Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Here’s another from the Sower Gallery Display – “The Comfort of Family” by Kelsey Swanson. The back story is included below. To add to your delight, check out her web site after you’ve savored this presentation.
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Back Story : The Comforts of Family Kelsey Swanson
As an artist, I spend a lot of time working on portraits. Sometimes, there is nothing as raw as a rendition of a person caught in a natural moment. A single snapshot can capture a lifetime, and it can reveal the fundamental desires of our souls.
From the mother:
“I still remember the time this picture was taken so perfectly… I was going through a divorce. After months of living in friend’s houses and sleeping on couches or mattresses, we finally got into our own place. They [the kids] had their own room with all their toys and beds out of storage, but no matter how hard I tried, they would both end up in my bed by the time the sun came up. They would say that they didn’t want me to wake up alone. That particular day was a Saturday morning… We didn’t have to wake up at 5 am to make it to daycare, and I didn’t have to run off to work, we got to just lay in bed to talk, cuddle and just BE together.“
Thanks for your response to the entry from the Sower Gallery. Here’s more. This one is also by Bob McLain, and a nice example of an artist’s versatility. As with all the art at the Sower Gallery, the backstory is presented along with the art itself.
Bob McLain
Paris Market
When in Paris, France, we visited a large, organic, colorful, outdoor food market. I took many reference photos and after getting home, started doing small studies of the fruits and vegetables.
To get everything in my painting, I decided to do a diptych – two pieces that work together and are strong enough to stand on their own.
The mediums used in this piece are acrylic paint and colored pencil on watercolor board. The pieces are sprayed with many coats of UV resistant clear acrylic coating for protection.
If you live in the area, please accept the invitation to stop by and enrich your day. The show will be up through March 20, 2016
Shepherd of the Hill Church
Corner of Engler and Highway 41 Chaska, Minnesota
Open Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM to Noon
You may not have been able to make it to the grand opening, but if you live in the area you can get to see the exposition Mondays thru Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Today I’m presenting to you Bob McLain’s “Mil,” with the backstory. Once you’ve enjoyed it, scroll to the end for a reminder of the Sower Gallery’s purpose and location.
Bob McLain Artist Statement
“The human head has intrigued me for many years.
The phrase “The eyes are the windows to the soul” and how moods are created in the look of a person have also fascinated me. Because of this strong interest, I have created a long term study project called “Project Faces.”
This project will include proper proportions of the facial parts from nine positions of the head. I will also create different moods in the faces from small children to seniors and in many different nationalities.
The entire study will be done with graphite pencils to work on tonal values of the face.
Once this study is complete, I will start a new study of skin colors. This will be done in acrylics and colored pencils.
The artwork titled “Mil” is the first finished graphite drawing in my study.”
MIL
“For most of Mil Scheman’s life, she suffered from schizophrenia, a disabling brain disease. This illness made her agitated, anxious, and disconnected with others. In Mil’s mid 30’s, she was committed to a secure psychiatric hospital located in St. Peter, MN. When the smoking ban on state property was instituted, Mil went in front of a judge convincing him that she was of sound mind and in control of her mental illness. Mil spent the final years of her life at Divine Providence Nursing Home in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota where she was allowed to smoke six cigarettes a day.
Mil connected with animals more than people. She called herself the “Queen of the Beasties”. Mil shocked the staff at the Apple Valley and Como zoos when she kissed a snake (not in a cage) and kissed a camel that she had just ridden!
Mil had several stuffed animals that she called her kids. Her gorilla and tiger went everywhere with her. When it was time for “a smoke” she would often hold the cigarette to the gorilla’s mouth for a puff. Mil tore out a magazine picture of the Marlboro cigarette man and said he was her husband. When we did something that Mil didn’t like she at times would say, “Al is gonna get you for this!” (Referring to “boyfriend” Al Capone.)
Things changed when the great nieces and nephews were born. Mil loved to hold them as babies and referred to them as “the littles.” Just as Jesus has placed his mark on us and called us by name, Mil’s family and the Sister’s and staff of Divine Providence Nursing Home kept reaching out to Mil, inviting her to be a part of their lives.
Mil remained childlike in her love for all creatures, great and small. True bliss to Mil were her visits with family, delighting in babies and children, trips to the zoo, animal magazines, Camel cigarettes, Hershey candy bars and Dr. Pepper. Mil was God’s gift to us. She delighted and charmed us over the years. What a blessing she was.”
I’ve just posted on my website two versions of a very short story to be included in a local anthology. The first is my original, the second is the result of working with a very talented editor, KJ Neun. You can read both versions if you go to my web site and click on the fiction tab. I’d love to know what you think of the comparison.
If you are local, you have two more chances to see the amazing production of The Man of La Mancha at Theater 301. Last night’s audience leapt to their feet.
This will be an amazing production of MAN OF LA MANCHA. If you live nearby, plan to be there for one of the four presentations — if you can get a ticket. Last year some of the performances sold out.
I am only a little biased, since my son Doug designed and built (with lots of help) the set, and is directing along with Joan Olson, assistant director.
See the link below for more interesting details. (and click on the photo to enlarge it)
http://www.mountcalvaryarts.org/theatre301/man-la-mancha-0
I’m still working on the story of my accident and its aftermath, but before its ready to post here, I want to stay connected. So I’m posting today the short,short story I’m including in a local anthology. It’s based on an event of some 15 years ago, though it’s hard to believe that it’s been that long.
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I made it in time, half way across the country.
“Mom’s waiting for you.” Eddie gestured toward my lifelong friend, seemingly comatose on the Hospice bed. I held her hand. I think she squeezed mine a little.
“She had some prune juice for breakfast this morning,” he said. “And she asked when you would be coming.”
My last chance to talk with the person who held so much of my life in her hands, from the time we were in our carriages, I think. Certainly from tricycle days.
“Remember riding down our hill tilting your tricycle to make it a two-wheeler? With me following cautiously behind on three wheels?” I asked. Her eyes fluttered slightly open, then closed. Hallie was always good at eye-fluttering.
I think a little smile played on her lips as I went on. “Playing marbles for keepsies? The only game I was good at. You even picked more violets for Mother’s Day. Boyfriends at BayView beach? Spotting for enemy planes during the war? I couldn’t tell a plane from a mosquito. Giggling at your wedding; crying at my college graduation? Oh, and always protecting me from the scary neighborhood dogs?”
Hallie laughed, full-bellied as she used to, and drifted away to the end of her journey.
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I’d love to see you there on Saturday if you live nearby. Besides the items of direct concern to me, there will be much of beauty and interest to see, ponder, and enjoy.
The theme of the current gallery display is “Back Stories.” The story of the cover of “Figs & Pomegranates & Special Cheeses” will include the original art work by Marilyn Brown along with a step by step display of the graphic art enhancement by Jenny Janson of Janson Graphics.
Copies of “Figs & Pomegranates & Special Cheeses” (and its predecessor “Mrs. Job.”) will be available for sale.
There will also be on display a photo print by Doug Affinito with its backstory.
Doug and Lisa and I will be there for the opening, arriving sometime around 7:15 or 7:30 p.m. Jenny will also be there, and, I hope, Marilyn.
The location is given on the attached brochure designed by Jenny.
It has taken time to let go of the symbols of care from the days following my April 15, 2015 accident. About a month ago I finally deposited my brace into recycling – the brace from which I was set free on July 17th. I’m not too sure why I kept it hanging around so long. Maybe a symbol of my survival of the accident? Maybe fear that I might need it again? Certainly that would be irrational, given that I’d need to be refitted if I were to create another situation where I needed it. Maybe a symbol of the care I received? Maybe a sign that I was ready to move past identifying myself as an accident survivor? Maybe something else I can’t recognize because I’m too close to the situation?
So now, about the walker. When I came home from rehab at the beginning of June to continue my recovery I had a walker on each of the three levels of my townhome. There were only a few days that I needed them to get around, but it was a long time before I folded up two of them – one to return to the church from which it had been borrowed, and the other to contribute to “His House” charity. The third one has remained in my master (mistress?) bathroom until this morning. I’ve been using it to continue the exercises they taught me in rehab. Truth be told, however, all I really need is a doorjamb to hold while doing them. There’s just something about not parting with those symbols.
I think it’s really a declaration of independence. Maybe today I’ll dig in more deeply to the writing I’ve been planning to transfer from my head to my laptop. One thing I want to finish up is the story of what I experienced and learned as an accident victim/causer. My plan is to present it here in short segments – so it won’t be so boring. And maybe I won’t need that long restorative nap every day.
Funny how the things I was so anxious to leave behind apparently became the last rails to hang on to before dropping back to normalcy — a new normal.
In past years I’ve managed to do something relatively elaborate to wish my friends a happy holiday. This year not so much, but my joy in your friendship is none-the-less nurturing, exciting and powerful.
As I think you know, my big event of the year was turning my lovely little Acura RSX into a flattened pile of metal and stuff that looked in the end like an aluminum can crushed under foot in preparation for the recycling bin. That was on April 15, when I was on my way home looking forward to two unscheduled days to dig into some of my ongoing projects.
Most of those projects are still active in my head, but I’m way behind in carrying them out. I did get to follow through on plans to take part in a forum on forgiveness at the Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church on April 28. With the help of my son who got my computer to me at Auburn Manor where I was rehabbing, I was able to create handouts illustrating my new approach to presenting forgiveness issues, emphasizing that justice and mercy are two sides of the same coin. Auburn manor made it easy for me to work within the recovery schedule, and some very generous folks from the church managed to get me there and back to present from a wheelchair. Quite dramatic, really.
One of my projects now is to write about my crash, what I’ve learned from it, and the impact it’s had on my life. I have started working on it, discovering that I have to go back to check records to remind me where I was when. Memory, never a simple file folder in the brain, is more vague than I thought it would be. But you will probably be exposed to it eventually.
Work also proceeds on “My Father’s House.” Right now it’s mostly doing research about Bristol, Connecticut and life and times around 1910. Totally stalled, however, is the creation of questions for groups to use in discussing “Figs and Pomegranates and Special Cheeses.” I’m hopeful they will eventually encourage more adoption of “Figs … . “ Then there’s my blog, and my facebook page, so badly ignored as they fall to the bottom of the priorities list.
I’ve been out of the three-month sentence to the torso brace since July 17. Whew! What a relief. But regaining my energy is still an ongoing process, along with getting accustomed to my shorter stature after losing two inches to my L1 compression fracture. And what a shock when I realized how it had changed my body structure! Yes, I worked hard at keeping good posture, but my clothes needed a lot of adjusting. The local tailor was wonderful at working around the brace to alter clothes to fit for our July 28 departure on a planned three-week cruise to the Shetland Islands, Iceland, and Norway.
The flight on the way over did hurt. I walked the aisles a lot, but three weeks of rest, walking, and fun worked wonders. The trip home was very comfortable. I still need to lie on my back occasionally when pain starts to build up – especially after working at my computer, and walking is amazingly helpful. But my chiropractor/nutritionist tells me things will keep on getting better. Certainly I have no basis for complaining when I think of what might have happened if my Acura, its seat belts, and air bags hadn’t taken such good, protective care of me.
I loved all the places we visited on the cruise. I intended to share a few photos on my blog, but I haven’t made it past the point of beginning to learn how to post movies. Just beginning to learn how – still haven’t done it.
As for photos, I haven’t yet downloaded the few I took on our restful and fun four-night Thanksgiving stay at Cove Point in Beavers Falls, outside Duluth. Because then, of course, came the preparation for Christmas. I am no longer responsible for “creating” the celebration, but, given my propensity to purchase gifts through the year while traveling, it does fall to me to wrap them all and get them to their destinations.
All these words just to explain why I haven’t been writing on my blog and facebook! And I thought I was going to write just a brief paragraph.
Finally,to the point. Two points, actually. (1) Rejoice! The winter solstice arrives in a few hours and we will begin to have more daylight. (2) Rejoice! Things may be pretty awful, but we always have this annual time to at least imagine what love and peace will look like when we decide to practice them. Oh, and (3) Thank you for enriching my life with the creative things you do in the blogosphere.
