Day 2115: How about a Maypole?

story: collage, acrylic & digital

Want music?

 

Click here for Etta James, At last.

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

It that time of the year again ... thank goodness!

The fearless four are on the road again for the second annual ...

guess what and guess where?

Come on, wanna guess? Wanna play?

Details and photos galore tomorrow on Day 2116!

My dear friend/artist Heidi in Austria, just sent me this ...

photo by Heidi, Austria, May 2018

her photo of an Austrian Maypole. 

Saying "On May 1st they are erected after being decorated.  Usually a Band plays folk music, often politicians are present.The fun story also is that it's a sport to steal these maypoles (mainly in the night) and that the group that has been stolen from has to buy it back! There might be lots of mistakes in my sentence so I hope you know what I mean."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole:

In Germany and Austria the maypole (or Maibaum) is a tradition going back to the 16th century. It is a decorated tree or tree trunk that is usually erected either on 1 May . In  Austria, it is usual to have a ceremony to erect the maypole on the village green. The custom of combining it with a village or town fete, that usually takes place on 30 April or 1 May.

photo by Heidi, Austria, May 2018

Heidi said, "some decades ago - maybe the 50's, 60's 

or earlier - young boys tried to climb up and 

get some of the decoration pieces, maybe a sausage. 

They were dressed in lederhosen - leather trousers, 

a traditional kind that every boy would have at an early age.  

As these trousers were short legged, climbing up 

could have been very painful when the boy wasn't 

strong enough and slid down."

 I thought you might enjoy seeing the tradition?

A smile for Friday ...

Day 2114: Seven at Eastside!

raggedy journal: work in progress, acrylics, collage

Want music?

 

Click here for Eryka Badu, Next lifetime.

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

Eastside met Wednesday at Erin's art retreat.

Erin's Southern charm & ideal setting made for a great day. 

A quirky journal of assembled pieces was the goal.

Using a batch of heavy watercolor & other papers,

we covered both sides with acrylic & texture.

Then started filling the pages with collage, drawing, ephemera etc.

work in progress by Norma

work in progress by Josie

work in progress by Erin

Erin's journal was made from a shipping box, with 

hand cut ragged edges ... working with acrylics & washi tapes.

work by Linda

Linda Worked with acrylics on canvases.

cover, work in progress, junk mail collage

Always a fun day at Erin's with Eastside.

For FB Throwback Thursday ...

Young WW & Aunt Vonda, Irvine Park, CA 1992

A smile for Thursday ...

Day 2113: a lot on my mind!

a lot on my mind, acrylics, photo & digital

Want music?

 

Click here for  Janelle Monae,  Make me feel.

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

 I took a picture in an optical store window ...

of a eyeglass model with lots of reflections.

Not just because she's pretty, but I liked the dynamics,

the interplay of the interruptions.

I separated some colors and added a few brushstrokes.

I added it to a layer of an earlier ink drawing.

This would have been a safe solution, but I went on.

Layering over a red acrylic, erasing areas and blending others.

And, maybe I went too far, but I went with this final ...

titled, "a lot on my mind."

A little chaotic & messy, but so are some minds?

Tell me what you think? Come on, tell me. I can take it!

A smile for Wednesday ...

Day 2112: A local, long-time landmark.

Ben: photo, collage & digital

Want music?

 

Click here for Kris Fuchigami, Can't take my eyes off of you.

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

When I drive to day class I see this radio tower from a distance.
I check for it each time, it's always there.

People driving the 5 freeway, near Grand off-ramp, 

may have noticed it as well. A local, long-time landmark.

Spaced flashing lights to warn off air traffic.

I tried to find some history for you here, 

maybe erected in 1922, but it wasn't definitive to me?

I left early before day class and drove 

down SA back streets to find the source.
Workers in the area regarded me as an alien.

Railway tracks to the left & secure fencing kept me at a distance.

You might have laughed if you had seen me 

doing a back-bend trying to shoot the top!

There was no way to get it all in one shot.

That's okay, I found it & like it anyway.

78 degrees, blue skies, Santa Ana, CA,

A smile for Tuesday ...