Artisan Column by Jen Rubinowitz | 9/25/11

"Ageless" has come to mind so many times over the last several days. The Italian art and architecture we're seeing in Italy has been incredible. It's made me feel a bit less inclined to sweat the small stuff in dealing with saving a seventy-four-year-old building when I'm looking at renovation work in varying stages for structures that go back centuries. If you've got good bones to work with, it's all creative icing on the cake beyond that.

The enduring detail and the variety of the works we've seen is just overwhelming. Today was our first day exploring Bologna. It seems around every turn are fantastic sculptures, carving and painting. Many of the piazzas are connected with covered market areas supported by vast columns. And at the top of each one are unique caps sculpted with individual thematic scenes. The time and effort this took completely boggles the mind.

Unfortunately, Bologna is covered in graffiti. And I'm not talking about the nice, artistic paintings that show some talent. It's just your basic garden variety you see in every city. And it's literally found everywhere there's a wall that can be spray painted. Such a shame that so many don't respect what they've got. So, take the time this week to show some appreciation for what you've got available to you: there are new concerts, exhibits, and plays that just began all at your fingertips - don't miss them!

Artisan Events:

• Saturday, October 1, 7:30 p.m. - "Ben Livingston and the That's What She Said! Band" in concert. Rialto Theater. Admission: $12.

• Daily through October 2 - "Isle of Man" Exhibit. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.

• Friday, October 7, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - First Friday Reception: "Island Treasures" Group Show. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.

• Fridays & Saturdays October 7 - 29, 7:30 p.m. - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." Harbor Playhouse. Admission: $6-$16

• Daily through October 16 - "Kronke/Gritte/Grappe" Exhibit. Rockport Center for the Arts. Admission: Free.

• Saturday, October 22, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - "Shorelines" Exhibit Opening Reception. Rockport Center for the Arts. Admission: Free.

• Daily through October 25 - "Moods" Exhibit by Gary Hansen and Jackie Anderson. Rialto Theater. Admission: Free.

• Fridays through October 31, 7:30 p.m. - "Rocky Horror Show" The Aurora Arts Theatre. Admission: $15.

• Saturdays through October 31, 7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. - "Rocky Horror Show" The Aurora Arts Theatre. Admission: $15.

Jen Rubinowitz is a member of the Board of Directors of the Rialto Theater, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization fostering art and education through visual art, music and live stage productions in the historic movie theater in downtown Aransas Pass. Her day job is in real estate at Coldwell Banker The Ron Brown Company. If you have someone you'd like to spotlight in this column, drop her a line at jen@jenscoastalbend.com.