Sep 5
I’ve already mentioned that Cincinnati is known for being the home of Rookwood Pottery. While Rookwood pottery today is produced in a modern facility, the original factory is still available for visits. The only catch is that the plant responsible for classic American Arts & Crafts design is now a restaurant and bar which gives you the rare opportunity to eat in a kiln!
A kiln in the dining room of the Rookwood Bar & Restaurant.
The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are discussing Travel Art! You can find links below for the rest of the group’s posts this month. I take a lots of photos when I travel but I really admire those who can sketch cities, landscapes and people when they travel. An incredibly talented artist (although I am biased), John Singer Sargent is the epitome of the artist-traveler in that he captured his destinations in rich and brilliant but ephemeral scenes.
“Grand Canal, Venice”, 1904-1907, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
When the first thing you see inside a museum is a Chihuly hanging over a classical male statue, you know that you’re in for something good!
I wandered into the the Cincinnati Art Museum with no expectations. I’d forgotten to check their collection ahead of time and I didn’t know what the special exhibits were. I ended up having what was probably one of the funnest museum experiences I have ever had! The programing, creative presentation of their art and friendly staff were so impressive that I left at the end day totally floored and a new fan of the Cincinnati Museum.
I liked playing “Guess the Artist” last month so I have another good one for you.
old church painting
St. Anthony processing through the decorated festival streets of the North End, Boston.
The funny thing about traditions is that sometimes a community starts their own. One of the things I miss about Boston in the late summer are the neighborhood street festivals including the Portuguese and Italian celebrations in Cambridge and Boston. While these events have the flavor of old Europe, they are decidedly American celebrations. The biggest of all of these, the St. Anthony’s Fest in the North End, is coming up (Aug 23-25, 2013) and a fun chance to celebrate Italian-American culture. (My photos below are from last year.)
Daydream Tourist 