Easel Project is coming to LaCrescent

Experience Art in South East Libraries, EASEL is coming to the La Crescent Public Library – June 7-July 19, 2012.  La Crescent Public Library is located at 321 Main Street La Crescent, MN 55947. Phone: 507.895.4047 That's a hop, skip, and a dance from Winona, Minnesota and LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

What fun to check out the show and to check out another library!  Have fun!!!  To see the action of creating Library Paradise.

Library Paradise

Some new classic quilts  added to the gallery today too.

Wild Prairie Garden

My prairie yard is growing fast with all of the warm weather.  The blue wild indigo, Baptisia australis is in full bloom.

The white wild indigo, Baptisia alba is coming in a close second.  The cream indigos, Baptisia bracteata are finished blooming.  The alien species such as dandelions were very few.  But as usual many Chinese Elm sprouted and I weeded them out.  Many clump forming grasses, non native took a strong hold this year—and I’ve been pulling them all spring.

This white wild indigo is just starting to bloom; most of it is in bud form yet.  It will soon be in its full blooming glory.

This white wild indigo is almost in full bloom.  You can see her sister, the blue wild indigo in the background.  There's a yellow climbing rose behind the blue wild indigo, beside my east porch that has been filled with yellow blossoms.  Now just a few blossoms remain.  My beloved non-natives such as the early tulips, crocuses, and hyacinth are finished blooming for the season.  Most of the lilacs are finished too.  The flowers have such a short life of glory.  It seems one day they are blooming and the next the blooms are finished and they are making seeds.  I don’t think that it is quite that quick; it just seems that way when I’m not paying attention.

What are some of your favorite spring and early summer flowers?  Do you prefer perennial or annual flowers?  Shrubs, vines, or flowers?  Some of all of them?  What in the floral realm soothes your soul?  

Nia Technique with Zoë Katakuzinos

Nia is like Chocolate

Artist Spotlight: Sarah Johnson

Sarah is an artist who enjoys drawing and painting.  She has a fascination with people and with their basic foundation: the skeleton.  She takes old photographs and makes them new.  A photograph or painting that someone may discard; Sarah sees the beauty and possibility in recreating it or repurposing it. She wonders, who were the people in the photograph?  She imagines their lives and "plays" in a respectful way with re-imaging.   In the photograph of the Head Master with the Children, Sarah painted the headmaster’s skeleton, the foundation of all human beings.  She painted wings and horns on the students. 

She just completed an Artist Residency in the Winona Senior High School. She worked with HS students and the repurposing a photograph was upsetting to them.  They objected, saying that it was someone’s art.  It pushed their edges to embrace the idea of taking a photo or framed picture and painting over it to make it something of theirs.  The students were able to get past their discomfort to create some amazing pieces.  Some of these will be exhibitied in the Winona Art Center’s Senior High School Senior Art Show.  Opening reception is May 9th, 4-6pm.

Sarah works on multiple projects going on at the same time.  She works long hours out of town.  Fridays are a dedicated art day.  She does screen printing on t-shirts and ties.  She collects t-shirts and ties from second hand shops or auctions and then she recreates something unique.  All of her t-shirts and ties are one of a kind due to the variety of materials that she accumulates.  She makes jewelry which is totally for fun.  She calls it a color fix.  And it is different than her other art.  She considers herself a drawer and a painter.  

Each year she paints herself a new calendar. 

 "Now's the Time to go Hog Wild For Moderation"

  

Sarah has collections of rocks, sea glass, shells, feathers, nests.  Watching things change in their natural form is fascinating to Sarah.  One week, she and her father, in separate locations found a tea cup handle.

 A favorite shell with just a little shimmer

This gentleman looks so much happier with a few butterflies near him.  During Sarah's growing up years, her family lived next to a cemetery.  Life and death walk hand in hand.  When she was very young, her brother of 6 years died.  She was only 4 years old.  She's had to look at death.  She's more convinced than ever that "I'm a life liver."

If you would like to see more of Sarah's art work, you'll find her at Handmade Neighborhood.  Watch for signs for their autumn show.  She has work locally at the Bluff Country Co-op and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

Are there other artists that you'd be curious to know more about?  What questions would you ask an artist, if you had the opportunity?   

 Are you an artist that would like to be featured on Breeze on My Skin?    

Leave a comment below with a way for me to be in touch, such as your e-mail or phone number.  I'll be in touch soon.

Beautiful Women moving: Nia

Nia in Paris with Helen Terry

 Energy follows attention. Where will you place your attention?

Video featuring women all over the world including Kathleen Anderson Rodrigues de Miranda, my friend who lives in Sweden. 

Opening Your Creativity with the Artist's Way

The Artist’s Way is an amazing journey into self discovery and creating art.  In the on-line class, Opening your Creativity, we will use the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

Your facilitators, Lori Eschweiler and Mary Lee Eischen will support and guide you with writing prompts, lessons in new art techniques, and strategies for supporting your creative journey.  We will play with collage and visual journaling; tickle your funny bone with stories, and connect you with inspiring videos to set your brilliant self free.  This course benefits artists and non-artists alike.

If you want to

• ·         have more fun in your life

• ·         use color in new and bold ways

• ·         wake up your creativity to access it every day

• ·         share ideas, images, words, and more on a private blog spot in a supportive environment

This course is for you!

Opening Creativity begins on Tuesday May 1, running through July 23, 2012 

Each week, you will receive an e-mail with journal prompts, a new art technique to play with and highlights focusing on the weekly theme in the Artist’s Way.

To begin, you will need:

·         The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

·         A computer with high speed Internet

·         A sketch book or journal

·         Pencil or pen

·         An open mind and heart for creative exploration.

The cost for this 12 week journey is $240.00.  You can get more information and pay for this class securely with pay pal on the Creative Arts Centers website: www.creativeartscenterwinona.com  or you may send a check to the Creative Arts Center, P.O. Box 1212, Winona, MN 55987. You may call Mary Lee at 507.457.0692 or Lori at 507.452.1190 for more information.  I hope you join us for this exciting adventure.