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play in your free time Art Throb Your cure for winter woes by Pete Lundberg Happy December! While we have a busy month ahead of us, once the holidays pass prevent cabin fever with my antidote to the winter doldrums. Most of you are aware that our fine mu- seums house great permanent collections. But don't forget that new exhibitions arrive every few months—some as part of travel- ing shows while many others are designed and curated by talented museum staff members—and December is no exception. If you have not yet experienced the Cha- zen Museum of Art's expansion, you're in for a treat. It is an architectural marvel and provides a venue for both permanent pieces and shorter-term exhibits. Irish contem- porary painter Sean Scully's exhibit (on display until Jan. 15) is powerful, and the perfect introduction of the new wing. Just blocks away at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, the vibrant "Chicago Imagists" show will also run until Jan. 15. This collection, on view for the first time, consists of nearly 100 works by an impor- tant group of regional artists from the '60s to the '80s. If you are into more traditional art (and up for a day trip), the Milwaukee Art Museum offers "Impressionism: Mas- terworks on Paper," a show featuring 100 pastels, watercolors and drawings by master impressionists like Degas and Van Gogh until Jan. 8. Nearby are three lesser-known gems: The Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend features "Soul Searching: Portraits from the Museum of Wisconsin Art," and the Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh has a lovely collection housed in a magnificent mansion. Just a few miles away, take in "All that Glitters," a collec- tion of art glass, at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum in Neenah. There's no excuse to have cabin fever when you can enjoy these venues and bring the beauty of art to you and yours this winter! Pete Lundberg is not only an art lover but owner of Janus Galleries in Madison. Book Club Toast the end of 2011 with Madison booksellers' most popular reads of the year "The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food and Love" Recommended by John Stowe, owner of Prairie Bookshop, Mount Horeb A farm isn't the most romantic of set- tings, but in this engaging and inspiring memoir we find out how, for one woman, it was the perfect place to both fall in love and capture a dream. By Kristin Kimball; Published by Scribner, $15 "Outliers: The Story of Success" Recommended by Judy Antonetti, man- ager of Frugal Muse, Madison What is the true secret to success? Read this compelling bestseller ques- tioning the conventional wisdom of why some succeed and others falter, and you may be surprised by the answers. By Malcolm Gladwell; Published by Back Bay Books, $17 "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" Recommended by Carol Froistad, community service manager with Madison Public Library As vivid as any cinematic portrayal of against-all-odds survival, this gripping read chronicles the harrowing odyssey of a single airman in World War II. By Laura Hillenbrand; Published by Random House, $27 "Madison" Recommended by Pat McGowan, presi- dent of University Bookstore, Madison Wander through your hometown in a whole new way thanks to this stunning photographic journey of familiar Madi- son hotspots. By Zane Williams; Published by Wiscon- sin Historical Society, $25 Mammoth-size oils by famed Irish artist Sean Scully are on exhibit in the Pleasant T. Rowland galleries at the Chazen Museum of Art through Jan. 15. Tune in and tap your feet We call Gerri DiMaggio Madison's queen of jazz for a reason, and you'll hear why on her recently released album of Christmas music that makes the perfect accompaniment for trimming the tree, hosting a party or simply cozying up in front of the fire. Find her album online or catch her live Thursdays through December from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Edgewater Hotel's lounge. Visit gerridimaggio.com. 70 BRAVA Magazine December 2011 Photo by Eric Tadsen (far left)