Three Random Artifacts, Bobblehead Included

I.  GLASS ART

You could own an original piece of visual art by composer Philip Glass.  He donated a 6” X 6” piece to the Rochester Contemporary Art Center, 137 East Avenue in Rochester.  The gallery’s director Blue Cease sent this picture of the back of the work:   

Blue writes, “We can't show the front since all the works are anonymous until purchased... not sure if it has been purchased. Someone may have scored it for $20 or it might still be available!”

The show is a fundraiser for the small, elegant gallery in Rochester’s East End.  Blue says he'll reveal the names of sold out artists on the site on July 6th.  More than a thousand pieces have been purchased already, and curators are aiming for two thousand by July 15th.  The 4,500 square-foot art center is open from Wednesday – Sunday, 1pm - 5pm, and on Fridays from 1pm - 10pm. Admission is one dollar.  

If you go, try to guess which piece is by Philip Glass.  Send us a picture!

II. THE ROCHESTER SONGBOOK

Did you know our fair city has an official songbook?  It’s hokey, for sure. 

“If you’d rather be in Rochester, this album’s for you,” wrote music critic David Stearns about a 1980 LP of songs celebrating the Genesee, Kodak, local legends such as Sam Patch, and city founder Ebenezer Allan.  The Rochester Oratorio Society is singing some of these "classics" again at the Hochstein Performance Hall on June 7th.  On Friday, June 8th  at 1 p.m., members of the group Resonanz (a subset of ROS) will offer some of the tunes on WXXI-FM's live performance program, Backstage Pass with Julia Figueras.

“The Rochester Songbook is mercilessly resurrected in performances that make no attempt to hide their charmingly high spirits,” Sterns wrote in 1980. 

Get your own copy!  Download the whole book here.

III. MORDECAI - THE REAL, LOVEABLE GUY

The real Mordecai Lipshutz (not the bobblehead) is back!  WXXI’s former afternoon classical host has been spotted at local events following a long and serious illness.  This makes me happy.  He says he’s lost weight, is feeling much better, and is looking forward to closing the International Jazz Festival again this year by singing the last song at the final jam session.