setup began yesterday
streets closing
unloading, building, signage, displays
artists on task
townies abuzz
beautiful skies
everything in full swing
high excitement in the air
can’t wait to visit.
‘an artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one.’
-charles horton cooley
when you combine things together in a different way:
magna tiles, fresh flowers, a light table, and wonder
you can’t help but create beautiful art that is new, even to you.
—
“art must take reality by surprise”
robin’s nests created by the kinder using natural materials
clay, twigs, pinecones, clippings
any robin would be happy to raise her babies in one of these beautiful homes
—
“wildness we might consider as the root of the authentic spontaneities of any being. it is that wellspring of creativity whence comes the instinctive activities that enable all living beings to obtain their food, to find shelter, to bring forth their young; to sing and dance and fly through the air and swim through the depths of the sea. this is the same inner tendency that evokes the insight of the poet, the skill of the artist, and the power of the shaman.”- thomas berry
the kinder have begun to create their own art gallery in the space where they play.
—
“Hire a Mardi Gras Artist,” the latest altruistic endeavor from Krewe of Red Beans, is a grassroots effort that aims to transform 40 Orleans Parish homes into Mardi Gras floats, putting laid-off artists back to work and inspiring the city along the way.
The project is the brainchild of artist and float designer Caroline Thomas. The idea for “Hire a Mardi Gras Artist” came to her after several people asked her to decorate their homes. Thinking there might be an opportunity to put the whole industry back to work, Thomas approached Krewe of Red Beans and Feed the Second Line founder Devin De Wulf.
3 am is the hour of writers,
painters, poets, musicians, silence seekers,
over-thinkers, and creative people.
We know who you are,
We can see your light on.
Keep on keeping on.
-author unknown
—
image credit: pinterest – vintage
’twas fairy day at the artisan’s market
and soon they came around
lots of them of ev’ry kind
and treasures to be found.
“the fairy poet takes a sheet o f moonbeam, silver white;
his ink is dew from daisies sweet,
his pen a point of light.
~joyce kilmer
ann arbor art fair – july 1978
—
it began in 1960
when
132 artists (99 of them local)
strung their artwork between parking meters
and locals came by
curious to see if artists
would really put their work on display in the street.
it now hosts over 1,000 artists and 500,000 + visitors
from near and far each year.
the ann arbor art fairs
(actually now a group of four)
will kick off today and take over the city
for what always promises to be four days
of creative display, talks with artists,
bargaining, excitement.
music, children’s activities,
and always, always
lots of surprises.
—
“the art world is filled with vibrancy.”
-rachel kushner
—
image credit: ann arbor news archives, ann arbor public library old news, m live. com
barbie takes a victory lap
—
when
creative muse
and
longtime friend
barbie
the real thing
asked for help
on her latest project
a big night
mixing
comedy, fashion, art, adventure, food, wine
all in support of detroit artists
raising money
for future
collaborative creative projects
i imagined myself
working
at the door
setting up
bartending
catering
helping models get ready
doing whatever
needed to be done
until
she asked me to wear
one of her designs
a statement dress
in the 50s style
all pink and flowery
with a
prom-like innocence
in the front
tiny birds nesting in my hair
flowers on my heels
and a glimpse
of something more
a corset
and
peek-a-boo fabric
in the back
then
a text
‘oh, and
you’ll be
carrying a dog
with you
on the runway’
a sweet little chihuahua, emmy
dressed in a pink tutu
together
we stepped out
of our comfort zone
onto
the runway
and
into
a
great adventure
in spite of our fears
we even got
an audience vote
that read:
‘the one with the dog’
no one was immune
from
barbie’s recruiting
even her husband
with his
band of merry men
fellow attorneys
ready to do battle
outside of the office
and
way beyond
the courtroom.
bravery never goes out of fashion.
– william makepeace thackeray
I didn't have my glasses on.... 