An olio, a miscellany, a hodgepodge -
that's what comes of not having posted anything of substance since last month!
Shocking.
So, what have I been up to?
I went to a program at the Goodman Theatre, part of the Horton Foote Festival, called Anatomy of a Trial: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Scottsboro Boys and the Jena 6, and felt the need to shoot my mouth off during the Q&A. (Surprising, I know.) They did a couple of excerpts from the play of To Kill a Mockingbird, and there was a general discussion of race, reportage and the law. The panel consisted of a law professor, a reporter cum lawyer cum actor, and a couple of theatre people, none of whom knew much about the reality of courtroom practice, particularly as regards criminal law. So the Q&A was actually the most interesting part of the event.
A bit of sadness this week in the book and paper arts community. Aiko's Japanese Art Materials
closed Friday, the victim of a combination of slacking sales and a decrease in the availability of quality stock. There was a reception for the staff Tuesday at the Newberry Library, and Chuck (the owner) had a closing "party" on Saturday. He brought out a few special items and had a silent auction, the proceeds of which will go to the Aiko Fellowship at the Center for Book and Paper Arts. It was a beautiful store, with wonderful, helpful, knowledgeable staff, and will be sorely missed. The husband of a local book conservator has put together a book of photographs to help us remember.
Friday, I went to Symphony Center to hear Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, with a program called Do You Know What It Means?. When Mayfield came on stage, he was followed by a security guard. This video shows why. It was an awesome concert - it went on for two hours without a break, but it sure didn't feel like two hours. Time flew.
Last night was the last concert of the Newberry Consort's '07-08 season. The news is that they will be moving the Hyde Park concerts from their current location to the Oriental Institute's Khorsabad Gallery (warning - monster huge picture - it was the only one I could find). Also, this year, unlike previous years, their open rehearsals will be free, so if one finds oneself with nothing to do on Thursday afternoon before the concert, one can stop by the Newberry Library and hang out. They did an audience survey last night, and, if you returned it at intermission, your name was entered into a drawing for two tickets to next year's benefit, which will be a showing of the 1912 silent movie Queen Elizabeth, starring Sarah Bernhardt, with music provided by the Consort. My friend Jim was chosen to pull the winning name (the Consort director said they asked him because he is a) a longtime supporter of the group and, b) lives in Howard Mayer Brown's old apartment - Brown was an eminent early music scholar and the Consort is doing programs in his memory). Jim did an excellent job at this - he pulled my name! So I know where I'll be on January 18, 2009. ;-))
Today, I went to the Spertus Institute for a program called Unbuttoned: Clothes and the making of American Jewish comedy, given by Ted Merwin, author of In Their Own Image: New York Jews in Jazz Age Popular Culture. It was a very interesting program. However, among the clips Merwin used to illustrate the discussion was a recording of Fanny Brice singing "Second Hand Rose". As a result, I can't get the tune out of my head!
Most important, my car passed its emissions inspection, which means they'll let me renew my registration.
Shocking.
So, what have I been up to?
I went to a program at the Goodman Theatre, part of the Horton Foote Festival, called Anatomy of a Trial: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Scottsboro Boys and the Jena 6, and felt the need to shoot my mouth off during the Q&A. (Surprising, I know.) They did a couple of excerpts from the play of To Kill a Mockingbird, and there was a general discussion of race, reportage and the law. The panel consisted of a law professor, a reporter cum lawyer cum actor, and a couple of theatre people, none of whom knew much about the reality of courtroom practice, particularly as regards criminal law. So the Q&A was actually the most interesting part of the event.
A bit of sadness this week in the book and paper arts community. Aiko's Japanese Art Materials
closed Friday, the victim of a combination of slacking sales and a decrease in the availability of quality stock. There was a reception for the staff Tuesday at the Newberry Library, and Chuck (the owner) had a closing "party" on Saturday. He brought out a few special items and had a silent auction, the proceeds of which will go to the Aiko Fellowship at the Center for Book and Paper Arts. It was a beautiful store, with wonderful, helpful, knowledgeable staff, and will be sorely missed. The husband of a local book conservator has put together a book of photographs to help us remember.
Friday, I went to Symphony Center to hear Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, with a program called Do You Know What It Means?. When Mayfield came on stage, he was followed by a security guard. This video shows why. It was an awesome concert - it went on for two hours without a break, but it sure didn't feel like two hours. Time flew.
Last night was the last concert of the Newberry Consort's '07-08 season. The news is that they will be moving the Hyde Park concerts from their current location to the Oriental Institute's Khorsabad Gallery (warning - monster huge picture - it was the only one I could find). Also, this year, unlike previous years, their open rehearsals will be free, so if one finds oneself with nothing to do on Thursday afternoon before the concert, one can stop by the Newberry Library and hang out. They did an audience survey last night, and, if you returned it at intermission, your name was entered into a drawing for two tickets to next year's benefit, which will be a showing of the 1912 silent movie Queen Elizabeth, starring Sarah Bernhardt, with music provided by the Consort. My friend Jim was chosen to pull the winning name (the Consort director said they asked him because he is a) a longtime supporter of the group and, b) lives in Howard Mayer Brown's old apartment - Brown was an eminent early music scholar and the Consort is doing programs in his memory). Jim did an excellent job at this - he pulled my name! So I know where I'll be on January 18, 2009. ;-))
Today, I went to the Spertus Institute for a program called Unbuttoned: Clothes and the making of American Jewish comedy, given by Ted Merwin, author of In Their Own Image: New York Jews in Jazz Age Popular Culture. It was a very interesting program. However, among the clips Merwin used to illustrate the discussion was a recording of Fanny Brice singing "Second Hand Rose". As a result, I can't get the tune out of my head!
Most important, my car passed its emissions inspection, which means they'll let me renew my registration.