Upping my arts time

One of my dreams for my 70’s that has been put on hold because of the pandemic is getting a new lease on life as I find alternative means to pursue it.

In the past I had been privileged to live on locations that gave me fabulous access to visual and theatre arts. Now I live in an area where that is less accessible or less easily accessible I should say.

So right now I am finding ways to increase my arts experiences within the constraints of where I live currently.

I watched to movie The Dig which led me me to a treasure trove of YouTube videos about the Sutton Hoo finds and fabulous virtual curator tours of amazing Angol-Saxon artifacts and artistry as well as the true story and history.

I happened upon a NPR story about the New Women and Photography which led met to the Metropolitan Art Museum YouTube on the exhibit. Also is the history of amazing and enterprising women. Both sides of my family had men who were early professional photographers but no women. I did have a great grandmother who earned her living as a hat maker and seamstress but no longer desire to sew. Check out the exhibit tour by the curator - The New Woman Behind the Camera

Then I made a personal commitment to spending more time in the right side of my brain (being a heavily left brain dominant person it is a relief and restorative to switch sides). I pulled out and made accessible my drawing supplies and started in on a page of this book that appealed to me at the moment.

My Dad was a very talented artist and took over my grandparents photography studio in Champaign, IL and in retirement did portraits with pastels. I don’t have his talent or patience but it is enjoyable.

I’ve decided to pay the membership fee for the local artist collective gallery so I can access member benefits and get notices about exhibits and lectures. We did that when we first moved here but the pandemic turned me inward and it is time to change that.

Next time we go to Berkeley to visit family I’m going to see if there is any exhibit of some sort that will appeal to my granddaughter. I do art projects with her and would like to take her to a gallery.

Light and Shadows

 

I was sitting in our den looking into the living room and really was surprised to see this play of light and shadow. 

An Art Moment

 I was browsing the web looking for the use of shells and specifically ammonites in design and art and came upon up these two marvelous modern staircases. Also a nice short article with examples.

shells in art and architecture

The first one is from a design for a Lego headquarters building.

This one was posted as simply a staircase in a “local museum”.