One of the most interesting things about the new art exhibit at the CoBACH Center besides the art is how it sounds--precisely, how people say its title, "Danse Macabre!" Macabre means having death as a subject, or dwelling on the gruesome, or tending to produce horror in a beholder. I have heard people pronounce it ma-ca-bray, ma-ca-ber, mak, and more ways. Few say mah-COB, like a cob of corn. You can hear it said if you click on the speaker icon with its online dictionary definition. Go to http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/macabre.
This is the perfect time of year to feature the macabre, and "Danse Macabre!" is showing works by Brighton Art Guild members that are scary and fun through November 10. One of mine is "Decision Impending," a pastel portrait of our beloved "Decision Pending" sculpture, which I completed en plein air on a Thursday evening this summer during Art at the Millpond with my Guild buddies. Did you know he is in Wikipedia? Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_Pending
If you have mispronounced macabre, you are in good or bad company, depending upon your political leanings. Earlier this year I was stunned when Bill O'Reilly mispronounced it as the Word of the Day at the end of his show, The O'Reilly Factor. (Or at least he did not pronounce it in the preferred way in the dictionary.) Go to http://www.factorwords.com/definition/default.aspx?word=Macabre So if you want to look really smart, say your words right! Oh, I mean pronounce your words correctly. (Really, O'Reilly!)
Find out what's happening in Brightonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The CoBACH Center is at 202 W. Main next to the Millpond. Staffed by volunteers, it is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, closed Mondays, and open the other days from 5-8 p.m. If the subject matter is too intense for you, visit the "Serenity" exhibit down the block at Studio West. Go to http://www.studiowestgallery.org/. Have a happy autumn (tip: the "n" is silent).