Spring!

Two weeks ago I set up my tent at the Mandarin Art Festival!  This fine arts show is located on the beautiful tree-lined grounds of the Mandarin Community Club - close to the St. John’s River.  It was a beautiful - and hot weekend!  Everyone connected with the festival was wonderful, and so were all the other artists that I met.  We did set-up on Friday afternoon and take-down on Sunday after the last customer left at 5PM.

Yesterday, there was an Art League of Jacksonville art show connected with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Matthews bridge in Jacksonville.  The art show and activities took place at the Norman Studio complex in the Arlington area. The Norman Studios was founded in 1920, when silent films were produced, and is the last surviving studio complex left from that era. The art show was held in what had been the prop storage building!  It was a very interesting venue and so nice to meet wonderful people!

Next weekend I will be showing my photography at the Jacksonville Fine Arts Show at Boone Park, in Avondale.

Fall Festival time!

Several weeks ago I went to North Carolina to go to two festivals, not to show my photography, but to enjoy the work of other artists.  Both festivals were held near each other, but both were different.  I like to go to Valle Crucis on Saturday - actually, it is only held on Saturday!  The first stop is always to get some apple butter that has been made by church members using all the different varieties of local apples that are grown around there.  It is delicious apple butter!  Sometimes the number of jars that one is allowed to purchase is rationed....this year there was no rationing - it must have been a good year for apples.  And our kids always ask for us to get them a jar.  The apple butter immediately goes to the car so it doesn't have to be carried around.  Next stop is for kettle corn....then I can begin to relax and really look at all the displays.  It is nice to see some of the same artists year after year and see what they have been working on.  I always take my camera with me because the festival is held in a valley with the most beautiful trees surrounding it!

The next day is the Woolly Worm festival....it is a two day festival.  The kids and grandkids  have practiced racing their woolly bear caterpillars up a string to get ready for the races at the festival.  None of us ever win at the festival, but it is so much fun trying!!  Then we wander for awhile and get something warm to eat.  The most important stop at this festival (well, other than racing the caterpillars) is to get a bag or two of local apples.  These are the most wonderful apples - so tasty!  And we have learned not to leave them outside on the deck of the cabin if we don't want to share them with the raccoons!