Gentlemen (and ladies), start your engines, the race is on for another Memorial Day weekend of electrifying excitement and a summer of fun in the sun.
It was a pleasure to have Carolyn Lickerman back in Columbus to bring us up to date on the art and architecture of Columbus City Hall. She was an integral part of the planning and implementing of the new City Hall in 1981. Lickerman served Columbus in many ways, and as a city council member she chaired the Art Selection Committee working directly with architect Edward Charles Bassett of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
In her charming and somewhat humble way, she talked of how she ended up in California with her artistic and creative background, choosing the furniture design and much of the Indiana artist’s work displayed in City Hall. The Indiana University Center for Art & Design, 310 Jackson St., features “Columbus City Hall: Center for Civic Inspiration,” through June 27, showing Bassett’s design intent and the public art program that made City Hall what it is today.
The St. Bartholomew Concert Series ended May 16 with the beautiful and talented Jenny Heichelbech, soprano, and Mirabella Minut at piano, paying tribute to opera and Broadway, along with songs of faith. We were away for the weekend and also missed the very successful Lobsterfest, which had more than 400 in attendance and raised a good amount to support the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic youth education programs.
A breathtaking experience took place for us at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Lilly Classical Series program in early May under the direction of Jun Markl, conductor. The guest performer was Arabella Steinbacher, an exquisite and remarkable young woman who is noted to be one of the world’s greatest violinists and who has performed all over the world with leading international orchestras.
She was born in Munich to a German father and Japanese mother, both musicians. Listening to her being interviewed on National Public Radio, she related that her studies on the violin started at age 3 at the behest of her parents because of her incessant activity and energy and also studied piano starting at age 8. She plays the “Booth” Stradivari (1716), generously provided by the Nippon Music Foundation, preferring the violin because it becomes part of her being.
Markl was a wonder to observe conducting the Mendelssohn Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, and the Berlioz “Symphonie fantastique,” Op.14.
By now we will have had the honor of paying respect to veterans with the annual Salute! concert, featuring the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic orchestra and special guest Greg Rolph, former Columbus North High School student and football center. My memory takes me back to many weekends spent boating at Monroe Reservoir with the Rolph, Hodek and Perr families and many others from Columbus with boats full of kids, food and fun.
Ahoy, all you mariners! Grandview Yacht Club is off and sailing for the spring and summer with “Scuttlebutt & Race Yarns,” and I quote: “Loosely based on actual events and people etc.” and not to be taken too seriously. Sounds like a fun group of sailors and mates to me.
The spring social was hosted by Kevin Preuss and Lisa Duret to kick off the season and enjoy appetizers and desserts and getting caught up on others’ lives. The Memorial Day breakfast and History Book Roll-Out will be Monday, hosted by Jeff and Gloria Voelz. The book, “A History of Grandview Lake,” will be available and signed by contributors, John and Donna Sasse, Jim and Peggy Voelz and Brad Arthur.
