Autumn Skies in Minnesota

 

The autumn skies in November are the most amazing 

blue.  The dry air and the slant of the sun create the intense color.  

This is overlooking Winona. We have two lakes that you can see 

in this picture. The triangle in the foreground is a 

shadow of the bluff.  This is a late afternoon photo.  In the distance, 

past the large white buildings is the Mississippi River.

The clouds in this sky picture are very interesting.  

The is Sugarloaf in Winona.

The tree branches and the clouds echo one another.

This is looking West up river.  In Winona, the Mississippi River 

takes a bend and runs East/West instead of its normal 

direction of North/South.

I am grateful for this beauty.

The sandstone is eroding away.  

See you next time!

Release Ritual down by the River

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wandered across the Mississippi River to do a "Good bye and Release Ritual."  My daughter's father had passed on to the next world on October 31, 2014.  I didn't get to say good bye. I also wanted to honor the art and music that he brought into the world.  I wanted to share some of my truths about our time together and forgive him for hurts I encountered and ask for his forgiveness as well.  I decided earlier this year that I would do it this October 31, 2021.

This beautiful sign welcomes visitors to Aghaming Park and Natural Area.  There is a beach here to the right and a path that winds along the river to end where the river cuts across the land in a canoe trail.

In May 2021, I did a Sacred Creativity Ritual in this area and I wondered if I could find this place again. I was in luck and I did find the area.  This beautiful tree is standing.  The log where I sat was there. Many other trees came down during this year.

I called in my ancestors, my Grandmother and Mother and the energy of the four directions.  Then I did a dance.

I wore my butterfly cape in the dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The altar I created in the leaves on the ground.  The leaves on the trees are yellow at this Autumn time of year.  In May the leaves were just forming a soft green.

After I spoke my words to release any energy that I didn't want or need into some leaves that  I gathered up. I took them to the river and floated them away.  It was gentle and also powerful release.

I closed the ritual with leaving a bit of nuts and seeds as a gratitude offering for being in this space.

I walked back feeling very light and peaceful.

 

If you'd like to see how the park looked in May, look at the Sacred Creativity Ritual. 

 

May we all walk lightly on this Earth.

Art of Fine Furniture 2021

 The Art of Fine Furniture 2021 was held in the Winona County Historical Museum.  

Some of the works took my breath away due to their beauty and the skill of the fine wood workers/artists. Some art works were filled with whimsy and all were finely crafted and designed.

This whimsical piece is called "Dali Plays Stravinsky" by Roger Knudson

"Dali Plays Stravinsky" by Roger Knudson (Close Up)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figured Cherry Night Stands by Chris Carroll

I love the swirls of the cherry wood on the front of these doors.

 

Mark Laub "Shooting Star" is filled with doors that open and drawers to be explored. He gathers his inspiration from succulent plants, butterfly wings, coral, Art Deco jewelry and more.

Chicago Table by Stephanie Lunieski

The Chicago table originated for a sketch that Stephanie drew while studying her guitar. During rapid prototyping, it took on qualities of a suspension bridge.  As such, every design element plays off the tension in the wires.  The legs are joined at angles, as are the curved laminated stretchers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ribbon Table by Craig Jentz

This coffee table is made of mahogany vertical slats of wood coopered together to form an undulating ribbon. 

A wonderful show.  Enjoy many wonderful offerings of the Winona History Center .  Hope to see you threre soon.

Torn Paper Poems in Windom Park by Marcie Radliff

 

 

Marcie Radliff had an idea, "What would it be like to write poems with other people in a place?"  She got a grant to invite people of Winona to write poetry with her.  She had pop up locations such as Levee Park, the East End Recreational Center, the Public Library to bring the invitation.

She had her capstone project to read some of her poems and share discussion on October 9, 2021. Some poems were placed around the park to read.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write here announced the writing in place project.

I typed out a few of her poems with Marcie's permission for you to read:

Orange paper poem:

What I want to know is

What in nature is all straight lines, all corners, not curvature, no variation:

not the wind

not the river's edge, washed

and tickled by current and eddy

not even a blade of grass

only these street corners, lampposts,

walls, railings, that impose

a grid on the earth

cornices proclaiming how precise we are

                                                            8/21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shift

I stand on the shifting sand

am myself a sand dune

not a monolith--

connected, ever reaching

and spreading

 

now a cliff, now a valley

now a wrinkled hill

with a wave pattern 

that mimics the sea 

or the sea floor

or the ridges of a thumprint

bark of an old tree

 

Still

in a strong wind

I bear witness to the undersides

of leaves:

what is delicate about us

what we rarely show

what happens when we are tossed and the air the ground the water

heave

and what was once stable--

bottom, top--

is not,

we hold on

by these tiny tendrils

 

Marcie gathering up all of her poem boards and laughing

 

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Some friends enjoying Marcie's beautiful work.

Read more of Marcie's art: Torn Paper Poems

 

 

 

 

 

Art in the Time of Covid Part II

 

MaryLee in front of Margarita Baumann's, Farbenfreude (Color Joy)

I was the gallery attendant at the Winona Arts Center, Lucas Gallery for the current show, Art in the Time of COVID showing through November 10, 2021.  I had seen the show at the opening in early September and again at a movie.  How interesting to take time to view it again slowly and reading the artist statements about their art.  Plan a visit during gallery hours, Wednesdays, 4pm - 7pm, Saturdays & Sundays 1pm - 4pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the front entrance view from the gallery. Tea, guest book, information on November offerings and artist statements made good viewing and reading along with chatting with guests.

 

 

Kathleen Vinehout, Covid, the Ravaging Dragon,soft pastel on UArt sanded surface

Covid looks up with a mix of greed and disdain as he clutches a soot covered treasure.  Tree souls walk among the devastation. Fire still burns on distant hills, casting an eerie glow to the quickly darkening sky.  Yet, all is not lost.  a green colored hill sparkles under starlight. A path toward the future leads us to higher ground. 

Meditation proved incredibly helpful during COVID. This image came to me during meditation. I sketched Covid.  Still, nudged me again and again.  Finally, I created this painting. He no longer showed up during meditation.

 

Read about Margaret Kiihne's inspiration and staying calm during COVID with an art prompt per day.  She is generously allowing visitors to touch and read through her books.

Follow the Winona Arts Center on Facebook for updates in programing.

Watch for upcoming Film Society offering in the new Don Nelson Screening Room.

Art/Mixed Media Making

 

Art and Mixed Media Making was four classes on Tuesday evenings in October.  Lot's of materials were available to spur on our creativity and fire up our making.

Collage materials for some making.

Jamie attaching her cord to the top of her flags.

Dawn working with gusto.

Bev laying out her flags in her creative process.

We made books.

Our collages for strength and inspiration.

Finished Prayer Flags and close ups

What a wonderful time creating together! Join us next time!