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By Lori Hope Baumel

Originally appeared in Around Wellington Magazine on Septmber 1, 2013

“If you want someone to truly listen to you, don’t speak loudly… whisper.”

Lee Kjelson – Choir Director, University of Miami (circa 1978)

Young Couple at Shibuya Crossing. Tokyo, Japan Photo: ©2013 Eric and Lori Baumel

Picture if you will…

A blank canvas. Waiting for you to express yourself in whatever manner you choose. Will you use oil paints, acrylics, pencils or pastels? Will you try for “photorealism” or attempt something abstract? How many dimensions do you want to convey, a mixed media format or a simple sketch? In most cases, we do not ask all of these questions. We have a general idea of how we will express our design before we even buy the canvas.

I often parallel the art of a good relationship to a freshly stretched blank canvas. Whether it is your spouse (or partner), children, parents or friends, a relationship starts with a sketch. It is a personal decision as to where you draw your boundaries and set the tone, the warmth, and the color choices.

Your spouse and children have canvases as well. They craft their own individual picture of how they relate to you. The most important aspect of creating a meaningful relationship is honesty and respecting each other’s choices. Some people prefer to fill their canvas completely with color; some prefer to leave parts of it blank.

The next sentence is worth repeating: The most important aspect of creating a meaningful relationship is honesty and respecting each other’s choices.  If you truly love and trust your spouse, it is obvious that you want them to be happy. You are willing to make sacrifices, large and small, for the sake of their well-being. The ability to compromise will determine the success of your partnership. If a couple has the type of relationship where they have many interests they share but, on occasion, would like some space to enjoy an interest unique unto themselves, then perhaps it would be nice to give them that space. Otherwise, they might feel you are muddying up their canvas.

When it comes to children, they often need to be guided as to how to hold a brush or mix primary colors to create a unique color; one that is yet unnamed in the Crayola box. As a parent, we must choose when to guide a child to color in-between the lines and when to encourage them not to do so. When they are older and financially independent (here comes that word again), we must respect their choices. A parent’s love for a child should be unconditional. You should never turn your back on your own “creation” especially when they are grown and have a life of their own. If they come to you for advice, take it as a compliment!

Friendships are like music. Some are grand, formal and symphonic while some are simple and folksy. Old friends may bring you back to your heavy metal days whilst new friendships can ignite a passion for “new age.” Regardless of the years, a good friendship is often born out of a particular harmony that you share. Like notes in a score, occasional dissonances may occur but in the final measure all is usually resolved.

Professional artists have to deal with critics all the time. When it comes to personal relationships we should be open to constructive criticism. But there’s a caveat. Family and friends can be rather sensitive. If you happen to be the critic in a relationship, then before you speak, think: “Is what I am about to say kind, necessary or true?” Let’s list that thought in another way…

Before you criticize someone, think:

1) Is what I am about to say kind?

2) Is what I am about to say necessary?

3) Is what I am about to say true?

If two out of the three sentences above describe your reason for stating your opinion, than criticism may be warranted. If only one of the above fits, then your critique is probably not worth discussing. I was taught this lesson at a very young age and I have tried to live by this simple credo my entire life.

Finally, we all make mistakes. Say things we regret. An apology may be due; if you realize that you may have criticized in haste. Remember, an apology is usually given for words or actions taken in the past. But a true apology is a promise to be sincerely careful about what you say in the future.

So, dear Around Wellington readers, in the midst of this plethora of metaphors, I wish you harmonic and colorful relationships. May you be expressive, honest and respected by all you hold dear and may your works hang side by side on your wall of achievements.

Live… Go… Do!

Note: To our readers who celebrate the High Holy Days, I wish you a “L’Shanah Tovah” (Hebrew for “a happy new year”). May this article give you something to reflect upon and, perhaps, add to your sense of renewal for the new year.

Top 5 List for September 2013

1) Read:

When it comes to reporting on arts and cultural happenings around the world, the New York Times is tops in the field. This national treasure of a newspaper is filled with book, film and theater reviews of productions all over the country. Most Palm Beach County residents prefer the local papers and, of course, their online resources for local news and entertainment (i.e. Around Wellington). But to me, a Sunday just isn’t a Sunday without my cup of coffee and the “Sunday Times.” The Sunday paper is so thick that I enjoy it all week. It is available at most coffee and breakfast shops. If you are really excited about culture and the arts, pick one up. You might even consider having it delivered to your home once a week (or every day, as I do). Home delivery also comes with online access. If you want to read it regularly you can order home delivery or online access by going to: nytimes.com

Note: If you don’t want to subscribe — you can still go to NYTimes.com for free. Visitors get 10 free articles (including blogs, slide shows, video and other multimedia) per month on NYTimes.com, as well as access to browse the home page, section fronts, blog fronts and classifieds.

2) Check out:

The Kravis Center 2013 – 2014 Brochure

Yes. Finally! The theater season is around the corner. The Kravis Center has some spectacular offerings this year. In the past I have enjoyed their “Kravis on Broadway” series as well as their edgier shows and modern dance performances in the Rinker Playhouse. If you are not a Kravis Center member, tickets go on sale to the public, Saturday, September 28^th at 9 AM.

Word of advice… the first row of the grand tier section, which is one flight up, in Dreyfoos hall hangs over row M of the orchestra. For large-scale shows and orchestras, the grand tier has an excellent view. I’ve always been much better off in the grand tier section than in row X of the orchestra section one flight down.

When I purchase tickets for events at the Rinker Playhouse, I prefer sitting in the “riser” section. The Rinker is a small venue, much like the black-box theaters in New York, Chicago or Miami. The floor level rows are good seats, but they are a little too close to the stage for my taste. When I see a performance I like to take in the “whole picture.” I will continue to discuss Kravis events in the coming year. But for best seats and best prices try to order your tickets soon.

To see the brochure and full season line-up go to:

http://www.kravis.org/brochure

For seating charts or any other information see:

www.kravis.org

3) Explore:

Little Boxes, an exhibition of dwellings seen through artists’ eyes

The Norton Museum of Art announces the opening of Little Boxes: Vernacular Architecture from the Collection, an eclectic selection of works exploring the ways in which people, environment, and necessity shape the spaces in which we live. The exhibition is on view through October 17, 2013. Ranging from photographs to oil paintings to a miniature mixed media doll house, and featuring artists such as Ansel Adams, Norman Rockwell, and Yinka Shonibare, this exhibition presents images of dwellings that only humans could have created. From densely populated suburban landscapes to scenes of rural isolation, the show captures the extremes of vernacular architecture. The exhibition is in conjunction with Block by Block: Inventing Amazing Architecture and Architecture in Detail: Works from the Museum Collection, which runs through October 20, 2013. For more information call 561-832-5196, or visit www.norton.org . – Norton Museum Press Release

Please note: The Norton Museum of Art will be closed for two weeks from Sept. 2 through Sept. 16, 2013 in preparation for the coming exhibition season. When the Norton reopens on Tuesday, Sept. 17, visitors can embrace an array of exciting changes, including the installation of a new lobby mural by acclaimed contemporary artist Mickalene Thomas, a reconfiguration of the Norton’s stellar collection of American works of art, and even a new espresso bar steps away from the main entrance.

4) Take the kids:

The Wizard of OZ: An IMAX 3D Experience

Photo: imax.com website

On September 20, 2013 the 1939 classic will be featured in some selected Palm Beach County theaters. The IMAX release The Wizard of Oz will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of An IMAX 3D Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie. As of this post all theaters have not been listed yet. Check your local listings or fandango.com for details.

5) Watch:

My YouTube Choices of the Month

If you like classical music, catch a glimpse of these Mozart Minute features from Lincoln Center:

http://youtu.be/0cf8Ey7ZmBU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAvxjtaGvUg

For more Mozart Minute features go to:

http://mostlymozart.org/meettheorchestra/

If you’re a Barbra Streisand Fan, you will enjoy viewing this duet of Barbra singing with her son, Jason Gould:

http://youtu.be/MIbkVmm-kYU

If you like Katy Perry, here’s her awesome Firework Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw

Daft Punk, look and listen… It’s too cool for words!

Photo: travelhymns.com

Are you up on the latest Daft Punk Album Random Access Memories? Daft Punk, whose electronica style has been popular since the 1990’s, is causing a new music sensation. To see the album preview visit:

http://youtu.be/IJTNk48SaV4

And finally… Here’s “what I did on my summer vacation.”

Take a peak at this two-minute video containing a few highlights of my summer trip to Japan.  See below or go to:

http://youtu.be/gRTdnEIJH7k

By Lori Hope Baumel

Originally appeared in Around Wellington Magazine on July 1, 2013

Artwalk
iPhone Artistry: ©2013 Lori Hope Baumel

“Life is sometimes hard — that things will go wrong in love and business and friendship and health, and in all the other ways that life can go wrong. And that the best thing an artist can do at those times is to “make good art.”
– Neil Gaiman

The graduation parties are over. We’re taking down the streamers and decorations. Graduates are now knocking on doors or trying to get their foot into one. What makes us envious of a graduate looking toward the promise of tomorrow? When attending a wedding, we witness the unification of a couple starting a new life together. Many of us have already experienced the splendor of our own academic commencement or the sanctification of a beautiful wedding day. We have our day in the sun, and then what?

The ability to “start fresh” is always enticing. We often say, “I was that graduate, I was that bride or groom.” What happens to our mindset thereafter? We change our perspective. It is very difficult to feel like each day is the day after graduation.

On May 14, 2013, I was listening to Neal Conan interview author Neil Gaiman on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation. The topic was Gaiman’s newly published book entitled Make Good Art. The book is adapted from his 2012 commencement speech delivered to the students at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts. I was extremely moved by the interview. Within minutes of Conan’s closing statements, I watched the speech on Vimeo and then downloaded the newly published e-book. Needless to say, it made me pause for reflection.

I often ask myself, “Why were the days I delivered my children the most beautiful days of my life?” I hardly looked or felt beautiful. My husband was slightly frazzled, and tired. Yet, we were extremely excited because each miraculous child that entered our world was an opportunity to “make good art” of our very own. We created three unique individuals that we delight in having conversations with. Yes, our children are still works in progress, but aren’t we all?

Let’s get the bragging rights over with. I have produced over 250 commercials, written soundtracks for Emmy award winning television and published six music compositions with noted publishing companies. I accomplished many of my lifelong dreams. I am often asked, “What was your greatest production?” The answer is always the same: my children.

Still, I am not in the least bit satisfied. I am continually striving to create a better “me” and I encourage my children to do the same. We often perceive summertime as the halfway point of the year. I especially do, as my birthday is July 1st. News Year’s Eve is my “half birthday.”  How lucky I am to be given a fresh new start in the midst of the summer months.

For July and August, picture yourself as a newly minted graduate knocking on a door of opportunities. Wake up each day and say, “I’m going to do everything in my power to have an adventure. I will make good art.” Then take eight minutes or eight weeks to do it.

Live… Go… Do!

Top Five List For Summer 2013

In continuing with the theme of this article, I highly recommend this simple assignment…

1) Watch:

Neil Gaiman’s Make Good Art speech on Vimeo for 20 minutes. As time goes by, it is harder and harder for me to get excited about mediocre things. When I finally latch onto a spark of inspiration, I want to share it and make a difference in other people’s lives. Therefore, I urge you to watch this video and pass it on.

Neil Gaiman Addresses the University of the Arts Class of 2012 from The University of the Arts (Phl) on Vimeo.

Go to:

http://vimeo.com/42372767

2) Read (or download the e-book):

Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chip Kidd.  Enjoy a sweet, simple work of art unto itself.  Do not read the book without viewing the video first. It will not feel the same.

You can also listen to the Conan/Gaiman interview on NPR’s Talk of the Nation at:

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/183950906/author-neil-gaiman-on-making-good-art

3) Spend some creative “one on one” time with a child:

Whether it is your own child, grandchild or a friend’s child. It’s summertime, you can dread it and count the days before the kids go back to school or you can relish in the homework-free afternoons. If your own kids are no longer under your roof, give a mom or dad in your life a break. Do the things you were too tired to do when you felt like the “old woman who lived in the shoe.”

Colorful Little Toes
Photo: © 2013 LH Baumel

4) Travel:

Are you in the mood for a one-day outing? Rather than the usual trip to Disney World, consider a short journey to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, FL. Explore the lives and laboratories of men whose epiphanies changed the world.

For more information see:

http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org

Photo: Edison & Ford Estates Website

5) Be spontaneous!

Head north to the Kennedy Space Center and Museum, Cape Canaveral, FL.

Photo: Kennedy Space Center website.

On Saturday, July 20, 1994, we heard on the morning news that it was the 25^th anniversary of the landing on the moon. All types of special events were going on at Kennedy Space Center. In the midst of folding my second load of laundry of the morning I had an epiphany. I looked up at my husband and said, “You want to go?” He didn’t even blink. We packed up the baby bottles and diaper bag, stuffed the kids into the van and without Google maps or a GPS we drove up there. Within hours of the TV broadcast, we were reliving the wonders of Neil Armstrong’s first steps. It was one of the most spontaneous days of our lives!

Hmm… let me check my calendar. July 20^th falls on a Saturday again this year…

Embrace the summer.

Have an epiphany.

Make good art!

By Lori Hope Baumel

Originally appeared in Around Wellington Magazine on June 1, 2013

“True Freedom.”
Photo by Lori Hope Baumel © 2013.

… to be an individual.  To set yourself free and experience life without fear of what people think, what they will say or how they will react to your new sense of individuality.  I am often told, “I would have loved to have seen that show (movie or exhibit), but I had no one to go with.”

Somehow, in our society, it is acceptable for us to shop, cook, work, clean and run errands on our own. We attend the kid’s hockey and basketball games by ourselves, if need be, right?  Sometimes, we do enjoyable things like grab an hour at the beach with a good book, take a spin class or get a massage. Why do we have this double standard when it comes to enjoying the arts?

Yes, it is wonderful when you can share an entertaining experience with someone you care about and I do attend most cultural events with my husband. But, more often than not, you are better off attending something by yourself than dealing with:

1) Guilt: the cost of the tickets

2) Worry: I hope he/she likes the show

3) Snoring: “If I elbow him again, I could hurt him.”

It’s unfair to your significant other or friends if you’re an opera lover and they find it barely tolerable. If you enjoy a good chick flick and your spouse would prefer Terminator 15… split up! Go to the theater together, grab a small popcorn, bring your camouflage color Snuggie blanket (seriously, it’s freezing in there), go to separate theaters and enjoy the movie. Life is too short to care about how others in a dark theater might judge. In addition, the experience is something you can discuss with your spouse and your friends afterward.

The benefits:

For example, it is less expensive to get a phenomenal single ticket at the Kravis Center than pay for two seats in the “nosebleed section” of the theater. Last season, I sat anywhere from the third to seventh row in the “center orchestra” section and saw some of the finest orchestras, performers and artists in the world.

I just returned from a trip to New York City. I took a five-day excursion to see four plays in four days before their run was up. Yes, it was wonderful seeing two of the plays with a cousin who enjoys the theater. But, I am quite pleased to say that I sat rather comfortably, on my own, watching Bette Midler and Tom Hanks performing in their respective plays on Broadway.

In the long run, when I tell someone that I saw a particular show, they never ask, “Who did you go with?” The question usually is, “How did you like it?”

So get on out there! Go to a street festival, take a photo safari, bring a sketchpad to a park.  Create something beautiful… create a better you. 

Live… Go… Do!

Top Five List For June 2013

1) Experience:

Norton Museum of Art

Art After Dark

 Features Summer Songwriters Showcase and more…

The Norton’s weekly Art After Dark series – Where Culture and Entertainment Meet – is highlighting the art of songwriting this summer by featuring the popular Chrystal Hartigan Presents…Songwriters Showcase. Art After Dark is held Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Norton, and this summer will be free to Florida residents. Hartigan will host three Art After Dark showcases, each featuring a “thematic” lineup of songwriters “in-the-round” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Museum Theater. On June 6, 2013, Inez Barlatier, Gin Blische, formerly of Inhouse; and Charlene Chuckaree, aka “A Girl Named Chuck will be the featured singer-songwriters.

Gin Blische
Photo submitted by artist.

Chrystal Hartigan and Brett Lowenstern
Photo: Donna Paul.

Take note: the Museum is offering Free Thursdays to Florida Residents during June, July, and August, and free admission to active military and their families from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.) During the summer, visitors also can enjoy Curators’ Conversations, discussing artworks and exhibitions with the Museum’s curators and educators.

 …And for the kids! Families will have their hands full, quite literally, as the special exhibition Block by Block: Inventing Amazing Architecture opens June 20, featuring a play area where visitors can build using LEGO bricks. In addition, special nights feature DIY (Do It Yourself) Art Projects for kids to explore creative concepts in architecture.

Also new during Art After Dark, the restaurant will be offering a selection of gourmet pizzas! To find out more about Art After Dark, log onto www.norton.org.

2) Read:

In Defense OF Food, by Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan’s credo, “Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants.” Is the basis for this highly informative, yet flowing read. Normally considered a rather dry, scientific subject, Pollan’s theory about food science draws you in on a very personal level.

I, in particular enjoyed the AUDIBLE.COM audiobook narrated by Scott Brick. It covers nutrition science, the public’s confusion about what is considered to be healthy food, and a basic introduction to the chemical content of food and it’s nutrients.  At times, Mr. Pollan’s writing style is somewhat tongue in cheek, resulting in a much more enjoyable (listening) experience than I expected.

3) Join Your Neighbors for:

Free summer films, concerts and Wellington’s own Food Truck Invasion at:

 The Wellington Amphitheater

For more info see: http://www.wellingtonfl.gov/community/amphitheater.html

4) Experience:

JAZZIZ NIGHTLIFE… for a New York kind of “Night On The Town”

“JAZZIZ Nightlife fuses indoor and outdoor fine dining and lounges with state-of the-art music/video recording and design studios, print, online and broadcast media properties, daily jazz club shows, weekly concerts from national recording artists and annual outdoor music festivals; offering a palette of music, culinary and lounge delights, masterful live performances, events and social experiences.”

– JAZZIZ website

This Boca Raton Venue will be featuring top talent during what would normally be a rather quiet season for entertainment in South Florida!  The whole summer is filled with noted Jazz greats like Bobby Caldwell on June 5 & 6.

My pick: On June 20, 2013 Jazz icons, Saxophonist David Sanborn and Keyboardist Bob James, join forces after a 35-year hiatus and bring along Grammy-winning drummer Steve Gladd and bassist James Genus. JAZZIZ Nightlife is one of the few intimate venues in the world featuring this powerful quartet. Two shows: 7 & 9 PM

David Sanborn and Bob James
Photo credit: JAZZIZ.

 See this incredible duo collaborate on YouTube:

CLICK ON: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BxyrHFK2Uxk#!

Also appearing at JAZZIZ on June 26 & 27: Kevin Eubanks

“Kevin Eubanks is an American jazz guitarist, composer who entered the music scene in the late 70′s before becoming the leader of Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show Band from 1995 to 2010. Eubank’s comes from a family with a long line of musical super talents.”

– JAZZIZ website

For ticket prices, dinner reservations and more information log on to: www.jazziznightlife.com

5) Listen: to National Public Radio (NPR):

Yes, sometimes it feels like we live in the boondocks and our radio reception is often on the border of static and almost inaudible. Yet, here in Palm Beach County, we have several National Public Radio stations. Depending on your location, we have access to 90.7 FM (Classical South Florida), 91.3 FM (WLRN, Miami) and 101.9 (WXEL, Palm BeachCounty).

It often pains me to know that some of the most intelligent, artistic people I come across have never even heard of this audio phenomenon. I started listening to WLRN, while attending the University of Miami and I have been hooked since. Now, in the glorious digital age, we have access to podcasts of great shows via the many free NPR apps for your smartphone, iPod or tablet and on a computer at NPR.org. If you have difficulty tuning in on your radio, you can download or stream a podcast.

Programs covering the latest in news, reviews, music, arts and life, food, books, film, pop culture and more can be heard at your own convenience. In addition, there are years of archived shows and interviews right at your fingertips. NPR has been one of the greatest cultural experiences I’ve ever had. It has shaped my very existence! I hope you add it to your daily experience as well.

I would highly recommend you tune in to any of the following shows or podcasts:

• All Things Considered
• Ask Me Another
• Cabinet of Wonders
• Car Talk
• The Diane Rehm Show
• Fresh Air
• Morning Edition
• On The Media
• On Point
• Talk of the Nation
• TED Radio Hour
• Tell Me More
• Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!
• Weekend Edition Saturday
• Weekend Edition Sunday
• … And much, much more!

Wait until you have your first driveway moment! A driveway moment is the term used for true NPR devotees who don’t want to get out of their car until a particular story has concluded. Just go to NPR.org and see for yourself.

Explore the site, change your life.

By Lori Baumel

Wire Wrapped Amethyst.
Created and photographed by Lori Hope Baumel, © 2013.

Do you find yourself in perpetual motion and feel that there’s no time for personal growth? Are there things that you want to learn but never have the time? As “season” winds down here in Wellington it is time to start thinking about the late spring and summer months and how you will enrich those rainy Florida afternoons.

I often look at this time of year as an opportunity for personal development and hope I can encourage you to do the same. In the past few years, I have cultivated my interests by taking a few jewelry making and photography classes. For example, a combination of both interests is depicted in the photo above. I gave the wire-wrapped amethyst to a friend as a gift, but I’ll always have the photo!

I took two classes on “wire wrapping” at one of the local bead shops. Thereafter, I picked up some jewelry making books and magazines at Barnes and Noble and I have been creating unique jewelry ever since. YouTube is also an excellent resource to hone any artistic technique. Admittedly, the videos are often amateur but informative. In addition, I’ve been able to develop my photographic skills by taking courses at the Palm Beach Photographic Center.

If you do not have the time to pursue creative skills in a classroom environment, I would highly recommend the website Lynda.com. They offer many free courses to give you a sense of what their videos have to offer.  If you enjoy the site, for a small monthly fee, Lynda.com provides unlimited access to over 1700 video courses in 140 specialties including photography, web design, business software and more.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

Live… Go… Do!

Top Five List for May 2013

1) Experience: UBUNTU – Performed by the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches

Kravis Center, May 19^th at 7 PM

“An award-winning, world-class troupe of youth singers who have performed at LincolnCenter and at international music festivals in Salzburg and Vienna, Young Singers of the Palm Beaches is comprised of more than 350 talented youth in grades 3-12 from all parts of Palm BeachCounty. Ubuntu celebrates Young Singers of the Palm Beaches’ milestone 10th anniversary.

At a time in our country when even our neighbors might be strangers, Ubuntu is a South African concept illustrating the connectivity of humanity. The performance will be highlighted by an original song of the same name and world premiered at the concert.” – KravisCenter press release

The Young Singers of the Palm Beaches (YSPB) has provided an absolutely incredible choral program since its inception ten years ago. Two of my children were vocalists in this organization and I know for a fact that their concerts are awe-inspiring. YSPB’s credo is “Teaching life skills through music.” Many music professionals in the tri-county area have enrolled their children in this choral organization. YSPB has programs for ages eight to eighteen. Auditions for the 2013/2014 season will be held on June 1^st, 2013. For audition information go to:

www.yspb.org

YSPB is a privately run, non-profit organization. Tuition fees are charged. Financial aid applications are available on the website.

“Young Singers brings together children from all the diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds of Palm BeachCounty in a positive, nurturing, and safe environment to experience and participate together in many different kinds of choral music, while learning about each other.” – YSPB press release

2) See: Doris Duke’s Shangri La: Architecture, Landscape, and Islamic Art

Photo: Tim Street-Porter

If you’re interested in Islamic art, decorating or visiting a tropical paradise, then this exhibit is worth perusing for an hour or so.  I created a slideshow especially for our AW readers to experience a virtual tour of the exhibit at the NortonMuseum. Perhaps it will interest you in seeing it for yourself. The exhibit ends July 14, 2013.

Or see the video at: http://youtu.be/0EndNrgPu7Q

3) Go: Art in Public Places

 For more information call 561-791-4000.  For list of locations and to see the artist brochure go to: http://www.wellingtonfl.gov/community/attractions/parks-a-recreation/art-in-public-places.html

4) Read: (Well, sort-of) an Audio Book

I’m an avid fan of the website www.audible.com. It is excellent entertainment for those who love to multitask. Every month I purchase an audio book from the site. This month’s audiobook recommendation:

Bossypants, read by the author, Tina Fey

Whether I’m at the gym, driving (using my iPhone’s Bluetooth connection), unloading the dishwasher or even folding laundry, I find myself laughing out loud.

5) Wow! Have you checked out the cool new resources at the library lately?

Those card catalogue days are long gone. Yes, you can still go and check out books, but now the library offers videos, free great music downloads, e-books, audio books and more. This URL alone could keep you enriched all summer long. All you need is a library card linked to your email address to get you started.

See: http://www.pbclibrary.org/

Plan Ahead:

The Kravis on Broadway 2013-2014 season has been announced! Whether you purchase a series subscription or simply opt for one or two shows, the Broadway series has proven to provide entertainment for all ages. Although I can’t give you a critique of shows in advance of the season, what I can offer is a wonderful sneak peak video of what’s to come. See:

http://www.kravis.org/broadway

Over the years, I have found the touring shows to be a great introduction to the theater for my older children. Admittedly, I go to New York once or twice a year to experience as much theater as I can. I was absolutely blown away by the production of War Horse at Lincoln Center. If the Broadway Series version is even half as good as it was in NYC, the outstanding puppetry alone is worth examining.

Helpful Hint: If you want to see a review of a touring show, you can Google the “name of the show” + “touring company” + “review” and see what comes up. Most touring shows will have some type of critique by September 2013. Perhaps a review of an “out of town” performance can guide your decision.

Summer Youth Program:

The Lake Worth Playhouse summer theater camp program has a fine reputation for teaching the skills involved in a live theater production experience. For more information see:

http://www.lakeworthplayhouse.org/summer_camps.html

– Lori Hope Baumel

First official article for Around Wellington Magazine entitled “What is Art?”

To see the article go to:

http://aroundwellington.net/?p=18864

Part philosophy, part informative. Enjoy!

Fountain of the Opera                     Photo Copyright 2013 Lori Hope Baumel

By Lori Baumel
Originally appeared in Around Wellington Magazine on April 1, 2013

Fountain of the Opera © 2013 Lori Hope Baumel

Art, in my opinion is anything that evokes an emotion… a broad definition indeed! But, in this column, and in future columns, we will explore this idea further. Some say, “Art… I’m not into it. I only like sports.” If that is the case, then be aware that artisans are involved in every aspect of sports. Graphics artists design the logos and colors on a baseball jersey and architects create the immensity of a stadium. What would it be like if the band was absent at your high school’s football game, or if you saw a film with no music? What if the fashion was taken out of your “Fashion Cuisine?” Something would certainly be missing. Your life would be without art!

My interests are rather varied. First and foremost, I am a formally trained musician and composer. My musical path has led me to collaborate with producers, choreographers, playwrights and publishers. I’ve learned something from each and every one. In addition, my days are enriched by photography and iPhone artistry (see above photo), wire-wrapping jewelry, travel, movies, museums and concerts. I look forward to sharing these interests with our readers.

Art surrounds you. The Wellington community takes pride in its beauty. If you see a horse grazing outside of one of Wellington’s many barns, enjoy it for the moment, then take a mental photo. Try to absorb the colors of the fruit and vegetables at the green market. Embrace it. You may say, “I’m not an artist.” But, if you’re capable of embracing it, it’s a start.

Most importantly, there’s an ART to living. It takes great craft to simply apply patience, kindness, compassion and good manners to those involved in our everyday lives. Doing so will reflect back onto you. It will evoke emotions greater than any painting, sculpture or music. Try it, you’ll see!

Live… Go… Do!

Here’s my tried and true, fully tested, top five list of MUSTS for April:

Annie Leibovitz at the Norton Museum. LILA PHOTO.

Annie Leibovitz at the Norton Museum. LILA PHOTO.

Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mark Morris, New York City, 1988 © Annie Leibovitz.

Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mark Morris, New York City, 1988 © Annie Leibovitz.

1) See: The ANNIE LEIBOVITZ exhibit at the Norton Museum.

“Regarded as America’s best-known living photographer and preeminent portraitist,” states the Norton’s press release, “Annie Leibovitz has not only given us striking images of celebrities—the work that she is best known for—but also photographs of an array of politicians, artists, and authors. The Norton Museum recently acquired 39 photographs spanning the artist’s career over the past four decades; the acquisition also marks the Museum’s single largest purchase of work by a living artist.”

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, as these extraordinary works will never be shown together as a collection again. Exhibit ends June 9, 2013.

For more information go to: www.norton.org.

To hear an Arts Radio personal interview with Annie Leibovitz go to: www.artsradionetwork.com/?p=3577

2) Read: iPhone Artistry, by Dan Burkholder, available on Amazon. Dan comes down from New York several times a year to teach his iPhone Artistry courses at the Palm Beach Photographic Center. Also, to take classes at the PBPC go to: www.workshop.org

3) Go: See a Polo Match at the International Polo Club. This time of year our town is literally “jumping!” The horses and riders are skillful and stunning. Take advantage of this outdoor event before the season ends. For more information go to: www.internationalpoloclub.com

4) Experience: The Kravis Center’s Rinker Playhouse. This venue has top-notch entertainment at highly affordable prices. My picks for April: The Capitol Steps and Spellbound Dance Company. For more information go to: www.Kravis.org.

5) Watch: If you missed them in the theaters, most of the Academy Award contenders are available for DVD rental or purchase by April 16. Please be sure that all films are age appropriate for viewers in your household. To see a film’s rating and description by genre and date of availability go to: www.moviefone.com/dvd/coming-soon.

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Lori Baumel and her husband Eric Baumel live in Wellington and have three grown children. Their eldest, Sam, 26, is a media producer who currently resides in (extremely hipster) Brooklyn, NY. Rachel, 23, and Evan, 21, wrote the Around Wellington “Teen Talk” column in previous years. Eric has practiced radiology in Wellington since 1991. His many talents include artist, cook, photographer and, recently, medical app developer. You can learn more about Lori at www.loribaumel.com and read her blog at www.grownupcamp.tumblr.com.

I have begun a new venture as the Cultural Arts writer for Around Wellington Magazine. Here’s my first story about the NY Photo League exhibit at the Norton Museum of Art.

My son, enjoying the exhibit…                     Photo copyright 2013 E. Baumel