HATEFUL THINGS

The next stop on my Sunday outing was a disturbing exhibit, "hateful things". This was a traveling exhibit that included racist memorabilia, pictures and artifacts from the "jim crow" era.
"The disturbing objects in "Hateful Things" have been lifted from their original
purposes to now serve as powerful reminders of America's racist past. But
more importantly, the exhibition gives viewers new eyes with which to see
present-day images of racial stereotyping that might otherwise pass
unchallenged." (from university flyer)
You can view some of the objects here http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/traveling/
These pictures are not captioned. The signs that accompanied the objects in the exhibit were helpful in giving the items perspective. The signs also offered recommendations for further information.
As I said this exhibit was disturbing and difficult to view. Luckily my next stop made me feel better and gave me hope for the future of the country and the world.

TO BE CONTINUED

ART EXHIBIT

My next stop on Sunday was an art exhibition in one of the galleries at the university library. The featured artist was Shelley Newman Stevens. Here is a description of her art from the university website:

"Newman Stevens creates large scale, dramatic figurative compositions that position her detailed and life-like figures amidst dreamlike scenes, in a visual representation of the psychological battle that rages between who we really are, and how we wish to be perceived. In this series, Stevens focuses on the mask as a metaphor for the physical and behavioral facade that we construct in attempt to reveal and, or conceal only certain aspects of ourselves. These paintings contain elements of the theatrical and the artificial even as they attempt to expose a truth. "

The paintings were absolutely fascinating. The longer I looked at each painting the more meaning I read into it. I was really sorry I had missed the artist's gallery talk. Take a look at some of the paintings:
http://www.goldenapplestudio.com/series%20two.htm

TO BE CONTINUED

SUMMER POW WOW PICTURES

WHAT A DAY

What a day! I attended a Pow Wow, visited an art exhibit, visited an historical exhibit, and attended an International Expo. And I did all of this in the span of four hours, one of the advantages of living in a small university town. I want to tell you about each of these events as each had emotional and intellectual impacts. Each made me think and ponder and wonder.

Okay then. My first visit was the Pow Wow. I'm not new to pow wows. I've attended quite a few at the Saginaw Chippewa Reservation. This pow wow, however, was held inside a sports arena at the university. Universities educate. Attendees were given a program with information about the pow wow, pow wow events, as well as the meaning of the different dances and the "drum".

The Grand Entry was spectacular. A tribe elder carried the "Eagle Staff" and was followed by war veterans bearing the United States flag, Canadian flag, Michigan State flag, and POW flag, then head dancers and dancers dressed in colorful regalia. I felt priveleged to be able to share in this celebration even if my participation was only as a spectator.

Some interesting facts:

Pow wows were originally held in the spring to celebrate the new beginning of life.

For the Grand Entry all the dancers enter from the eastern direction to signify this is where everything begins.

A dancer's clothing is called a regalia or outfit, not a costume.

The "drum" calls the dancers into the dance arena and symbolizes a heartbeat. The songs are a form of oral history.

Some of the dances include Traditional Dance; Grass Dance; Jingle Dress Dance; and Fancy Dance

TO BE CONTINUED

MARCH MADNESS

I'm not a huge basketball fan. I do like the game, it's fast paced and exciting. (Who wouldn't jump to their feet in the wake of a super dupper dunk! ) It's March Madness time too. Everyone gets caught up in March Madness, even if it's "brackets" and not baskets that garner the attention. I love the terminology, "being invited to the big dance"; "sweet sixteen" ; "elite eight"; "final four". There're always lots of stories in the sports pages about individual players. You might learn that a player worked long and hard to overcome a physical handicap or you might read about a player who excelled in spite of a horrible home environment. You can't help but embrace those players and wanting to root them on. It's better not to read the stories about any player who's on a team that might be paired with the team you're rooting for. I usually read the stories and I usually watch many of the games but I didn't this year. I really don't know why. I even filled out a bracket sheet for a contest at the gym. I think I still have a chance to win. I'll pay more attention next weekend when it comes down to the final four.

KALE CHIPS

I made the kale chips today. They weren't bad. I used seasoned salt instead of kosher salt. If I make them again I'll also sprinkle them with parmesan. Cheesy kale chips will make a really good snack. However, for your own safety and the safety of others, if you have problems eating cruciferous vegetables, you shouldn't eat too many kale chips.

GYM TODAY

My visit to the gym today was more informative than usual. While riding the bike I looked through a couple of issues of "Good Housekeeping". First, there was an article that gave instructions for a really cute craft project. Hopefully I remember it correctly. You need yarn (cut into strips), any size bowl, white glue, and plastic wrap. Cover the outside of the bowl with plastic wrap, dip yarn strips in glue and make a design around the bowl, leave the yarn -wrapped bowl to dry overnight. Remove the bowl and plastic and you'll have a neat yarn sculpture. I'm going to make this soon and I'll let you know how it turns out .

The next article I found was a recipe for kale chips. Kale chips? That's what I thought. The recipe was very simple. Remove any large stalks from kale, place kale leaves on cookie sheet, spray with oil and season with kosher salt. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. I do have a bag of kale in the refrigerator so maybe I'll try this soon. I hope I got the time and temperature correct. I'd better check this tomorrow.

While I was on the treadmill, I noticed the person on the treadmill next to me was talking on her cell. I couldn't help but overhear, she was ordering a pizza, a large pizza with lots of toppings. I had to laugh to myself as I wondered if the size of her pizza order reflected the length of time she had spent on the treadmill. This gives a new meaning to the term, "meal preparation" doesn't it.

EASTER SUNDAY

Easter is very early this year. My back yard is still covered with snow and I don't think the temperature will go above 30 degrees today. Still I am hopeful of warmer, sunnier days to come.

HARBINGER OF SPRING

Could it be, could it be, could it be! Today is March 19 and I saw my first real sign of spring, crocuses in bloom. It was so unexpected . Today wasn't particularly warm, nor was it sunny. I guess those tiny purple flowers couldn't wait any longer. Good for them! And good for me! Seeing those crocuses in bloom made my day.

Not crocus but other spring harbingers

NO BRIDGE TODAY

Rose Campion and Dames Rocket

When the weather service issued an advisory for snow, freezing rain, sleet, my first thought was, I'll miss bridge again this week. Tuesday is my bridge day. A friend and I drive 30 miles each way to play at a senior center in the next town. I truly look forward to my bridge Tuesdays. We play contract bridge, not as competitive as duplicate bridge I think. At least at the senior center, the competition is gentle. We play and we learn, we play and we socialize, we play and we have fun. I always have a great Tuesday morning even if I get rotten hands. After bridge, my friend and I go for lunch and sometimes a little shopping before heading home. So today, no bridge, no lunch out, no shopping.

CLIVIA

I began to take pictures of my orange clivia when I noticed the flower stalk emerging from the nest of brilliant green strappy leaves. I was in Los Angeles about a month ago and the clivias planted along the streets there were starting to send up flower stalks also. So it seems that although my clivia's atmosphere is artificially controlled, it received the same message as it's California relatives, it's time to bloom. My clivia has been in bloom for a couple of weeks now. Each morning I smile when I come downstairs and see those spectacular bright orange flowers brightening the living room. Clivia is related to amaryllis, the popular Christmas flower, did you know that? Another not so well known fact, clivia is a native of South Africa and is named in honor of Lady Charlotte Florentia Clive, Duchess of Northumberland.

NEW TO BLOGGING

Wow, my first blog! The page is blank and I get to talk about whatever I want.

I could talk about my garden but since I'm in Michigan, that would be my gardens of the past or my forthcoming garden. I'm sure I'll get around to mentioning both, plus posting pictures. I could also talk about my houseplants. Just like me, my houseplants are more than ready to get out of the house and bask in some real light and warmth.

Today, however, I'll talk about my shop on etsy. I registered on etsy in January but actually set up my shop about a month ago. I have slowly added inventory since then. I create art using pressed plant material and garden photography. I use a microwave press and phone books to press. I use a digital camera (Sony) for photographs. My favorite flowers to press are pansies and violas. (They are so beautiful and their "faces" are so interesting.) Most of my art pieces are quotes or sayings embellished with pressed flower arrangements. I like to think when people look at these art pieces they will smile and feel a bit happier about life. The other items in my shop are bookmarks which I create using photographs and scans of my pressed flower arrangements. I embellish the bookmarks with real pressed flowers. Don't beautiful bookmarks add to the enjoyment of a good book!