Art Goat Yoga Disco Kayaking

February 17, 2020

Sounds like some really weird clues in the game, Taboo. But these are actually new and interesting things that I experienced in July and August 2019.

First up, Work Table, sponsored by the Ann Arbor Art Center. Described as a” live installation which takes you on a personal exploration of destruction and renewal,” this art exhibit let you through a series of make shift rooms where you chose an object, take things apart and use these materials to create something new again.

So first I had to get ready for whatever came my way!

Next, I chose my object (the Globe) and went into my work space.

I then spent some time taking apart the globe and seeing how it was constructed.

It was surprisingly more sturdy then you would think, but I finally got it deconstructed.

Then it was time to leave my globe for someone other to pick up and choose an another item to recreate.

I decided to take a plate and moved into the next room where I had a work space to recreate.

Here I found out that puzzles are much easier to piece together than broken plates.

Finally, you took your “new again old” art to the display room for others to admire.

What did I learn? I guess it is that I’m not a tinkerer. I probably could have lived my entire life not seeing the guts of a globe, but I couldn’t live my life not doing crazy things like this interactive art experience as I don’t ever want to be accused of being boring!

Later in July, I was off to Kansas for a couple days to see my sister and her family. We ended up taking the kids to the Deanna Rose Farm, that has lots of nature and animals, two things not high on my list of ways to spend my time. Somehow I found myself if line to bottle feed goats. Who knew this was a thing? As you can see, I was pretty much a pro!

Not to be outdone, that same week, I met my friend Kelly in Detroit and this time were off to the Ren Cen parking lot to do yoga on the roof. Not sure what to expect, I pictured sweltering at temperatures approximate to the surface of the sun, but I was wrong, it was amazing!

The top deck of the parking lot was turned into an urban oasis, complete with “grass” and a fair amount of shade at 6 pm.

We had a great time, felt vindicated hitting Atwater Brewing for dinner after working out and had an amazing view!

Back in the D later than week, I found myself in Beacon park unexpectedly on a Saturday night. Besides a summer roof top bar and lawn games, this evening happened to be a Silent Disco! Why not? Three DJ’s were spinning the tunes and you switched your headphones to the DJ color if you wanted rap, Top 40 or dance music. It was awesome to see people dancing around, lost in their own thoughts. I definitely want to do this again, and the best part, it was free!

With such a unique July, August was a little bit of a let down. I found one thing to try that was new, Glow Kayaking. Armed with a lot of bug spray and a kayak equipped with lights that could be changed to multiple colors, we took off at dusk down the Huron River.

Due to a sick kid, my friend who was supposed to go with me, had to cancel, so off I want by myself. But, I made some friends and probably drove our instructor crazy with all my questions.

The river was silent, and at times, I felt like I was in the movie Deliverance and I would hear a banjo playing at any moment. It was a bit creepy as darkness set and the bats came out to play. However, it was majestic and peaceful as well. And who knew, that red lights are much better at keeping the bugs away then white ones?