Wadsworth Atheneum

I always enjoy a visit to Hartford's art museum.

A couple stood close to a painting by Willem de Kooning and discussed the colors and brush strokes.

A man strode through the center of a European gallery.

 This west entrance to Morgan Great Hall mixes classical statues, beaux arts decoration and a hint of the huge and colorful mural by the famous Hartford-born conceptualist artist Sol Lewitt.

A docent led a tour in an American gallery featuring paintings by Hudson River School artists.

The Matrix gallery in the museum features contemporary works, usually challenging.  The current exhibition by Bouke de Vries, a ceramics conservator and contemporary artist, is War and Pieces.

A long table is set formally in the style of the 17th and 18th century, but with

period ceramic groupings with modern adaptations and broken shards.

It culminates in a mushroom cloud in the center.

Folks Seen During the Holidays

I met Iranian-born Bahar at Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford's art museum.
She is a pediatric dentist at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington.

Cuban-born Marcie is a long-time friend.

Alexia is a phlebotomist who drew my blood at a Red Cross blood drive before Christmas.
She is a twin.  Her twin sister is Alexis.

Janadel refilled the candy aisle while I was hunting for stocking stuffers.
Her shirt: "Santa, Don't Judge."

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch

This 1886 arch straddles a road through Bushnell Park between the State Capitol and Bushnell Hall.  It celebrates the 4,000 Hartford citizens who fought in the Civil War.  

It was the first triumphal arch in America.

Winterfest

Strings of colored lights highlight a grove of trees at the east end of Hartford's Bushnell Park.

Skating

A skating rink in Hartford's Bushnell Park is open from Thanksgiving until early January.

The snowman helps beginning skaters.  Especially fallen skaters.

Lots of city dwellers have never been on skates before.

It Was a Very Merry Christmas!

Hazel loved her new tutu.

Willa liked her LEGO house.

Lola and Sequois were exhausted.  As were the girls' parents.

Willa modeled her sweater from Norway and her tutu.

Merry Christmas!

And Happy New Year.

A Wreath for John

Susie placed a beautiful wreath on the column commemorating John.  The black and white plaid bow recalls some of his favorite shirts.  Such a thoughtful daughter, wife, mother and sister.

Happy birthday, John. 

A Christmas Party

Last night was the 2018 edition of a wonderful annual Christmas party.

Eleanor, the hostess' daughter, takes very good care of George.

Everyone brings an hors d'oeuvres or dessert.  This competitor was declared winner by acclamation.

The evening ended, as it always does, with a pianist leading spirited singing of Christmas carols.

(I always blur the photos from this party, to protect the innocent and the not so innocent.)

Creche and Santons

Back in Connecticut for the holidays.  Looking forward to seeing a daughter, 

son-in-law and two adorable granddaughters.

This creche scene has had additions on every trip to France.  The small pottery figures ("santons") are made in Marseille in the factory of Marcel Carbonel, a fourth generation santonnier.

The painting is of the main intersection in West Hartford Center.

Yes, mixing cultures, but it works for me.

Nutcrackers

I have nutcrackers in Naples and West Hartford.  These are the Naples nutcracker soldiers and kings.  Well, the 11 inch indoor nutcracker soldiers and kings.

Two five foot tall nutcracker kings guard the front door.

Nutcracker King

A nutcracker king guards the entrance to the Sugden Theater in Naples.

"The Colors Above Our Heads Are Under Our Feet as Well."

This is a new outdoor installation at Artis Naples.

It is a pergola with colored ceiling panels, designed for this site by
the noted French Artist, Daniel Buren.

You might remember Daniel Buren from his famous installation (the Buren Columns) at
Palais Royal in Paris, shown in my 2015 shot.

Artis Naples

Artis Naples suffered major damage during Hurricane Irma.  Its art museum, the Baker Museum, has been closed since the storm.  The concert halls are, in general, unaffected. 

While the museum is closed, they are moving forward with a major expansion.

Some of the Baker's artworks are displayed in the concert hall's exhibition spaces.
This exhibition shows works from the collection on the subject of music and musicians.

One beautiful work is a photograph of violinist Jascha Heifetz by Albert Eisenstaedt.

  A full program of performances continues in the concert halls. 

Two Docents

So, which of these Artis Naples docents is a New Yorker and which is a Midwesterner?

Yup.  You guessed it.  

Susan is from Milwaukee, where she is involved with the Milwaukee Art Museum.  She loves to travel.  Susan has visited many of the French towns identified with Vincent Van Gogh.

Nina is from New York City.  She has long been involved with the arts and fashion.  Her "fun fact" is that a well known actress (I think it was Gloria Swanson) once stayed with her
in Manhattan for two weeks. 

Night Lights at Naples Botanical Garden

Night Lights runs for most of December and the first few days of January.

Figures by German glass artist Hans Godo Fräbel line up across a small pool.

Dueling Hospitals

Fort Myers in Lee County and Naples in Collier County are the big gorillas in Southwest Florida.

Estero and Bonita Springs are the fast-growing and (mostly) affluent towns in between.

Route 41 is the main connector route.

Lee Memorial Hospital (from Fort Myers) and Naples Community Hospital (NCH, from Naples) are battling over Estero and Bonita.  Today NCH is opening a glistening new emergency room facility

 on Route 41 on the Estero-Bonita Springs line.  Lee Memorial opened a competing emergency services facility on Route 41 a mile north two weeks ago.