{"id":15390,"date":"2026-03-25T14:33:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gemtactics.net\/wordpress\/?p=15390"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:42:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:42:23","slug":"waterville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gemtactics.net\/wordpress\/2026\/03\/waterville\/","title":{"rendered":"Waterville"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We went away for a few days to escape the March blahs. Destination: Waterville, Maine. Someone questioned – why Waterville? There are many trendier towns, along the coast, and in surrounding states. I thought Waterville could be fun to explore. For one thing, the Colby Art Museum is there. It has other things we don’t have near here – a fine movie theater, lots of ethnic restaurants, nice coffee shops. And we’ve been there before, but I had only the sketchiest memory of visiting it. So I wanted a refresh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a fun time, notwithstanding the gloomy weather. I only took one photo outdoors and it shows the overcast sky and generally chilly aspect of the place. The photo looks like a golden pyramid at first glance, but it shows the Two Cent Bridge over the Kennebec River. From Wikipedia<\/a>: “It is one of the oldest surviving wire-cable steel suspension bridges and also is considered to be the last known extant toll footbridge in the United States.” The bridge was originally intended to make it easier for workers to get from Waterville to the factory over the river in Winthrop. It’s been rebuilt and rehabilitated a few times. One of the first things we did was cross the bridge. It activated my fear of heights and I had to look straight ahead and focus on my breath to get across. Crossing back was a little easier, which led me to believe I could get used to it with practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Two Cent Bridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Colby Art Museum is fantastic for a small town museum in an out-of-the-way place. Here are a few of my favorite works, but there were so many to see. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
John Singer Sargent, Piazza Navona, Rome<\/em>. I really like how he made the shadows. I thought I could identify the watercolors he used, at least I recalled that burnt sienna and ultramarine combine to make that lovely gray. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Jar from Tang Dynasty, China. I thought the pattern on this was so organic and pleasing, and I loved the colors – amber and green. The Tang Dynasty’s dates are 618-907 AD. Amazing that this piece was that old and intact! My favorite Chinese poets, Du Fu, Li Bai, and Wang Wei, wrote during the Tang Dynasty. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Colored Vases<\/em>, by Ai Wei Wei. Actual Neolithic Age pottery combined with modern housepaint. I really wanted to know more about this work. How was he able to do this to Neolithic vases? Quote: “Ai’s iconoclasm asks us to confront the values that we hold to be true in our conversations with the past.” (From Seattleartmuseum.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Omtua<\/em>, by artist Virgil Ortiz of the Cochiti Pueblo. He participated in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt against Spanish colonial rule. “It serves as a commentary on survival, resistance, and the ongoing presence of Indigenous communities.” I really loved the energy and spirit of resistance in this sculpture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Cao Ziaoyang, The Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Vernal Equinox.<\/em> We happened to be there on the day of the vernal equinox. This piece is large, approx. 60 x 40 inches. Charcoal on paper. I think it is extremely beautiful. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
A sculpture by artist Nari Ward. Made of shoestrings. Inspired by a Black American spiritual. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Collage of Cloth Fragments<\/em>, by Anne Ryan. Not a very good photo, but this piece blows my mind. Why can’t any one of us ragmates make something just as precious as this? <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We spent most of a day at the Colby Art Museum. It’s about 2.5 miles from downtown. We walked one way and took a free shuttle back, having been on our feet for hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The art museum was really the star of our trip, but as far as warming our hearts, I have to mention our favorite places to eat: <\/p>\n\n\n\n