I'm not referring that New Year's diet and exercise program to help shed unwanted pounds gained by indulging in too much Holiday fudge and sugar cookies. I'm talking about a resolve to be culturally fit. About an intentional routine to engage in the creative realm.
If you read January's Cultural Corner in Around Wellington magazine and heeded the great suggestions of Lorie Hope Baumel, you're probably off to a good start and can skip this piece. But if you're a little artistically piqued, out of shape and have regressed into chronic nightly channel changing, read on.
To further argue the necessity of right brain fitness, we shall rouse our inner child and listen to a tale about an ant named Phil and how he saved his father from a near fatal consequence of cultural lethargy.
Phil, the Ant and the Art Attack
He always got good exercise
That's why it caught him by surprise
When Phil's dear dad dropped like a ball,
They rushed him to the hospital
They wheeled him in flat on his back
Doctors confirmed:
An Art Attack
For years Phil's dad had rarely seen much more than his computer screen
He'd been deprived for way too long
Of theatre, dance, well-written song
His illness was just bound to be
When one's sole diet is TV!
After work at the ant hill
A kiss to mom, a hug to Phil
Dad retired to his ant cave
Emerged to shower, eat and shave
It bugged Phil's dad not in the slightest
'Til he contracted Pixilitis
For culture was what Phil's dad lacked
Artless, he had an art attack
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| rollinmcgrail.com |
He was prescribed a certain cure
Pale in the face, sore arm, lips blue
Phil knew exactly what to do
To keep his dad from getting worse
He jumped to action with the nurse
They gave him Mozart twice a day
To keep the dizziness away
A daily dose of Whitman's verse
Soothed the pain of Pixelcurse
They brought in paintings by O'keefe
Which gave Phil's father great relief
Her oil on canvas called "Grey Hills"
Took away the aches and chills
And "Sailing" drawn by Edward Hopper
Proved to be a fever stopper
Tchaikovsky's ballets were the best
For taking pressure off his chest
At last, jazz by Duke Ellington
Made Phil's dad feel well again!
Yes, he recovered very quickly
Cheeks pink, bright eyes, no more sickly
The doctors truly were impressed
Phil's ANTidote was a success!
So they awarded Phil a badge
For how he cured his dear old dad
Phil's father saw much better days
He mended his unhealthy ways
They went to concerts in the park
Local plays, Art After Dark
Heard symphonies, and Broadway shows
Read poetry and Shakespeare's prose
Paintings hung on every wall
Music filled each room and hall
Devices in the cave, not found
No electronics were around
Except...
A seven-inch chrome-book in the corner.
(c 2016 AM Shaw)
To avoid the fate of Phil's father, here are some artistic events to add to your fitness regime. And while still in a childlike mood, consider this elixir. Visit the Gardens Mall to be enchanted by The Art of Dr Seuss. This new exhibit of the Hidden Art of Dr Seuss is presented by the Ann Jackson Gallery, Cultural Council, Jack Nicklaus Children's Foundation and the Maltz Jupiter Theater. Enter the wild and wonderful world of Seuss with all his kooky creations in art and sculpture. The exhibit is free during mall hours through February 14th. Live weekend performances of Suessical the Musical by the Maltz Jupter theatre show at 1pm and 3pm.
And, Oh Say, Can You Say? Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, each weekend you'll find mini-performances of "Seussical, The Musical" played by the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Youth Touring Company at 1pm and 3pm. For more information about weekly readings and other details visit www.thegardensmall.com/events or call (844) 467-3877.
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| Photo credit - Tracy Benson Photography |
Now there's medicine that is sure to go down with ease, sugar coated and chew-able.
Another remedy, moving up the age ladder a bit, is to take in Palm Beach Atlantic University's performance of The Spitfire Grill.. Last weekend I ran into the assistant stage manager, Hannah Rosenberg and asked her what makes the show so special.
"'Spitfire Grill' is not your typical showy, happy-go-lucky musical. It's intimate and folksy with an earthy, hopeful message of redemption. Not to mention, because of the venue's cozy size, there's not a bad seat in the house."
Another remedy, moving up the age ladder a bit, is to take in Palm Beach Atlantic University's performance of The Spitfire Grill.. Last weekend I ran into the assistant stage manager, Hannah Rosenberg and asked her what makes the show so special.
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| thespitfiregrill.com |
"'Spitfire Grill' is not your typical showy, happy-go-lucky musical. It's intimate and folksy with an earthy, hopeful message of redemption. Not to mention, because of the venue's cozy size, there's not a bad seat in the house."
Performances are February 18th-20th and 25th-26th at 7:30pm with additional 2pm matinees on Sundays, the 20th and 27th at The Fern Street Theatre, 500 Fern Street, West Palm Beach.
Coinciding with International Women's month in March, the Cultural Council presents their Women Artist exhibit. The show called Woman: Untitled runs through March 12th and highlights fourteen Palm Beach County women artists. Cultural Council galleries are located in the Robert M Montgomery, Jr building at 601 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth. Admission is free and open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10am to 5pm.
With that, we should all better keep our resolutions to live well, stay in great artistic shape, and have a culturally healthy 2016!
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