PARADIS STUDIO
“ I highly recommend Studio Paradis to anyone seeking a seamless and enjoyable design experience.”
-Studio Paradis Client
Photo: Rise Visual Media
Michael Naples, Ascending Apples, Oil, 9 x 12”
Anne McGrory, One for Tea, Pastel & Gold Leaf, 10 x 20” Kelly Birkenruth, Frozen Funnies, Oil, 12 x 12”
Cora Ogden, Summer Pasture, Oil, 36 x 34” Mo Myra, Golden Hour’s Glow, Watercolor, 8 x 10”
By Rona Mann Photographs By Jeffery Lilly.
By Rona Mann Photographs By Jeffery Lilly.
lot has changed in the last 36 years:
End of the Cold War. Rise of the internet. Global Recession. COVID Pandemic, Climate Change Awareness, Increased Activism, Geopolitical tensions.
Cellphones, Computers, ATMS, Space Shuttles, Electric Cars. (and so many other things)
But here’s what never changed in 36 years:
The sun still comes up in the morning. The sun still sets in the evening. And The Bowerbird in Old Lyme remains “fiercely independent!”
Yes, since the key was turned in the lock 36 years ago and the doors were flung wide open, very little has changed at The Bowerbird. Oh sure, inventory changes as styles, whims, and customer requests change. Some of the employees have come and gone (not many!) Of course there’s been a coat of paint here, new lighting there, and accommodations have been put in place to raise the level of customer service higher if that’s even possible, but that’s about it. The mantra of owner, Chris Kitchings has remained “fiercely independent,” and she has instilled it in every one of her 11 employees. So what exactly does “fiercely independent” mean to the staff at this wildly popular place of “impulsive necessities?” (That’s their term because calling this wondrous venue a “gift shop” would be a great disservice).
Left to Right: Owner, Chris Kitchings, Kirsten Fedors Cooksley and Shirley Zaccheo.
Don’t let the “fierce” word throw you. These employees are not cold, hard, angry folks...quite the opposite! Matter of fact, the regular and repeat customers come in asking for so-and-so to wait on them because they love the smiling face, the listening ear, and the helpfulness each of them exudes. It’s not an act, not a script written for them. It’s because they love coming in to work and sharing their Bowerbird with others. These are not pushy salespeople at all! Matter of fact, they are really not typical salespeople. They are curators of some of the most inventive, fun, and beautiful merchandise you‘re likely to find anywhere in Connecticut, New England, or the United States. Here is inventory that people from around the world order online because when The Bowerbird says, “We ship everywhere,” they make that statement with that same fierce independence Chris exudes when she reports, “We’ve shipped to all but two states this year and overseas to Lithuania, Brazil, and Australia.”
A recent early morning visit to The Bowerbird included not just Chris, but Kirsten, Lindsay, and Marilyn, three of those fiercely independent staff members who felt they wanted to chime in.
The “personalized service” phrase kept coming frequently into the conversation. Sure, many stores talk about customer service, but it’s their culture at The Bowerbird. They don’t have to talk about service to their customers, they live it from the moment someone enters and they’re greeted. Not hounded, not followed around the store because the staff knows The Bowerbird speaks for itself and anything further would not be needed.
Just how many stores today offer gift marketing that they refer to as “cause marketing?” The Bowerbird instituted this program 28 years ago which serves as a donation program to benefit the non-profit organizations of the community. By charging a nominal fee for beautiful gift-wrapping, they donate 50% of each package they wrap to a local non-profit chosen for that year...and does it ever add up! A glance at the website (thebowerbird. com) and one can see every organization that has benefitted from this program right down to the amount donated and how many packages were individually wrapped each year over 28 years. Chris Kitchings says it’s now over $110,000 they have given due to their generous customers who are “all-in” on the program and the gift-wrapping talents of their staff. What other store does that?
The Bowerbird is one very busy place. The staff knows their inventory and knows it well, but it’s an ongoing process. “Merchandise is constantly being delivered,” Kitchings says, “and often our displays can change twice in the same day.” That’s being a curator, and it takes the ongoing efforts of that staff of 11 to oversee, display, and know everything there is to know about every product that’s for sale. With over 4,500 square feet of “impulsive necessities,” supplied by nearly 2000 vendors, that’s constant work for the women of The Bowerbird, but they love it. Are they ever rattled by all the constant activity including the coming holiday rush? Lindsay says, “Upticks don’t bother me. I used to work at Bloomingdales,” she adds with a smile. “And the customers here are so nice to talk to. You don’t get our kind of one-onone in other stores.”
“We sell what we personally like and what we use in our own homes,” Chris adds
When you first come through the door at The Bowerbird you are immediately greeted by a card shop within a shop. This stationery department is so massive and complete that you’ll discover occasions you may never have thought of...and yes, whatever that occasion may be, there’s a card for that. As hard as it is to believe, of those close to 2000 vendors who serve The Bowerbird, the card department has representation from 71 of them! This department which represents the front end of The Bowerbird is Marilyn’s territory. She’s been at The Bowerbird nearly 15 years and has customers who frequently ask for her. “It’s a fun atmosphere,” Marilyn says.
So many stores are constantly moving inventory around which can be confusing and bothersome to customers who like to come in, go directly to a certain department, and then browse for whatever it is they’re seeking. The Bowerbird keeps their popular departments in specific locations, so cards, stationery, custom-printed special event invitations, and children’s toys and clothing are always right inside the door to grab your attention and draw you in. Next, are puzzles, games, LED hats, ukuleles complete with Learn-to-Play instruction. Walk up the little bridge and find Connecticut and local
items plus nautical gifts. (did you know you can find colorful nautical flags personalized with the names of anyone you choose? So, decorate your boat with your family and make jealous others who ferry the water.
Now you’re headed for another part of The Bowerbird which is all about entertaining.
There are hostess gifts, cookbooks, and serving pieces; smart-looking barware and tabletop; linens and glassware; gourmet food and kitchen gadgets; party supplies, wrapping paper, and then there’s all that chocolate! While you’re busy picking out
something from someone else, be sure and take care of yourself. After all, who deserves it more?
Stroll a bit deeper in the store, and you’ll come upon the Hobo leather bags and the always-practical and very stylish Baggillini travel bags from small purses to crossbody wear. Then then there’s always all that gorgeous jewelry, ready to complement or complete any outfit.
It doesn’t matter if you have men on your list, women, children, teens, well-loved family pets, or seniors, you can find something for everyone at The Bowerbird. “This is the place,” says Kirsten. “It should always be your first stop and your last because there isn’t anyone on your list for any occasion that you can’t find something wonderful for.” Spoken like a true curator of beautiful and impulsive necessities summing it up in a neat little package, gift-wrapped of course and spoken with fierce independence.
One of the Hottest Holiday Items!
Everyone’s going to love the Paint by Number Pet Kit. You simply upload a photo of your favorite pet, follow the numbers, and voila! You or that special person you gift this with now has a professional-quality 8 x 10” color portrait. All supplies are within one box, and they’ll love it!
While The Bowerbird is not a “bird store,” it’s a store very much featuring birds, birding, and people who love them. For the novice or the serious birder, there’s a gift for everyone. And this year, here’s a very special brand-new item:
The Smart Bird House!
It’s an actual bird house that attracts all types of birds and has a camera inside. With AI Bird Recognition you’ll learn to recognize and watch the activity from inside your home as it records every movement. With real-time notifications on your phone you can watch when there’s activity, watch nesting as it happens, take snapshots and have a whole new hobby!
“You can even hand-feed hummingbirds,” says Chris, “from the hummingbird ring you wear right on your finger!”
Once you’ve shopped The Bowerbird, you’ll want to return again and again so why not invest in the Loyalty Tote? It’s a reusable tote bag you should keep in your car. Whenever the mood hits for impulsive necessities, just bring the bag with you and receive a 10% discount on all purchases, not just once, but forever!
National Toy Day
Come to The Bowerbird on Saturday, November 8th and celebrate shopping local and shopping for toys at special prices. There’ll be lots of giveaways and fun, so bring the kids along!
The Bowerbird, 46 Halls Road, Old Lyme www.thebowerbird.com (860) 434-3562
The Loyalty Tote!
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What is Greg Drinking?
Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay 2023
Thanksgiving Day. It used to be a day when debate among family and friends was expressly forbidden. Now the holiday itself has an ongoing discussion about the origin of the celebration and the broader context of the American experience, and its impact on the Native population of the land we so proudly call our own. Yet there is a debate I should entertain: the place of oaked chardonnay by presenting Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay 2023.
Last year, we delved into pinot noir and the essential qualities of a red that might grace the bar or kitchen island on such a food-focused day. To continue with the classics, I will address the 50 million-case (annually) elephant in the winery: California chardonnay. Whereas the sharp salinity of European chardonnay is defined by Chablis, the Gold Coast found fortune and fame with a production style hyper-focused on the natural advantages of the New World wine empire.
As with any cultural phenomenon, there is no shortage of participants in this pageant. With over 85,000 acres of chardonnay planted throughout the Golden State, it is no wonder that this particular vino knows every package store from sea to shining sea. I chose Rombauer Vineyards because they exemplify the best aspects of a boldly oaked West Coast Chardonnay without succumbing to the lazier, less appealing elements. I have previously discussed the magnums of this varietal that range from good (Clos Du Bois gets a pass for reminding me of the cute beach at the end of Stonington Point) to barely fit to cook with (Turning Leaf? More like turn-away!) It is famous for the potpourri-grade bouquet, which is somehow eclipsed by a dense, buttery mouthfeel that will make the mashed potatoes on your plate feel inadequate. Yet this article is not a review nor a rebuke of the style at all. You just need to find one that pairs well with what is being served and what you deserve to sip.
the first AVA to be designed based on geography rather than civic-drawn boundaries. The wine-making process has been consistent since the vineyard was founded in 1980. They use traditional barrel fermentation in a combination of American and French oak, allowing for both a primary and subsequent malolactic stages. (Malolactic being the secondary ‘fermentation’ where basically the sharp Granny Smith apple acidity eases into something softer and rounder to the palate). That is often perceived as creaminess, and, as far as that flavor spectrum goes, this wine is closer to cream cheese in mouthfeel than to movie popcorn. It is as golden as the state from which it hails as it swirls in your glass. Beautiful bouquet of pineapple and kiwi. Another inhale should reveal the rich vanilla aromas of the oak, ready to balance the tropical fruit fragrance. The taste is a tribute to balancing these extremes and lands in a way that hearkens to the apple pie coming out of the oven later. It is bright and purposeful like the meats and cheeses often selected for the charcuterie board at the start of the meal, yet warm and comforting like the fire in your backyard or home hearth. It pairs well with all of thoe aforementioned offerings and can enhance even the most repetitive in-law exchange.
Growing up with an extremely close-knit family, mostly within driving distance of my childhood home in Mystic, was a true blessing. Each year, we would gather at the family house that my grandfather had built to feast along the peaceful bank of a little brackish cove. The food was rich and in abundance. Some people would go for a Turkey Trot 5k to feel better about the incoming carb load. Others would warm up at the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society before braving whatever weather to watch the oldest high school Thanksgiving Day rivalry take place between the Stonington Bears and the Westerly Bulldogs.
Rombauer Vineyards is located in the Carneros AVA (American Viticulture Area). It is a prestigious producer of some of the best vintages from Napa and Sonoma. The topography is decidedly hilly and benefits from the cooling effects of the nearby San Pablo Bay. The microclimate there is so unique that it warranted
No matter what or where your traditions take you, I hope you find a place and a plate with peace this year. Carve out a little space for yourself to be thankful and know that you deserve it.
Gregory Post is a manager at Saltwater Farm Vineyard, affiliated with Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard.
Painter and Creative Brian McClear. Painting in background Closet Doors 48" x 48"
By
s I write this, it is August 8th. 8/8. The Sturgeon Moon is due to rise at 8:00, and the sunset in CT at 8:00 too! 8 is the sign of infinity. Never-ending circles. The full circle of the moon, with its reflection in the water. All these 8s.
It is the perfect scenario to write about an artist like Brian McClear. Brian is a symbolic painter. He enjoys words that have multiple meanings. Transforming words into an idea in paint on canvas. The number 8 is also similar to the sign of the yin & yang. Brian is a fifth-degree black belt in Taekwondo. Another expression of balance, symbolism, contradiction, and control. He excelled quickly, as he did not begin learning this discipline until he was 42, with his daughters when they were ages 6 and 7. He taught it for many years as well.
A recent show at Lyme Art Association was our “outside-the-box” exhibition, Expanding Visions. This is one of our shows in which artists are encouraged to think differently and explore unusual themes. Well, this is right in Brian McClear’s wheelhouse! In this show, Brian had 2 paintings. One, an award winner, displayed a light bulb surrounded by numerous brightly colored crayons, titled "Ideas In Waiting."
Looking at this painting would make one smile, thinking of children and a pile of crayons to spark ideas that could light up the world. The other was a huge (Brian’s painted ideas are often large-scale) painting of an Electrolux canister vacuum cleaner with a cupful of colorful lollipops below it. Such nostalgic juxtaposition! When grabbed by one of Brian’s paintings, whether seen first or lured by its title to go and find it, the title is very important. It is not always obvious, but in this case, it was - Assorted Suckers ! I saw many visitors chuckling when they were in front of it.
One of them was compelled to buy it. When I spoke with the buyer, he told me why he loved it.
“Who would not want to live with that vacuum cleaner? A beautifully painted piece of nostalgia. Those machines went forever.” Brian said he got the vacuum cleaner after his father-in-law passed away, and they were cleaning out his house. “I had to keep it”, Brian said. “I loved the look of it, and it brought back fond memories of Heidi’s dad. I knew I would paint it. And it still works.”
The lollipops. The simplest of childhood treats. Basic, colorful, sweet. Work and reward. Young and old. Different generations. The word “suckers” has many different meanings. The reaction is to laugh. And think. And perhaps remember what connects us as humans.
Sara Drought Nebel / Photographs Courtesy of Brian McClear
Brian’s statements are often nostalgic, simple, and funny. Or sentimental. Surprising. Innocent. However, they can sometimes be very powerful and impactful. Sometimes subtle. Sometimes, it's not subtle, but rather a painful commentary on society and tragic human frailty or indifference.
There was a painting in one of our shows a couple of years ago about the color yellow. As a member of the installation crew, I get a first look at the work in the show. After I hung it, I stepped back and looked at it. It was centered on the back wall of the gallery. A place where viewers could see it
upon walking in the front door, all the way through the gallery. It was a depiction of an old-school pencil sharpener. Bare of its outside case, so the rusty old sharpening mechanism was showing. Shavings hanging off of it. Yellow pencil stubs are scattered below with their pink erasers. I used to love sharpening my pencils this way at school with a sharpener just like this. It was a very satisfying action as a child - to turn the handle and grind the pencil wood and take out a freshly sharpened pencil. Looking at this painting brought back very good memories. But then I saw what was within and among the little pencil stubs.
Shiny gold casings peeking out. Only noticeable upon close examination. Bullet casings. Empty bullet casings.
A thump to my heart. Titled 2B or Not.
Another one along these lines was a painting from a few years ago, featuring sticks of white chalk in the foreground, standing upright in front of a round gun chamber. This one was not subtle at all.
An immediate thump to the heart.
Clockwise: Ideas In Waiting, Assorted-Suckers, For Keeps, 2B-or-Not. 48" x 48"
More recently, in our show, which was a benefit for UNICEF and the children of Ukraine, Brian’s painting, Sonyashnik (Ukrainian for Sunflower), depicted a large cut sunflower with its face drooping to the side, next to a Russian sickle, and in the distance, a sprout breaking the surface. Powerful commentary on tragedy, resilience, and hope.
There is a painting of his in our current Elected Artist Exhibition, showing a handful of marbles with one on top of an anvil that resembles the Earth. A glass (fragile) Earth. Titled For Keeps. An environmental statement. A message from a child.
About Brian-
He is very humble and funny. Disarming, witty, friendly, intelligent, and deeply sensitive. His demonstrations are so entertaining! It is always amazing how fast and improvisationally he can block in large, complex compositions, sometimes from a tiny setup. Viewers have to get up and examine it up close to see what he is painting! He works quickly while talking and joking with the audience.
Brian grew up in Ohio and earned his BFA at Columbus College of Art and Design before moving to New England. He met Heidi when she lived across the hall from him when he lived in West Hartford. As it turned out, she was from Ohio, too. They married in 1996.
He spent many years freelancing, creating marker comps and storyboards for TV commercials, as well as marketing and computer animation. He was the SVP for interactive services at a regional marketing firm. “During my 25-year tenure, I rarely, if ever held a paintbrush in my hand. It was all digital, but I knew I would get back to the canvas someday.”
After his parents passed away, he was in the attic sorting things out, and he came across his old college work. Still life paintings. A drawing of a rose. A fossil he found at a quarry when he was a kid. “I still have it,” he says. “I remember holding that fossil and a Calla lily. They had the same shape.
Clockwise: Abe and Close-up Inset 60 x 40, Hand of Father 60 x 40, Riki 60 x 40.
The fossil is maybe 350 million years old. The Calla lily will only live a couple of days…” This time capsule fascinated Brian.
Just before he retired, Brian began setting up in his living room, determined to paint for a while in the evenings. He decided to use a simple square format and began creating stilllife paintings in oil. It felt good to be holding a brush again.
Portraiture was another subject he had always been interested in during his time in art school. He also decided to create some portrait paintings. He would not paint people he knew, so as not to worry about likenesses or commissions.
“I found that when I was not worried about getting a likeness, the loose intuitive sketching led to a fresh, spontaneous likeness anyway.”
The tattoo series. A Best in Show Award-winning painting titled Cheryl. Her chin up, and a look of strength and resilience in her face. Her tattooed body posture is strong and confident.
Common people, from different walks of life. All uniquely captured with their own personality.
A statement from a combined still life/portrait show:
“Discards & Discovery: a series of oil paintings in progress inspired by found objects, paintings where seemingly unrelated objects are paired together to emphasize an unexpected commonality or imply an underlying meaning.
Ink & Oil: a series of portraits that explore people of all ages and walks of life who have chosen tattoos as their form of self-expression. These portraits seek to capture a gesture and mood that provide additional insights into the subject’s personality beyond their art. Simply put, canvases of people who are themselves canvases.
Both projects challenge the viewer to look beyond the surface — whether considering everyday objects or the people they meet.”
—Brian McClear.
Above: Bell Peppers 40x40, Another Blown Fuse 48x48
Beyond the surface…
Now that he is retired, Brian McClear is able to focus fully on his own art. However, he continues to give of his time by teaching workshops and classes, serving on the boards of art organizations, and conducting demonstrations.
Brian and Heidi have 2 very talented daughters who are artistic and practice martial arts too. Elisa won an award in one of our shows with a linoleum print. She is now a tattoo artist. Anna won a Fulbright Scholarship to teach in South Korea and now teaches Middle School in Hawaii.
“Going to see our girls and the things they are doing gives us a great excuse to travel!”
There is a lot more to come from Brian McClear. Endless possibilities await in expressions of contrasts, such as rusting metal vices holding ripe fruit. Of old tough rock fossils and fragile, finite Calla lilies. Portraits of people we know or thought we did, until we see them in one of his paintings. Of seashells and game board pieces. Of clocks and time and events. Fragility and strength. Tragedy and joy. Hope. What we have in common, and what makes us unique. He will keep the conversation going and continue to take us beyond the surface.
The world is his oyster… a painting someday, maybe?
Join Brian’s email list for a first look at his latest paintings and upcoming exhibitions. Experience his art in person at the Essex Art Association’s two-person show from November 12 to 23, and mingle at the reception on Saturday, November 15, from 5 to 7pm. Discover more or connect with Brian at mcclearart.com or on Instagram @McClearArt.
Clockwise: Down the Rabbit Hole 60 x 40, Cheryl 40 x 30, The Studio Visit - Mark Rich 48 x 48, Lunch with Steve 40 x 60.
ALLISON GILDERSLEEVE
Here Somewhere
ON VIEW
Allison Gildersleeve, Inside Out detail, 2023, oil on linen, 46” x 46.” through JANUARY 18, 2026
Allison Gildersleeve’s lush, layered compositions speak to the power of place and memory. As she puts the pieces together, her work skips through time at an erratic pace, shuffling the monumental with the mundane and twisting landscapes and interiors into compositional mazes.
Lyman Allyn ART MUSEUM
Celebrating the power of art since 1932
625 Williams Street New London, CT 06320 Exit 83 off I-95 lymanallyn.org
“Beauty matters. It is not just a subjective thing but a universal need of human beings. If we ignore this need in a spiritual desert.”
— Roger Scruton
GOOSEBUMPS: The Signature of Awe and Beauty
By Carolina Márquez-Sterling
It started with goosebumps as I drove through Bryce Canyon in Utah. Suddenly, spontaneous tears by the canyon’s splendor. Goosebumps— the tiny muscles attached to each hair contracting—are a silent salute in tribute to connection and inspiration, a surge of energy that elevates life to a higher frequency. This is what happens when beauty sneaks past the mind and pierces the heart.
Sir Roger Vernon Scruton (1944–2020) was a renowned English philosopher, writer, and social critic whose passion for aesthetics and political philosophy shaped a generation. Championing the defense of beauty, the enduring worth of tradition, and a sharp critique of modernism. He wrote more than 50 books that explored the worlds of architecture, art, philosophy, politics, and religion.
But why does this occur? Neurobiologist Dr. Jaak Panksepp explains that when we encounter music, art, nature, or anything beautiful, our bodies are flooded with powerful emotions— fear, sadness, passion, and joy. These feelings release chemicals carried by nerves to the muscles, triggering goosebumps. The body reacts before the mind can fully comprehend, as if beauty were hardwired to bypass thinking.
I see beauty as vital to the meaning of life. Not long ago, a friend sent me a video I found very thought-provoking. I was struck by the hour-long exploration of beauty and its significance in our lives. This resonated deeply: “Without beauty in life, we are most certainly in danger of losing the meaning of life.” —Roger Scruton— It reinforced my intuitive belief that beauty is not just enhancing; it is fundamental to the essence of why life matters.
I recall the unforgettable scene in Out of Africa when Robert Redford takes Meryl Streep on a two-seater plane ride. After gliding over the mountains and plains, they skim just above Lake Nakuru in Kenya, causing thousands of flamingos to erupt in flight. A breathtaking wave of fluttering pink fills the skies. Meanwhile, the evocative score by John Barry swells, raising wonder in a lyrical crescendo. I was spellbound, and even now, decades later, goosebumps prickle as I recall this cinematic moment. The fusion of the senses — score and cinematography —unveiled a moment of longing, arousing in me a yearning and an admiration for beauty.
Beauty is as critical as truth, kindness, and integrity. Poet and philosopher Friedrich Schiller wrote, “Man has lost his dignity, but Art has saved it and preserved it for him in expressive marbles.” His words remind us that when life and its hardships gut us, Art is
“Man has lost his dignity, but Art has saved it and preserved it for him in expressive marbles.”
—Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller ( 1759 – 1805) was a German playwright, poet, philosopher and historian. Schiller is considered to be one of Germany’s most important classical playwrights.
restorative. Art today increasingly shocks and upends traditional values. Beauty in Art is relegated to the realm of mere aesthetics, being viewed as decoration rather than being esteemed as central to the human experience. According to Scruton, beauty has been exiled in favor of originality and concept. This shift has led to a disdain for beauty in art and the loss of the enlightenment and transcendence that art can convey.
Our world is replete with noise and distraction. As an artist, in the silence of my studio, my practice aligns with something greater. When we encounter beautiful art, we become connected to ourselves, to humanity, and to the divine. If a work requires a lengthy explanation and elicits no inspiration, in my view, it has failed its primary job: revealing why life matters.
This highlights a gap I have witnessed between the gatekeepers of theoretical culture and the everyday art buyer. The divide is evident in the contrast between prestigious awards, and the items people display in their homes. Most viewers seek art that resonates emotionally and offers meaning, rather than challenges them intellectually.
Let me be clear, works of Art need not be beautiful for us to consider them essential or to be Art. Guernica by Picasso is a powerful, moving piece. I remember aspiring to express with such passion, yet the average Joe would not consider it traditional beauty. Nor do I think all theoretical work should be dismissed. What I’m grappling with is why we have collectively permitted ourselves to be manipulated and bullied into thinking that beauty and its accompanying result, inspiration, are not as valuable as provocation.
“Beauty is but the sensible image of the justice, it lives within us; like virtue and the moral law, it is a companion of the soul.”
—George Bancroft
Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) was an Irish author, poet, and playwright. He was one of the most popular and influential dramatists in London in the early 1890s.A was a key figure in the emerging Aestheticism movement of the late 19th century and is regarded by many as the greatest playwright of the Victorian era. Wilde is best known for his Gothic novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
—Oscar Wilde
The cultural Czars maintain that beauty is not necessary to understand the politics, morals, history, and virtues of human societies, both past and present. They seem capable of totally distancing themselves from feeling. This is a denial of our nature. Our sense of beauty is always working quietly beneath the surface, steering us to discover and understand the world around us, and goosebumps are its secret signature.
I agree with Scruton; Beauty is a hallowed bridge to the divine. Moreover, it is what makes Art or any creative pursuit compelling. Life is complicated; humans crave inspiration, like food and water, which is life-sustaining. This has always been one of art’s most vital purposes, and it is a universal experience.
I urge you to resist the system that drains art of its soul and buries meaning beneath theory and rationalization. Instead, pursue beauty wherever it may be found. Ask: Is the work compelling? Does it take you on a journey? Does it inspire you? Even if it simply hangs above your couch or fireplace, let it matter. In the words of Oscar Wilde, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
Guernica by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso is one of his best-known works, regarded by many art critics as the most moving and powerful anti-war painting in history. It is exhibited in the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid. The grey, black, and white painting, on a canvas ( 11’ 5” x25’ 6” ) portrays the suffering wrought by violence and chaos. Picasso painted Guernica at his home in Paris in response to the 26 April 1937 bombing of Guernica, a town in the Basque Country in northern Spain, by Nazi Germany’s Condor Legion and Fascist Italy.
Leopoldo Metlicovitz (1868–1944) was an Italian painter, illustrator, and poster designer known for his Art Nouveau works. He created numerous posters for the publishing house G. Ricordi & C., which also published the score for Madam Butterfly. The poster was created in 1904 for the world premiere of the opera. It is an example of the Art Nouveau style. Madam Butterfly is an opera by Giacomo Puccini.
“The job of an artist is to Offer sanctuary of beauty to An ugly world. “
—Jeff Goins
This isn’t always easy...sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone. Speaking from personal experience with Opera, I have learned just how important it is to remain open to the possibility of being moved.
I was 23, living an independent life — out of the parents’ nest — when my Dad, a lifelong opera enthusiast, phoned me with an invitation to see Madam Butterfly at the Wang Center. He had an extra ticket because a friend had dropped out. I rolled my eyes and proceeded to dodge the invitation, insisting that I wasn’t a fan of opera, but I would gladly visit with them for dinner. My Dad, a clever man, wouldn’t let me off the hook. “ Dinner is included with the ticket. “ Free food was hard to pass up on my modest income, so I reluctantly agreed, setting the stage for a surprising encounter with beauty.
I arrived at the Opera House, expecting a boring night of music. When the lead character, Cio-Cio San, appeared on stage—a 6-foot woman of color playing a 15-year-old geisha—I whispered sarcastically to my Dad, ‘This is not believable.’ Immediately, he advised me to be quiet and listen, to even close my eyes. Then something truly magical happened. I found myself swept up by the music, voices, and the story. By the end, I found myself weeping for the character I had mocked earlier. That evening, I realized you have to stay open for beauty. You have to be willing to chase it, let it in, and recognize it, even when it arrives disguised as something you didn’t expect. This experience stuck with me, further illuminating the path to meaningful encounters with art.
Ultimately, my experience—and I suspect that of many others—is largely dictated by what we feel rather than what we think. Encounters with beauty are never assured; they are deeply personal, an intangible energy that vibrates at a higher frequency than the impositions of critics or institutions. Too often, I’ve even had customers hesitate, wondering aloud if they should buy my work or another’s—as though the approval of the cultural czars mattered more than their own emotional response. As artist Agnes Martin reminds us, “In regard to the inner life of each of us, it may be of great significance... If we can recognize our response and see within ourselves what we have received from a work, that is the way to understanding truth and all beauty.” This is what goosebumps testify to—the undeniable truth of our own response.
Recognizing and seeking beauty connects us to something greater, grounds our human experience, and restores meaning when it is threatened.
Beauty matters—deeply, urgently, and always.
Agnes Martin (1912–2004) was an American abstract painter known for her austere style and tranquil, introspective works. Born in Canada, she moved to the U.S. in 1931 and became a citizen in 1950. Although often called a minimalist, Martin identified with abstract expressionism. Her later paintings are known for simple grids and lines in neutral colors, conveying tranquility and spirituality. She often chose positive titles for her works.
Agnes Martin, Untitled, 1953, Courtesy of Harwood Museum of Art, Taos
DYou’re Being Paged
by Rick Koster
o you ever watch or listen to a radio/TV/podcast talking head interview an author – and it’s immediately obvious the journalist didn’t read the book or do any homework?
“Hi, I’m Chad Bigvoice! Today our guest is, ah –” glancing at index card – “Flannery O’Connor, and her new book is called The Complete Stories. Ms. O’Connor, let me start out by asking what this novel’s about. Or is it nonfiction?”It would be interesting if, at least once in these situations, an author carried a Taser. When the host asked something predictably stupid, the writer would tiredly shake his or her head, say “I’m glad you asked that, Chad,” then … ZAP!
I feel comfortable in this extreme opinion because, as an arts writer covering books and authors for almost 28 years at The Day, I believed it was incumbent on me to read the book – or at least a representative part of it – before I spoke with an author. It’s not just preparing for the job; it’s also a matter of respect.
One thing I rarely did was review a book by an author I was going to profile or interview in front of a live audience at a book signing. Southeastern Connecticut is rife with established authors who publish books annually, and it seemed to add unnecessary opinions and elements to the situation. CLARIFY.
In my new position as a freelancer, there are far fewer opportunities for profiles, so I feel more comfortable writing reviews – even if, as with three recent situations, I served as inquisitor at book signings with local-but-nationallyrecognized authors.–
At Bank Square Books in Mystic, I spoke with romance writer Elissa Bass – a friend and former colleague – about her new book Please Wait to Cross. In the same store, a few weeks later, I chatted with former Connecticut resident James Benn, author of the Billy Boyle World War II Mysteries, on tour celebrating the publication of A Bitter Wind, the 20th title in the series. Sandwiched between, on behalf of the Mystic/Noank Library’s annual fundraiser at Snediker Yacht Restoration in Old Mystic, I talked with Wally Lamb regarding his latest novel, The River is Waiting – the freakin’ third of his works to be selected by Oprah Winfrey for her prestigious monthly book club.
I’ve gotten to know each of these writers reasonably well over the years I’ve covered them, and so it pleases me to offer a few brief and very positive reviews of their new books – and it pleases me to think that you’ll enjoy them, too.
Please Wait to Cross by Elissa Bass (Archway Publishing) –
This funny, sexy sequel to Bass’s debut, Happy Hour, hits all the requisite notes for a captivating romance. After years as a successful but highly pressured CEO in the Midwest, Beth Rhinehart quits and returns to her small Cape Cod hometown. There, she takes a job as a school crossing guard, reconnects with old friends, and quickly becomes a popular figure with students and parents for her proactive, innovative and supportive ways.
She also meets her boss, police chief Mike Ponce, a tough but honorable and respected cop – who’s also twice-divorced and melancholy. Mike and Beth fall for each other, but each has deep anxieties to work through. So far, so romance. Then – and it’s here that Bass boldly moves beyond the constraints of genre – we’re hit with two dark twists that provide realism and complexity to go along with the joys of a burgeoning relationship.
The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb (Marysue Rucci Books) –
In a stylistic departure, Lamb pinballs from his usual approach utilizing multiple characters and multiple points of viewInstead, this is a first-person account of Cory Ledbetter, a young father and husband whose descent into alcohol and drug addiction leads to an unspeakable tragedy that destroys his family and sends him to prison.
Lamb, drawing on his own longtime sobriety as well as years teaching writing classes to inmates in the York Correctional Facility, empathetically but unsparingly captures the brutal difficulties Ledbetter faces. This includes his longshot hopes of reconciliation with his wife, his own inability to acknowledge his addiction and a reluctance to take responsibility for his actions.
In diving so deeply into Cory’s circumstances, Lamb unflinchingly explores a compelling character who is, frankly, very hard to like. It’s a literary gamble, one in which the hoped-for redemption is never certain. But Lamb’s writing about prison life and some terrific support players are superb – as is his ability to sculpt Cory’s astonishingly complex personality.
As longtime readers know, Captain Boyle is a former Boston homicide detective serving as an investigator for the Allied High Command in Europe under his distant relative, General Dwight Eisenhower. By this point in the series – books of which are best read in order but can be happily devoured as stand-alones – Billy is in much need of R&R. He visits his girlfriend, Diana Seaton, a spy working for the Royal Air Force on a base in southeast England. They find a murdered soldier while hiking along the Cliffs of Dover and, soon, a second victim turns up. Both are British soldiers of Jewish ethnicity; though they were fighting for the Allies, is it possible the murders were anti-Semitic?
After all, the base is headquarters for an operation in which the RAF was utilizing German-speaking Jewish refugees, working through evolving radio and electronics technology, to confuse and misdirect German bombers.
When Billy discovers the only one who might know the identity of the killer was shot down in a war-torn patch of Yugoslavia, he and his pal and longtime colleague Big Mike head behind enemy lines to rescue the soldier. Enlisting further aid from sympathetic anti-German activists in small villages, Billy and Big Mike head out on a Conrad-style Heart of Darkness rescue mission. As always, Benn’s ability to discover oft-forgotten but integral situations in the war, and construct irresistible crime stories within those frameworks, is a thing of greatness.
A Bitter Wind by James Benn (Soho Press) –
By y Rona Mann Photographs Courtesy of Thomas Dambo
ent than any other country
enmarkisnodiffffer y, , prin or island nation in the world.
It has trash. Garbage. Rubbish. Whatever your eup is for a mountain of waste.
And the little boys of Denmark are no different than any little boys of the world. They love to play in the dirt. Get then there was this one little boy…
funofgettingdirty
y other y..But
Thomas Dambo, who lived in Denmark, was by his own sion, “always the kid crawling into the bushes, jumping fences, and digging through the trash.” His goal was not y butinfinding “treasure”hecouldth
fun of getting dirtyy, , but in finding easure he could th into new treasure. Getting rid of the trash, making what he was in a better place.
t filthy ncipalityy, , phemism
He started young. When he was about five, he found som trashed wood and recycled it into a little wooden box wi hinge, then gave it to his baby brother so he could put hi init. Dambo’s parents were hippies and taught their childr on about protecting nature, about recycling materials, and making things. He and his friends built a treehouse, a fortr underground cave, much like many young children, but no scavenger and recycler like Thomas.
olls, he was illegally
Before he made tr y, , painting graffiti, d street art, and working in a warehouse. Each night the w threw out plywood pallets, and Thomas grabbed them u first thought was to make a birdhouse for his grandmoth fed birds from her window. Over a two-week period of t made 250 birdhouses and hung them all over Denmark, thepolicewouldnotcomeafterhimDambolookedatit
ollT ultimate gal is to establish a T the police would not come after him Dambo looked at it public mission, doing art in the public space. Birdhouses Dambo’s trademark, and to date, has made and put up o all over the world, even incorporating them into his logo
He even has moved sculpture through the streets of Denm on a pallet jack and installed his art in places without first permission. “I learned that if what you do is large enough assumes you have a permit.”
n admisover t just the hen make ever place me ith a is pacifier ren early about ess, and an one was a doing warehouse up. His her who time he hoping t as a s became over 5000 o. mark t asking h, everyone goes to as created orld. His creations e world. mark who tion to up to 40 jungles,
Thomas started creating trolls in 2014. As this magazine press, we understand there are now more than 170 he ha and installed in the United States and throughout the wo Tr r Taailof1000.Dambo’sc are in 20 countries, 21 U.S. states, and all throughout the He has a small team of craftsmen and artists from Denm accompany him but adds volunteers in each new loca help make and erect 25 new trolls a year which stand feet in height! They are hidden in forests, mountains, j dldfdttt
and grasslands for advennturers to encounter.
of
He wants his project to lure people of a forests and natural spaces through a tr reminding them to preserve the enviro future generations. He does this throug Folklore and his army of gentle giants of recycled materials. Each troll, origin Nordic folklore, is part of a larger fairy purpose for existing.
all ages into easure hunt
“My exhibition, all made out of trash tog help of volunteers, now has 4.5 million v y Thatissuchahugeproofofwh
globally
The South County T y. That is such a huge proof of why not throw things out, but why we should r
ector onment for gh Danish all fashioned nated from y tale and has a gether with the visitors a year hy we should d recycle.”
d to see a messy e and of ecently been installed on Culebra, an island of endipity
guess paradise has the same str
Toourism Council hea Charlestown, RI heard about Dambo strictly of sheer ser y. Back in 2019, Execut Louise Bishop, was stuck in a long layover in Newark Airport. Needing something to occupy her time, she purchased a travel magazine and began thr it. One of the first things she came across on Thomas Dambo featuring his very first troll, Hector the Protector which had r fffPuertoRico. Dambo had dumpster dived into the landfill to retrieve all the wood needed for the sculptur fffered, “I remember thinking that it was weir y, , smelly landfill on such a beautiful island, but I ruuggles with handling trash as the rest of the world.”
dquartered in ctly by way ive Dir r, , er in Newark er time, she to page through was a layout Alexa and a magic portal, part of Thomas Dambo GoldenRabbitismadewithplasticcartonsThe
’ ’s‘Alexa’’ssElixir installationinDetroit Lakes The eGoldenRabbitishiddeninaverysecretlocation!
eat marketing opportunity
was on it almost immediately
e the sculptor
ector at South County T
thought. I said, ‘W
Bishop was awestruck by what she saw and what she read. “I immediately texted Faye,” she said referring to Faye Pantazopoulos, Creative Dir Toourism. I didn’t ask her what she Wee’re doing this in Rhode Island! Put it in motion.’”
Not one to ever shirk from a gr y, , Faye y, , contacting the artist and his family at their restored 19th century farm just outside Copenhagen. Not much time elapsed befor r, , his wife, and sons were on a plane to Rhode Island and plans were being made to find a suitable location and start building a troll; but then as happened to so many gr y, , along came Covid. Louise Bishop didn’t isolate for long.
ocess, giving a nod to T describes as, “Easy eat plans gone awry
Allen and T Administrator
She worked at getting the okay from town and state which she y. A seamless pr Toown r, , Jeff Toown Council President, Deb
Golden Rabbit is made with plastic cartons. The Golden Rabbit is hidden in a very secret location!
e, an observatory
T Carneyy. . The Rhode Island Department of Commerce was all in and made a generous contribution to the cause, but the lion’s share was underwritten by South County Toourism. When the pandemic masks came off, the building began, but not just to create one troll, but two. They were built inNinigret Park, right in Charlestown, a parkand natural wildlife refuge and home to natur y, , a number of music festivals, events food festivals, and more throughout the year. As is his custom, Dambo names each of his creations, these tthdfthRhdIld
two watchdogs of southern Rhode Island nature were named Erik Rock and Greta Granite. But as Dambo was gathering recycled materials and spreading his worldwide message of conservation, Louise Bishop was busy planning even more fun for Rhode
oll T eate a T Island. “W
om one end of the state to the other
We e are going to cr Tr r Trrail fr r, , so by inviting everyone from Commerce to the
Governor to politicians and leaders of other towns, the plan took shape, and in the summer of 2025 visitors were invited up the trail to three more Thomas Dambo creations!
“It is incredible that the smallest state in the United States has the most trolls per square inch,” Louise beams. “And being as small as we are, those who wish to hunt and uncover the treasures of the tr y..”
olls can do so in less than a day
e, your tenacity Y
There are no admission fees of any kind. Yoou only pay with your sense of adventur y, , and a solid promise
to the trolls who look out for the land, not to throw away your trash!
HERE ARE SOME DIRECTIONS & CLUES:
Each of the now 5 trolls will help to reveal clues to assist you in solving a puzzle leading to the hidden “Thunder Stone.”
Begin with Erik and Greta in Ninigret Park, along Old Post Road in Charlestown. Park near the Frosty Dr y, , Erik is just a short walk into the woods. Footprints will help. He sits next tothepond
ew Observatory
Greta is ½ mile up the path and is near the Senior Center. Footprints will guide you here as well.
Y to the pond.
Yooung Boulder lives a short distance away in Richmond, RI at the Arcadia Management Area near Browning Mill Pond. He’s 2400 feet north-northwest of the intersection of Arcadia and KG Ranch Rd.
hello to Iver Mudslider who lives at R
Drive up Rt. 1 North to North Kingstown and say Ryyan Park, 70 Lafayette Road
Finally
y, , in East Providence you, and many of those who enjoy the East Bay Bike Path, will encounter Mrs. Skipper near Kettle Point Pier. She’ll be overlooking the water.
.It’
“Birdhouses became my first big recycled public sculptural proj must have done over 5000 pieces by now ’s s in my logo, and I put birdhouses up today.” oject. I I still
Thomas working o on Hannah Allerrøød
Thomas on top of a mountain of gold
MIGHTY “THE
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