The 18th of October was a seriously fun day for the semester one Experiencing the Arts class and the Art 2 classes. First was a half hour long bus ride to the Hood Museum at Dartmouth to see two shows: Collectanea and So Much Trouble in the World - Believe It or Not! Admittedly, Collectanea at times failed to hold my attention (and I know a few of my classmates were less than impressed). Although it had a few very cool artifacts (my favorite being a figure with a massive strange smile and its hands tied behind its back), it was a very run-of-the-mill (small) show. The tour guide spent all too much time explaining each piece and people were just not really into it. Before moving on we were allowed a few minutes to look at various paintings of the Hood's permanent collection (which consisted of one of my all time favorites). Upon finishing Collectanea and making our way up the stairs, our attitudes were immediately changed. The first thing that caught your eye as you reached the second floor and Fred Wilson's So Much Trouble in the World - Believe It or Not! was an intense bright pink/red colored platform, wall and stands. There were very traditional-looking portraits and grey/off-white busts which would have been something short of interesting had it not been for the amazing backdrop color. It had a way of holding your attention. Moving on the walls changed to a deep plum color. The first exhibit was a series of more interesting in-color busts. People it seemed of Native and African-American heritage. Most seemed to have a rather solemn look on their face and none were smiling, all seemed to have a story. One in particular was a story of a beautiful African-American boy who was brought by force from his homeland and exploited like an animal in a zoo. Another was a series of hands in different positions, about which I failed to learn the significance, (although it did look neat). In the furthest room there were various paintings. Most were shrouded in a cut of black material. The shrouded paintings were of violence and death, so I'm supposing Fred was just making the more depressing images optional. All in all, a very good show.

After the Hood we were set loose in Hanover to find lunch (which we found at Subway and Ben & Jerry's). After much needed nourishment and relaxation, we boarded the bus and headed to the Montshire Museum, a place I have not visited in years. Two whole hours of frivolous bliss. We ran around outside, played with sound waves, studied ants, powered an elevator via bicycle, watched fish, looked at frogs, made paper helicopters, sent a metal ball bearing for a spin, sent pennies for a loop, stood inside bubbles, measured dinosaurs, looked at lynx and birds of prey, altered fog patterns, played a giant Xylaphone, spat off the highest possible point, played with worms, looked at life-like dinosaurs, patted a taxidermy moose, and felt like a six-year-old again.

The all around fabulous day of course had to have its down sides. This one's only down side happened to be on the bus ride home when (nutty) students decided to make themselves smell sexy with Axe cologne ($#&*%#!!!).
END. By Carrie Bladyka