Constructor: Martin Ashwood-Smith

Relative problem: Medium

THEME: none 

Word of the Day: AMEDEO Modigliani (40A: Painter Modigliani) —

Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (, Italian: [ameˈdɛːo modiʎˈʎaːni]; 12 July 1884 – 24 January 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor who labored primarily in France. He is thought for portraits and nudes in a trendy type characterised by a surreal elongation of faces, necks, and figures that weren’t obtained nicely throughout his lifetime, however later turned a lot sought-after. Modigliani spent his youth in Italy, the place he studied the artwork of antiquity and the Renaissance. In 1906, he moved to Paris, the place he got here into contact with such artists as Pablo Picasso and Constantin Brâncuși. By 1912, Modigliani was exhibiting extremely stylized sculptures with Cubists of the Section d’Or group on the Salon d’Automne.

Modigliani’s oeuvre consists of work and drawings. From 1909 to 1914, he devoted himself primarily to sculpture. His most important topic was portraits and full figures, each within the photographs and within the sculptures. Modigliani had little success whereas alive, however after his loss of life achieved nice recognition. He died of tubercular meningitis, on the age of 35, in Paris.

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Lots to do immediately—together with take part in a web based round-table dialogue on the opening of the Finger Lakes Crossword Competition (enrollment nonetheless open)—so I’m going to *strive* to maintain this pretty temporary. This puzzle felt just like the antithesis of yesterday’s puzzle in some ways, by which I do not imply that it was dangerous, simply that it performed very conventional and really previous (to be clear, I depend myself among the many olds now—a number of this grid was proper in my wheelhouse). It was reliant on names of yore perhaps as soon as too typically. I like COUNT BASIE and AMEDEO Modigliani, so no downside there, however it will be nice in the event you balanced them by transferring the needle just a little ahead in time, however that’s decidedly not the place the needle goes (p.s. do not ask me re: needle, I do not know what the metaphor is precisely, however it feels proper, simply go along with it). I do not suppose we ever make it out of the ’70s (god bless the late nice James CAAN) (25D: James of 1974’s “The Gambler”). I needed to take care of Matthew ARNOLD at first (not precisely what the children, or anybody, is studying today), after which I went headlong into Gordon MACRAE, whoever that’s (24A: Gordon ___, co-star of 1955’s “Oklahoma!”). And later, simply as I used to be considering the puzzle was feeling fairly dated, who decides to indicate up and show me proper? The LENNON Sisters. On the “Lawrence Welk Show” no much less. The grid could be very sturdy and professionally made, so primary craft just isn’t actually at challenge. But this puzzle feels a lot narrower in its socio-cultural bent than yesterday’s did. It’s one for the old-schoolers, of which I’m one. But I might really feel how restricted this puzzle’s imagined viewers appeared to be. For me, with a crossword’s cultural heart of gravity, it isn’t a matter of previous v. new. It’s a matter of real selection.

It was a correctly powerful Saturday, although, I’ll give it that. And I did get pleasure from fixing it. Got began by working the brief solutions within the NW. Was very fortunate that although I solely picked up a pair on my first move, that was sufficient to get me going:

That nail polish model is *in every single place* today, so if you have not memorized it by now, what are you ready for?! It’s not going wherever quickly, I promise you. And it was an actual assist immediately, for certain. I blanked on who wrote “Dover Beach”—even with the “A” in place. Couldn’t get my mind off AUDEN, who would not match. I threw STORM CENTER down into the center of the grid, to no impact. Then I threw PIÑATA down into the center of the grid. This additionally had no impact, initially, however was proper *sufficient* that it truly helped me decide up a few of these central Acrosses afterward. But at first, I used to be caught, and needed to go right down to SAND and AMEDEO and construct again up from the SW:

As you possibly can see, PIÑATA (mistaken) helped me get COUNT BASIE (proper). It additionally helped me get SERATONIN, which is for actual how I believed you spelled it (32A: Neurotransmitter focused by Prozac) (SEROTONIN). Only later was I pressured to alter the cocktail from PIÑATA to PANAMA … after which, a bit later, PALOMA. By far the toughest factor within the grid for me (and I like cocktails!). Oh, STATE MOTTO was additionally brutally laborious for me (33A: There is one every in French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Hawaiian and Chinook). I do not need to inform you how a lot of that reply I had in place earlier than I truly noticed the reply, however it was loads (and PIÑATA *undoubtedly* damage me there). It’s so bizarre how a lot of a gimme, how fully Monday the SCOTIA is, given the in any other case powerful high quality of this heart (29D: Nova ___). Very misplaced. But I suppose it was presupposed to be a type of life preserver thrown to the determined and floundering, which is considerate. Overall, it is a very drunk puzzle (a PALOMA and TITO’S and BACARDI!?), and a really sturdy, clear puzzle. There weren’t many thrills, however it gave me an gratifying exercise nonetheless. See you tomorrow.