Dear Face of the Earth,

Beauty on Alcatraz, isolated but life goes on.

I know that you and I have not been in contact much recently but sometimes choices have to be made which do not benefit ourselves, but others. Yeah, I get it, that is not how many folks approach life anymore but that is why I consider myself to be “old school”.  Generations past came up with some pretty good sayings such as …”out of sight, out of mind”, “absence makes the heart (oh, never mind on that one), well whatever, you get my drift. 

So Mother Earth, what has been happening in your world? Babies shot in the face, chemical weapons in the Middle East, and a government that thinks you have finally developed the money tree? No wonder you and I have been separated lately, your situation looks as sad as mine. I want to apologize to you for all the people complaining about the snow this week. I think it is beautiful. They just do not appreciate being able to wake up and see the stuff and admire your beauty, free of chairs, or machines, or wires, or drips….they just like to bitch I guess.  I want to apologize too for all the arguments over your gifts to us, that seems like a waste of time as well, but I am finding that lots of people just like to hear themselves talk. Oh yeah,…”Silence is golden” , that was a good one. 

My world?,  oh, it is moving along slow and steady, under the radar, sort of like one of your deep lava flows until one day …BOOM! Right out of the top of some mountain with lots of heat and smoke and noise.  Until then however, I am glad to see that cat TV is back on the air, even if the darn squirrels have been studying stealth feeder climbing in the off season.  Your flowers will be up soon and the grass will begin to grow which means lots of “creative thinking time” behind the mower. Not that the endless miles of highway haven’t provided lots of “thinking time” too. Seen some weird stuff so early in the mornings, but thanks for keeping the deer out of my way!

Anyway, I just wanted to drop you a note about how appreciative I am for all your blessings and moments of sheer beauty that go overlooked by others.  All these grids and radars and electronic devices have taken away our ability to just look up at the clouds every now and then to find a cat in the cumulous or maybe a stallion in the stratus.  Say hi to all of my friends out there and keep providing inspiration for their artwork, even if I don’t mention it, I do like to see it. Looking forward to getting back in touch on a more regular basis when nature takes it course…oh yeah, I guess that is sort of your domain too under another name. So that means you will understand when the time is right.

Love to all,

Snarky

Undiscovered Art Exhibit

One of many paintings in the  R20 - 22 waiting area. 48" x 96" or so....

Who knew that lurking only 60 some minutes north of us is a world class art collection? No, not the one at the Cleveland Museum of Art, or even any of the “lesser” museums in the University Circle area, but one at probably the largest exhibition hall complex in Ohio if not in all of the Midwest. I am referring to the permanent collection of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

I have had many hours to view the pieces in the collection and anticipate many more. Canton is on hold for now as I live on 21, 77, 82, 55 and R20. It is a private family matter but does not involve anyone known to Stark County so leave things at that, thank you.  But if you ever have to be in those hallways (or even just want to take a tour of this collection on a rainy day) there are a variety of options.

One can download a self guided audio tour to a computer, IPod or other portable music device along with an adobe map. The tour lasts an hour and you do it at your own pace. 

Location:

Miller Pavilion Information Guest Services Desk at the main entrance to the Miller Pavilion if one wishes to borrow one of their preloaded audio tour headsets.

This tour features commentary by:

 Joanne Cohen, Executive Director and Curator, Cleveland Clinic Art Program

Jennifer Finkel and Bellamy Printz, Curators, Cleveland Clinic Art Program

Toby Delos Cosgrove, M.D., President and CEO, Cleveland Clinic

Grady Howard, Supervisor of the Red Coats at Cleveland Clinic

Jill Snyder, Director, MOCA Cleveland

Artists: Jaume Plensa, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, Alyson Shotz, Sarah Morris, and Hildur Asgeirsdottir Jonsson

Sponsored by: Cleveland Clinic Art Program and the Arts + Medicine Institute, and supported by a generous gift by Lauretta Dennis, D.V.M. This audio tour is produced by Acoustiguide in conjunction with Cleveland Clinic Art Program. 

Guided tours are on Wednesdays and Saturdays and last 45 minutes. I have included a link for the Arts and Medicine page which can then expand on all this information. This department is quite extensive including not only art therapy, but music therapy and a performing arts program. There are also lectures, workshops and tours to surrounding institutions, none of which requires one to be a patient or family member, the general public is welcome at all times. I think that is amazing how a world class medical facility is partnered with its world class arts community to benefit not just the built in client base, but the whole city. This museum just happens to have a lot of people with equipment trailing behind them or wearing less than formal attire. Below is the contact information and links.

Thank you for your interest in learning more about the Arts & Medicine Institute. If you need more information about our programs, upcoming events, please contact us by email at artsandmedicine@ccf.org or by phone at 216.448.8330

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/arts_medicine/default.aspx