Hallo, friends! It has been a while and I do apologize for lack of blog updates, but this one will be a twofer: a rocking road trip playlist and a review of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Chihuly exhibit.
This summer I have driven back and forth between Pennsylvania and North Carolina five times, between North Carolina and Arkansas twice, and between Arkansas and Kansas City, MO twice. So you can imagine all the tunes I have listened to while enjoying all that open road and drive time. When driving by yourself for several hours at a time, jams are of the utmost importance, in addition to podcasts and audiobooks. When my mom and I travel together, we listen to the series of books by the veterinarian James Herriot. He was a vet during the 1930s and beyond in the UK, and his word selection, heart, and humor are a delight to listen to. If you like animals and laughing out loud, try All Creatures Great and Small, his first book.
As for podcasts, I have enjoyed the interviews of You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes and The Moth's stories, but I have recently discovered My Dad Wrote a Porno. It is full of funny and explicitly sexy things. Give it a listen and let me know what you think. :)
And as for rocking out, please enjoy the following:
1. Tom Sawyer-Rush
2. My Sharona-The Knack
3. Shut Up And Dance-Walk the Moon
4. Alright-John Legend
5. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)-Eurythmics
6. Open Road Song-Eve 6
7. Bitch Better Have My Money-Rihanna
8. Sabotage-Beastie Boys
9. Seven Nation Army-The White Stripes
10. Your Love-The Outfield
11. Take Me Away-FeFe Dobson
12. Breathing-Yellowcard
13. Intergalactic-Beastie Boys
14. Take It Off-The Donnas
15. Heartbreaker-Pat Benatar
Sure, some of it is not technically rock, but rocking is more about attitude than genre. :)
Now on to the Crystal Bridges Chihuly Exhibit: it was awesome! The variety of forms, the colors, the light, the organization of the show, everything was perfection. In addition to his glasswork, there were also drawings and paintings essential to Chihuly's process. There were also three short films on view to help the viewer gain insight into how much he pushes the material to its limits and how collaborative his studio is. There are also installations outdoors that show how much Chihuly has extended the boundaries of glasswork. I recommend going around sunset to see the glow of light and color in the glass. Also, it will be somewhat cooler. Arkansas is HOT in the summer, so wear something light and breathable. I wasn't able to see much of the Crystal Bridges permanent collection, but what I did see was varied, contemporary, and important to the history of art. If you are in the Mid-South or near it, Crystal Bridges is worth a trip for any art lover. Admission to the main museum is free thanks to WalMart, and the Chihuly exhibit is about $20.
Enjoy the road, the summer, and wherever you may travel!