Since last we met....

Hi, I am back again, there has been a lot happening in my life since last we met and a lot more coming up so let's get to it. On Saturday April 9th I attended the Iowa Artist Area 5 Annual Art Show held at the Biology and Health Sciences building at ICCC. What a great place to have an art show, beautiful building. I was amazed at the level of art at this show. Fantastic stuff, there are some incredibly talented artists in the Fort Dodge and surrounding area. Delany Segar, Joan Sullivan and all the volunteers who helped should be applauded on putting on a great show. After arriving and getting a chance to walk around and look at the art, as well as talk to many of the artists, we had a short business meeting for the members and door prizes...very cool! Next we listened to Tom Stancliffe, the creator of "Axiom", talk about his work. Not just the sculpture he did for ICCC but his other works around the state as well. After a couple minor technical glitches his talk got going. He was informative and funny. Very relaxed, not a stuffy boring talk, he was able to keep the audience engaged and also answered questions. I got to talk to Tom for a bit before his talk, very very cool! Then it was time for a short lunch break, everyone was on their own and this gave Maureen Seamonds time to judge the show. Maureen did an excellent job, it would have been very tough to judge such a fine show. Her critiques were spot on, at least about my work. I really appreciated the way she handled the critique section and she even took time to talk about each and every work of art that was in the show. Thanks Mo! After the show I drove around a bit and took some more infrared pictures, had a great time. I thought my "art" part of the day was done...but not quite. When I got home I had recieved a package from an absolutely amazing artist. Her name is Kat Darling, I made her a tie dye dress and she wanted to pay me back. She sent me a "Zentangle" drawing she had done, I love it! She thanked me for inspiring her to create. She is a fabulous musician and along with her husband belongs to the group "High Crest" from Des Moines, if you get the chance to see them...Do It!! She performs with her husband and always a pleasure to listen to them. She sent along a beautiful letter with the artwork thanking me for the dress, the inspiration and for being "me", she also reminded me that we need to get together again and giggle like a couple of school girls again sometime..LOL! Thank you Kat! That night I went to Byron's in Pomeroy to see "Second Nature" and "Funky Chunky Monkey". I know that is music and not a visual art...or is it? I took some pretty "artsy" pictures that nite, really had a great time. This was the night of all the tornadoes but we were all safe and sound in Byron's. If you get a chance to see these very talented musicians...Do It! They do get "funky"! Small crowd...Big fun!! Thanks to the musicians for coming out and sharing their talent, much appreciated. Sunday was another "Photo Safari" day, had a lot of fun, really getting in to the photo thing!

On tuesday I went to my first ICCC Art Advisory Board Meeting. I am very thankful to be involved with this. Learning a lot about the needs of the art dept and what all they are involved with. Thanks Maureen, Rusty, Richard and Howard for all you do in the art department at ICCC. I see it everyday but attending a meeting like this really puts all those things I see in perspective. Looking forward to helping out anyway I am needed.

It is Sunday night and I am up late again..not really that unusual. I am preparing for everything I have coming up this week. On wednesday I am going to Clarion to judge a high school regional art show. This is a very cool thing for an artist to be doing on their birthday!! I have been asked to give a short talk about tie dye, after all I do know a thing or two about tie dye..hehe. Then the students will break out into smaller sections for workshops and I will be doing a short workshop on spin art, really looking forward to it. We then have lunch and after lunch the awards presentation to the artists. It will be a great way to turn another year older...but wait, that's not all...oooh no! When I return we will have our monthly Fort Dodge Area Camera Club Meeting at 7pm at Permanent Collections Gallery Art. We will be showing pictures from our photo safari at the old Sears building as well as photos from our "April Showers" assignment, we have a few business things to discuss but all in all it will be a fun meeting. If anyone is interested in joining stop down and sit in on a meeting and see how much fun we really have. Then on Thursday I have our "Art Conversations" meeting at 7pm, again it is at Permanent Collections Gallery Art, we are going to continue discussing "artist statements" and using websites, great meeting for any artists who care to join, come on down and have some fun. I would like to thank Kevin and Kathy and Jason Crimmins for allowing these groups use of their gallery, it makes an excellent venue for artists to meet!

I mentioned before that my birthday is on wednesday. Now time for a personal plug. I am having a Birthday Party at Byron's in Pomeroy, Iowa on Saturday April 23, and you are invited. Music will be provided by Rob Lumbard from Des Moines. Rob is an excellent guitarist and has some "unique" songs that will get you laughing. I am really looking forward to this, I am also going to attempt a world record that nite so if you would like to witness history stop by and have some fun. Music starts at 9pm and the party goes til closing. Thank you Byron for letting me have my party at your place.

Well, this got a lot longer then intended, sorry bout that, but hope you enjoy.Thanks for reading my blog... This is my art world and that's the way I see it