Sunday, May 19, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Book review ~ Stuffie Summer by David Norton Stone
 |
| Get Stuffie Summer: One Man Eats Every Stuffed Quahog In Rhode Island (And He's Not Clamming Up About It) at Amazon |
This paean to the Rhode Island's signature shellfish dish in a shell, the stuffie, is a quick, entertaining read. A brief 46 pages, the book takes us through Stone's summer (probably in 2012), where he came to Rhode Island from New York every weekend to eat stuffies everywhere he could find them. Some of the stories are disjointed and roundabout, but it's still fun to read them, and share his enthusiasm.
While it seems like he never met a stuffie he didn't like, he does wax rhapsodic about a few. When his stuffie summer came to an end, he created two recipes, one spicy and one lemony, and shared them at the end. I'm going to try the lemony one, probably sometime this summer.
Friday, May 17, 2013
From the I {heart} Rhody Flickr group
some photos of animals this week...and a taste of spring.
Spring, spring, spring... - Hope St., Bristol, RI by Juan_Carlos_Cruz
Oh Baby! by jbmikmaq
Red Hen by sixkings55
Swan by Armadillo Commander
Circular Swan by I {heart} Rhody
turf war by jambori39
Providence river by provbenson2009
DSC_8501 by dadofliz
Spring, spring, spring... - Hope St., Bristol, RI by Juan_Carlos_Cruz
Oh Baby! by jbmikmaq
Red Hen by sixkings55
Swan by Armadillo Commander
Circular Swan by I {heart} Rhody
turf war by jambori39
Providence river by provbenson2009
DSC_8501 by dadofliz
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Artists ~ Kit Salisbury ~ Providence
Artist’s name: Kit Salisbury
Business name: Off Soundings Design
Location: Providence, RI
Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/offsoundingsdesign
Website: www.offsoundingsdesign.com
1. Tell us about your work
Off Soundings Design offers one-of-a-kind hooked creations that combine the fine-hooking materials and techniques of previous generations with up-to-date versions of primitive and traditional designs to create distinctive and classic items for my clients' homes. My maternal grandmother and great-grandmother hooked beautiful rugs; I hook everything BUT rugs! I offer a number of finished hooked items and collections: pillows, table runners, draft stoppers, tea cozies, trivet surrounds, holiday mittens and stockings. Each design is drawn by hand, without templates, so each is unique. The color palettes vary from item to item as well. Like fingerprints, my designs can look similar but no two are ever identical.
2. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter?
I've always done fiber arts (cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, crochet) but settled into hooking when I inherited my grandmother's hooks and frames. The floors in my grandmother's home on Nantucket were covered with rugs she and her mother had hooked--from primitive maritime designs to complicated Victorian florals. I decided I'd give hooking a try and complete the last rug my grandmother started before her eyesight failed her in her 90s. I found that I really enjoyed the feel of the worn, wooden handle of the hook in my hand, the smoothness of the fine wool strips and the roughness of the burlap foundation cloth. I reveled in the creative possibilities of hooking, but I didn't need any more rugs! Then it hit me that I could create all KINDS of useful, decorative art using this traditional medium. I started creating designs for stockings and pillows for family and friends and went from there. I was encouraged to offer my work on-line and at arts fairs, and it's been great connecting with people around the world. I have pieces across the US, in the UK and Europe.
3. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I love old, traditional primitive folk art images and take inspiration from my life here in New England: the autumn leaves, flocks of sheep, a drowsy pussycat, the Nantucket Rainbow Fleet. I even have a tea cozy that echoes the motto of Providence by asking "What Cheer?" I like to make useful items--a table runner, a pillow--that will give people a warm, happy feeling, and maybe even a jolt of nostalgia, when they see it in their homes.
Business name: Off Soundings Design
Location: Providence, RI
Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/offsoundingsdesign
Website: www.offsoundingsdesign.com
1. Tell us about your work
Off Soundings Design offers one-of-a-kind hooked creations that combine the fine-hooking materials and techniques of previous generations with up-to-date versions of primitive and traditional designs to create distinctive and classic items for my clients' homes. My maternal grandmother and great-grandmother hooked beautiful rugs; I hook everything BUT rugs! I offer a number of finished hooked items and collections: pillows, table runners, draft stoppers, tea cozies, trivet surrounds, holiday mittens and stockings. Each design is drawn by hand, without templates, so each is unique. The color palettes vary from item to item as well. Like fingerprints, my designs can look similar but no two are ever identical.
2. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter?
I've always done fiber arts (cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, crochet) but settled into hooking when I inherited my grandmother's hooks and frames. The floors in my grandmother's home on Nantucket were covered with rugs she and her mother had hooked--from primitive maritime designs to complicated Victorian florals. I decided I'd give hooking a try and complete the last rug my grandmother started before her eyesight failed her in her 90s. I found that I really enjoyed the feel of the worn, wooden handle of the hook in my hand, the smoothness of the fine wool strips and the roughness of the burlap foundation cloth. I reveled in the creative possibilities of hooking, but I didn't need any more rugs! Then it hit me that I could create all KINDS of useful, decorative art using this traditional medium. I started creating designs for stockings and pillows for family and friends and went from there. I was encouraged to offer my work on-line and at arts fairs, and it's been great connecting with people around the world. I have pieces across the US, in the UK and Europe.
 |
| flying sheep pillow |
3. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I love old, traditional primitive folk art images and take inspiration from my life here in New England: the autumn leaves, flocks of sheep, a drowsy pussycat, the Nantucket Rainbow Fleet. I even have a tea cozy that echoes the motto of Providence by asking "What Cheer?" I like to make useful items--a table runner, a pillow--that will give people a warm, happy feeling, and maybe even a jolt of nostalgia, when they see it in their homes.
 |
| What Cheer tea cozy |
4. What’s your favorite item to make?
Of course it's always the project I'm working on at the moment! Right now I'm finishing up a draft stopper I was commissioned to make for a woman in London. She loved my "flying sheep" motif and asked if I could reprise that on a draft stopper. I'm especially fond of designing anything with animals on it. And, in terms of the finished products themselves, tea cozies are a particular favorite of mine because I always like to imagine that I'm helping people enjoy a nice, hot cuppa on a cool fall morning or a snowy afternoon.
5. What’s your best seller?
My pillows and tea cozies are popular items, especially for the custom work I do, but in terms of quantities of a finished item sold, I'd have to say that my winter holiday stockings are the best selling item I offer. They're relatively inexpensive and while I have lots of 'stock' images I use, people can get very creative in commissioning original work. One client commissioned me to spell out her family's last name, one letter per stocking, so she could hang them on their mantelpiece at Christmas.
 |
| Autumn Leaf Trivet Surround |
5. What’s your best seller?
My pillows and tea cozies are popular items, especially for the custom work I do, but in terms of quantities of a finished item sold, I'd have to say that my winter holiday stockings are the best selling item I offer. They're relatively inexpensive and while I have lots of 'stock' images I use, people can get very creative in commissioning original work. One client commissioned me to spell out her family's last name, one letter per stocking, so she could hang them on their mantelpiece at Christmas.
6. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I've lived in Rhode Island since 2001.
7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is a very special place, full of history, amazing natural beauty AND a thriving arts community. Museums, restaurants, live theatre, book talks, arts festivals--there's always something to do! I've found Rhode Island to be full of generous, neighborly people who have a wonderfully self-deprecating sense of humor. Life in Li'l Rhody is great!
8. Please include anything else you’d like to add:
I enjoy demonstrating, and talking about, traditional hooking (yes, I AM a happy hooker!) and am available to teach classes for groups of up to ten people.
7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is a very special place, full of history, amazing natural beauty AND a thriving arts community. Museums, restaurants, live theatre, book talks, arts festivals--there's always something to do! I've found Rhode Island to be full of generous, neighborly people who have a wonderfully self-deprecating sense of humor. Life in Li'l Rhody is great!
8. Please include anything else you’d like to add:
I enjoy demonstrating, and talking about, traditional hooking (yes, I AM a happy hooker!) and am available to teach classes for groups of up to ten people.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Art scene ~ "Obey the Giant"
For those unfamiliar with Shepard Fairey's work, welcome to Providence, where it started. Obey the Giant is a film by (then) RISD student Julian Marshall.
I should note that the film's been out for more than a year...sometimes I'm a bit behind the times.
I should note that the film's been out for more than a year...sometimes I'm a bit behind the times.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Shop local ~ Mayor's Own Marinara Sauce
We'd been hearing about The Mayor's Own Marinara Sauce since before we moved to Rhode Island. Local interest books talk about it. A conversation about "Buddy" Cianci that lasts more than five minutes mentions it.
I finally found it at our local Stop & Shop and decided to give it a try.
The sauce pours out thick and a little chunky. It smells fresh. We only gave it time to heat through on the stove, as we didn't want it to cook down. We wanted the real taste, so we didn't add anything to it.
I served it over whole grain pasta, since that's what we had in the house.
Bear loved it. She thought it was delicious, and came back for seconds. I thought it tasted bright, fresh and tomato-y, but that it was lacking...something. We usually buy store brand sauce and doctor it ourselves with spices, herbs and red wine. I was probably missing the wine. Even so, I thought it was very good.
It's definitely pricey ($4.99 for a bottle), but a portion of that goes to "benefiting Providence school children," as it says on the label. I'd want to know a little more about that. Unfortunately, when I click on the "marinara" link on Buddy's website, I get a "no data found" page. I hope they'll update it soon.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Event ~ The Sketchbook Project ~ June 13 ~ AS220 ~ Providence
The Sketchbook Project
AS220
95 Empire St.
Providence, Rhode Island
June 13, 4:00 - 8:00 pm
I got an email today about the upcoming Sketchbook Project summer tour, that's coming to Providence in June. I'd never heard of it, but after reading about it, it seemed very interesting. Artists from all over the world have sent sketchbooks to the project and museum in Brooklyn, NY. The summer tour takes some of them on the road around the U.S. I love traveling exhibits!
from their press release:
"The Sketchbook Project is a global, crowd-sourced art project and traveling exhibition. Since 2006, the Sketchbook Project has encouraged participants from all walks of life to fill the pages of a blank sketchbook. The results are cataloged in the Brooklyn Art Library and shared with the public in venues around the world. The collection currently includes more than 26,000 sketchbooks representing nearly 8,000 cities worldwide.
This summer, Steven Peterman, co-founder of the Sketchbook Project, and Sara Peterman, director of the Brooklyn Art Library, are hitting the road to share the stories behind the Sketchbook Project with communities across North America. The husband-and-wife duo will set out for adventure in the Mobile Library — their custom-built bookmobile — along with a selection of 4,500 sketchbooks from the permanent collection. Covering more than 10,000 miles and 32 cities in just four months, the Summer Tour is a unique opportunity to experience the Sketchbook Project firsthand and swap stories with the project’s organizers."
"The goal is to continue inspiring people from diverse backgrounds to make art. “Given all the ways that technology has integrated with our lives, it feels meaningful to meet new people over physical
books,” says Steven. “This project is about people leaving their mark in the world.”
About the Sketchbook Project
The Sketchbook Project is a global, crowd-sourced art project and interactive, traveling exhibition of handmade books. Our community is made up of over 75,000 people, and our permanent collection at Brooklyn Art Library holds over 26,000 sketchbooks from 135 countries around the globe.
We invite participants from all walks of life to fill the pages of a blank sketchbook and send it back for inclusion in our ever-growing library of inspiration.
Anyone, from anywhere in the world, can participate in the project.www.sketchbookproject.com
ContactSteven Peterman, Co-founder/Director of Operations
steven@arthousecoop.com"
AS220
95 Empire St.
Providence, Rhode Island
June 13, 4:00 - 8:00 pm
I got an email today about the upcoming Sketchbook Project summer tour, that's coming to Providence in June. I'd never heard of it, but after reading about it, it seemed very interesting. Artists from all over the world have sent sketchbooks to the project and museum in Brooklyn, NY. The summer tour takes some of them on the road around the U.S. I love traveling exhibits!
from their press release:
"The Sketchbook Project is a global, crowd-sourced art project and traveling exhibition. Since 2006, the Sketchbook Project has encouraged participants from all walks of life to fill the pages of a blank sketchbook. The results are cataloged in the Brooklyn Art Library and shared with the public in venues around the world. The collection currently includes more than 26,000 sketchbooks representing nearly 8,000 cities worldwide.
This summer, Steven Peterman, co-founder of the Sketchbook Project, and Sara Peterman, director of the Brooklyn Art Library, are hitting the road to share the stories behind the Sketchbook Project with communities across North America. The husband-and-wife duo will set out for adventure in the Mobile Library — their custom-built bookmobile — along with a selection of 4,500 sketchbooks from the permanent collection. Covering more than 10,000 miles and 32 cities in just four months, the Summer Tour is a unique opportunity to experience the Sketchbook Project firsthand and swap stories with the project’s organizers."
...
"The goal is to continue inspiring people from diverse backgrounds to make art. “Given all the ways that technology has integrated with our lives, it feels meaningful to meet new people over physical
books,” says Steven. “This project is about people leaving their mark in the world.”
About the Sketchbook Project
The Sketchbook Project is a global, crowd-sourced art project and interactive, traveling exhibition of handmade books. Our community is made up of over 75,000 people, and our permanent collection at Brooklyn Art Library holds over 26,000 sketchbooks from 135 countries around the globe.
We invite participants from all walks of life to fill the pages of a blank sketchbook and send it back for inclusion in our ever-growing library of inspiration.
Anyone, from anywhere in the world, can participate in the project.www.sketchbookproject.com
ContactSteven Peterman, Co-founder/Director of Operations
steven@arthousecoop.com"
Friday, May 10, 2013
From the I {heart} Rhody Flickr group
focusing on public art this week...
Get Gored for Good by provbenson2009
P1050006.jpg by MStoeckle
WaterFire - Providence, RI, USA by Juan_Carlos_Cruz
Providence in fire! by kravi2011
Gun totem by I {heart} Rhody
DSC_4489 by dadofliz
S.75-AL-America One by ArtFan70
Doughnut by Macedo295
Get Gored for Good by provbenson2009
P1050006.jpg by MStoeckle
WaterFire - Providence, RI, USA by Juan_Carlos_Cruz
Providence in fire! by kravi2011
Gun totem by I {heart} Rhody
DSC_4489 by dadofliz
S.75-AL-America One by ArtFan70
Doughnut by Macedo295
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Performing arts ~ First full season for Ocean State Theatre ~ Warwick
from their press release...
LES MISÉRABLES TO KICK-OFF FIRST FULL SEASON
AT OCEAN STATE THEATRE IN WARWICK
WARWICK, RI – Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC) is thrilled to announce that its first full season in their new state-of-the-art theatre located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick, will open with the international smash hit, Les Misérables.
“We have wanted to produce Les Misérables for several years now, but with the confines of the barn at Theatre By The Sea, we didn’t feel we could do it justice,” said Amiee Turner, Producing Artistic Director. “Our new space in Warwick will be able to accommodate the piece beautifully. The fact that the production will be the Rhode Island Regional Theatre Premiere is icing on the cake!”
Les Misérables, which kicks off the subscription season on October 2, takes place in 19th centuryFrance, as Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a life-long struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe Valjean can change his ways. Finally, during the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront his ideals after Valjean spares his life and saves that of the student revolutionary, who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter. His world-view shattered, Javert is unable to reconcile Valjean’s merciful act. Valjean at last attains the peace he has sought for so long. Epic, grand and uplifting, Les Misérables has thrilled audiences throughout the world.
Les Misérables will be presented from October 2 - October 27, 2013.
The season continues on November 8 with Lombardi, a new American play by Academy Award-winner and Steppenwolf Theatre Company member Eric Simonson. This original work brings the audience into the life and times of one of America’s most inspirational and mercurial personalities, Hall of Fame football coach, Vince Lombardi. Though football’s Super Bowl trophy is named for him, few know the real story of Lombardi the man – his inspirations, his passions and his ability to drive people to achieve what they never thought possible. Based on the best-selling biography When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss, Lombardi is powerful family drama that tells an inspiring story of one of the greatest football coaches of all time, whose fame and influence spread far beyond the gridiron.
Lombardi will be presented from November 6 – November 24, 2013.
In January, OSTC will help beat the winter doldrums with Neil Simon’s Broadway hit, Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Chaos is king backstage at "The Max Prince Show," a popular 1950s comedy-variety TV series. The stress of slipping ratings is eating Max alive, but his harried writing staff frantically scrambles to top each other with gags, while competing for the attention of the star madman. Inspired by the playwright's youthful experience as a staff writer on Sid Caesar's “Your Show of Shows,” Neil Simon re-creates the mayhem, neuroses, nonstop gags and constant one-upmanship of a team of brilliantly funny social misfits. Contains adult language.
Laughter on the 23rd Floor will be presented from January 29 - February 16, 2014.
Swing's the thing as we approach the spring! The All Night Strut! is a classy, sassy musical celebration of the 1930's and‘40s, which carries audiences through the Depression, World War II and the post war boom. The show is filled with jazz, blues, bebop and standards that thrill the heart, tickle the funny bone and raise the rafters. Legendary songwriters such as Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Cab Calloway and the Gershwins take audiences from the funky jive of Harlem to the sophisticated elegance of El Morocco and the romance of the Stage Door Canteen. This international hit is a slick slice of yesteryear with sublime music and unbeatable energy that's perfect for a new generation of Swing fans and die-hard devotees! Songs include “Minnie the Moocher,” “Sentimental Journey,” “As Time Goes By,” “In the Mood,” and many more.
The All Night Strut! will be presented from February 26 – March 16, 2014.
The Pulitzer Prize and Tony® Award-winning play, The Diary of Anne Frank, a beautiful story from one of the darkest periods in history, will be presented beginning in late March. Through the diary entries of 13-year-old Anne Frank, the play tells the story of a Jewish family forced into hiding in an effort to avoid Nazi persecution during World War II. Isolated from the outside world, her family and three others lived in constant fear of being discovered. They remained hidden for two years and one month, until their betrayal, which resulted in their deportation to Nazi concentration camps. After the war, the pages of Anne’s diary were discovered on the floor of the annex where the family had been hiding. This moving, true story is a testament to the human spirit.
The Diary of Anne Frank will be presented from March 26 – April 13, 2014.
Rounding out the season is the greatest tap dance musical of all time, 42nd Street. Based on the classic 1933 movie musical of the same name, this timeless, inspiring story focuses on a naive young aspiring chorus girl named Peggy Sawyer, who is plucked out of the chorus to save the show when leading lady, Dorothy Brock breaks her ankle. This classic backstage story celebrates the hard work, talent and love of those involved in Broadway shows. Winner of the 1980 Tony® Award for “Best New Musical” and the 2001 Tony® Award for “Best Revival of a Musical,” this family-friendly musical features a hit parade of songs including "Lullaby of Broadway," "We’re in the Money," "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" and the spectacular title number. 42nd Street is Broadway razzle-dazzle at its finest!
42nd Street will be presented from April 23 – May 11, 2014.
“In addition to the six productions we will be presenting as part of our subscription season, we also plan to expand our Family Fun Fest, and present a musical during the holidays,” said Ms. Turner. “We will also continue our talkback series, Conducting Conversations Live! with WCRI’s Mike Maino, which gives audiences an opportunity to ask questions of the cast and creative team following the firstSaturday matinee of each production.”
Previews for all productions are scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30pm and Thursday at 2:00 and 7:30pm. Opening weekend performances will be held on Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:00 and 7:30pm. All other performances will be held Wednesday throughSaturday evenings at 7:30pm, as well as Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Preview performances will be $30.00 for plays and $39 for musicals. All other performances will be $30.00 - $47.00 for plays and $39.00 - $54.00 for musicals. Discount rates for groups of 20 or more will also be available.
Subscriptions for the 2013-14 Season are now available. For the coming season, subscribers can enjoy discounted rates with several different subscription options:
The Preview and Premiere Subscriptions allow subscribers to choose from the best seats in the house before they go on sale to the public, secure the same choice seats for each show, save over single ticket pricing, renew the same seats annually and exchange seats up to 24 hours in advance for a small fee. (Donors at the $50 level and above enjoy free unlimited exchanges.) Subscriptions range in price from $99 - $250.
The Flexible Passport provides the ultimate in flexibility by including six “seats” which can be used in any combination. For example, one ticket for six shows on different nights, two tickets for three different shows or any other combination imaginable. The choice is yours! The Flexible Passport allows subscribers to choose from the best seats in the house before they go on sale to the public and save over single ticket prices.
Season ticket subscriptions are available for purchase at the box office Monday from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Friday 12:00 noon – 6:00 pm and Saturday from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm. The box office is also open Saturday until 7:30pm and Sunday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm when there is a performance scheduled. Tickets are available online anytime at OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.
Single tickets for the 2013-14 Season will go on sale to the public beginning July 29, 2013.
###
Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC) is an IRS designated not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. The purpose set forth by OSTC is to preserve and pass on the tradition of live, professional theatre – including the American musical – and to pursue avenues of enrichment and education for the benefit of the state of Rhode Island and the surrounding region through the theatre arts.
*All shows subject to change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)