November 2015

 

By Lori Hope Baumel

 

Originally appeared in Around Wellington Magazine on November 1, 2015

We live in a world where tweets, selfies, Instagram and Facebook posts depict a façade of the way we want to be perceived. Is it a good thing? If social media did not exist would our lives be as full?  Do we allow these formats to open our eyes to new adventures or do we try to keep up with those who want to be recognized as our “friends?” The older I get, the easier it is to distinguish those who are sharing special moments and those who are merely showing off. Does an extensive profile truly define you? These are questions that require some soul-searching.

The first thought that comes to mind is “simplify.” I use social media tools to share special moments with people I cherish, particularly those who live far away. Sometimes, I repost an opinion or thought on current events. Occasionally, I like to share a chuckle. When used in moderation, these tools can be enriching. On the other hand, if we become obsessed with our digital devices to the point of anxiety, then it’s time to get our priorities in order. Our devices should not define us.

Often, it is emotionally beneficial to reflect upon what defines you. The first assessment would be “what makes me happy?” Personally, if I have a day in which my husband and children are safe and content – that makes me happy. I know that being creative makes me happy. I also know that being creative doesn’t pay the bills. When the bills ARE paid, I’m more relaxed and, inevitably, happier.

Some people think their career defines them. Others prefer to put in a full workday and pursue their special interests after work hours. In a perfect world we would all love what we do for a living, make a good salary and have plenty of time to devote to our family and hobbies. Unfortunately, I’ve never met anyone in that position.

Ultimately, we must recognize our “needs” verses our “wants.” Perhaps a simpler lifestyle can help us enjoy each day in a more meaningful way. Tone it down a bit. Life doesn’t have to be fancy. Yes, it’s good to get out; to go away… but keep in mind: it’s not the restaurant you eat at – it’s what you order.  It’s not the type of car you drive – it’s where it takes you. If you are the driver, you can determine your direction. (If you can get there more quickly by using Google maps, by all means – enjoy the technology!)

The journey is over when we ultimately define ourselves. Cultivating deeper self-respect along the way is what makes life captivating. All the more reason to…

Live… Go… Do!

Dear Readers,

In the upcoming year, I will be busy pursuing creative endeavors that will open my world to new people and places. As a result, I will be writing articles for Around Wellington Magazine every other month. Yet, I still want to include extensive coverage of things for you to see and do. Therefore, I will include events that will be occurring over the next eight weeks. Enjoy! LHB

November and December 2015 – Let’s Go!

The Norton Museum of Art

At a press conference that took place at the Norton Museum on October 14, 2015, I had the privilege of meeting Frédéric Brenner, a man who describes himself as “the vessel” that brought together photographers from all over the world to present perspectives of Israel through their own lens.

When reflecting on his own work, Mr. Brenner states, “We are shadows of light, both on the inside and on the outside.” After viewing the exhibition, I walked away with the impression that the photographers truly captured the essence of their subjects. Each theme depicted a sense of longing and belonging, but due to the diversity of the country, the complexity and exclusion within its borders was clearly conveyed. This exhibit is a parallel to my thoughts above on “what defines you.” I urge you to visit This Place on your own. It may lead to some self-discovery.

The Norton is the first U.S. venue to host This Place, an international photo exhibition that explores the complexity of Israel and the West Bank. While acknowledging and paying heed to the region’s conflicts, This Place asks that we look beyond this — that we widen and multiply our lens. It unveils a dozen contemporary photographic viewpoints of Israel and the West Bank, created primarily between 2009 and 2012 by Frédéric Brenner (France), Wendy Ewald (United States), Martin Kollar (Slovakia), Josef Koudelka (Czech Republic), Jungjin Lee (S. Korea), Gilles Peress (France), Fazal Sheikh (United States), Stephen Shore (United States), Rosalind Fox Solomon (United States), Thomas Struth (Germany), Jeff Wall (Canada) and Nick Waplington (United Kingdom). The combination of these individual photographic sensibilities and approaches act as a heterogeneous narrative and produce not a single, monolithic vision, but rather a diverse and fragmented portrait of this important and much contested space. This Place will be on view until January 17, 2016

Bonus: An Israeli film series in conjunction with This Place exhibition

Short documentaries and dramas illustrate shared desires and diverse viewpoints of an ancient land and a modern state.  

Israel is a Jewish state, but it is also a land of many ethnicities and religions. In conjunction with the exhibition, This Place: Israel Through Photography’s Lens, the Norton Museum of Art is proud to present the film series, Many Faces of Israel, which showcases this diversity by presenting movies made by an array of Israeli, Palestinian, and Bedouin directors and film students. Themes include Israel’s demographic melting pot, the struggle of minorities, the geopolitical importance of water; the personal and societal clash of the secular and the religious, and the role food plays in Israeli and Arab societies. The films – dramas and documentaries – focus on the human side of Israel, which is too often overshadowed by the political debate. Karen Davis, who has been programming Israeli, Jewish, and international film festivals compiled the series for decades, including a 20-year run as director of the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival.

 

November 22, 2015 / 2 p.m. (Sunday Afternoon)

Jerusalem on a Plate, 2014             James Nutt, director                    56 minutes

Internationally-renowned chef/author Yotam Ottolenghi returns to his hometown of Jerusalem to discover the hidden treasures of its rich and diverse food scene.  He cooks with Arabs and Jews in homes and in restaurants, sampling family recipes that have been passed down through generations, whether it’s collage, a sweet sheep’s pastry, a fiery zhoug from Yemen, or stuffed aubergine with cinnamon from Hungary.  Beautifully filmed, it will leave you hungry for more!

Life and Hummus, 2015                   Alex Matros, director                   40 minutes

A Jewish-American filmmaker travels through Israel and the West Bank in hopes of finding “the world’s best hummus.”  His search for the food’s origins introduces him to both Arabs and Israelis with a common love for the iconic, regional cuisine that transcends politics.

December 3 / 6:30 pm / During Art After Dark

From Tel Aviv University’s Department of Film and Television:

In 2012, noted documentarian/film editor Yael Perlov initiated a project in which Tel Aviv University graduates and Arab filmmakers were asked to explore a strongly unifying subject: WATER.

Still Waters                        Nir Sa’ar & Maya Sarfaty, directors            14 minutes

By an ancient spring near Jerusalem, an Israeli couple finds a quiet moment away from the rat race of Tel Aviv life.  The cool-water spring is also used by a group of Palestinians heading to their jobs in Israel.  At high noon, they are forced to look each other in the eye.

Raz and Radja               Yona Rozenkler, director                                  17 minutes

Raz, a tired reserve soldier, guards a broken army truck and Rajda, a Palestinian who broke curfew.  The two repeatedly try to jump start the truck while a friendly donkey refuses to leave them alone.

Make Yourself At Home          Heli Hardy, director                             14 minutes

Rauda is a 19-year-old girl from the village of Dahamash.  When her mother can’t get to a housecleaning job in a wealthy neighborhood, Rauda replaces her. Meeting Noya and Adam, two Israeli teenagers, Rauda begins to re-examine her life from a new perspective.

Women of Refaiya                   Yoav Shavit, director                               13 minutes

In the Palestinian village of Refaiya, there is no water infrastructure, so women are obliged to carry water buckets from a nearby natural spring.  Following several women from the El-Amur family, the film reveals life in a place where water is considered a luxury.

 

For The Family:

The Norton Museum’s Family Studio resumes its new weekly schedule and reduced cost. Led by a teaching artist and a docent, the Family Studio program runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday. It is structured so families with children ages 5 through 12, can create art together. Each Studio is limited to 25 children, and is generally themed to coincide with a special exhibition or works from the Museum Collection, and includes viewing artwork before creating your own. Advance registration is required. Call (561) 832-5196 x1196, or visit norton.org/familystudio.

The Family Studio program was launched in 2003 to provide families with kid-friendly tours based on the Museum Collection and special exhibitions, followed by art-making activities that combine what kids learned on the tour with their own creativity. Museum docents and staff collaborate to make the tour and art activity a seamless two-hour exploration of art and fun shared by adults and children.

Family Studio themes for the coming season are:

November / Chinese Collection Discover symbolic meanings in the powerful creatures depicted in the Chinese galleries.

December / This Place Create works in various media after viewing photographs of Israel and the West Bank.

About the Norton Museum

The Norton Museum of Art is a major cultural attraction in Florida, and internationally known for its distinguished Permanent Collection featuring American Art, Chinese Art, Contemporary Art, European Art and Photography. The Norton is located at 1451 S. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach, FL., and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed on Mondays and major Holidays). General admission is $12 for adults, $5 for students with a valid ID, and free for Members and children ages 12 and under. Palm Beach County residents receive free admission every Saturday with proof of residency. For additional information, please call (561) 832-5196, or visit www.norton.org. #

Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

Celebrates International Masters of Dance

Throughout the 2015-2016 Performance Season

We are so fortunate that The Kravis Center is presenting some of the most exciting and highly acclaimed dance companies in the world.

November 7 at 8 pm  (Saturday)

Ballet Austin

LIGHT / The Holocaust and Humanity Project

LIGHT / The Holocaust & Humanity Project explores the devastating outcomes of unlearned lessons revealed through the story of a Holocaust survivor. The internationally acclaimed dance work by Ballet Austin Artistic Director/Choreographer Stephen Mills, which debuted 10 years ago, brings heartbreaking beauty to the stage and a timely reminder that injustice to one is injustice to all. The full-length contemporary ballet is a multidisciplinary human rights project that also includes art, education and public dialogue. LIGHT seeks to promote discussion against bigotry, hate and bullying among all community groups.

Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall, Tickets start at $15

Presented by InSIGHT Through Education, Inc. in collaboration with the Kravis Center.

Beyond The Stage: Join us at 6:45 pm for a free pre-performance discussion by Steven Caras in the Dreyfoos Hall lobby.

November 29 at 7:30 pm  (Sunday)

MOMIX

Botanica

MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists known for exceptional creativity and physical beauty. Artistic Director Moses Pendleton’s Botanica not only follows seasonal rhythms but also the evolution of the world and the passing of a day. Flowers bloom, go to seed and die; vegetable, animal and mineral – all in human form ­– combine and metamorphose. Fabrics, costumes, projections and props, made by Michael Curry, create a landscape populated by the creations of Pendleton’s whimsical, mythical imagination.

Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall, Tickets start at $15

Beyond The Stage: Join us at 6:15 pm for a free pre-performance discussion by Steven Caras in The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center.

December 2-3 at 7:30 pm  (Wednesday & Thursday)

RIOULT Dance NY

Artistic Director Pascal Rioult, a former principal with the Martha Graham Dance Company, founded RIOULT Dance NY in 1994, and the organization quickly became known for its sensual, articulate and exquisite performances. A former track and field athlete in his native France, Rioult weaves athleticism and grace into his work. Wien, for example, turns the Viennese waltz’s revered image of social refinement inside out, using it as a metaphor to expose decadence and moral disintegration. Six dancers create the illusion of an entire city, moving continuously in a clockwise path, portraying roles ranging from downtrodden victims to detached aristocrats. The modern dance company’s signature style has been described as “unquestionably beautiful.”

Marshal E. Rinker Sr. Playhouse, Tickets start at $34

Beyond The Stage: Join us at 6:15 pm on December 2 for a free pre-performance discussion by Steven Caras in The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center.

Cultural Council of Palm Beach County

601 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33460 – Public Hours: Tuesday – Saturday | 10 AM – 5 PM Closed Sunday and Monday – Phone: (561) 471-2901 – www.palmbeachculture.com

The Council’s 2500 square foot gallery space showcases ongoing temporary exhibitions focused on art made in or unique to Palm Beach County. The exhibitions educate the public about local artists, their history and art.

Announces 2015-2016 Season of CULTURE & COCKTAILS at The Colony

Rena Blades, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, announced the 2015-2016 season of the popular series CULTURE & COCKTAILS. Fascinating Conversations will be held at The Colony Hotel Pavilion, located at 155 Hammon Avenue in Palm Beach.

November 2

HEY, MR. PRODUCER

A Conversation between ANDREW KATO,

Producing Artistic Director of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, and

ROB STEELE, President/CEO of Delray Beach Center for the Arts

Andrew Kato is celebrating his 10th anniversary at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, and has been the Creative Consultant/Coordinating Producer on the Tony Awards® for the last 12 years. Rob Steele joined the Delray Center for the Arts in late August, after spending 10 years as executive director of the Williamsport Community Art Center, a 2,100-seat theater in Pennsylvania. Trunk Show Artist: Patricia Levey

December 7

FASHION FORWARD

A Conversation with CAROLYN RAFAELIAN,

Founder, CEP and Creative Director of ALEX AND ANI®

Carolyn Rafaelian transformed a family tradition of jewelry making into a worldwide lifestyle brand. Launched in 2004, ALEX AND ANI is proudly MADE IN AMERICA WITH LOVE® and their factories utilize eco-conscious processes and recycled materials. Her designs feature everything from spiritual symbols to charitable partnerships. Kate Richard, Vice President of Business Development, and Beecher Fritzmeier, Vice President of Design will join her in the conversation. Interviewed by Dack Patriarca, Board President of the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. Trunk Show Artist: ALEX AND ANI

December 19, 2015 through January 16, 2016

Gallery Exhibitions at the Cultural Council

Bernice Harwood 

Bernice Baumel Harwood, an artist since childhood, studied art in high school, and then attended The McDowel School of Art in NYC and became a fashion illustrator. In 1944 Bernice entered the U.S. Navy as a WAVE, she was in the Hospital Corps and was trained as an Acrylic Eye Illustrator at Bethesda Naval Hospital MD. There were eight illustrators stationed around the country. She was stationed at San Diego Naval Hospital, CA., where she matched the existing eye for the men that lost their eyes in battle by painting the iris in watercolor. She worked with a dentist, a Commander who was involved in the total process. This allowed the men to have an eye that looked quite natural.

After marriage, with two daughters, Bernice went back to college, Hofstra University, L.I. N.Y. She graduated Cum Laude with High Honors in Fine Arts and a B.S. in Art Education. She then went on to study for her Master’s Degree in Special Ed. Bernice has studied with many wellknown art teachers, Jacob Lawrence ,David Shapiro, Ruth Leaf, Moses Sawyer, Anthony Toney, Frank Varga and more. She was a member of the Graphic Eye Gallery in Port Washington, NY, and President for two years. She has exhibited in museums, galleries and universities. Bernice is a member of The National Association of Women Artists since 1983 and a past president of the Florida Chapter, as well as a Signature Member of The Boca Raton Museum, Artists Guild in Delray Beach, FL. She is also listed in the 9/11 Memorial Artists Registry for a Sculpture, Ground Zero and Rebirth.

She is in many private, corporate and permanent collections and has won many awards. Bernice is in Who’s Who in American Art, Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in the East and Who’s Who in America.

Artist Statement:

As a painter, I turned to multiples within the graphic medium. I found the challenge of the surprise, working with the existing results exhilarating. It is exciting to work with various techniques in etching to achieve the impression and mood I wish to evoke. These works are primarily representational. Then I found the Monoprint, with its spontaneity, use of textures and vibrant color and more abstract forms. I have incorporated some of the feeling of my Monoprint in my etchings. I am now working with watercolors, and using some of the same feelings and techniques that I used in printmaking. –https://www.palmbeachculture.com/

More about Bernice Harwood…

Last but not least: In our hometown of Wellington

Free Movies and Concerts

The Food Truck Invasion and More…

You MUST see this calendar of enjoyable events. It’s “season.” There’s ALWAYS something to do!

Go to:

www.wellingtonfl.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/events