXHIBIT CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER

One of my favorite things about Dallas Blooms was most definitely Gary Lee Price’s Great Contributor Sculptures.  Well, guess what, they’re still here!

Complimentary Lecture

I made several visits to Blooms this year, but one of my favorites was the media day for Gary Lee Price, so I was thrilled when I received an email letting me know he was coming for another visit.  I made reservations for the lecture and this time I invited Bill along, because I thought he’d enjoy getting to know this wonderful artist.

Saturday dawned a bit chilly and overcast, but that did not deter us.  At the lecture, the artist covered some of the same ground we’d covered on media day, but when he launched into future projects, we got very excited.  The same guy who designed the life-sized statues of Great Contributors now gracing the grounds of the Arboretum has a new project in the wings and it is a lot bigger than life-sized.

With Liberty Comes Responsibility

There’s something big about to happen on the West Coast and you can be a part of it.  The East Coast has Lady Liberty and the West Coast is going to have the Statue of Responsibility.

The artist loves his Great Contributors project and has plans to expand it with life-sized statues devoted to great female contributors, but he’s also very, very excited about the prospects of creating the 300-foot-tall Statue of Responsibility.  His inspiration came from author Viktor Frankl , a Holocaust survivor who believed true Liberty must go hand in hand with Responsibility.

On a trip to Vienna to get the blessing of Frankl’s widow on the project, Gary Lee Price took along his prototype of a statue depicting one arm reaching up for help clasped by another arm, there to offer assistance.  When it was revealed to Mrs. Frankel she was overcome with emotion.  She led the artist into her husband’s study.  There one the wall was a drawing Mr. Frankel had procured shortly after his release from the concentration camps.  The picture showed a hand reaching up for help, but no help could be found.  That picture was the inspiration for his life’s work and the artist had captured the idea of it without ever having met Mr. Frankel.  The widow felt as if her husband’s dream was coming true.

By visiting the Statue of Responsibility website you can find our all about the project and discover several ways to participate in the raising of this beautiful monument, which represents an even more wonderful idea.  An idea whose time has come, according to Leesa Clark-Price, the artists lovely wife and Executive Director of the Responsibility Foundation.

But What About the Arboretum

After the lecture, the artist led us on walking tour and shared his thoughts about each of the statues.  The exhibit deserves more than one visit, because each time you view them you can you gain more insight into the depth of the subjects’ personalities and the greatness of the artist’s genius.  The good news is that the Great Contributors Exhibit will be at the Arboretum through November 27th.

The garden itself deserves frequent visits.  I’ve already been several times this year and each visit has had it’s own flavor.  The first time I was overwhelmed by the fragrance of blooming flowers and bright colors of spring.  The next visit was devoted to the Great Contributors and even though that visit was only a few days later, more flowers had bloomed and a change in the weather to the better made everything look fresh and new.  A few weeks later I was there again.  The azaleas had blossomed and the trees had become green.

I have continued to make visits and bring friends.  Each time the garden has amazed me with new things to discover.  I noticed this time that the bright oranges and yellows of spring have been replaced with purples surprisingly matched with every contrasting color imaginable.  You really do need to see it to appreciate it – and the rose arbor is blooming!

Unfortunately, Saturday started out as a dreary day and while the Arboretum was as beautiful as always, photographing it was a bit of a challenge, so we just grabbed a few shots on our way out.  The sun teased us with the idea  of it coming out, and we thought about staying and watching Mr. Price do a little sculpting in the garden, but Bill was wishing for a Sonic burger.  So we picked up our new metal friend and headed to the drive-in.

On Wednesday, I’ll talk about the population aboard our latest cruise and on Friday you’ll find out how I dropped the ball on my youthful trip to El Paso, Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands.  For now I’ll leave you with some pictures from the garden, but do come back to visit.

TRAVEL HERE: EATING PARKSIDE IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS

Saturday night is a fun time to visit Downtown Dallas.  The vibe is great, but not overwhelming.  Savor Gastropub in Klyde Warren Park had been on my list for a long time, but I hadn’t made it there until recently. Let me tell you about my visit!

I Heard About It First from Mom

I found out about Klyde Warren Park long before they ever broke ground.  My mother was a faithful reader of the Dallas Morning News and she culled out the latest and greatest bits to share with me.  Every Thursday when I showed up for our weekly adventures, she’d bring out the articles she’d saved for me throughout the week.  She never had an email address or signed into the worldwide web, but she always seemed to have a better grasp of what was happening in Dallas than me, for all my constant attention to the internet and my email box full of press releases and announcements.

I remember the day she showed me the article about the park.  I was amazed that someone had dreamed up the idea of building a park in thin air.  Typically, Mom was more interested in the restaurant they were planning to build.  Back in those days, it was supposed to be called “Windows on the Park” and though it ended up with a different name, it certainly has plenty of windows.

When the park opened, Windows on the Park was still in the plans, but had not been built.  After my first visit with my bestie on her birthday, it was time for me to take Mom.  Unfortunately, her health was failing and she wasn’t up to strolling through the park.  Ever hopeful she sat in the car beside me as we drove around it taking in every detail.  “When the restaurant opens I’ll be stronger and we can have lunch there.”  She didn’t get stronger, but her hope never failed her.  On her last coherent day we were still talking about eating at Windows on the Park and visiting the George Bush Library.

Fast Forward a Few Years

When the restaurant finally opened, I didn’t immediately visit.  I couldn’t imagine going without Mom.  Then I heard it was having some troubles building a clientele.  Eventually I heard it was turned into Savor and I assumed it was associated with Savour, a tasting restaurant by the folks who also do Bonnie Ruth’s, but I was wrong.  (Apologies to you my faithful readers.  Though I have eaten at both Bonnie Ruth’s and Savour, it was back when my primary focus was care-giving and I failed to review them.  Both are wonderful and you should go!)

All that being said, a Saturday night rolled around for which we had no obligations and we decided it was time to hit the streets.  I texted one of my good friends and asked her if she and her husband wanted to join us.  They were in.  I suggested two restaurants and asked her which sounded best to her.  Here’s where I have to complain about automatic spellchecker.  I typed in “Savor Gastropub” and Mr. Spellchecker decided I didn’t know what I was typing and corrected it to “Savor Gastrointestinal Pub.”  My friend still agreed to eat there!  Forever and always, I will not be able to think about this restaurant without thinking of Mr. Spellchecker’s version of their moniker.

Good Food, Amazing Location

I have to tell you we had a wonderful evening.  I also have to tell you that you can’t park at the museum and have dinner at Savor.  Being members, we always park at the DMA whenever we visit that part of town, because members park free.  However, we found out the museum parking closes at nine.  It’s hard to get back to your car by nine, when your dinner reservation is for 7:45.  So, we maneuvered around a few blocks and valet parked at the restaurant.

We chose to eat inside, because we thought the unpredictable spring weather might get chilly; especially since it was a little breezy when we arrived.  The breeze died and it didn’t get chilly, so I’m sorry we didn’t choose patio seating.  When our meal was over, it was perfect outside.  I highly recommend you enjoy your meal on the patio.

Even though we were inside, our meal was delightful and our service attentive.  Bill and I both had the pork tenderloin, which was seriously wonderful.  Our friends started with the Oysters “Rockefeller” which they adored.  Her hubby opted for the scallops and she had the evening special which was a seafood dish, both of which they recommend.

Then it was time for dessert.  Bill and I shared their version of German Chocolate Cake.  It was delicious, but while it was very chocolaty, I couldn’t figure out what was German about it.  The chocolate was dark chocolate.  The icing was gooey chocolate.  I don’t remember any nuts, but there was a little coconut tucked into the middle of the cake.  As wonderful as it was, I was a little disappointed, because I had my mouth all primed for a German Chocolate Cake like my momma used to make.  Our friends shared the Creme Brulee and are convinced it was the best they’ve ever tasted.

So get down there and enjoy a meal at Savor Gastrointestinal  Gastropub.  Sit on the patio and then when you’re through, do what we did, take a stroll in the park.

TRAVEL HERE: UTD LECTURE FOCUSES ON GETTING YOUR ATTENTION

See that big silver coffee bean in the middle of the picture of Chicago?  That’s a public interactive.  It’s in public and it’s purpose is to engage the public.  Some might just classify it as art, but there’s more to it than a painting on a wall.  It was designed specifically for a public space and you’re supposed to do more than look at it.  You’re supposed to walk under it, look at yourself in it, observe how your reflection changes depending on where you stand and then post a picture of yourself on social media.  Well, I added that last part, because social media wasn’t really a factor when the piece was installed, but now that selfie is as much a part of the experience as the Chicago skyline.

“Designing Culture: Reading Walls, World Expos, and Digital Memorials”

Communication is my thing, so when my alma mater, University of Texas at Dallas, invited me to a free lecture with Dr. Anne Balsamo an “emerging media expert,” why would I stay home?  I wasn’t sure what public interactives were, but I figured I needed to know.

Dr. Balsamo, is one of those academic types who get paid by large think tanks to do really cool stuff the rest of us would love to do, except we have real jobs.  What kinds of stuff?  Well, she got to make a bigger than life computer dog, for instance – as a part of an exhibit which was built to explore how the public interacted with various types of media.  The result of that study can be found at your local museum.  Which museums you might ask?  Well, there’s several interactive reading walls I can think of off the top of my head:  the musical exhibit the DMA has in conjunction with the Vermeer exhibit, the entry section over at the George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU and the Expanding Universe Exhibit at the Perot.  Not that Dr. Balsamo was directly involved in any of those museums or exhibits, but she’s part of the buzz in that world.

A Slow Start to a Fascinating World

By the end of Dr. Balsamo’s discussion I was on the edge of my seat taking copious notes on my phone, but when things began, I thought I might have made a mistake.  My husband cut his trading day short to join me at the lecture.  At first, some professorial sort got up to introduce the speaker and the mono-tonal recital of alphabet soup almost put us both to sleep.  Dr. Balsamo didn’t do much better as she laid the foundation for her presentation.  I was actually wondering how awful it would be to sneak out when she started talking about the exhibit with the giant robot dog.

Bill gave me a look that pleaded for an exit, but I waved him off.  I knew this wasn’t his cup of tea, but I began to realize it was mine.  I should have felt guilty, but I’ve sat through innumerable lectures about investing and trading, which caused my eyes to glaze over quicker than you can quote the Nikkei average.  It was his turn to be a little lost.

The Question of Sponsorship, The Aid’s Quilt and Pages

If you’re at all interested in the subject of “public interactives,” you’ll be glad to know that if you google it there will be 604,000 results, so you can really dig into it.  It’s certainly a fascinating subject and I’ve been interested in it since that day in the Charles de Gaulle  airport when I saw ads flickering on a sign above the escalator instead of helpful directions.  That was back in the seventies and it was the beginning of something new in advertising, but like the advertisers on the airport’s innovative sign, the subject of sponsorship is at the bottom of the whole question of public interactives.  Dr. Balsamo raised the question in conjunction with a world fair presentation, but it’s an old question.

Think back to the Renaissance.  Where would we be today if Leonardo di Vinci hadn’t caught the attention of the Medicis or the Pope hadn’t tapped into the genius of Michelangelo?  I’m sure there were all kinds of brilliant guys back then who never made it out of their home village.  There were only a handful of people back in those days with the means to support the arts in a big way.  What about today?  Different millennium, same problem.

When something is for public consumption (or interaction) who’s supposed to pay for it?  If you want the public to pay, you have to put up a ticket booth and charge admission, which sort of defeats the purpose of public interactives.  The whole idea is to catch people unaware for casual collective collaboration.  The government could pay for it, but then we’d get into a whole different discussion about mind control and undue coercion.  That leaves patronage and sponsorship.  In a day when every major venue is named after its sponsor and even the chairs of museums and universities have a sponsor’s name tagged onto their title, sponsorship gets tricky and leads down the road to over-commercialization and even censorship.

I don’t have answers to the questions raised by Dr. Anne Balsamo, but a quick read of the Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 should get you to asking questions, also.

Sponsorship aside, Dr. Balsamo offered the Aid’s Quilt as an example of various forms of public interaction.  In 1987, the first time the Aid’s Quilt was exhibited to the public, there were 1920 panels.  It was displayed on the Washington D.C. Mall near Washington Monument By 1996 there were 40,000 panels and the number continues to increase geometrically, even though the disease itself is losing its ability to kill so effectively.  The quilt is so large now that the only way to exhibit it in it’s entirety, in a way that allows for public interaction, is to reproduce it digitally – a virtual quilt.  While you can still have the quilt displayed in your community, all you’ll get is a 12 foot section.

Since the project was first announced, it was designed for interactivity.  The panels were produced by members of the public.  It was viewed and reacted to by members of the public.  Due to public interaction, the quilt continues to grow.  Due to demands for access it was digitized and is still shown publicly, albeit in part, never the whole.  And people are still interacting – even digitally.  You can get an app.  You can follow it on Twitter.  You can leave your comments online.

Dr. Balsamo ended with the wistful recognition of the fact that in spite of all this hoopla about public interaction, there is one very old form of public interaction that is still the most enduring and reliable: the printed word.  In other words a book, as in hard copy.

When that exhibit with the giant computerized dog was made it had a big footprint.  Along with the exhibit itself, there was a blog, a video, maps, walls and a DVD.  The exhibit itself was scrapped.  Technology has moved on, so the video and DVD are no longer operable in today’s equipment. The digital footprint disappeared.  You’ll need a book to experience it.  That makes me very proud to be a writer.

TRAVEL HERE: DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART, THE MYSTERIOUS VERMEER AND MORE

The Dallas Museum of Art is all stocked up for a great spring and summer. Abstract Impressionist Jackson Pollack’s Blind Spots will be on view until March 20, then on April 17th Irving Penn‘s iconic fashion photography will take center stage.  The beautiful Spirit and Matter Exhibit from the Keir Collection of Islamic Art remains in place until the end of July.  To complement the installation of a Rebecca Warren sculpture in the soon-to-be newly renovated Eagle Family Plaza, an exhibition of her work will be showing from March 13-July 17.  The really big news, however, is a very small work currently on exhibit in the Focus II Gallery, the Dutch Master, Vermeer.

What Can You Say About Vermeer?

Though highly esteemed in the art world, the painter Vermeer is somewhat of a mystery, according to Olivier Meslay, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs and co-curator of Vermeer Suite: Music in 17th-Century Dutch Painting.  We don’t know who he studied with and we don’t know who he trained.  We have a few details from his life, but they are mostly mundane data like who he married and how many children he had.  Of course, since he had 12 children, that’s a pretty significant piece of data.

What’s more, only a handful of his works are known to exist.  Did he paint very slowly?  Or are there still Vermeers out there, hanging about in granny’s living room, which would thrill the art world, if only they knew the works existed.  I’m all about granny’s living room.  To feed 12 kids, this guy had to be a virtual factory.  Though meticulously painted, all his works are very small and the subject matter is quite ordinary

The most famous painting by Vermeer was made that way by a novel, The Girl in the Pearl Earring.  Vermeer’s painting titles are as everyday as their subject matter:  A Girl Reading a Letter by an Open Window, The Glass of Wine and A Lady Writing.  Most have a gray wall, a piece of furniture and a woman in a room lit by a window.  Sometimes the window is visible.  Sometimes it is not.  You can only see the effect of the light from it.  There is nothing remarkable about his models or their costumes.  It’s as if he were trying to be both invisible and anonymous.

In Spite of All This, He’s Famous!

There are however, two odd bits about him that make him quite memorable.

•  The scarcity of his works inspired a famous forger, Han van Meegeren.
• Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller) made a movie about him.

The van Meegeren episode started back in 1935 and ended in 1947, when the forger was sentenced to a year in jail.  A review of the ensuing years reads like a mystery novel.  For an entertaining afternoon distraction, start with the article I’ve linked to above and then google your way around the internet.

Penn Jillette’s contribution to the Vermeer story revolves around the question of whether or not the artist made use of a camera obscura.  The question is more interesting than the mundane subjects Vermeer chose to paint – with or without a camera obscura.  The movie, Tim’s Vermeer, is a good way to invest a couple of hours.  When you’ve watched it, you can come to your own conclusions.

So What’s the Musical Connection?

All that being said, why is the name of the exhibit Vermeer Suite: Music in 17th-Century Dutch Painting?  Well, with only a few Vermeers existing in the world, getting even one of them to visit your museum is quite the coup.  Having landed a Vermeer, the DMA wanted to provide some kind of context for it to help the viewer appreciate what they are looking at.  So, since it was unlikely they could get any other Vermeers, they rounded up a collection of similar paintings by his contemporaries and tied it up with a musical bow.  They got the musical ribbon from the references to music in the other paintings.

Should you go to the exhibit?  Well, I’m always for visiting a museum and the Irving Penn exhibition looks like it will be pretty wonderful.  So, why don’t you plan on seeing the Vermeer when you go to Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty!

AT HOME IN HEATH: JAGUAR INTRODUCES THEIR NEW LINE-UP WITH A GREAT EVENT

Having a Jag in my garage is at the top of my bucket list.  I fell in love with the XKE in 1966, when I visited my first State Fair of Texas.  At the time I didn’t even have a driver’s license, but that sleek little convertible imprinted itself on my heart and has never been replaced by anything else on wheels.  So, you can imagine my absolute glee when we received an email inviting us to The Art of Performance, a Jaguar event which included a test drive on a closed track.  We couldn’t RSVP fast enough!

Venue: Deep Ellum’s Bomb Factory

Jaguar I knew.  The Bomb Factory, not so much.  Even if I had known about it, I’m not sure I would have gone.  It’s a music and event venue in Deep Ellum. I googled them  to check out what else was coming to their space, but having not recognized any of the groups scheduled to play there, I doubt I’ll be a regular.  However, it was perfect for the Jag event.

We gave our car to the valet staff and followed the jaguar paw prints to the entrance, where we were signed in, given our wristbands and offered beverages.  We were in!  Let the fun begin.

Dreams are Made of Such as This

I’m aware of the fact that I could stroll into a Jaguar dealer and fondle their merchandise any time I wanted to, but I’ve been in sales and I know those people are trying to make a living.  Since a Jag is not in my budget, I don’t want to take up their time kicking their tires.  I carry on my love affair from afar.

At The Art of Performance event, I was encouraged to “get in the cars, take pictures and have fun.”  So I did.  We started in the new XE and I’ll admit that I would have been perfectly happy to drive it out of The Bomb Factory and into my garage.  From there I tried on a F-Type coup.  It felt like it was going fast, even though it was standing still.  The passenger side is equipped with a handle for the faint of heart.  If Bill was driving, I’d probably find a need for it.  Then I climbed in the convertible.  It fit like a glove.

The Audition

Taking a look at all the Jaguar’s was fun, but we knew we’d actually get to drive one, so we were anxious to keep moving.  We passed through a divider of black curtains found ourselves in a line.  We were about to be movie stars!  Jaguar had set up some actual  movie sets and were going to incorporate shots of us into a great little video.  I won’t give away all their secrets, but I will let you take a look at my video.  It’s a lot of fun.

The Drive

Next was our test drive, but forget going around the block!  We hopped into Jag with a professional race car driver and then Bill got to drive over to one of the big Fair Park parking lots which had been set up with an oval course.  At the course, Bill climbed into one of the top of the line XE’s and made the most of his two trips around the track.  He was exhilarated by the experience.  I also made a couple of turns around the track, but at a much more modest pace – not that I found it any less exhilarating.

The fun still wasn’t over, because we had to drive back to The Bomb Factory.  Here’s what a great wife I am.  I let Bill drive back.  My purpose was two-fold.  The thought of driving a brand new car with Bill as my audience made me nervous, but I also wanted to give Bill all the time behind the wheel that I could.

My ploy worked.  By the time we got back to Deep Ellum Bill was regretting the recent purchase of his Mercedes Benz CLA, comparably priced with the XE .  He really wants one of these sweet kitty cat rides.   I may end up with a Jaguar in my garage yet, but even then, I’ll have to ask permission to drive it.

And Speaking of Kitty Cats 

After the ride, we were invited back into the event for snacks and beverages.  It was quite the let down, but after driving a Jag around a racetrack, I guess anything would be!

There was a photo booth where people were getting there picture made with a virtual jaguar of the fur-covered type.  No way we could just go and stand next to a white box.  Bill staged a bit of fun for us.

This green screen stuff seems to be all the rage and we really enjoy it.  Both the DMA and Mercedes Benz have included green screen at recent events.

Back to Reality

After getting our kitty picture, we found the food.  Veggie skewers, crisp pita and hummus, soft ginger cookies and some muffins.  The beverages were the same as offered at the beginning – bottled water and canned coffee drinks.  I was thinking champagne and chocolate covered strawberries might have been more appropriate, but they didn’t ask.  There was naturally logo-emblazoned merchandise you could buy, but I want the car, not a puffy jacket or a t-shirt.

On our way out they asked us to fill out a survey and for doing so, they gave me a kitty cat key ring.  Not sure what I’ll do with it, yet.  I won’t insult it by putting my Nissan Altima key on it.  Thank you Jaguar for a really great evening.  We won’t be forgetting it anytime soon and you just might be seeing us in your showroom!

TRAVEL HERE: BLOOMS AT DALLAS ARBORETUM FEATURES SCULPTURES OF FAMILIAR FACES

The theme of this year’s Blooms is The Artistry in Nature.  To complement Nature’s accomplishments, the arboretum is featuring an exhibit of great artistry in bronze sculpture by Gary Lee Price.  Great Contributors is the name of the artist’s collection.  I know this is supposed to be At Home in Heath day, but I couldn’t wait to share these wonderful fellows. Come along with me and search among the flowers for the charming works of art.

Meet the Fam!

When the Arboretum issues an invitation I show up.  When I got two invitations for the same week, a media preview and a press conference, part of me wondered why they didn’t just have the press conference on the same day as the media preview, but I RSVP’d for both and put them on the calendar.

The media day was a lot of fun and I got some great pictures.  I thought the husband would join me for the Saturday press conference, but he decided against it at the last minute – bad choice.  When I wandered into the garden, I was escorted to an area near the DeGolyer Mansion.  I’m always glad to see VP of Advertising and Promotions, Teri Lindecker, even when I’ve just seen her a couple of days before.  Then she introduced me to Isaiah Price, the sculpture’s son and I realized this was going to be a great event.

Isaiah runs the business side of the artist’s operation.  Gary does the creating and Isaiah does everything else.  Gary Lee Price uses the lost wax process to create his sculptures.  Once Gary has a clay model ready for casting, Isaiah gets busy with their crew to turn it into a bronze sculpture.  Many individual pieces are cast that eventually are joined to made one whole statue.  Isaiah does a lot more than just oversee the casting process.  He also does the books, manages the staff, delivers the finished products and manages the money.

The Press Conference Proper 

After I chatted with Isaiah and his wife Sharee for a few moments, the artist came by looking for his phone.  Isaiah hopped to it and started looking.  Luckily, the phone was found and the press conference began.

Before getting to the artist, I’d like to give props to the guy in the tie.  He’s from Bank of America and they are the majority corporate contributor to Blooms.  I just want to say thank you very much to them and to tell all of you to go deposit your money in Bank of America – right now.  I support companies that support the arts.

Finally, we got to hear from the artist himself.  He was charming and articulate.  He obviously loves what he does and enjoys sharing it with others.  Apparently he’s gotten a lot of flack from the fact that all eight Great Contributors at the arboretum are male.  His plan for the series is to have 10 men and 10 women and he’s just now getting started on the ladies.  His first lady will be Oprah Winfrey, if she approves his model.  With Great Contributors like Mother Theresa and Sacagawea among his planned works, I don’t know if I approve of where he decided to begin, but he’s the artist, not me!

After telling us about his process, he demonstrated how he works. He starts out by creating a teeny tiny little model and keeps making bigger ones until he gets to life-size.  The clay he uses is oil-based and was developed by the auto industry for designing cars.  However, these days most sculptors choose it over the old-fashioned water-based clay, because the oil-based clay never sets up and they can keep on working on it, even years later.

I had asked Isaiah what form their bronze came to them.  I was right when I guessed that it came to them in ingots.  However, I didn’t realize that when they melt it down they also melt leftover scraps from other sculptures.  I also remarked on the pleasant smile on Honest Abe’s face, which is so different from the stern or utterly exhausted look he usually has. Both Isaiah and Gary commented that the smile was definitely on purpose.  The artist wanted to portray Mr. Lincoln in an easy-going appealing manner.  He wants all of his sculptures to be approachable, especially since they are seated on park benches and are supposed to be selfie-friendly.

Here’s the rest of the Great Contributors you should look for at the arboretum.  Think of locating them among the floral displays as a sort of artistic scavenger hunt.   Along with Mark Twain above and President Lincoln, you will see Benjamin Franklin, William Shakespeare, George Washington, Claude Monet, the Wright Brothers and Albert Einstein.  I’ll warn you that The Bard is the hardest one to find, but by far my favorite.

I also wanted to share a few shots of Mr. Price at work.

And finally, if you’re thinking Mr. Price’s work looks familiar, well maybe it’s because we actually have our very own Gary Lee Price original right at the Arboretum.  Nancy’s Garden was one of my mom’s favorite places at the Arboretum, because Mr. Price’s sculpture reminded her of my sister and I.  Enjoy this shot of the art work and come back soon for more fun things happening in the Metroplex.

TRAVEL HERE: IT’S SHOWTIME AT DALLAS ARBORETUM

This past weekend marked the beginning of BLOOMS at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society (DABS). Over the next few weeks, hordes of visitors will make their way to the Arboretum to see the most spectacular gardens of the year.  As Teri Lendecker, VP of Advertising and Promotions, said at last week’s media day, “It’s showtime!”

A Picture May Be Worth 1000 Words, BUT…

These pictures may blow you away, but they are merely a shadow of the remarkable experience waiting for you at the Arboretum during Blooms.  Thankfully, glorious weather was a fortuitous addition to my visit. The extravagant floral displays were a feast for the eyes, but my eyes weren’t the only senses reeling.  As I stepped through the entrance I could immediately smell the delicate aroma of hyacinth and daffodils floating on the breeze and the fragrant notes of spring followed me around the garden.

As I immersed myself in the experience, my ears tuned into the symphony of the wind in the garden.  Magnolia leaves rattled and sighed.  Crape myrtle trees clicked out a tattoo with their bare limbs.  Tiny limbs on Japanese maples seems to divide the breeze into a shrill whistle.

Soon I noticed the chattering waters features gossiping around me.  Squirrels warned me to keep my distance and a dove hopped ahead of me cooing to others about my intrusion.  Mingling with these pleasant sounds were human voices.  Children giggled at the fuzziness of a plant.  A mother encouraged a small child to imagine a bee’s workday.  A grandmother interviewed her grandchild about a play date.

Bottom line?  You have to go enjoy this marvelous opportunity in Nature for yourself.  I’m going to share some more pictures with you at the bottom of this article to whet your appetite, but there are more than just pretty flowers to see.  Sprinkled around the grounds are amazing sculptures by Gary Lee Price, but since I had the opportunity to meet him a few days after the media event and have much to share about his intriguing art, you’re going to have to wait until later to hear all about him.

I could keep raving all day, but I’ll let those photos speak for themselves.  Dallas Blooms: Artistry in Nature will be glowing until April 10th.  Do not miss it!

Oh, by the way, did I mention the shopping opportunities?

AT HOME IN HEATH: COMMUNITY JUDGING FOR NCFCA TOURNAMENTS

So, if a couple of hours could make a difference in a kid’s life, would you make time for it?  Hypothetically we’d all say yes, but I’ve discovered a way to do just that.  I’d love for you to have the opportunity to join me and all it will cost you is a little time and a little gas.  Let me tell you about my day of judging and then you will probably want to contact kristikirch@hotmail.com and volunteer for the speech tournament in March.

The Ask

A friend of mine knew I lived somewhere over here on the east side of the Metroplex, so she told me about a speech tournament in Wylie.  She home-schools her kids and they would be participating.  She asked if I would be a judge.  Before you start trying to disqualify yourself for one reason or another, let me assure you that if you can read, write and hear, you’re qualified to be a community judge.

My friend didn’t know I had participated in speech tournaments during my high school career.  She just knew they needed judges.  However, as soon as I read her email, I remembered my first speech tournament.  I was lucky enough to catch a ride to Houston in Jimmy Jordon’s red convertible.  To this day, just a few notes of Marvin Gaye singing “What’s Going On” will transport me back to that beautiful October day.

On the strength of that memory, I agreed to sign up for the Wylie tournament.  I didn’t know NCFCA from MSNBC, but I remembered the excitement of dressing up in my very best clothes and giving a humorous speech-to-entertain titled, “My Life as a Compulsive Big Mouth.”  It was not (as I had hoped) the beginning of my career as a stand-up comedian, but since a good portion of my professional career was spent speaking in public, in a wide variety of situations, I do believe the opportunity to participate in speech tournaments contributed to my life’s journey.

Since so much in our world has changed since that exhilarating ride to Houston, I couldn’t help but wonder what had changed in high school speech tournaments, but I knew there was little reason to speculate, because the tournament was only a week away.  I’d find out soon enough.  I carved out enough space to judge three events and went on with my business.

The Day

On the day of the tournament I stood in my closet wondering what to wear.  Would there be young men in suits or a kaleidoscope of blue denim?  I hedged my bets and wore trousers and a blazer.  That way I’d fit in either way.  As I drove to the tournament I noticed the weather on that February day was much as it had been on that October day of the red convertible.

The first thing I noticed were young men in suits looking very serious as they scurried between buildings.  The breeze snatched at their ties and played havoc with the dresses and tresses of their female companions.  I grinned widely.  Some things do stay the same.  Kids still wore their best clothes to the tournaments and they were nervous as they trekked between events.

I found a parking space and made my way into the building.  I can’t explain to you how warm my welcome was.  The lady sitting at the Judge Registration Table made me feel as if I were some sort of hero.  Feeling even better about my decision to judge, I took my badge and headed towards the judges lounge, passing the judge’s snack table along the way.  I was delighted to be a part of the mild chaos going on around me.

The Events

After a brief training session on judging, my first event to judge was a round of interpretive speeches classified as Biblical Presentation.  I wasn’t sure what that meant, but it sounded interesting.  Was it ever!  Biblical Presentation is a dramatic interpretation of portions of Scripture.  The students presented lengthy passages from the Bible with intros, comments and summaries they had written.  All the passages included dialog and the students would portray each of the characters with only a small piece of cloth as a prop.

Each student memorized about eight minutes of dialog and accompanying gestures.  We had Queen Esther; the Prophet Balaam and his donkey; Mary and Martha; and a few others.  While Esther, Mary and Martha were to be expected, I was surprised when more than one contestant selected the talking donkey and pleased the focus of their interpretations varied greatly.  By the end of the round I had developed a new appreciation for the youth of America!

My next event was debate.  This was a more challenging event for the judges.  We had to keep a flow sheet of the arguments, judge who won the debate and judge the performance of the individual debaters outside the outcome.  In my debate, one of the debaters was by far the best speaker and I actually agreed with his point of view, but the other young man blew him away when it came to formulating his position and defending it, in spite of the weakness of one of his defenses.  I gave the debate to the guy I disagreed with, but gave the other speaker higher points.

I thought my final round to judge would never begin.  This time I had chosen Impromptu Speaking.  I was exhausted from the technicalities of the debate and Impromptu Speaking seemed as if it would be easier to judge than Extemporaneous Speaking or Apologetics.  The round was supposed to start around six, but through no fault of the contestants we didn’t begin until almost seven.  We were short on judges (hint, hint, hint).

In extemporaneous speech, a contestant is given 30 minutes to prepare a 7 minute speech.  From my memory, those speeches had some pretty heavy subject matter.  Impromptu topics ranged from Make Believe to Bad Habits and only last about five minutes after two minutes of preparation.  That seemed more my speed.

My brain was worn out, so I can only imagine how exhausted the kids were.  They’d been performing all day, compared to my half-day of judging.  Many had an event in each round and some multiple events within a round.  It seemed almost cruel to have extemporaneous and impromptu speeches at such a late hour.  As much as I wanted to cash it in and call it a day, if these teen-aged troopers were going to speak, I was going to judge.

While the Biblical Presentation scoring depended to a certain extent on how well the kids were able to memorize a lengthy passage, Improptu Speaking was all about thinking on your feet.  The kids had up to five minutes to speak, but most barely made it past the two minute mark.  One spoke for about six minutes, but that didn’t help their score.  The point was to use up the time without going over.

The last contestant in the round was the most heart-breaking for me.  From some conversations I had overheard, I learned this particular young man had not only performed multiple times that day, he’d also had a big hand in running the tournament.  Someone had to go find him and bring him to the room.

One of the most heartwarming things about the day had been the courtesies the students extended to the judges.  As they entered they would shake our hands and then move into position to speak.  They’d wait quietly until we’d finished shuffling our papers and whispering among ourselves.  Then they’d ask us if we were ready and politely ask for the timekeeper to start the clock.  After they had performed, they would shake hands with each of us and thank us for judging.  Sure it was rehearsed and formulaic, but it was invaluable skill-building and quite touching.

When the final contestant came in, he was visibly spent.  He went through the handshaking routine and retreated to a corner to prepare his speech on the subject he had drawn.  It was apparent that he was an accomplished, well-spoken orator, but it was also apparent he was done for the day, long before he entered the room.  The merciful part of me wanted to give the round to him out of compassion, but I remembered this wasn’t just about who won or lost the round.

I put him among the top contestants, because he did do a better job than some of the others, but I didn’t give him the round.  In my comments I told him I regretted not being able to proclaim him the winner, but I hoped he’d take my advice to heart – learning your limits and managing your assets is more important than winning a round in a speech tournament.  This fine young man will probably manage a major corporation or run for high office someday.  At least I think he will, if he doesn’t run out of steam somewhere in his twenties.  I will probably not see him or hear of him again and if I do I won’t recognize him, but I have the satisfaction of knowing I shared some of my hard-won wisdom with him at a time when it might do some good.

Now It’s Your Turn 

The next NCFCA speech tournament is March 9th-12th at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church in Allen.   Go to www.ncfcajudges.com to sign up.  Click Texas on the map and select “Allen Qualifier.”  I hope I’ll be seeing you there.

TRAVEL THERE: FROMMER IMPARTS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME

I’ve already complained about the Dallas Travel & Adventure Show, so I will spare you another dose, but I will admit that I caused some of my own frustration.  I had planned to spend the whole day at the show, but I got a better offer.  Most everyone who reads this blog understands that Joe T Garcia’s is one of my favorite restaurants in the world, so you understand how being ferried there in a limo to celebrate the birthday of a good friend would hold a much higher priority than any travel show.

The Dog Ate My Homework

Then there was my watch.  I knew I had only a few minutes between Rick Steves’ seminar and that of Pauline Frommer, so I headed out to the exhibition floor to grab up as many brochures as I could and get a feel for the show.  What I didn’t know was that somewhere along the way I pulled the stem out of my watch and stopped time.

And I ran out of steam.  I had a quick bowl of cereal for breakfast, but it had been a very small bowl, because I needed to restock.  Most of the cereal in the bag was powder.  My watch might not have known what time it was, but the headache I was getting let me know it was time for food.  To say the food service was lackluster and slow is an understatement, but I’ll leave it at that.

From the concession area we ran over to the stage where Pauline Frommer was giving her talk, but we were late.  We’d already missed out on all kinds of valuable travel information.  I whipped out my notebook and started taking down as much info as I could get for you.

Guidebooks Are Back

The best news I heard from Pauline was that guidebooks are coming back into fashion.  For awhile folks gave the digital world a whirl, but digital has it’s limitations: wi-fi challenges, forgetting to charge your device, theft, the list goes on.  Pick out a guidebook that suits you, dog-ear the page corners, make notes in it, tape stuff in it and carry it around with you.  Guidebooks had fallen on such tough times that I feared they’d quit printing them, so I was glad to hear their sales are surging.

(I’d add that you also need a printed map.  GPS is great, but there’s nothing like plotting your route on a good map and then seeing what might be around it.  If you’ve traveled to the other side of the world, why limit yourself to what shows up on your phone screen? But back to Pauline.)

One of the reasons guidebooks are becoming popular again is because travelers need a curated voice.  User generated reviews have some value, but people are gaming the system, especially hotels and restaurants.  There’s a whole industry of review writing in third world countries, which dilutes the value of the real reviews.  (I’d like to add that you’ve also got to wade through all the angst.  We all know that people are more likely to complain than compliment, so the mean girls dominate.)

Pauline said the most valuable reviews are lists of things to see and do, but you still have to be wary.  She said to completely ignore the food recommendations though, because the top reviewed restaurants will be the chains you find in every town.

Other Nuggets 

• Rentals: When I arrived at the seminar Pauline was announcing deep discounts at some website, but I didn’t get the URL.  In the next sentence she let us in on the news that rentals are no longer a bargain.  Seems all the rental services were bought up by the big boys and prices have gone through the sky.

There are other reasons to rent at your destination, but it won’t be the money saving value it once was.  She pointed out one reason you might want to opt for the rental is that hotels are usually in commercial zones and everything around the hotel closes down at five.  If you’re renting, you’ll be in a residential zone, close to restaurants, parks and the like.

• Travel Insurance:  She recommends travel insurance, but warned to never buy it from your providers.  Go to squaremouth.com or insuremytrip.com.  And don’t assume that the most expensive has the best coverage, compare the inclusions.
• Group Tours: They are in a world of hurt, because people are tired of being the prisoners of a bus.  If you do take a group tour, ask for discounts.  For small groups, she recommends: Intrpid, G Adventures, Djoser Tours, Friendly Planet and Road Scholar.
• Volunteer Vacations: Check out Earthwatch, Vaughn Systems, The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, American Hiking Society and Global Volunteers.
• Go to Cuba:  The regulations inhibiting travel are vague and lax.  You can meet the requirements with something as simple as going to church while you are there and call it a cultural experience.  They don’t have a lot of hotels, so look for casas partiulares.
• Go to America’s National Parks:  It’s their 50th Anniversary and many special events are planned.

And that’s about it.  Sorry I missed the beginning of the talk.  Come back next week and I’ll get back to local travel.