Larry Hamill' s recent pics of Chicago

Larry Hammil sent this last week -charlie
Hi Charlie,
I was in Chicago last weekend to attend a seminar. Enclosed are some shots I took for the fun of it. Cheers, Larry

Ragazine, New Issue - Seeking Submissions

ragazine.cc

Call for submissions:

Music, art, photography, poetry,
fiction, opinion, sports, reports

on world events, underground bars,

architecture, fashion ... travel destinations
and places to stay away from.

Whatever turns you on.

We reserve first rights, then all rights revert
to the contributor. Previously published work OK by us with credit

as to where previously published work appeared.

Support your independent e-zine ...
Send material by e-mail with contact information

and 2-3 lines of 3rd person bio to:

The editor

New work! Check out:

http://www.ragazine.cc

Chad Chimes In

Chad Tooker left Columbus about one year ago. He is reaching out to all his Columbus friends, letting them know that he is now in San Francisco, peddling and promoting art (what else?)-charlieFor those heading to "Art Chicago" (4/25 - 4/27, Merchandise Mart), be sure to stop by Hackett-Freedman Gallery's booth, #12-612. Specializing in 20th-century and contemporary painting and sculpture, with expertise in Postwar American and California art, we'll be featuring works by Frankenthaler, Motherwell, Avery, Hodgkin, Manuel Neri, Robert De Niro, Sr., et al.

As a relative newbie to the gallery, I won't be traveling this year. But, if you're in the market to buy, let me know and I'll see that you're taken care of. Also, look for us at Art Basel Miami Beach, ARCO (Madrid, Spain), and a New York fair TBD.

Best regards,

Chad Tooker
Hackett-Freedman Gallery
250 Sutter St., 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108
www.hackettfreedman.com

The Art of Chris Steele

Chris is one of my dearest friends. I have known him at least 30 years. To call him eccentric is an understatement. Suffice it to say that I have enjoyed every moment of his company and look forward to many more years of friendship. Come to the opening reception… I'll be there! -charlie

April 16 - May 12, 2008
Reception: April 21, 6 -7:30 pm
Upper Arlington Concourse Gallery
Municipal Services Center
3600 Tremont Road
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
614 583 5310

www.ua-ohio.net

Upper Arlington Artist shares work of past 30 years. Steele received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from OSU in 1970. He works in a variety of media and likes to to tackle serious content with humor. See his whimsical mechanical contraptions, works from his series "Pencils are mightier than swords", and recent photographs of other-than-man-made Ohio Crop Circles, displayed in the Upper Arlington Municipal Building Concourse. (Ohio is the #1 state in the U.S. for reported crop circles.)

Join Chris Steele for Artspeak, a conversation with the artist, on Wednesday, April 30, 12 t0 1 pm, Concourse Gallery. Admission is free.

CJO presents New Orleans on Parade

Columbus Jazz Orchestra
presents
New Orleans on Parade

Starring Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews
April 23 - 27
Southern Theatre

22-year old Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andews is a New Orleans musician who brings the inner-city flavor of "N'Awlins" to the stage. ry was named Offbeat magazine's performer of the year and has eceived umerous accoldes for his ability to capture the essence of the jazz scene.

Tickets?
Columbus Jazz Orchestra

Wild Women Read and Write

This came from Katherine Burkman who was active with the now defunct Women at Play

A group that grew out of WOMEN AT PLAY, who call themselves WILD WOMEN WRITING, which is what they are, will give a free reading of their work, April 10th at The Upper Arlington Library, 2800 Tremont Rd., in the library's basement theatre. You are cordially invited to attend.

Best, Patricia Ake, Katherine Burkman, Anne Brethauer, Carole Dale, Ann C. Hall, Susie Gerald, and Laura Zakin (the wild women)

ragazine.cc update

Mike Foldes started Ragazine in Columbus in the mid 70s. Many of our friends contributed their skills, art, writings, images, etc. to help create a mind-blowing magazine that covered arts and lifestyles, considered by many to be way ahead of it's time. Mike (and Margo) moved on a number of years ago, ending in upstate NY. Years went by, the internet, websites and blogs were invented, and Ragazine cc was started.

The images below are contributions to ragazine by Columbus photographer Larry Hamill,

and former resident photographer Valerie Brown.

Check out the website and blog

Ubaka Hill performs and leads workshops in Columbus

This post was submitted by my friend Wahru, a gifted and talented drummer and invites readers to a series of workshops and a promised energetic performance. - charlie

Ubaka Hill (oo-BAH-ka) ~ an authentic, energetic performer, composer, songwriter, recording artist, motivational speaker, conference weaver, teacher and facilitator of hand drumming workshops for more than 25 years throughout the United States. Her soul-vision and intention is to facilitate and inspire personal transformation, empowerment, healing and joy with music that moves you.

Ubaka's Workshop and Performance Schedule and Cost

$15 Friday night workshop only Women and men

$50 Friday night workshop (2 hrs), Satruday workshop (6 hrs with breaks), Saturday night concert included [Saturday workshop is women only]

$40 - Saturday workshop (6 hrs with breaks), Satruday night concert included. Saturday workshop is women only]

$25 - Friday night workshop and Saturday night concert Women and Men

$15 - Saturday night concert Only Women and Men

Schedule
Friday, April 18, 7 to 9 PM
Saturday, April 19, 10 AM to 4 PM with a lunch break
Saturday, April 19, 8-10 Concert

Last note: We are almost ready for ticket sales, etc. We still need to do some things on our end and get certain things from Ubaka. Also, We have decided to have the workshops and the concert at Broad Stree Christian Church, 1049 East Broad Street [21st and Broad]. It has an elevator which makes it assessible. I'm just trying to keep you up on the information.
www.broadstreetcc.org

This is a benefit for Lesbian Health News: www.ohiowomeninc.org/orgs/lhn.html

B. 'Wahru' Cleveland

Check her website out, where you will find sound samples of her recordings and you can purchase her CD:

www.ubakahill.com

Ralph Rosenfield updates his food reviews

Ralph Rosenfield has submitted food and restaurant reviews to "innerart" for a few years now. I love his unbridled entusiasm at reliving his favorite eating eating experiences. Always a joy. -charlie

Up-Date

I think you may know how Jan and I love ice cream. We don’t actually believe it is a food group but it is close. So it may not come as a surprise to you that we really love Jeni’s Ice Creams. Her skills at combining flavors and textures are in our view unrivaled and we have been fans of hers since she opened it the North Market a few years ago. Our favorites are; Queen City Cayenne, Dark Coffee, and Dark Chocolate Zinfandel Gelato. So when she recently offered a Lapsang Souchong with Armagnac Prunes we had to get some.

We had invited some friends for dinner and had decided to serve the Lapsang Souchong, and the Queen City Cayenne for part of the desert. So when it was time I went to our freezer and pulled out what I thought was the Ice Cream. I found the Queen City. But I couldn’t find the Lapsang Souchong, so I pulled out one that was labeled (in black marker) H&B. The texture of the H&B didn’t seem right, and on tasting it our guests were sure. I, being stubborn continued to try it and eventually ate the whole portion I had scooped out. It was a lot like ham and beans. We all thought that the nice people at Jeni’s had made a mistake and had given me a failed experiment with Ham and Bean ice cream. The next day I returned the ice cream to Jeni’s and they gave me a pint of the Lapsang Souchong.I told them about getting This Ham & Bean stuff, and asked if it might have been some sort of experiment. The person I talked with thought it was more likely to be somebody’s lunch. I went home put the ice cream in our freezer and discovered a fresh pint of Lapsang Souchong… The ham & bean had been ours. I returned to Jeni’s some days later and tried to explain the mix up. I was told they liked the story the way it was, and that I shouldn’t worry about “making it right”

Due Amici; 67 East Gay Street

Due Amici has been open about four years now. Jan and I have been there frequently enjoying the sidewalk dinning, their pizza’s, salads and drinks. In many ways it is a lot like Kent Rigsby’s old K2U, a fun place to go with a group of friends and have a good time with great drinks and good grub. This isn’t a review but I was there a week ago and realized that we had not done one. So I just wanted to tell you this is a neat place and you should go. When your there, ask for Jeff’s special “Meatballs and Pepper” dish I think you may enjoy it. The special of Sea Bass that passed by me the evening I was there looked great, and smelled better. Whoever ordered it was lucky it got by me.

We will do a real review of Due Amici, Latitude 41 and Black Creek Bistro later. Till then enjoy some of the great owner/chef places to eat here in Columbus, you won’t be disappointed.

Theodicy a free staged reading at OSU' Urban Space (former Lazarus department store) on Tuesady, March 11

Judy Juanita’s Theodicy will be presented in a free staged reading at the Ohio State University College of the Arts Urban Arts Space on Tuesday, March 11^th, at noon. The Urban Arts Space is in the former Lazarus Department Store, on the corner of High Street and State Street. The entrance is on State Street between High and Front.

Theodicy features a cast of veteran Columbus actors, including Patrica Wallace-Winbush, Truman Winbush, Anita Davis, and Darius Williams. An imaginative and epic retelling of the African-American experience, Theodicy is the first runner-up in the 2007 Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition. Playwright Judy Juanita, a resident of Oakland, California, has been produced by the San Francisco Mime Troupe, the San Francisco Bay Area Playwights’ Center, the National Black Theatre Festival, the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley, California, and San Francisco’s Marsh Café and Brava! Theatre, among many others. She has been an artist-in-the schools in New Jersey, and is a widely published poet as well as playwright.

Over five hundred plays were submitted to the 2007 Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition. The competition honors Columbus native (and Ohio State alumna) Eileen Heckart (1919-2001), the distinguished American actress whose long career culminated in her stunning performance in Kenneth Lonergan=s The Waverly Gallery (2000), for which she received the Drama Desk Award, Obie Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award. That same year she was awarded the Tony for lifetime achievement. She also was the recipient of an Academy Award (Butterflies Are Free), Golden Globe (The Bad Seed) and an Emmy (Save Me A Place at Forest Lawn). She was recognized with a Margo Jones Medal in 2000 for her long championing of new plays, having appeared in almost thirty world premiere productions.

As a side note: March 11th is the 49th anniversary of the premiere of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, the first play by an African-American woman writer to be produced on Broadway.

This message came from:
Alan Woods, Coordinator
The Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition
The Jerome Lavvrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute
The Ohio State University
1430 Lincoln Tower
1800 Cannon Drive
Columbus, OH 43210-1230
614 292-6614 office
614 688-8417 fax
614 282-6104 viator

Larry Hamill Recent Photo Images

My friend Larry Hamill is an amazing photographer who shoots images all over the world and never ceases to amaze me. See for yourself. He sent us these recent pics, just a small sample of his huge collection of stock images, and asks that you visit his website: www.larryhamill.com to see more. Check it out. You will like it!
charlie

Tom Radca & Brenda McMahon Pottery Weekend in North Ohio rustic studio/Barn

Nationally known artists Tom Raca and Brenda McMahon invite a select group of ceramic artists, ranging from polished and established to emerging and wanabees, to experience a unique weekend of intensive hands-on ceramic techniques, taught in a serenely beautiful section of Northern Ohio farmland surrounded by woods and rolling hills.

The instructions take place in the barn/studio, near the horse stalls, and the large walk-in kilns. Delicious informal meals, served throughout the weekend, generate stimulating conversations that inevitably create unique bonds of camaraderie among all participant

Please check out their websites and especially their blog: http://mcmahon-radca.blogspot.com/


-charlie

LARGE & L O O S E

Polished & Poetic

Throwing Large Platters & Saggar Firing

At the Studios of:

Tom Radca & Brenda McMahon

Port Washington, OH 43837.
740.498.4303 or 518.796.4207
www.TomRadca.com or www.Bluemoonclay.com
tom@tomradca.com or Brenda@BlueMoonClay.com

Throwing Large Platters & Saggar Firing Workshop

2 full days - demonstration & hands on firing intensive - $275

Date: May 17 & 18, 2008 (Sat & Sun) 10 – 5pm

Bring 1 – 3 small pots to include in the saggar firing.

This 2-day demonstration and firing intensive workshop is open to potters of all
skill levels from beginner to advanced. We will have 2 components to the weekend.

1. Throwing Large.
How much clay can you comfortably center at once? Is it 4lbs, 6lbs or 10lbs? Whatever you can comfortably center, Tom will teach you how to double and triple the amount of clay you can center and give you techniques on throwing that clay. Large and Loose is relative. If you throw 4 or 6lbs comfortably, learn to throw 12 in just one day. If you throw 12lbs comfortably, you’re ready to jump up to 24lbs. Tom regularly centers and throws 36lbs of clay, resulting is his dynamic 30” diameter platters. Throwing Large is for everyone – and we all know sometimes size does matter.

2. Polished & Poetic.
Brenda’s throwing, burnishing and saggar firing is about refinement and surface texture. Saggar firing is a contemporary pitfire process whereby Brenda uses natural materials, mineral salts and the chemistry of art and fire to create soft blushes on her burnished vessels. In this firing intensive section of the workshop, you will learn the philosophy and technique of saggar firing and how to build and fire a saggar kiln. Each participant is welcome to put 1 to 3 of his or her own pieces in the firing. Brenda gives throwing demonstrations, surface treatment, including burnishing & terra-sig as well as finishing techniques on the final saggar pieces. Please bring 1-3 small bisque fired pots to put in the saggar kiln.

Cost of the weekend is $275. Affordable housing options are available.
More info? 740.498.4303 or 518.796.4207
www.TomRadca.com or www.Bluemoonclay.com
tom@tomradca.com or Brenda@BlueMoonClay.com

TASI

Reviewed by Ralph Rosenfield

TASI
“Fresh. Seasonal. Local”

We have been big Rigsby’s fans since Rigsby’s Cuisine Volatile opened in what, in the restaurant world, could be considered “millenia” ago. Over the years Rigsby’s has consistently delivered what we have come to believe is the best food in the city, day in, day out. With reasonable pricing on their wines and a varied and regularly updated menu to tempt us Rigsby’s can be counted on for a great dining experience. And now the Rigsby’s have done it again! Their newest venture, TASI, has already become a new favorite for us.



TASI. What a breath of fresh air! This small gem is located in the former “Pistachio” location on Pearl Alley in the Short North, between Lincoln and Russell. I had lunch at TASI one day recently, returned with Jan for dinner the same evening, then Jan had lunch at TASI the next day and we both went back for dinner that night, as well. Do you think we like the place?



Several of TASI’s larger family style tables encourage shared dining with other patrons, which we were fortunate enough to enjoy with Steve Stover and his wife Mary on one of our dinner visits and with our Buggyworks neighbors Rick and Merry on our second dinner visit. Steve is well known locally as a great foodie and reviewer, so he and I had a good time exchanging our almost entirely favorable impressions of the several menu items we ended up sharing. And Merry and Rick were in the sharing mode also, so we have now tried a pretty broad selection of TASI’s offerings. What follows is our take on what we think may be the next “IN” place to go.



We should first say that this is not a small menu. It lists no less than ten breakfast items, which are happily served ALL day long. Lunch begins at 11am with at least 15 items available through the 9pm closing time. We counted seven soups and salad items, 16 side dishes, multiple bread selections, at least seven desserts and about 10 take-home meal options. And several daily specials to boot! I’m exhausted just writing all that down!



We haven’t found anything we DIDN’T enjoy, so we’ll touch on a few of our favorites and leave it to you to discover the rest.



Sourdough Pancakes with sweet and spicy bacon and Ohio maple syrup @$7.00. Two plate-sized pancakes that are probably the lightest I have ever enjoyed. The flavor is distinctly sourdough and nothing is better on pancakes than “real” maple syrup. The bacon could have been a bit warmer for my taste, but it was full of flavor.



Huevos Rancheros with Queso Fresco Tortilla @$7.00. Another home run, this dish is comprised of two poached eggs (next time I will ask for slightly less done) over a fresh bed of salsa and a warm tortilla. Could this be Mexico?



Cinnamon Danish @$2.95. Be careful - this is an addictive delight. Doughy, alive with cinnamon flavor, and sinful when served warm with extra butter.



Meatloaf, Grilled Onions, Homemade Ketchup, Horseradish Mayo @ $9.00. I was lusting after this sandwich from the moment I so rudely peered over the shoulders of Steve and Mary seated at a large family-size table. Not known for being shy or standoffish, my obvious interest prompted Steve to graciously offer me a taste. What else could he do to stop my drooling? With veal, pork and beef in the mix, it was full-flavored and sized just right to be filling but not overly so.



Fries with Reggiano and Pepper Flake @$3.00. TASI sets the new standard in French Fries with this supreme side. Hot, crispy, fresh (not frozen) potatoes, cut and combined with the grilled onion and reggiano, they are simply the best! No ketchup needed here.



Potato Latkes with Chives and Sour Cream @$2.95; add Smoked Salmon for an extra $3.00. The Latkes are better than my Jewish grandmother ever managed and she made REALLY GOOD latkes!



Open Faced “Zoe” Tuna Sandwich with capers, relish, onions, and hard boiled egg @$6.00. The best canned tuna ever! This is a wonderfully fresh, light and perfectly prepared tuna salad – a simple, yet highly satisfying “comfort food” experience.



Lobster Mac and Cheese @$10.00. Lobster and Mac and cheese? What were Kent and Tasi drinking when they came up with this? It wasn’t water. But this IS a GREAT combination. Real cheese, creamy sauce, fresh lobster and a perfectly browned top jump up and demand that you pay attention.



Finish your meal with home-style cookies, cream pie or chocolate pudding, and you’ll leave feeling satisfied and looking forward to your NEXT visit to this warm and homey addition to our local dining scene.



Are you convinced? Go ahead and give it a try. At such friendly prices (including the wine at just one penny over retail!) you just can’t go wrong.