I didn’t expect to choke up.
Eric Draper and Alison Beck at the LBJ Presidential Library
After all, “News to History,” a photo show arranged by the Briscoe Center for American History at the LBJ Presidential Library, records mostly familiar American episodes. Organized by presidential tenures, it also includes rare, candid shots of our leaders behind the scenes.
What moved me, however, were the iconic images from our recent past: Vietnam, antiwar protests, civil rights marches, moon shots, assassinations, 9/11. The Briscoe Center houses hundreds of thousands of these priceless pictures, but what a jolt to see this selection all at once.
The show is located in the U-shaped temporary exhibit space on the first floor of the Presidential Library. It bleeds into the new permanent exhibit, which itself will take months and many visits to fully absorb. Plan to go now.
Priscilla and John-Michael Cortez at the Long Center
As if to escape the True, I ran to Beauty.
Ballet Austin presented three gorgeous pieces at the Long Center under the rubric “The Rite of Spring.”
I was privileged to sit near Cookie Ruiz and Brent Hasty again. They make a three-part concert feel like a pajama party among old friends.
During the first intermission, I joined donors in the Kodosky Lounge, which has turned out to be a handy place retreat from the center’s sometimes crowded lobbies — especially on a cold night when few patrons promenaded on the ringed terrace. (Still needs a name, some lucky donor!)
Fellow ramblers Linda Ball and Forrest Preece discussed walking, eateries and the death of arts hostess Tam Rogers Cartwright. I met her dozens of times at the Paramount Theatre and elsewhere, but never really got to know her.
Priscilla and John Michael Cortez talked parenting and networking, but also about mass transit, which will keep John-Michael busy during SXSW. He’s Cap Metro’s community involvement manager. The Cortez pair are among the most effective and enterprising among Austinites on the charity circuit.
Everything — and everyone — is beautiful at the ballet.