The Renaissance Art Gallery is in the beautiful HH Warner building on St Paul Street. It's a bit of NYC's Soho in downtown Rochester. Warner's old walk-in Mosler Safe, with its hand-painted door, still graces a hallway. And since I was last there, the gallery has expanded to occupy the entire first floor. Gone are Giovanni Sanfilippo's bright acrylics, replaced by the "Around Rochester" room and its related art. Originally, the gallery was a birthday present to Carol DiMarzo from her husband -- the gift that keeps on giving.

Jan Jacque seems to perform a marriage between her ceramics and other organic matters. The curves, and the way light plays on those curves, mesmerizes. I had to walk past these, and all the other pretty pieces, to get to Jennifer Hecker's "Godlesses," tucked in the sculpture room in the back corner. For someone like me, who feels like a bull in a china shop, this is no small accomplishment. I watched with trepidation as Mr. DiMarzo lifted up the top of one of Jacque's vases, something I would never, never do. I look; I don't touch.

Hecker's pieces make bold statements whispered subtly. I enjoyed eavesdropping on what others thought those statements were. It reminded me that good art tells many stories. It's always a good sign when another artist purchases your work. When that artist is Wendell Castle it's like someone switched on a scrolling marquee.

I hope my look of astonishment served as adequate apology when my friend showed up with her dog. WITH HER DOG!

Next up: Hawaiian dancing