Brut Art

I finished the wall hanging and hung it in my bedroom. The work doesn't liberate me like I want it to.  Instead, I have negative feelings . . . disappointment mostly . . . not in the work because the work is lovely and brut . . . but the work reminds me of something raw and unfulfilled in my own life . . . something unresolved.   
star flowers floating on waves . . . magic drifting away . . . frayed intentions awkwardly assembled . . . unconcealed mending . . . meaningful reconstruction? . . . uncertain binding

Warty

I bought a warty pumpkin at the farmer's market.  I gave it to the grandkids, but I was thinking of Jacob when I decorated it.

Cat Scratch Fever

So Spot has allergies.  She went in for an allergy shot, but it did little good for her.  She doesn't have fleas, but she has been feverishly scratching.  I was so stressed out over her condition that I risked my own life to bandage her head.  See her death stare? The wrapping didn't last long.  Still, I think she might be on the mend in part because she is on antibiotics.

During her ailment/recovery she has been spending a lot of time in the bathroom.  She lays on the rug in front of the shower ALL DAY.  This is weird.  I feel like a lab rat.  She lays there observing my and others actions. She hands out looks of curiosity, pity, and disgust.  She is determined to maintain her ground so we have to step over her to get out/into the shower.  Recently she has been wanting to crawl into the towel cupboard to sleep. 

We all know that Spot can be a bully, but she has been my baby during this ordeal, allowing me to clean and nurse her sores.  I talk in a soothing voice and she has been talking back.  I lay hands on her and pray for her healing.  Animals are mirrors reflecting to us our levels of compassion.    Animals have remarkable levels of empathy; sadly animals often show more compassion to other animals than we do.

Recently, I listened to Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer.  On my book list is Lost Dogs which is about the Michael Vick fight dogs.  I don't want to look away from these tough subjects, because I know I can do better and expect better from others when it comes to animals.

Tile

Several years ago I made this ceramic tile in a workshop.  Colored slips were quickly painted onto a wet slab using a knife. 
My brother David made the frame with scrap wood.

I have "game" I play called, "Use What you Have."  The idea is to not spend any money and to see if you get rewarding dignified results.  I used old leftover brown latex to paint the frame.  Results: A.

Autumn Tradition

Joel and Jenny came for a visit and we went to the Flavor Fruit Farm and McCortie Park. Visiting these sites in Autumn has been a family tradition for about 25 years.

McCortie Park's main feature are concrete bridges, which appear to be wood, built over a small stream. The place used to be a ruins. However, time and the elements weren't as cruel as human neglect, indifference, and vandalism. The concrete eroded revealing the iron support bars; and the park felt like it was decomposing and gave off a horrifying vibe of violent suffering. But then, compassionate "friends" of the park raised money and hired artisans to repair and restore the bridges. Today visitors are less anxious when they visit. The park is on the mend and looking better than we have ever seen it.

Although the core of the old romance has returned, work remains. The effort is not complete and possibilities for the park are great. While I am pleased with the present restoration I still feel a little anxious for the future. I have a new anxiety. For now the public has easy access, but I'm afraid that the energy to "repair" will transform into "reinvention" and that there will be limited access to the park.

This was the first time I took pictures of the bridges from atop the hill. I like the look of the bridges from a distance, but walking over and resting on the bridges is better.

Hope and a Future

We barely got home when I turned around and left for three days in Saginaw for the WELS teacher's convention. It was a wonderful sweet time.

The theme based on Jeremiah 29 v. 11 was ironic because this was the verse printed on prayer bands (like LIVESTRONG) made for the son of two of our church's school teachers. Their son has Hodgkin lymphoma. On the first day of the convention a mission offering was taken, but on the last day just before dismissal the assembly voted to give the offering to the Neumann family to help defray medical expenses. We all felt grateful and worked hard to fight off the tears. It was a kind and tender moment. Neil's thanks to the group was very touching.

I had a really good time at the convention, and I am prepared to present next year. I hope I am invited.

I saw a speaker on Why to teach drawing, How to Encourage Creative Thinkers, Human Fossils, and I visited the Castle Museum's Archeology semi-truck. Very cool indeed. The semi-trailer has seats, a screen for presentations, displays, and tables to have a dig. I didn't get a picture because my brain was breaking down from information overload. I have been really busy and I haven't had time to process all the info.

Our little St. Stephen's group had a lot of laughs.

Anyway . . .

I have been praying to find a position where my talents can be put to good use and where I can express my faith openly to give hope to others.

Pink Elephant

It was Octoberfest in New Ulm so there were events going on around town. We visited the Wanda Gag house which was little and charming. Before going out to dinner with Kadie, Randy and I had a few beers one of which was served to us in a long pilsner glass (for some reason that felt really special to me). I woke the next morning feeling a bit "marinated." It was funny how on our return visit we saw this grafitti covered pink elephant.

Our Girl

We went to see our beautiful girl on Parents Day in Minnesota. She is a senior. *sigh* I just love watching soccer! I'm sorry I didn't get to see her play more.

The Most Perfect Rainbow

The was the most perfect rainbow I have ever seen. The picture was taken in Lake Zurich on my way to my sister's house. Yes, it was visually arresting.

Art Prize gets it share of criticism. The winners, including the $250,000 grand prize winner, is decided by the public. The thought is that the public isn't art educated and that artists cater to the locals tastes. I liked that the public is asked to engage with the art. Many people came out to see the works. There were bus loads of children (what a cheap field trip just the cost of gas and the driver)and there were folks you couldn't imagine caring about anything artistic. What I came to see clearly is that people from all walks of life love art and they admire wholesome authentic talent in all human endeavors. So the artists catered to the public and we didn't see any work that was vulgar. Oh darn. Yes sometimes the public gets it wrong on who they award. This year's winner showed more perseverance with her material than skillfulness in manipulation. Still, a glass mosaic of the crucifixion that is 20 feet(?) tall leaves and impression!
I had a lovely day. I ate well: Risotto cakes, spinach & artichoke dip, veggie wrap, fried feta cheese, warm bread, bloody Mary made with pickle juice, and a hot fudge brownie sundae. But by far the best thing was being with my friends . . . I feel emotionally swaddled when I am with them.

These fruit were constructed from juice boxes which I took as a commentary on what is going into the land fill and what we are putting into children. We put the juice but not the fruit into the child. They get the sweet syrup with none of the fiber.


This is the lobby of Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids.






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My friend Carlos Tobar entered this painting titled, There's an Elephant in the Room. Is the elephant the fact that everyone is naked?

Art Prize

I finally went to Art Prize, mostly because my friend Kim entered this piece titled, Fading Warriors. She created the piece in response to, Nightmare in New Guinea, a documentary produced as part of the Veterans History Project initiated by Grand Valley State University History Department. Nightmare in New Guinea chronicles the contribution of the Red Arrow Division.
Kim's piece is a mixed media which has collaged photos, watercolor, charcoal, gouche, and pastel. Kim wanted to emphasize the "enduring strength and character" of recently passed (including Kim's father) and remaining Fading Warriors of the Red Arrow Division.
It is a touching piece! I am so proud to know her and be exposed to her talent.

The church where Kim's work was on display (and where her sister and father were baptized) has a beautiful *sigh* Tiffany window.

Work in Progress

This is the wall hanging I have been working on. I used my grandma's rag balls to construct the design.

Autumn Blossoms

Evelyn Roses and Heavenly Blue morning glories.


Autumn Drift scented clematis.


Hearts and Honey Vine.