Harder than steel, translucent, a greenish-white hue. These are the characteristics that made jade so valuable to the ancient Chinese. It was placed in their tombs to indicate their belief in eternity. “Dreams of the Kings: A Jade Suit for Eternity”, an exhibit of jade objects excavated from a group of tombs of the Kings…
Located on the main level of Faribault’s Paradise Center for the Arts is the Corey Ann Creger Memorial Gallery. This gallery was established in April, 2011 in memory of Corey Lyn Creger, a Faribault High School class of 2007 graduate and freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Corey was killed when the small plane she…
There are three elements to the “Through The Eyes of Picasso” exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. The exhibit consists of priceless works of art by Pablo Ruiz y Picasso, several pieces of art from Picasso’s own extensive art collection, and several items from the Musee National Picasso-Paris. But all three…
I’m a fan of the game show Jeopardy! but never imagined I would be smart enough not to embarrass myself as an actual contestant. But two events happened recently on the show that may make me reconsider. The first was an episode which featured a category called “Talkin’ Football”. I knew all the answers to…
As a football fan I enjoy watching the Super Bowl, but I also like watching the fascinating commercials that are debuted every year during the big game. For me, the most memorable Super Bowl ad this year was the one by Sprint entitled “Evelyn”. A scientist is walking around a room recording notes about the…
Faribault’s Paradise Center for the Arts was chosen as the location for the “Skilled Hands” exhibition of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota. Here are the handwoven treasures that I found at this remarkable show. Marie Westerman’s “Moon Dance.” Judy Goebel’s “Purple and Green Shawl.” Anne Burgeson’s “October 10.” Ann Masemore’s “Harriet…
Minnesotans will watch tomorrow’s Super Bowl with a feeling of “what could have been.” Our Minnesota Vikings had a great regular season and were well positioned for the playoffs. With just two wins in the post season we would playing the Super Bowl in our home stadium. Sadly, even with the help of the “Minneapolis…
I grew up in a Muslim-majority area of Africa. I currently have neighbors who are devout Muslims. I studied Islam at the seminary and in various continuing education classes since then. Yet still there was much that I learned from Hanadi Chehebeddine’s “Demystifying Islam” presentation at the Steele County History Center on January 18. According…
Mirror Neurons 