OOO #6: Outfits, Ohio, and Other Things I Like
A repeat outfit, a corn field, a mug, and a special tribute.
Outfits
Ohio
I was reminded over dinner last night of one of my favorite places in the greater Columbus area: the field of cement corn in Dublin. I am not being facetious; if you visit me in Columbus, I will bring you here.
“Field of Corn (with Osage Orange Trees)” is charming, aesthetically pleasing, and ever-so-slightly absurd. The project (which is a lot larger than you might expect) is installed on land that was once cultivated by Sam Frantz, a farmer who specialized in corn hybridization. The Dublin Arts Council, which organized the project, calls it “a memorial to rural landscapes,” which contextualizes the combination of medium and subject. There is a solid write-up about the history of and the reaction to the piece on RoadsideAmerica.com.
Other Things I Like
One of my favorite Christmas gifts this past year was a Starbucks mug from Oman. I have been lucky enough to travel to Oman twice—once for a summer-long Arabic language program in 2012 through the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (big fan of the SQCC over here) and again in March 2014 to do field research for my MA capstone project. I bought a mug during my 2014 trip, but used it so much that it eventually cracked, and I was pretty bummed about it.
I love Oman so much; the truly kind people, the diverse cultures, and the extensive history (including its time as a maritime empire!) make Oman a lovely and fascinating place to be. On top of all that, it is one of the most naturally stunning places I’ve ever seen—from its beaches to its mountains to its gorgeous sand dunes. If you’re looking for a beautiful, friendly (again, Omanis are truly some of the loveliest people on the planet), outdoorsy, and safe place to travel, and you’re a big fan of the desert (like me!), definitely check out Oman.
Here are a few photos from my time there. I lived in Nizwa during my language program and have traveled all over the north and east including Muscat (the capital), Bahla, Jebel Akhdar, Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid, Wadi Sham, and somewhere in the dunes of the Ash Sharqiyah governorate.
On a side note: Starbucks has produced several different lines of mug designs over the years, and the “You Are Here” series (like my Oman mug) is by far the best of them.
The bright colors, sans serif font, and smooth shapes on the “You Are Here” mugs are beyond aesthetically pleasing (yes, I use this phrase a lot! Life is short; if you can make something look satisfying, you should!). The only good part of the discontinuation of the series is that I have stopped accumulating endless mugs (that being said, Starbucks, plz bring them back. I miss sweating and stressing as I try to shove them into my already overstuffed carry-on while waiting from my flight home).
Remembering Janet J. Patch
The above is my favorite photo of my late grandmother and me. My grandmother was a children’s nurse, a world traveler, a proud Scot, a green thumb, a lover of mystery novels, and a universally-described feisty woman. In two words, a legend. We talked every Wednesday, and she was my buddy.
Have a lovely rest of your week, friends.