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Learning to slow down, because life's too short ~ ~ ~

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Looking back and moving forward…

12.31.2021 by Barbara Grant //

I hope you’re enjoying this festive time of year, which is also a time here in the midwest to stay cozy like Ringo & Roxy. 

I hope you’re enjoying this festive time of year. Here in Wisconsin it’s time to stay cozy and soak up sun rays wherever you can find them. Roxy & Ringo are experts at this.

As we say farewell to 2021, I’d like to share a brief wrap-up of my little sphere of the art world: 

Art gallery showings are still quite limited since Covid restrictions began, but Side Street Studio opened its doors for a fun exhibit in November.

Cabinet of Curious Characters Show
Side Street Studio Arts in Downtown Elgin

Wikipedia defines a Cabinet Card as a style of photograph which was widely used for photographic portraiture after 1870. It consisted of a thin photograph mounted on a card. You may have a box of these in your attic. My Oddball Artist friends in the Chicago area invited me to participate in this project. We call it Vintage inspiration!

Great Aunt Enna & Her Flock
Great Aunt Enna & Her Flock
Great Aunt Enna & Her Flock (backside)
Great Aunt Enna & Her Flock (backside)

I completed the cover for Dreaming Gaia, the third book in the “Series of Dreams” by Paul Turelli, and it was published in November. I will begin work on the cover for the fourth book in this series as we go into the new year! Paul has framed my original artwork for each of these covers so far; he says he’s running out of room in his office!

Book Cover (back - spine - front)
Book Cover (back – spine – front)
Paul Turelli's study
Paul Turelli’s study

At the beginning of this year I chose a spot along a path where I go for daily walks. Maybe it’s the lack of exhibit opportunities during the pandemic that moved me, but I started a project. I began designing my own “Collection Post” of trash found as I hike with my pups. This “art installation” was looking pretty good till a recent storm came though with 70 mph wind gusts! But parts are still standing, so I will begin again…

Roxy, Ringo & Collection Post
Roxy, Ringo & Collection Post

I learned this idea of adorning nature from my friend Dorothy who lived on wooded property in Kettle Moraine State Forest. She cleared hidden spaces and decorated them, creating lovely sitting areas, sections for prayer and meditation, and a fairy garden for her granddaughter. She posted signage to keep visitors from getting lost and leading to forest exits, entrances and toboggan hills. She designed (and had constructed by a canvas company) a tent that was a replica of a red barn, and she lived in it during the warm months. And once she ordered ice block forms and built an igloo at the base of the woods – big enough for several of us to crawl into for a small gathering!

Dorothy with Buddy on her shoulder
Dorothy with Buddy on her shoulder

Every one of my grandkids has hiked “Dorothy’s Woods” with me, which inspired a series of paintings I named after her. She passed away very recently, but I will never forget her strength, courage and inventiveness.

Dorothy's Woods
Dorothy’s Woods

Dorothy is not the only one who has left my earthly sphere. I’ve said goodbye to a number of people who’ve  influenced my life in this last year. Please indulge me as I pay tribute to some of them:

Dave's funeral

Via zoom, I witnessed the funeral of Dave Lammert, the father of my three children and one who bravely served in Viet Nam. Cancer was another battle he fought with all that he had, and losing him was too soon for my kids. He left us on Thanksgiving Day around dinner time. I am thankful that Tobi held him as he breathed his last. She told me it was lovely; it was soft…and this gives us comfort 🙏

Shortly after Dave’s passing, I lost my precious friend Char, who encouraged my work and allowed me to exhibit in her space, Charlene’s Gallery Ten in Door County. Our relationship was about so much more than business. She had a collection of funny stories about her own faux pas, but it was her way of telling them that always had me in stitches. We seemed to revert back to our childhoods when we were together. Allow me to share just one of many examples: During a day of working hard in her gallery, we took a much needed break and went for a walk along a country road. We came upon an open field of lovely soft grass. We couldn’t resist and ran to flop on our backs and gaze up at the blue sky of floating clouds. It was simply heaven, and we agreed we could stay there forever…until Char admitted in a wee tentative voice, “Barb, I have to pee.” Agh…CHAR!!!” We love that one! Loved, and I will carry it with me always.

Char & Barb
Char & Barb
Charlene Berg
Charlene Berg
Bill Hibbard

One of Char’s gallery visitors was Bill Hibbard. Some in this neck of the woods will remember him as the travel editor of the Milwaukee Journal for many years. I copied this quote from his obituary: “I try to capture the mood of the place I’m visiting and to present the facts about it without puffery and in as fresh and entertaining a manner as I can.” Bill was retired when we moved next door to his family; we just knew him and his wife Edie as really good neighbors. She and I have plans to walk and talk near the shores of Lake Michigan, and she will tell me stories I never knew about their travels… 

Marliss & Bob

Bob’s former secretary, Marliss, lost her battle with cancer shortly after her closest friend Mary died. We all knew each other as employees of P.A. Bergner in Peoria, but our friendship continued long after we moved north. This is some of what Bob wrote to her family: “…an outstanding worker…more importantly, she became a dear friend. It saddens me that Covid prevented us from visiting in person these past few years. But it was always a delight to speak with her on the phone. I will miss her dearly.”

Karen Gaudes

My sweet friend Karen Gaudes, passed away without my knowing until I stopped into the gallery in our neighborhood where she worked. The news stunned me. Karen was the best sales person I ever knew; her genuine love for humankind and her passion for art is what drew me to her. I bought my fare share of items at Atypic Gallery because of her enthusiasm and kindness. Some years ago I walked in the shop, saw her smile and asked if I could capture it with my phone camera. She was shy about my request but relented when I said, “Just wait till you see how awesome you look!” And do you know, she used this photo as her profile pic thereafter! 😌

Finally, we visited our granddog Beamer at Thanksgiving time and said our last goodbyes knowing he would not be with us much longer. But he lived a good long life. Here are Roxy & Ringo dressed up to pay their respects, a moment of silence for their buddy ❤️ And there is “Beamie” on the lookout at Whitewater Lake.

Ringo & Roxy looking fancy
Ringo & Roxy looking fancy
Charley's beloved Beamer
Charley’s beloved Beamer

It’s been an emotional 365 days. As we move forward into the New Year, I plan to process it all by working in my studio; this has always been my best therapy.

Bob says, “Smile in 2022!”🎈

Sending peace ~ ~ ~

🙏

Categories // Newsletters Tags // art community, art therapy, artist friends, plans for the new year, recent art projects, saying goodbye to those who passed on

Perfect Connection for Now

10.10.2020 by Barbara Grant //

By now most people have figured out ways to stay safe and get through the current pandemic without going crazy. I’m grateful for all the guidance and helpful strategies I’ve found on various media. I miss my extended family, but we’re all pretty much in the same boat as we approach the holidays. I’ve been watching my younger grandchildren grow on Facebook and Zoom since February – not happy about that.

Regarding my work, I consider myself fortunate because not much has changed. As an artist with a studio in the lower level of our home and an on-line shop to sell what I create, I’ve not had to make many adjustments. The main difference was the halt to monthly meetings with my Circle art group, which has provided trusted, critical feedback to me for many years. So when the idea to meet virtually was presented, I was all in. 

And here’s the bonus: my previous art group (before I moved too far north) invited me to their Zoom meetings. The Oddball Artists – friends and colleagues who’d been so important to me while attending art school – are now within reach again! We share ideas, expertise, opportunities, creative energy and — best of all — memories.

For some, virtual is not enough; they need to meet in person. But for me, for now, it is the perfect connection. Checking in with these two groups on a weekly basis has been a lifeline that has helped me be content to work alone in the studio, walk my sweet pups around the neighborhood, and relax and enjoy free time with my husband*.

Photos by Bob Grant*

Categories // Limelights on my friends Tags // art community, artist friends, artwork feedback, creative energy, idea and information sharing

The Art Machine

10.03.2019 by Barbara Grant //

Cigarette-size painted block

The first time the Oddball Art Machine was presented to the public, we were there!

My grandson inserted a five dollar bill and out came a cigarette pack-sized block with a poodle painted on it! The first work of art he ever purchased by himself 🙂

It was so fun to be included with the other artists participating in this fund-raiser, some of whom have been my friends for many years.

I’m so impressed by the way they have continued to make their artwork and meet weekly as a group – all while working day jobs and raising families – very disciplined! And best of all, they bring this creativity to the community by sharing their fun energy with the city of Elgin.

Presently, they are gearing up for a scary halloween celebration. If you click on this link to their blog you’ll see delightfully creepy artworks: Hub of Weirdness.

Oddball Art Labs is a non-profit artist based organization created to advance the presence of the arts in the Fox Valley and greater Chicagoland area. It specifically works to build individual artist recognition and to create opportunities within these communities for artists to show their work through various ways:

  • Hosting art shows
  • Featuring artists of the month through various social media platforms
  • Building relationships with local galleries and area businesses
  • Providing resources to artists in preparing grants and putting on their own shows
Oddball Art Machine

Categories // Limelights on my friends Tags // art community, cigarette machine repurposed, halloween, pups

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