Fabulous Light Show

Each Christmas season, the acres of tall pines, gardens, and trails of Garven Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs are decorated with millions (quite literally) of colorful lights and opened for public viewing after nightfall. Walt, Mary, Susan and I had our turn this evening,  and it was even more amazing than we expected. A light drizzle enhanced the sense of other worldliness. Here are a few pics:

Susan, Mary, and Walt Stromquist

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it. And may the new year bring health and happiness to all.

An Art Filled Weekend

On Saturday, Judy Chan and I attended the talk and workshop (see earlier posts for more details) given by Amy Uyeki and Aiko Uyeki at the Japanese American National Museum on the Senryu poet, Shizue Harada. The event was terrific and Judy and I were both inspired to write Senryu on a regular basis. Here is the poem I wrote during the workshop:

                                         Possum family
                                         We discover in our house
                                         All nine through cat door.


(I confess I exaggerated the facts - there were only two possums in the house - for dramatic effect. But in my defense, at no time during the workshop did anyone address the issue of poetic truthfulness.)

Not Welcome There, 1996

oil on paper

Judy Chan

Two of Judy's large drawings are part of the Museum's collection. One of them is in the current exhibit. What a thrill to see the piece and to be with the artist while viewing it.

Wood Landscape, 2010

carved wood

Fred Rose

On Saturday night, Joe and I went to the opening of Fred Rose's excellent wood sculpture exhibition at Chez Shaw Gallery in Long Beach. We got to chat with Fred and a lot of other friends there.

Driven Into Paradise (detail), 2010

oil on canvas on panel

Siobhan McClure

We are looking forward to another great art show opening from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, November 20th at the Richard Heller Gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. Siobhan McClure's beautiful narrative paintings will fill the gallery. You are invited! 

"Louise Bourgeois: The Fabric Works"

A wonderful show of rarely shown fabric works by Louise Bourgeois is now on view in London at Hauser & Wirth. Here are some examples:

Eat Drink Art Design

Wouldn't a salad taste all the better if it were tossed with these utensils! Made in 1992 by Robert Farrell and titled,"Toss IX," these beauties are made of copper, brass, 14K gold, and sterling silver. They are on view in the exhibit Eat Drink Art Design at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. The show includes artist made dishes of all sorts and from many eras.