A Fun Date

I've written before about Gallery Walk--where art galleries in downtown Wilmington stay open late and offer light appetizers and wine while you check out their latest exhibits.  It's always fun to see what's new.  Our friend, Bruce Bowman, often shows at one of the galleries.  He is an architect, so his work has a linear, almost blueprint type feel to it.  His work is modern, but not like Picasso or Kooning. 

I used to criticize modern works that I saw.  To me, they were a blur of color, broken black lines and chunks of paint dribbled down the canvas. I would tell Tony that Ben, our  grandson, could create better artwork than what we were seeing.  But, the artist in Tony defended the pieces.  He wasn't crazy about the work either, but he told me that art, in its true form, makes people talk.  It evokes an emotion in people.  It makes you look at it.  And I found that he was right.  We were talking about what I saw and it did evoke an emotion in me; probably not the one that the artist was targeting, but the pieces did hit a nerve. 

I look at modern pieces differently now.  I tend to look at them in smaller "frames" rather than the full piece.   I follow the lines.  I examine what colors are mixed together.    I don't think I like them any more than I originally did, but now I recognize them as art. 

After going to several galleries, we went to a place called Level 5.  The story goes that Dennis Hopper was filming a movie in Wilmington and fell in love with the city.  He bought a building in the downtown area and restored it.  The top floor, the 5th, is now a small theatre and bar.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  Wilmington has a lot of empty buildings that are in disrepair.  Even those who are occupied are not in good condition.  They are old, small and have creaky steps. 

When we got to the Hopper Building to go to Level 5 we rang for the elevator.  The elevator was narrow.  The sign inside said no more than 5 people could be on it at one time or there would be serious delays due to too much weight!!

 

You could only tell that it was a theatre by the billboards and costumes displayed as the elevator door opened on 5--that and a few red doors with section numbers printed on them.  The bar was on the roof...there were metal tables and chairs around the edge overlooking the river and bridges.  It was getting dark so the city lights twinkled against the water.  It was cool and breezy.  We paid $1.00 and we are official members of Level 5.  Wow...what a hoot!

 

After that, we headed to the City Club to see our friend Greg, the manager,  and for one more glass of wine and then home.  I was teasing Tony about singing to me on the way home.  Getting Tony to sing is much like trying to push a huge boulder uphill--it just doesn't  happen very often.  But, I was lucky, he did indeed sing to me all the way home--99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.  It was a long, long ride, but a really fun date.

 

I worked on Saturday and today it was football, chicken wings and corn hole.  A perfect day.   I work tomorrow and hope that Marie can hold off on having the baby until Tuesday. 

 

This evening we will be sitting out on the lanai, listening to music and maybe light a fire in the chiminea.  Yes, I work tomorrow, but my weekend was lovely.