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.

Novelty Food

I like novelty foods. Have you seen these?

Sights

As we left for Wisconsin I said I wanted to buy cheese and honey. I got my wish! We found a wonderful cheese store and a farmer's market open on Sunday morning. I bought Swiss almond Cheese for Jake our cat and frog sitter. I bought Wisconsin made Sartori cheese. Sartori is an Italian style nibbling cheese. It has a sharp flavor like a good Parmesan or Gruyere.
At the farmer's market in Dundee there were two merchant's named Bernie. Bernie the honey man and Bernie the pickle lady. Bernie Pickles had so many wonderful pickled veggies. I bought green beans and kohlrabi. Her husband gave me a few tomatoes. Bernie Honey had three different colored honeys plus at type of honey that not technically raw. When the wax is heated it separates from the honey. The honey that is gathered in this process is not considered raw because of the heat which is thought to kill of some of the beneficial properties. I bought a raw mixed honey which comes from several different flower varieties. On our way out of Wisconsin stopped at a Bistro in Kewaskum. There, we ate a wonderful vegetarian sandwich. It had shredded carrot, alfalfa sprouts, hummus, tepanade, tomato, and avocado on a thick-sliced whole wheat sunflower bread. On the shelve in the Bistro was Bernie's Honey!
I also bought Mollie Delicious apples. Yumm.

Pernell's Tower in the Kettle Moraine give a birds eye view of the beautiful region carved out by glaciers.

RC doesn't like heights and with his vertigo acting up he is really sensitive.

We went to Watertown where MLC was staying. In the town is an octagon house. It's kinda cool. Kadie's friend Hannah said it was creepy inside because of the dolls.

Power ON with Cheese!!!

My grandma's old orange coffee pot and our green stove make me happy when we are camping.

What I love about camping is the tree frogs!!! Their songs lull me to sleep.

In Wisconsin

We went camping for the holiday weekend at the Kettle Moraine State Recreation Grounds. Kadie played her first soccer game of the season against Lakeland, which was about 30 minutes from our campsite.
She is a captain this year. For some reason her coach pulled her out in the first period. I was sitting in the bleachers thinking she was playing great and that we didn't come all that way to watch her sit on the bench.
She played the entire second period and made a lot of shots on goal (she is a forward), but her shots went alongside or over the net. She made great passes to her teammates, but they couldn't capitalize either. Lakeland tied it up and the game went into overtime. There were five seconds on the clock when a pass came Kadie's way and she scored!!!

Perfect.

Morning Glories

Last Year my Glacier Star morning glories gave me so much joy that I thought I would plant as many varieties of morning glories as I could find. My hope was that vigorous vines would grow over my fence, but this year's hot weather/drought stunted my flowers and hopes. The vines are thin, the flowers few, but I appreciate them anyway. I love flowers, there's not more I can say.

Glacier Star

Black Knight

Shiva

Carnival

Red Star

Heavenly Blue