Natural Expressions: A Student Curated Exhibition

Yesterday afternoon my husband and I drove to downtown Columbus to see the Natural Expressions, Student Curated Exhibition that was on at the Riffe Gallery (near the statehouse). My artist friend, Amy had told me about it (she may have also helped install the art; I can’t remember). As usual, her recommendation was spot-on and we’re both glad we visited.

One thing that was nice was the fact that so many of the artists are from Northeast Ohio, and one (Taryn McMahon) is even an assistant professor at Kent State University (my alma mater).

The art was a mixture of sculpture, prints, and one piece that would be difficult to classify:

These were our favorite set of prints:

Artist is Jolene Powell

This one was my favorite, if for no other reason the novelty value:

Heavy on my House by Roscoe Wilson

Andrew said he thought it was interesting that the same artist (Char Norman) had several pieces here

(the installation is made of bark and homemade paper)

as well as at the Dublin Arts Council, which we visited earlier in the week at the opening of their new exhibit.

Next on our agenda is the Ann Hamilton, Jenny Holzer & Maya Lin exhibit at the Wexner Center (on display until 12/29).

"Downton Abbey" movie

This weekend my mom, my sister, a mutual friend, and I all went to see the newly-released “Downton Abbey” movie. We’ve all seen every episode (or at least most of them I think) and are definitely fans of the show. In fact, our friend told me that she heard there’s even a “Downton Abbey” fan cruise you can take (which wouldn’t surprise me). Which actor(s) would I most like to cruise with? I think Laura Carmichael (Edith) seems like she would be nice, and Allen Leech (Branson), friendly as well (and nice to look at too). Any of the actors who play the downstairs staff would also be interesting to talk to.

I’m lucky enough that I’ve even gotten to visit Highclere Castle many, many years ago. Sadly, no filming going on then, so no celebrity spotting that day.

Unlike at some theatres, the AMC didn’t have any special dress-up night serving cocktails or anything, though I am told that my cousin and her mom attended one. That’s not to say no one in our showing dressed up. There were two women – the older in an outfit more in line with perhaps what Isobel or Violet might wear, while the younger lady wore a sleeveless black dress of the sort Mary definitely would have had in her wardrobe.

I have to agree with the critics who said the movie is long (122 min.), but dedicated fans probably won’t mind. Not once did I want the movie to be over, but there were certainly places where it could have ended and I wouldn’t have felt disappointed. I also give Julian Fellowes credit for writing a story providing so much closure for each of the characters, but yet, left it open so we could always pick up on their story lines later (though there are no plans to ever do another movie or television series).

Having heard a review on NPR earlier in the day, I wasn’t completely surprised by the “tom foolery” that erupted when the Downton staff took matters into their own hands after being dismissed by the royal staff who accompanied the king and queen on their tour. It almost felt like one of those situations where a parent tells a child not to do something, which then just plants the idea for the child to do precisely that. Still, every movie needs a little comic relief, and there were certainly moments of that in the television series, on occasion.

The movie was a nice mix of action and intrigue (the parade through the village), 

romance (my favorite pair was Thomas and Max,

but Tom and Lucy made a cute couple too), and comedy (Violet definitely gets all the best lines and has perfect comedic timing).

I also agree with the critics who said you don’t have to have watched the series to enjoy the movie, but it probably helps, and would be advisable to watch the series first.