Reception, Gallery talk, and photo safari

This weekend is almost over and I have had another great art filled weekend. On friday nite Permanent Collections Gallery Art hosted the opening reception for "Iowa Thing". Once again the Crimmins family did an amazing job hosting the event. This is the first time I have been to an art opening with a potato bar...too cool, thank you Kathy. I am getting ahead of myself...leave it to me to think with my belly first. The day started at noon with a visit to ICCC where two of the artists Brent Houzenga and Van Holmgren were conducting a talk about their artwork. The sessions were well attended and very entertaining and informative. Then off to the gallery to hang the show, Brent and Van were joined by Chris Robert, another artist in the show. The show went up quickly and I found myself being very entertained watching them put up the show. Kristian Day arrived to help set up the projectors for the film displays in the upstairs rooms. Kristian is a filmaker who did the Brent Houzenga documentary "Hybrid Pioneer". A great film, I highly recommend seeing it when you get a chance. This is the film that really inspired me to become much more involved in the art scene. I went to the premiere in Des Moines and was blown away by the film. Kristian also showed some of his short films in one of the other upstairs rooms, very entertaining. Ooooh yeah, then the food arrived! People began showing up and had a great crowd, lots of fun. I had a wonderful time talking with friends old and new and enjoyed getting to know the artists who were participating in the show.

Brent Houzenga then took the stage, so to speak, and performed songs from his new cd "My Whole Life". Brent is not only a great visual artist but a great singer songwriter as well. His performance was followed by three local musicians Blake Erickson, Shelly Erickson and Jeremy Ober who for at least that night were known as "Reluctant Eagle" a name given to them by Brent Houzenga when he was doing their introduction. The night seemed to end all too soon, but I had a great time, always look forward to receptions at PCGA. Hope everyone takes time to stop down and see the show. Take in some fantastic art and enjoy the space the Crimmins family has provided for the arts to flourish in Fort Dodge. Pictures from this event can be seen on the Permanent Collections Gallery Art facebook page.

On saturday I went to the Blanden Memorial Art Museum to listen to a gallery talk on the work of photographer Edward Curtis. This is an amazing show, I hope everyone takes the time to stop by the Blanden to see it. Absolutely amazing photographs. The talk was given by Margaret Skove, it was highly informative. The talk seemed to be a bit longer than most, I think this was due to the passion that Margaret has for art and art history.

On sunday I went on a photo safari with the Fort Dodge Area Camera Club. This was incredible, Bob Wood got the club access to go into the old Sears building.Thank you Bob, this was one of your "brilliant" ideas and I hope they keep coming. I would like to thank Steve Asche for giving us permission to go into the building and Dave Gertis for coming down and unlocking and giving us some brief history of the building. Dave was very cool, enjoyed meeting him, he also took the time to come down after we were finished to lock up. We had 10 people show up to safari, which is an amazing turn out for such an event. We went from floor to floor and room to room photographing things inside the building and even taking some pictures through the windows, you really get a different perspective when looking at downtown Fort Dodge from the 8th floor of a building. Some of the photos will be posted on the Fort Dodge Area Camera Club facebook page so if you are on facebook take some time and "like" us and check them out! I know I use facebook a lot as a reference point for things, there is a reason, and one of my blogs will explain just how much facebook has done for my art scene.

I will stop there, the weekend is over and I wanted to keep this blog shorter than the last. I am enjoying this "blogging" thing, even though one of my brothers misread the word and thought I said I was a "booger"...maybe when I was younger...LOL! That is my art scene for last weekend...well, at least that is the way I see it! Thanks for reading.