December 3rd | Winterfest
This year Winterfest is celebrating 20 years, on Saturday, December 3rd, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 Forest Hill Boulevard). Hosted by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Village of Wellington, the event features musical and dance performances by local talent, over 50 exhibitors, blizzard beach live snow, a kids winter wonderland village, zip lining, obstacle courses, and special guest Vanilla Ice! Visit www.wellingtonchamber.com for more information.
December 11th | 33rd Annual Holiday Parade
The Annual Wellington Holiday Parade, hosted by the Village of Wellington and The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, returns on Sunday, December 11th. Enjoy this free day of fun and festivities with a judged parade filled with imaginative floats, marching bands, characters, dance troupes, and more! The parade begins at 1:30 p.m. and winds its way down Forest Hill Boulevard from Wellington Trace to Ken Adams Way. Vendors will be on-site with goodies available for purchase. Grab your family and your sneakers and come on out for this fantastic holiday event! Visit www.cpbcchamber.com for more information.
December 16th | Free Movie Night: The Santa Clause (PG)
Bring out the family for a free showing of the holiday classic, The Santa Clause (PG), beginning at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, December 16th, at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 Forest Hill Boulevard). Attendees should bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/events for more information.
December 17th | 26th Annual Children’s Holiday Fishing Classic
Grab your fishing tackle and get ready to reel in “the big one” at the 26th Annual Children’s Holiday Fishing Classic on Saturday, December 17th at the Village Park front lake (11700 Pierson Road). This free fishing tournament is presented by the Village of Wellington, in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The tournament is open to all local children, ages 15 and younger. Register in advance by downloading the form at www.wellingtonfl.gov. Registration on the day of the event opens at 8:00 a.m. and the tournament runs from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Awards and fish tales will follow from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place (based on the total weight of fish caught and released) in each age group: 6 and under; ages 7 to 9; ages 10 to 12; and ages 13 to 15. This event is sponsored by Nite Ize. Visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/events for more information.
December 17th | A Cool Yule Celebration with the King Guys – “Holiday Hipsters” Band
Attend a holiday spectacular you won’t soon forget! Join all brass band, King Guys – “Holiday Hipsters,” as they perform a mix of your favorite holiday music beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 17th at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 Forest Hill Boulevard). Food Trucks will be on site for food and beverage purchases. Attendees should bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/events for more information.
December 18th | The 5th Annual Wellington Holiday “Jingle Bell Run” 5K
The 5th Annual Wellington Holiday “Jingle Bell Run” 5k returns to Village Park (11700 Pierson Road) on Sunday, December 18th. The race begins at 7:00 a.m. and participants are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to be donated to needy families in the Village of Wellington community as part of the annual Hometown Holiday Toy Drive. All participants will be provided with jingle bells to wear prior to the start of the race. For more details, and registration information, visit www.active.com.
As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/enews. For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch WellingtonTV for the latest happenings
Dr. Miguel Grillo has offered the most innovative services in dental care around Palm Beach County since his establishment in Wellington in 2005. Messy impressions and long wait times are now a thing of the past as this new technology allows for precise in-house digital oral scans that can be sent directly to the lab. Restorations just “drop right in” and the accuracy is so reliable, many cases don’t even require a model. In emergency cases, crowns can be replaced the same day if started in the early morning. These precisely fitting restorations eliminate the need for retakes, remakes and adjustments which means: Faster seating times and fewer return visits associated with remakes, Lower material and labor costs, Improved patient convenience, satisfaction and loyalty.
How old were you when you decide to become a dentist? Why dentistry? Well, my father was a dentist, so was my grandfather. My great-grandfather was also in the medical field. So, I grew into it. As a child I would help my father and I became passionate it about it. I knew what I wanted to do. You studied in The Dominican Republic, and then you did the foreign training in New York. When did you move to Florida? Why Florida? I had a practice in New York, but twelve years ago I had bought some property here in Florida. When I came with my family to take it over, we all fell in love with it. At the time my sons were STA ranked tennis players and they knew that they could play here all year round. I also realized that I could spend more time with my family. So moving here was an easy and welcome choice.
Tell me about “Healthy Smiles”; when did you establish the practice? What drove you to doing that? What is the main goal of your practice?
Together with my wife of 33 years, I had a practice in New York. It was clear when we came here that we wanted to do something to serve the community. I have always been one to look for ways to help and serve my community; opening “Healthy Smiles” was a natural choice. Our practice is based on care and love: on giving the best possible oral-health care at an affordable price. I’m really scared of going to the dentist; many people are. What do you do to make your patients comfortable? I want my patients to feel at home; like they are visiting a favorite uncle. We try to make them feel welcome and to create an atmosphere of trust and comfort. I have often seen people’s oral care neglected because of this fear. We try to adapt the process to take away this fear. For example, if a patient needs a little longer for the numbness to kick in or if they need more pain medication, we make sure they have what they need to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
What do you enjoy most about your work? What do you enjoy the least? What I enjoy the most is the interaction with my patients. We talk about the weather and our families; there’s a lot of small talk, and always a personal touch. Over time, many patients have become friends; people with whom I have lunch and share my time. I actually enjoy everything about my work. I look forward to going in everyday and so does my staff. Our practice is a fun place to be; to work. I have very high expectations of my staff. I want them to give 100% to our patients, and if they aren’t there yet, they are trained to do so. We give them the time and space to grow and learn so that they serve to the best of their abilities. When we enjoy what we do, it becomes contagious; everybody wants to become a part of it, so we all give 100%. Where do you see yourself and “Healthy Smiles” in five or ten years? For me the key word here is continuity. We want to continue providing our service to the community. Now, continuity is not always direct descendants, as my children are none of them in dental care. My sons are a cardiologist and an attorney. The others are in medical school and in high school. However, my niece is in dental school and she has the same passion and dedication to the profession as I have. I see the practice continuing through her.
How do you spend your free time? What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t being a dentist/orthodontist? I love sports. I often go biking. My real passion, though, is flying. I love being able to go from one place to another in a short time. I mostly fly over Florida, but I have also flown to the Caribbean islands. What advice do you have for patients? Besides the usual “keep up your oral hygiene, brush your teeth before going to bed”, my advice is to enjoy life and love one another. We each have our own cross to bear, but we should move them away from hate and anxiety and towards love and compassion. I don’t look at my practice as just a business. I look at it as a way of giving a service to my community; doing this with love to promote peace and confidence in my patients to let me. Dr. Grillo has an unabating passion for offering the most current innovations in dental technology and making it affordable to his community. He knows all of his patients by name and their comfort and satisfaction is his highest priority. His calming demeanor eases even the most dental-phobic patients making Dr. Grillo stand out as a favorite dentist in the area. Patients recommend him to friends and family for his quality work in general dentistry to teeth whitening, veneers and implants, and dental restoration.
Dr. Grillo and Healthy Smiles Dental Group is located at 9136 Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. To make an appointment call (561) 784-4670 or for information visit www.healthysmilesdg.com.
South Florida Fair announces 2017 entertainment lineup
West Palm Beach, Fla. –– A diverse entertainment lineup is coming to the 2017 South Florida Fair, including bands to tie into its New Orleans flavored theme, including Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dr. John. Held Jan. 13-29 at the South Florida fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, eight national bands ranging from Christian rock and country to Cajun and good time rock ‘n’ roll will perform along with more than 150 local and regional bands, dance groups, school choirs and jazz bands on four stages.
Jordan Feliz will kick off the national entertainment schedule at 7:30 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 15. Starting his career as a hard-touring heavy metal singer, he switched gears to become a church worship leader, before signing a Nashville record deal writing songs as an R&B groove-pop artist. One of the cornerstones of Jordan’s live shows is “Beloved” along with “The River.”
Sidewalk Prophets also will perform on Sun., Jan. 15. This gospel-focused group is known for creating a type of sanctuary for their listeners with singles like “Live Like That” and “You Love Me Anyway.” Sidewalk Prophets promises not to hold back — emotionally or musically.
Next up, at 8 p.m. on Tues., Jan. 17, Dr. John & The Nite Trippers will perform. Dr. John is a six-time Grammy Award-winning musician. Known throughout the world as the embodiment of New Orleans music, Dr. John is an international cultural icon. During the 1960s he performed on albums by Sonny and Cher, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin and The Rolling Stones. His blend of snaky rhythms, Crescent City funk, and voodoo flair make him one of the city’s prime musical ambassadors.
Starting at 8 p.m. on Wed., Jan 18, Neal McCoy takes the stage. He has released 15 studio albums on different labels and 34 singles to country radio. In 1993, he emerged with back-to-back number 1 singles “No Doubt About It” and “Wink.” More recently, his “A Tribute to Charley Pride: Deluxe Edition,” is the latest CD release in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® exclusive music program.
On Thurs., Jan. 19, at 8 p.m., following the first of two Bike Night parades, Molly Hatchet, which formed in the early 1970s, will entertain guests. Their music, a mixture of blues, country, gospel and the English invasion of rock ‘n’ roll, was to be coined “Southern Rock.” Their name refers to a 17th century ax murderess who would behead her lovers with the hand tool Lizzy Borden made famous. As unique as their name is, their tradition of developing the common bond and unity keeps their style of music alive and well.
At 2 p.m. on Mon., Jan. 23, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will bring the unmistakable sound of the Crescent City, performing its vibrant and irresistible style of New Orleans jazz. The band has traveled worldwide spreading their mission to nurture and perpetuate this unique art form. Whether performing at Carnegie Hall or for British royalty, their music embodies a timeless spirit. Ben Jaffe, current director and son of founder Allan and Sandra, continues a legacy of its greatest attributes in the modern day as a venue band and record label.
Next, on Tues., Jan. 24, at 8 p.m., Reel Big Fish will take the stage. As one of the legions of Southern California ska-punk bands to edge into the mainstream in the mid-1990s, they were distinguished by their hyperkinetic stage shows, juvenile humor, and metallic shards of ska. Their underground following broke into mainstream in 1997 when their single, “Sell Out,” became a modern rock radio and MTV favorite. In 2012, the band released its first album of new material, Candy Coated Fury.
On Wed., Jan. 25, at 8 p.m., Chase Bryant, a 23-year old Texan, will entertain fans with his top flight guitar playing and head-turning song writing. As a Red Bow recording artist and co-producer of his debut album, Chase views his audience as a lifelong relationship and music is the connection. To Chase, music is everything.
The main stage lineup will conclude with the fair’s second Bike Night at 8 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 26, with 38 Special. After more than three decades together, this band continues to bring their signature blast of Southern Rock to over 100 cities a year. Their many Gold and Platinum awards stand in testament to the endurance of a legendary powerhouse. Some of the songs most associated with them are “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ into the Night,” “Second Chance.” Since 1976 the band has released more than 15 albums with sales in excess of 20 million.
General concert seating is free with a fair admission ticket (which is required). Reserved seating is also available for purchase online at www.southfloridafair.com for $10 for all concerts, which is in addition to the fair admission ticket. Tickets are available at Palm Beach County Publix supermarkets and online advance discount ticket sales will continue through Jan. 12 at midnight. Bud’s Chicken & Seafood and Palm Beach County BB&T Bank branches also will sell advance discount tickets beginning Dec. 2. Adult admission, 12 and older, is $10 in advance, $15 at the gate. A child’s admission, under 12, is $5 in advance, $8 at the gate (5 years and younger are free).Those who are 60 years of age and older pay $7 in advance and $9 at the gate.
The Central Palm Beach Chamber and Village of Wellington are proud to announce the 33rd Annual Wellington Holiday Parade. Schumacher Family of Dealerships, long- time supporter of this event, will also return as the automotive presenting sponsor presenting sponsor along with presenting sponsors from our Equestrian Community, International Polo, Winter Equestrian Festival and Global Dressage. .
Just back from preforming in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Dance Theatre of Wellington will serve as the Grand Marshals for 2016.
The event, which draws 25,000 spectators, will take place on Sunday, December 11th. This year’s theme, Holiday Movie Magic, will be on display as participants ride and walk the route of the parade beginning at 1:30 pm up Forest Hill Boulevard. To ensure a safe path for pedestrians, road closures will begin at 1:00 pm.
Holiday Park sponsored by Waste Management and Retreat Palm Beach, will be open from 11:00 a.m-4:00 p.m., and will feature exhibitors offering arts and crafts, food, face painting, music, local businesses and more in the Wellington Amphitheater.
The day of festivities would not be possible without the invaluable co-operation of Wellington, PBSO, the Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue and the generosity of our presenting sponsors Schumacher Family of Dealerships, International Polo Club, Winter Equestrian Festival and Global Dressage.
Holiday Park Sponsors: Waste Management and Retreat of Palm Beach.
Other Community Sponsors include: Center for Bone and Joint, The City of Greenacres, Minto Communities of South Florida, Republic Services of Palm Beach, The Mall at Wellington Green, Paragon Theaters, TD Bank, J&J Produce, Wellington Golf Cars, Boynton Financial Group, Whole Foods Market, Two Men and a Truck, Carrabbas, Starbucks, Hill Audio Visual, JJ Muggs Stadium Grill, Print-it Plus PCI, Prime America, AGTS Insurance and Walgreens.
Media Partners include: The Palm Beach Post, Town Crier, Sun Sentinel, Wellington the Magazine, The Around Wellington, ESPN West Palm Beach, WRMF, SCORE-ing Your Business, 900 AM.
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida: The board of trustees of Quantum Foundation, under the chairmanship of Mr. Denis Coleman, recently approved ten new grants totaling over $450,000. The West Palm Beach-based private foundation funds projects that help improve the county’s health in fresh and innovative ways. The foundation has assets of approximately $140 million and since its inception in 1997 has awarded over $120 million to hundreds of nonprofit grantees in Palm Beach County. Every dollar the foundation grants stays in the County to benefit local communities. This round of grants brings 2016’s total grant awards to $4 million.
The approved grants included:
• Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County ($50,000)
• Meals on Wheels ($75,000)
• The Arc of Palm Beach County ($50,000)
• The Children’s Healing Institute ($97,600)
• West Palm Beach Library Foundation’s Healthy You Program ($50,000)
• American Cancer Society ($50,000)
• Delray Community Wellness ($35,000)
• Easter Seals ($25,600)
• National Autism Registry ($25,000)
One of the more unique grants goes to an organization that is receiving Quantum Foundation funding for the first time:
George Snow Scholarship Fund: Health Professions Scholarship Initiative ($200,000)
The George Snow Scholarship Fund is dedicated to helping individuals in financial need who are residents of South Florida to continue their education. Their goal is to help deserving individuals in the community achieve their career goals, an objective which has the added benefit of bettering the community at large. The Health Professions Scholarship Initiative was launched in 2015 to provide scholarships and direct scholar support services to students from low-income families who are committed to a career in healthcare. The program will target low-income graduating seniors who are participating in either the Palm Beach County School District High School Medical Academies or the Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine HCOP (Health Careers Outreach Program). Students in both programs are required to meet high academic and participation standards. This grant directly advances Quantum Foundation’s strategic initiative to increase the number of underrepresented groups in the local healthcare arena by supporting students on healthcare career tracks from junior high all the way through graduate school and into postgraduate internships. Providing a strong support system for these dedicated students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, is an innovative way the Foundation is working to ensure a healthier Palm Beach County today and well into the future.
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Background:
Quantum Foundation is a private grantmaking organization that funds approved charities and certain government agencies in Palm Beach County, Florida. Quantum Foundation’s mission is to inspire and fund bold initiatives that improve the health of Palm Beach County. The foundation’s funding supports those organizations which provide health care, help people who need health care, and educate others about health care. According to the latest data compiled by the Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN), Quantum Foundation is the largest Palm Beach County-based health funder with 100% of grant dollars used to support local communities.
Dish It Out Foodie Photo Credit: WebsiteDish It Out Foodie Photo Credit: Website
No, this isn’t a post about a new recipe, cookbook or restaurant. There is a new trivia type game out there called Dish It Out Foodie. The packaging is pure genius! The game comes in a pizza box and the game board is in vivid color with great food related artwork. The couple who developed, designed and produced this game, Celeste and Dik D’Anjolell, told me that the entire process was truly a labor of love that took 18 months to complete. They have produced the entire game from soup to nuts. Incorporated in the game board of paintings that Celeste herself painted. The game comes with over 900 questions and answers relating to everything and anything from the world of food. And if you ever get tired of those there are more available on their website dishitoutfoodie.com where you can also order the game. After playing the game with a fellow foodie we both found the game to be so much fun that we laughed till we were silly. I think you will find the game to be challenging, amusing and even perhaps a bit educational.
Inside the 9-inch pizza box you will find:
9″ quad-fold Game Board
2 boxes of Q&A cards
6 ICE Pawns & 1 die in a Peanut Bag
36 ICE Chips in a Popcorn Bag
Pot Luck & Foodie Finish Cards in a Cookie Bag
Menu of Rules
All printed in the USA
To play the game:
2-6 players or teams go around the board earning ICE chips by answering questions from 6 categories: World of Fares, Let It Pour, Ways & Means, Food For Thought, Melange and Happy Endings. The first player to get 6 different colored ICE chips enters the Dish It Out Foodie circle to answer a Foodie Finish question to win. TREAT STREET, a yellow causeway, loops around the board for a chance to move quickly to a category that’s needed. Other stops along the way are POT LUCK, SOUR TURN, ROTTEN APPLE, FISH ROLL and TREAT YOURSELF.
If you are looking for something different as a Chanukah of Christmas gift for your favorite food lover or aspiring chef the is the perfect gift!! Dik and Celeste have cooked up a fabulous new way for us to play with our food so be sure to also treat yourself to a taste.
*Any quantity is fine, just match the number of asparagus stalks to bacon pieces.
Directions:
Wash asparagus and pat dry. Trim off the woody stem – usually about 2 inches.
Slice strips of bacon down the center so you have two long, thin pieces.
Wrap the bacon around the asparagus and place on a foil or Silpat lined baking sheet.
Place the baking sheet in the oven (with the oven rack on the upper middle slot), then turn it on to 400 degrees. The bacon wrapped asparagus should be in the oven during the preheat phase.
Bake for a total time of 20-25 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp.
The holidays are a great opportunity to cultivate gratitude in your children. Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks and even young kids can participate in giving thanks. As we move closer to Christmas and Hanukkah, gratitude is especially important too. Our children are the recipients of many gifts, and expressing gratitude is always a good thing.
Ages 3 & Under
“This stage offers a great opportunity to teach contentment,” says Daniel P. Huerta, executive director of parenting and youth at Focus on the Family, “which is an essential ingredient for gratitude in later years.” No matter your religion, just a simple prayer of “Thank you for this food” is a good one at the table, a prayer that is immediately understood by all.
Ages 4 to 7
Children of these ages are happy to serve others. Doing simple, satisfying things like making place cards for everyone at the table or setting the table lets them be a part of the festivities. They can also help with some of the steps of preparing their favorite dishes (with supervision). This not only helps them feel good, but helps them understand what it feels like to be served.
Ages 8 to 11
In addition to helping out with meal preparation and with tasks around the house, this is a good time for children to learn about need in the community around them and around the world. By being aware of those in need, they learn compassion and empathy. This is when awareness begins.
Ages 12 to 18
Service. This is a time when kids are ready to help out in the community. By volunteering at a soup kitchen or animal shelter, they learn the value of what they can do for others. By helping a neighbor in need, they learn how to be a good neighbor. Despite the distraction of puberty and lots of emotions coming to the surface, kids in this age range really benefit by volunteering and helping others.
Service and Kindness
While your kids are rapidly growing up, it’s important to take time out to serve others, be kind and take a few moments to talk about what you are grateful for. This doesn’t have to be just around the holidays – it can continue throughout the year. Before a meal or before bed time seem to be good times to share gratitude.
Here’s hoping you have a wonderful holiday season with much to be grateful for and a terrific New Year!
As the Holidays draw near, I seem to always reflect on my childhood and how I was influenced by certain people, television shows, traditions, holiday performances and religion. Some of the most memorable experiences, continue to this day, to be the time spent with my twin sister. Oh, we didn’t always get along, and as siblings typically do, we did fight and disagree on some things. But, the one thing that we always did have was each other. A twins bond is different than the normal sibling. Studies show that the time spent in womb creates a connection that remains in place forever.
Over the years we pushed each other to be better. We were always involved in many activities together and separate. It seemed as when we were together we always excelled. She was the captain of the cheering squad, I was the captain of the basketball team, she would sing The National Anthem before each basketball game, which was more motivating than the music I would listen to before the game. Our senior year, she was the Vice-president of the student body and I was the president. We pushed each other with studies, helped each other with bad relationships, and always dusted off the dirt when one of us fell.
I knew in 7th grade I wanted to be a chiropractor, but my twin, Richelle, was not even interested. After 2 years of being separated during college, I was in a Pre-Med program at Mount Union College and she went to Pre-pharmacy program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh .
Richelle called me one day, from Pharmacy school, I had actually made it into Chiropractic school at this time, she said, “I don’t think I want to put pills in a bottle all day, I think, I want to be a History teacher.” I said to her you’ve done all the preparation for a healthcare profession, why don’t you consider Chiropractic. Next thing you know, she is at the school getting a tour and 1 month later started Chiropractic school so we were together again. The Wonder Twins. She ended up graduating 6 months after me and we had an amazing time learning together.
During school, she ended up falling in love and is now married to Dr. Daniel Knowles IV. They are both international speakers and educators. They have an amazing practice in Boulder , Co, which was established in 1999. They are a power team.
I am blessed to have my office here in Wellington and have been established since 2005. Each day I walk into my office I think about my sister, my twin, and how she has influenced me and has driven me to be the best I can be. She makes me a better friend, father, doctor and husband.
I am blessed to have my twin sister, Dr. Richelle Knowles, in my life. During school, we would always say “Wonder Twin Powers activate in the form of Chiropractors!”
So as we all reflect on the holidays think of that one special person that has made your life amazing, give them a call today and tell them you love them and thank them for everything they continue to do for you.
During this season, be kind, be courteous, be loving, and if you are looking for a Chiropractor, consider me, Dr. Randall Laurich of The Wellness Experience of Wellington, Inc. Wellness-experience.com.
Let’s face it, those who consider themselves to be artists tend to be freethinkers. They require a degree of space around them to let their creative juices simmer. Thereafter, we get to enjoy the bounty of their labor. Unfortunately, many artists are more productive during difficult points in time. Carole King wrote her greatest songs during her most sorrowful days. Van Gogh created masterpieces throughout times of despair and some of the most scholarly philosophers, writers and poets wrote their best prose while imprisoned. Sounds somber?
Well, I do have a point here. After the most contentious election in my lifetime, I see a bit of hope when it comes to creativity. Art is rarely one-dimensional. A flat canvas can express the utmost in emotion. During tumultuous times, often it is the artist that helps us sort through our thoughts. Photojournalists will capture pleasing or provocative images as history unfolds. Filmmakers will produce thought-evoking screenplays and documentaries. Feelings will be conveyed and artists will cry out for those who can’t speak for themselves. As long as this country guarantees the freedom of expression, the freedom to create, the cry for justice (on both sides of the political aisle) at this point in time will be recorded.
I must admit, dear readers, I have to thank you for helping me get out of bed early the day after watching the election results. On November 9th, in preparation for this article, I attended at press conference at the Norton Museum featuring the work of the Rudin Prize candidates (see below). Although I arrived in a tired and confused state, I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation given by Norton photography curator Tim B. Wride. Viewing the work of the new artists was enriching. The pieces themselves were meaningful. For me, it was healing. I was reminded of the fact that in this country we still have the freedom to articulate a strong message.
Initially, as observers or listeners, art patrons benefit in stillness. If they are moved by a creative experience, they will tell about it to others and so on. I truly sense that 2017 will be “the year of the blank canvas.” In the midst of a divided nation filled with as much love as there is vitriol, artists will probably flourish and create more than ever before. As my wise husband often says, “There’s a bright side to everything.”
Live…Go…Do!
Top 5 for December 2016
1) Norton Museum of Art
2016 Nominees – Rudin Prize for Emerging Photographers Exhibition
Images (left to right): Clare Benson, The Shepherd’s Daughter, 2012, archival pigment print, courtesy of the artist. Elizabeth Bick, Street Ballet I, 2015, chromogenic development print, courtesy of the artist. Alexandra Hunts, Substance of Time and Space, 2015, chromogenic development print, courtesy of the artist. Wesley Stringer Untitled, 2015, archival pigment print, courtesy of the artist.
Diverse Works By Nominees Clare Benson, Elizabeth Bick, Alexandra Hunts, and Wesley Stringer Offer Varied Perspectives on Contemporary Photography
Visitors Invited to View and Vote From Nov. 10, 2016 – Jan. 15, 2017
48 photographs, videos, and installation works by Clare Benson, Elizabeth Bick, Alexandra Hunts, and Wesley Stringer, who were nominated by Arno Minkkinen, Shirin Neshat, Rineke Dijkstra, and Michael Kenna, respectively. The exhibition is curated by Tim B. Wride, the Norton’s William and Sarah Ross Soter Curator of Photography. “The 2016 Rudin Prize nominees’ bodies of work encapsulate their continued growth as photographers and curiosity as observant artists,” said Wride. “We look forward to revealing to both the jury and visitors how these young artists have pursued in-depth discovery of ideas ranging from femininity and performance to the environment and childhood.” Each artist is individually showcased within the group show. The Rudin exhibition will showcase the complexity of their ideas and the inventiveness of their visual communication to express them.
Clare Benson’s artistic practice includes still-photography, performance, video, and sculpture. On view in the Norton’s exhibition will be selections from the artist’s ongoing series The Shepherd’s Daughter through which she poetically investigates gender roles, the capriciousness of memory, tradition, and mythology. Benson’s single image of the same title features her trekking across the starkly rural Michigan landscape, hoisting a massive antelope head upon her back. What could be read as a subsistence hunting scenario is complicated by the anomaly of the artist’s burden being a taxidermy trophy of an African beast.
Elizabeth Bick trained as a dancer before turning to photography. Her hard-won understanding as a performing artist still pervades her work as a visual artist. She is drawn to those situations that isolate yet simultaneously reinforce placement and gesture. Among her works on view will be an example of her Street Ballet series in which she uses the camera to organize and “choreograph” the random placement of urban pedestrians and Every God XXV (2016) from her series of the same name, which was made within the depths of the Roman Pantheon. The figure and her biblically expressive gesture is spotlighted against a deeply shadowed interior by the light streaming in from the central oculus.
Alexandra Hunts is intrigued with the interaction of digital and analog photography; consumed with the seeming inability of photography to show—not merely describe—abstract concepts; and obsessed with using photography to define the invisible. As a result, she has brought all of her creative powers and technical expertise to bear on the concepts of time and mass. Examples of her visual mediation of each will be on view in the Norton’s exhibition. A work such as Substance of Time and Space (2015) studies both a shifting object and time by documenting the evaporation of a glassful of water. Every 12 hours, the artist made a photograph of her subject: a glass and the water it contained until the glass was empty. She then folded and assembled all 154 photographs into a single image of a glass of water transitioning from being filled to being empty.
Wesley Stringer is a traditional photographer who also crafts handmade books. Both undertakings derive their significance and meaning from the artist’s subtlety of sequencing and empathetic understanding of the exponential accumulation of meaning available through visual haiku. His work is highly contemplative and populated by environmental imagery that recalls his home-schooled upbringing in rural Oklahoma. His search for quiet moments within a rapidly developing landscape results in expressive images of abandoned areas and hidden spaces. His most recent body of work traces the seasonal cycle and will be on view with three of his hand-bound books.
The winner, who will receive a $20,000 cash prize, will be selected by the Norton’s Photography Committee, comprised of the Norton’s Executive Director, photography curator, collectors, and trustees, and announced on Jan. 5, 2017 during Art After Dark. Visitors will be able to vote for a “People’s Choice” selection which will also be announced on that date.
The Rudin Prize, named in honor of the late New York City real estate developer Lewis Rudin, was initiated by Norton Museum staff and Beth Rudin DeWoody, who is a member of the Photography Committee at the Norton and President of The Rudin Family Foundations and Executive Vice President of Rudin Management Company. Past winners of the award include Argentine Analia Saban, nominated by John Baldessari, in 2012; and Israeli Rami Maymon, nominated by Adi Nes, in 2014. – Norton Press Release
Admission is free! For more information go to Norton.org
2) Mounts Botanical Garden – The Pavilion
Stories in the Garden:Shapes All Around
Friday, December 9 – 10 to 11:30 am
Admission is free!
Speaker: Stacey Burford, Youth Services Librarian
Celebrate the 13th year of Stories in the Garden by bringing young ones (ages 2-6) to these FREE nature-themed programs co-sponsored by the Palm Beach Library System. They’ll love the interactive stories, songs and learning activities in the Garden. Programs are held rain or shine in the sheltered Pavilion. No reservations required, except for parties of six or more. A craft activity to culminate each day will be reserved for the first 30 registrants. (Note: To pre-register, call the Director of Programs at Mounts at 561.233-1751 or Stacy Burford at 561.649.5439.)
3) Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
ART + MEDICINE
“Putting the ‘STEAM’ in ‘STEM’
Photo: Courtesy Cultural Council
An educational medical art exhibition
featuring the medical illustrations of artist and designer
Pamela Boullier Ross in collaboration with Dr. Dror Paley,
The Paley Institute and The Paley Foundation
Hosted by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
4) Kravis Center For The Performing Arts – Rinker Playhouse
The Other Mozart: Written and Performed by Sylvia Milo
December 9 and December 10, 2016
7:30 PM
Tickets $32
Photo: Kravis Center
The Other Mozart is the true and untold story of Maria Anna Mozart, nicknamed Nannerl, the sister of Amadeus. She, too, was a child prodigy – a keyboard virtuoso and composer who toured Europe with her brother to equal acclaim. But then she turned 18. This poignant one-woman play, which puts Nannerl back on stage where she belongs, reveals a world of extraordinary beauty and overwhelming prejudice. This PEAK performance is made possible by a grant from theMLDauray Arts Initiative in honor of Leonard and Sophie Davis
For tickets go to Kravis.org
5) Free Event – Bring Blankets and Picnic Baskets:
Join us on the Waterfront for an afternoon of beautiful music, in a beautiful setting. We’re bringing together more than 100 musicians together to present an enjoyable afternoon of live opera at the Meyer Amphitheatre in downtown West Palm Beach.
Bring a blanket and picnic basket and enjoy opera’s most recognizable arias and ensembles performed by Palm Beach Opera’s Benenson Young Artists, Orchestra, and Chorus for an unforgettable afternoon of music. Please continue to check back for more more information about Opera @ The Waterfront as artists are confirmed for this special community concert. This community event is FREE, and no tickets are required.
December 3rd | Winterfest
istmas and Hanukkah, gratitude is especially important too. Our children are the recipients of many gifts, and expressing gratitude is always a good thing.
As the Holidays draw near, I seem to always reflect on my childhood and how I was influenced by certain people, television shows, traditions, holiday performances and religion. Some of the most memorable experiences, continue to this day, to be the time spent with my twin sister. Oh, we didn’t always get along, and as siblings typically do, we did fight and disagree on some things. But, the one thing that we always did have was each other. A twins bond is different than the normal sibling. Studies show that the time spent in womb creates a connection that remains in place forever.
I am blessed to have my twin sister, Dr. Richelle Knowles, in my life. During school, we would always say “Wonder Twin Powers activate in the form of Chiropractors!”
