Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Work Sold ~ 'Beneath the Bridge'

 
Original Photograph by RLHall ~ sold matted and framed
SEE LARGER IMAGE

BUY IMAGE 

This is a shot of the bridge at Dennison Park in Corning, New York. A lovely old park filled with many majestic trees, a pond and a small island from which this photo was taken. A few years ago the west side of this park looked much like it did back in the days of the horse and buggy. But now the biggest of the ancient willows have been cut down. An aged 'lighthouse' lamp which hadn't worked for many years has been dismantled. Even the old arched stone bridge was replaced. As was the small island bridge.

The huge antique playground swings and sliding boards have been torn out and there is now mostly bright colored plastic toys for the children to play on. The brick concession stand is all boarded up as are the matching restrooms. Even the old flagpole is gone and disc golf games have been added, along with new modern bathroom facilities. A tiny gazebo has been placed on the island and a small fountain installed in the the pond to help keep it cleaner.

A community swimming pool and tennis courts have been there, on the east side, along with the horse-shoe pits, since I was young. But the original pavilion has been rebuilt. With a volleyball court, skateboard park and exercise trail having been added. The park is changing. If it were up to me I would have restored the various improved areas to resemble the original nostalgic period pieces in the park as much as possible. But change is inevitable, and it's still my favorite park in the area. It's still a little piece of old fashioned country in this small somewhat quaint city. At least there are still photos around of the way this park was, some from back as far as the early 1900''s...   

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Poor Little Lucky

 
 
 
This is a photo of a beautiful healthy baby bird taken earlier this spring, but the post is about a poor tiny grackle that had fallen out a nest high up in the large blue spruce in my front yard last evening...and was accidentally run over by my boyfriend with the riding lawn mower. It's wing was bleeding, as was it's head above it's little beak. We put it in the shade until dark, but we were unable to give it water or food because it seemed to be in shock. It wouldn't open it's mouth or even cheep, though it could move a little and clung to your hand when you picked it up. It watched you, but didn't call out for food, or it's mother. I was afraid it might be suffering from a concussion as well, and wondered if it would make it through the night. My boyfriend felt terrible. At dark we placed it into a shoe box filled with strips of newspaper, which it instantly burrowed down into. We put the cover back on the box after making air holes in it, hoping it would keep it warm and protect it from the many neighborhood cats.

This morning, when the box was opened, it awakened the baby and it immediately opened it's mouth for food. It not only lived through the night, but seemed much better. My boyfriend named it Lucky. We let it be for a time, hoping that it would chirp and attract it's mother's attention. Twenty minutes later as we watched through the window, an adult Grackle landed on the bough above it, and then flew down to perch on the edge of the box to feed the fallen & injured nestling. Soon both parents were caring for the remaining birds in the nest along with the lone one in the box at the base of the tree. They continued their vigil all day, and the hurt bird became much more alert and vocal as the day went on. It began moving it's injured wing and holding it's head up better. Once darkness fell again we covered the box for the night.

It looks like it might be able to join it's siblings as they become strong enough to leave the nest. And hopefully accompany the others in their food foraging and flying lessons on, and near, the ground, until they can all make it on their own and eventually take flight with the rest of the flock this fall. Lets pray poor little Lucky continues to live up to it's name...

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Makes us feel...

 
 
Detail is hard to see in this shot, but this is mostly just a 'doodle' on a sheet of decorative paper. I Keep hearing this quote on the "Work of Art" reality show on Bravo. Took a break from other projects just to play with ink stamps and colored pencils today.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Inspiration...

Original Artwork by Jayde

My little 6 year old crafting buddy Jayde made this for me when she was visiting the other day. She didn't want to leave until she made something, because "Nana, You are the only one that I really get to do crafts with."

I plopped a pile of scrap paper in front of her and various paper items claimed from the garbage, paints & glue and other such things and then visited with her Mom while she concentrated on her project. When she called me over to see the finished product I was pleased with her creativity. Usually she asks for approval at almost each step of the way - now she had imagined an idea and ran with it on her own.

And it turned out great, it's even three demensional with the paper background framing the cardboard circle, the triagle shaped piece in the middle standing out from the rest, and a roll of paper at the base of that. She also informed me that since she ran out of room for the message she wrote that "It's ok cuz I put a line there at the edge which means to go to the next line to finish reading it."

When her Mom asked her what it was, she said "It's just pretty art."

If it's true that 'good art is not what it looks like, but how it makes us feel' Then THIS is wonderful art, cuz it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thank you, Jayde. I love you, too. . . I'm going to hang the gift that you made me in a special place at my studio for inspiration! :-)

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

I am pleased to be featured in the 'Decision Portrait Series'

I am pleased to announce that I have been featured in Susan Lenz's Decision Portraits Series. Susan is a wonderful embroidery and fiber artist who exhibits her work nationwide, as well as overseas. I was impressed with the concept behind this installation and I'm sure you will be just as intrigued as you view her work in regards to my personal decision at Art in Stitches Blog by Susan Lenz. Be sure to follow the links on her blog page to review her many talented pieces and where they will be showing.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Whimsical Bottle Tree

 
 
 
I added a whimsical bottle tree in water color to this decorative paper in order to stamp a bottle tree poem on it . . . think I'll hang it by my desk in the little writing loft of my studio shack, next to the window with a view of the real bottle tree I've started across the way...