Even More Jesus

 
     Last weekend Jim and I went to Octoberfest at Das Haus.  I don't like crowds so I rarely attend festivals but this one was fun; full of people who were full of beer and good cheer.  There was one group in particular that seemed to be having a really great time.  They were dancing and prancing and singing along with the band.  It was impossible to watch their antics without smiling.  I was also intrigued by this young man's tee shirt.  Here in Alabama it's not unusual to see tee shirts with religious slogans or imagery but it IS unusual to see the wearers of those shirts drinking and dancing.  So I had to ask him about it.  Turns out, Even More Jesus is the name of a dark Danish beer.  Obviously, this guy is a true believer.

Lunch with Carl

     

     This is my friend, Carl Schinasi.  I consider him to be my mentor.  He's the one who inspired me to carry a camera with me at all times.  That's what he does and he captures some remarkable shots.  

     Jim and I met Carl yesterday at Rogue Tavern.  Over lunch, Carl asked me when I'm planning to restart my photo blog.  I hadn't actually planned to restart it but with my mentor's encouragement I've decided try it for a while and see how it feels.  Thanks, Carl.

Ready to hang

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I added a few special touches to a painting that didn't quite ring my chimes.  I'm much happier with it now.

Signs of spring

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The cherry tree in our front yard is coming into bloom.  After a long gray winter it's a welcome sight.

Tools of the trade

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These brushes are my daily companions.  What would I do without them?

Mortar and pestle

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Today I made couscous for lunch.  I tend to have a heavy hand with herbs and spices.

Almost finished

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This is what I've been doing in the studio this week.

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Shadow play

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I took this photo just as a joke but when I looked at it on the computer I discovered that I actually liked it.

Metal birdbath

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I like the reflections in the water.

Irony alert!

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Jim and I went out to dinner tonight.  We only eat in the finest establishments.

Baby gargoyle

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This is one of the gargoyles that guards our back yard.

My special cup

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I've already mentioned my love of strong coffee, coffee houses and my favorite barista so I thought I might as well show you my favorite cup.  I have mocha in this cup almost every evening.  Mocha just doesn't taste as good in any other vessel.

Room service

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Tonight it's raining so Jim delivered my evening mocha to the studio for me.  What a guy!

Outdoor plumbing

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A porcelain graveyard?

Show at Hoover City Hall

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I have a show up at Hoover City Hall. The gallery space is lovely--spacious and well-lighted.  Everyone at the mayor's office and at the Hoover Art's Alliance has been really nice and easy to work with.  I'm very pleased.  The show will hang until the end of April.

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Crop circle?

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Mysterious marks on the sidewalk.

I love coffeehouses

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Urban Standard has a great coffeehouse vibe.  And great coffee, too.

Creepy doll heads

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I wish I had bought more of these creepy doll heads when I had a chance.

Hawking's Dream

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This is my latest painting.  I call it "Hawking's Dream" because we just watched "The Theory of Everything" last night and this piece reminds me of planets and stars and time and space and all those things that fascinate me but that are beyond my comprehension.

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Winter sky

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Winter sky + branches with a little snow.

Castle in the snow.

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A dusting of snow just makes everything look more magical.

Snow at night

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After a whole day of dire warnings about the big snowstorm that was on it's way, we finally got a few flakes last night 

More rust

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The ever lovely, ever present rust.

Flemming's fantasies

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We went to Aldridge Gardens for the first time last week.  It was too cold to really linger but I did enjoy seeing Frank Flemming's whimsical sculptures peeking out from the trails.  Must go back after it warms up some so we can have a good look around.

It's different

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I'm still recovering from yesterday's reception at Unity.  It was fun AND exhausting.  Here's a photo of my latest painting.  It's a departure from the kind of work I've been doing.  Still not sure how I feel about it.  Sometimes I love it--and sometimes I don't.

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New Teeth

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When Jim was young he got his front teeth knocked out.  Recently he had to have his bridge replaced.  Dr. Tichansky did a great job.  Jim is very pleased.

Topsy turvy

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It was sort of an Alice in Wonderland moment the first time I saw this building.

Old oak tree

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Lichen growing on a venerable old oak.

Tinglewood

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Yesterday I had some business to take care of in Montevallo.  I never go to Montevallo without visiting Orr Park to see the sculptures created by Tim Tingle.  I love the story of how Tingle (who was a coal miner) turned dead and dying cedars which were slated to be cut down into works of art.  You can read the whole story at: http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/orrpark.html

My favorite dumpster

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My favorite dumpster is still there across from Linn Park.

1st in Class

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Jim's 2CV was entered in the World of Wheels car show that was held at the convention center this weekend.  The 2CV was displayed next to Dr. James Andrews' red Ferrari.  Jim won a trophy for "1st in Class".  He's pretty happy about that.  Don't know if the Ferrari won a prize or not.

Mysterious marks

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I found this design in the parking lot of Soho Square.  Don't know why it's there but I thought it was interesting.

Tiny treasure

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I've always thought this was the most charming little building.  It's just a simple brick box but I love the ivy growing all over it.  Must remember to go back and take another photo in the spring when the shrubs and flowers are in bloom.

Vulcan

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Vulcan is probably the most iconic image of Birmingham.  It's been photographed a gazillion times but until now it had never been photographed by me.  This is a first and I'm pretty darn proud of it.

Reflecting on Andy

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This is a photo of a photo that I was allowed to take at the Warhol exhibit.  It's out in the lobby so I was able to get interesting reflections through the window.

Sweet gum ball

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I'm sort of sentimental about sweet gum balls.  Long story.

Sunday morning

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So, it's a rainy Sunday morning.  Jim is out of town.  I wake up late, put on my black wool beret that my friend Judy gave me 35 years ago and my black water-repellent jacket that I bought in Memphis and I drive off to Church Street Coffee.  I sit at a corner table sipping a most delicious cappuccino and let my eyes and my mind wander.  Now that's a sacred experience.

More rust

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Love those colors.

Billboard

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I now have my own walking billboard.  And he's cute, too.

Warhol exhibit

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Today Jim and I went to the Warhol exhibit at the Abroms/Engel Museum.  Understandably, I was only allowed to take photos in a couple of areas.  The image above may look to you like a helium filled pillow but it's "really" a kinetic sculpture with which one can interact (i.e., toss around) and thus become an active creator of participatory art.  It's great to know that I helped make museum quality art today.

Gate

  

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I was impressed by this gate made of repurposed bicycle wheels.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a really good photo of it but you get the idea.

Like a deer in the headlights

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I didn't do anything on the computer to enhance this photo.  All the overlapping images are due to the reflections in the windows.  

Pretty in pink.

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She looks like she's ready for romance.

A trio of airheads

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Have I mentioned how much I love Zoe's mannequins?

Please don't hate me because I'm beautiful.

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Oh, the burden of it all.

Who hasn't?

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I found this sticker on a post in Forest Park this morning.  

Courtyard corner

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When I first started taking photographs I used to shoot almost everything straight on.  Now I'm enjoying looking at things sort of  sideways and from different angles.  

Back to the dumpster

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I'm fascinated with the markings on this dumpster.  I keep going back and looking at the photos I took of it.  Reminds me of a time when we were living in Santa Cruz, CA, the New Age capitol of the world.  Jim and I were hanging out in a coffee house.  A toddler kept toddling over and exploring the contents of the trash can.  Her long haired father kept patiently pulling her away and trying to distract her, but she would inevitably wobble back over there and start digging in the trash again.  Finally he scooped her up and said, "Come on Raindrop, we have higher ideals than that."  I spewed coffee through my nose.

Reflections on art

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I came across this installation in the window of Space One Eleven.  The shapes are assembled from paper cones.  Don't know who created it or why but I thought it was visually striking.  I like the reflection in the upper right corner of the window.

Dumpster art

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Sunday is a great day to drive around looking for interesting things to photograph.  Yesterday we were downtown and I came across this yellow dumpster.  I took lots of photos.  I'll be posting a few of them.  Who would have thought that an ordinary dumpster would be so photogenic?