I don’t know anything with certainty, but seeing the stars makes me dream.

Vincent Van Gogh

As a side venture with our Viking River Cruise “Holland & Belgium,” we walked the town where Van Gogh spent his life from December 5, 1883, to November 24, 1885. And it was here that he created his now-famous painting The Potato Eaters as well as hundreds of other paintings and drawings.

Although his major works are housed in Amsterdam in the Van Gogh Museum , several minor paintings show the progression from his “darker” years to the happy, brighter works with which we’re all familiar.

A stroll through Neunen takes you through Het Park where a monument to Vincent stands as part of a protected village.

But it may have been the humble abode where he worked — alone much of the time — that helped us understand how his environment shaped him. We first caught a glimpse of it in this painting dated 1858: The Vicarage at Nuenen at Night, Rear. The somber tones and loneliness of his early years set the stage for many dark days in Vincent’s life.

We walked past the ancestral home of Margot Begemann, Vincent’s lover and companion. The house also served as a hiding spot for a Jewish boy during World War II.

But it’s the full-size sculpture of The Potato Eaters that made the biggest impression on us: An embodiment of the 1885 oil on canvas that shows the harsh reality of country life. The people at the table are not glorified but rather represented in a familial setting as they live their daily rituals — eating dinner together, conversing, and surviving. It was Van Gogh’s art focused on real people rather than royalty or aristocrats that has influenced painters since his time.

If you’re in The Netherlands, stop by Neunen. It’s definitely a place to learn more about the artist who fought personal demons to survive as best he could, while leaving us with treasures of art known all over the world.

A great fire burns within me, but no one stops to warm themselves at it, and passers-by only see a wisp of smoke.”

Vincent Van Gogh

Travel artistically,

Rusha & Bert

This post is one in a series prompted by a recent trip to The Netherlands and Belgium. Thank you to Viking cruises (Holland & Belgium 2022) and our travel agent, Lauren Gunnels of Ortelius Travel Advisors, for the arrangements and free time to enjoy the scenery!

The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.

With Ann-Christine’s choice of topic — Weird and Wonderful — for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, we were reminded of a recent trip to Lexington, Kentucky, and a stay at 21c Museum Hotel. It’s not that the hotel was weird by any means, but the contemporary art both in the lobby and in the large museum on the second floor gave us pause.

For example, take a closer look at the above pigment print by David Scheinmann called Elvis/Marilyn created in 1993. From the information beside this larger-than-lifesize piece comes this description: “An uncanny double-portrait, Scheinmann’s work resembles Warhol’s Pop Art silkscreens of the rich and famous while also alluding to ongoing myths about Elvis evading death.” We can tell you this: it got our attention. And it’s no wonder we stood in front of it quite a while marveling at the likenesses of the two famous stars embodied in one portrait.

Another piece — an almost floor-to-ceiling portrait of Abraham Lincoln — also caught our attention, not so much that it was weird, but more that the technique was wonderful. Artist Djawid C. Borower’s Picture of a Dollar done in 2006 recreates the image seen on currency but on a grander scale.

And how did he create the watery quality on this portrait? By dragging a squeegee across the still-wet paint to form an abstract image.

Wonderful? We thought so.

But the one portrait that made us move even closer was this one: Barack Obama by Robert Silvers, a chromogenic print created in 2009.

By repositioning ourselves directly in front of the portrait, we could see up close thousands of individual photographs of Obama that created light, shadows, and intricate details of his facial features.

We should have been tipped off that this hotel was a special one when we checked in and noted two circular formations behind the desk, an art installation titled Face to Face with Death II by Spanish artist, Carlos Aires. So special, in fact, that we returned several times to see it from various perspectives.

A closer look revealed animals, people, and objects (weird and wonderful that they are) created from vinyl records. And when taken altogether, it’s truly a unique piece of art for greeting guests and introducing them to the wonders of 21c Museum Hotel Lexington.

For more entries in this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge, head to Anne-Christine’s blog and check out the unusual scenes and objects. And let us know if you’ve seen some weird and wonderful art in your neck of the woods. We just might want to visit!

Travel weirdly and wonderfully,

Rusha & Bert

In fact, Nervous  Nellie’s stirs up about 40,000 jars of jam a year, and ships out untold cases of products from their small business on Deer Isle.  In their brochure, they say it’s “way off on the edge of things.”

Welcome to Nellieville, Deer Isle, Maine

But “way off” may have another meaning.  Nervous Nellie’s has what you might never expect to see but what would make you come back in a heartbeat.  Greeting you at the edge of the parking lot is the find of Deer Isle: crazy, fascinating sculpture of Peter Beerits,  who is also the co-owner of Nervous Nellie’s with his wife Anne.

Greeting you at Nervous Nellie’s and guarding bits and pieces of future art for Peter Beerits is this Mainer made of found objects.

You see, Beerits takes parts, lots of parts (like what most people would toss into the trash or recycle bin) and then fashions them into people, dogs, desks, chairs, you name it.

Enjoying the porch are Peter Beerits’ lady and dog.

As if that weren’t enough, he strategically places his found-object folks into Nellieville, the little town that keeps on growing.  Right now, Nellieville is home to a blacksmith shop, bank, school, and garage filled with musicians.  But Beerits admits there’s more — a wizard’s tower perhaps? Opera house? More-or-less bimonthly tours of Nellieville?  No tellin’.

But if a town’s known by its residents, check out the folks of Nellieville.

Clerk? Bookkeeper? Silent partner?

Gettin’ down!

Lady with orange face. “Anyone seen my blush?”

“This IS my best side.”

Outdoors, Beerits’ art invades the woods where medieval creatures lie in wait for unsuspecting art lovers. (Ah, so that’s what you do with tire rims!)

Beware of dragons at Nervous Nellie’s.

With all the musicians in Nellieville, it’s a given you could rotate the featured ones, especially if you don’t care for the music.  But no one here seems to complain. “Play what you like.  We’ll listen.”

So, if you’re visiting Maine, be sure to stop by Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies — not just for fine homemade local-sourced jellies and jams but also for art.

Not your type? Just move on!

Or, if you like, park yourself on the porch and talk to the residents who rarely talk back.  Besides, you just might learn a thing or two.

Teacher? Student? Who’s learning what?

So, ship home a case of Red Raspberry Jam and tour the sculpture of Peter Beerits at the same time? Nervous Nellie’s on Sunshine Road in Deer Isle, Maine.

But don’t bring old rusted-out tools to donate.  Beerits has aplenty.

For more on places we loved in Maine, head to August Down East for our pictures and posts.

As always, thanks for traveling with us — Rusha and Bert

Farnsworth Art Museum welcomes guests to an exhibit celebrating the centennial year of artist Andrew Wyeth.

Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine, is notably a destination on its own.  But now, with an exhibit marking the centennial of artist Andrew Wyeth’s birth, a visit to this institution becomes even more compelling.

Curated by Farnsworth Chief Curator Michael K. Komanecky and American art scholar Henry Adams, Andrew Wyeth: Maine Watercolors, 1938 – 2008 showcases many of the most notable watercolors of the artist’s career.  Housed behind the main Farnsworth museum building, the collection shows well in a church designed and decorated to reflect the simplicity and calm evident in Wyeth’s paintings.

Adding height and importance to Andrew Wyeth collection of watercolors, this renovated church stands behind the Farnsworth.

Numerous works and studies beg to be studied more closely as you read the well-written background of the pieces and take a second or third look at technique, composition, and color.

Taking a closer look at Wyeth’s watercolors on exhibit at Farnsworth.

For the first time, Wyeth family members agreed to allow non-flash photography of the artist’s work at an exhibit.  But we saw few people taking advantage of the opportunity.  For the most part, those of us engaged with the works said little as we quietly studied the masterful works and the accompanying descriptions.  And we had our favorites.

Flying High, 1987

Wyeth’s house on Southern Island, off the coast from Tenants Harbor, with signal flags flying. Watercolor on paper.

Watch Cap, 1974

Profile portrait of Walt Anderson. Watercolor on paper. Notable: Wyeth “dug” into the paper to define individual hairs on the face and the white upper tip of the ear.

Goodbye, My Love Study, 2008

A study for Wyeth’s last painting depicting a house on Allen Island. To the left, a Friendship sloop named for the town in which it was made — Friendship, Maine. To the right, a large house called a sail loft because it has an open interior large enough for the making of sails. Watercolor and pencil on paper

In a room of its own, Her Room hung along with numerous drawings, studies for the final work.  Also included were artifacts — the trunk and seashell that figure prominently in the painting.

Her Room, 1963

Remembering a summer day at their Broad Cove home in Cushing, Wyeth captures the light of an eclipse streaming through a room of the house. Tempera on panel.

“Andrew Wyeth at 100,” which opened April 15th, ends December 31, 2017.  If you can visit Rockland, Maine, and the Farnsworth Art Museum before the close of the exhibit, you will be rewarded by a rare view of works by one of America’s most revered artists.

For more information: 

Farnsworth Art Museum: Andrew Wyeth at 100

To read more of what we’re seeing this fall in Maine, head to Travel Series:  August Down East.  

Penrose Horse Stable by Diana Dee

Art DeTour, an annual event of Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival  has become a don’t-miss-this-if-you-can-help-it tradition for us.  We block out this weekend each year because it’s a rare invitation to see the inside of an artist’s studio and get to know artists in our area more personally. For this year’s Festival ’15, we began by meeting Diana Dee Sarkar in her spacious, well-appointed studio on Kingston Pike.  And you’d be impressed as we were right when you open the door.

Welcoming area of Diana Dee’s studio on Kingston Pike in Knoxville.

Diana, formerly an emergency room physician, greeted us and walked us through rooms of this office suite turned studio.

An easel holds art in progress in the studio of Diana Dee.

The tour became an educational one as Diana shared her techniques with us, teaching us about her media of choice from oil on linen to pastel pencils and even silverpoint.

The Bandana by Diana Dee. Pastel Pencil.

She’s a scholar of art, even though she began as a self-taught artist.  But workshops in Santa Fe, Woodstock, and Foster City, California, broadened her perspective and provided the guidance she willingly accepted.  In 2014, she received an MFA in Figure Painting from the Academy of Art in San Francisco.

Charcoal portrait by Diana Dee Sarkar

Subject matter ranges from equine studies to portraits — all capitalizing on the detail Diana deftly manages no matter the medium.  In 2011, during a study abroad program with the Academy of Art University, Diana captured scenes of Venice and Florence as well as life in Corciano, a small hillside village in Umbria, Italy, where she lived for two months.

Venice Small Canal with Laundry by Diana Dee

Bigness of heart also comes through.  She pointed to Willis, the man in this painting who was touched by rescue efforts for abused horses but had found no organization or efforts on the behalf of abused donkeys.  As a result, he began his own charitable activities designed to care for the animals he loved.

Willis & Donkey, George by Diana Dee

Her oils on linen were perhaps our favorite pieces — not just for the textures they offer but also for the bucolic scenery and restful nature of her subjects.

Oil on linen by Diana Dee

Her philosophy of art is embedded in this quote from her website: Even as a child, I took much pleasure in drawing and painting people and landscapes, and as I matured I realized how important creating art was for me a process of centering and finding a place of joy. 

This is one Art DeTour we won’t soon forget.

For more information:

The studio of Diana Dee Sarkar: 6906 Kingston Pike, Suite 203 in Executive Place, Knoxville, TN 37919; 865-603-4465; http://www.dianadeeart.com/

Pat Wood, Melanie Wood, Pat Medley

Note to readers:  We are re-publishing this post from May 12, 2012, on the Art DeTour we took visiting the lovely studio and home of artist Melanie Wood.  Her home is open again for Dogwood Art DeTour 2015 on April 11 and 12.  If you love quality impressionistic art filled with color, you’ll love seeing what Melanie has produced.

A map and listing of all artist studios open (and there are many!!) this year, please click here.  The Dogwood Arts Festival website has it all, and there’s a lot to do and see this weekend.

Last year, Bert and I visited an artist’s studio — the studio AND home — of Melanie Wood during Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival.  So, when the Art DeTour brochure arrived in our mailbox this year, we were delighted to see that she had once again opened the door to her colorful world of impressionist art!

I took Pat Medley this time around, because Pat loves anything related to the lovely countryside of France, and Melanie’s subject matter spans two continents from the fertile land of Provence to the shores of Hilton Head, South Carolina.  I also knew Pat would enjoy seeing the home of Melanie and Tom Wood filled with antiques collected during their travels and visits with their daughter who lived in France.

According to her website, Melanie grew up in Texas, the granddaughter of a celebrated artist.  The tradition has continued since Melanie’s daughter Amber followed in her mother’s footsteps pursuing a fine arts degree.  Melanie led us to her studio through the kitchen where she had displayed some of her favorite subjects — like colorful chickens — seen during her travels.

Melanie (interior designer, colorist, and former president of the Color Marketing Group, an international association for color design professionals) is right at home in her studio at the back of the house where she looks out at neat plantings in her courtyard and colorful potted annuals during this time of the year. We watched as she began painting red geraniums sitting on a wrought iron table right outside the door.

In the courtyard (and throughout the downstairs of the house), Melanie had set up easels to display her scenes of France and colorful bouquets of summer flowers.

Her husband Tom shared his love of antique clocks, Oriental rugs, and primitives with us.  These blue painted crocks caught my eye, especially the one on the far left — puzzling me with its bulging front.  What was that one used for, Tom? I asked.  He smiled and answered, Why that’s a chicken feeder!  There’s a hole in the front of that crock!

We were quite impressed with Melanie’s range of abilities: She not only is accomplished at painting flowers and landscapes — she can capture the expressions of people quite well, too.  Here are several of our favorites.

After spending quality time admiring each piece, we settled on these two:  the one on the left is now mine — Afternoon Shadows in Sauveterre —  and the one on the right depicting a favorite little town in France has found its way to the Medleys’ home: Village of Roussillion.

Bobbie Helms, Jillian Morse and Tom Wood seem pleased with the ones we selected!

If you go to Melanie’s website, you’ll see many more examples of her work, like these three favorites of mine.

Trees on Fire

Sunflowers of Tuscany

Special Occasions

Don’t pass up an opportunity to tour an artist’s home or studio next year for the Dogwood Arts Festival, if Art DeTour is repeated! You’ll see — Knoxville is an artist haven!

Melanie Wood, Impressionist: www.melaniewoodart.com

Melanie’s art can be seen in Knoxville at Upstairs and in Hilton Head at Smith Galleries.

]]> https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2015/04/10/art-detour-melanie-wood/feed/ 9 484 https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2015/04/08/teachers-can-paint-art-source-2015/ https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2015/04/08/teachers-can-paint-art-source-2015/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2015 15:57:27 +0000 http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/?p=6030

Located in the UT Downtown Gallery, this show opened on Knoxville’s First Friday to a packed house.

Yes, teachers can paint.  And sculpt.  And put together interesting collages.  And all the while help little kids who spill paint, can’t think of anything to draw, and would not like to clean up even though the bell is about to ring. Want to see what teachers can do in the quiet of their own homes and studios?  Then you need to visit Art Source 2015: A Knox County Art Educators Exhibition located in the UT Downtown Gallery.  

A large crowd, some who had also been to First Friday at the Emporium’s Regional Fine Arts Exhibition, gathered at this gallery next door to enjoy the creativity of these busy art educators.

A Few Examples: Art Source 2015

We’re not ones to pick a favorite, but the face of this lady in Right Now?!? by Jessica Stewart reminds us of some familiar moments.  What about you?

Close-up: Right Now?!? by Jessica Stewart

The UT Downtown Gallery is located at 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902.

Fresh lavender in the booth of

Reposting so that you can see what’s in store if you attend the 16th Annual Lavender Festival in Historic Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, Tennessee this Saturday, June 21 from 8 to 3. Click here for more information.

I could almost smell the Lavender Festival from the parking lot — well, maybe not from that far away, but I almost could.  It was exciting to walk past the Emma Lee Spray Park and Garden and enter Jackson Square in Oak Ridge at 8:00 AM Saturday. And I was in good company. Hundreds of festival-goers, anxious to get their hands on long stems of lavender bound into bunches, were looking forward to breathing in the fragrance that has lured thousands to this festival for 16 years.

Sponsored by the Jackson Square Business Association, the Lavender Festival has a charm all its own.  It’s not a bustling, noisy festival where visitors line up two deep at hot dog stands while listening to several stage bands at once!

This is a quiet sort of gathering focused on the beauty of plants, hand-made crafts, and products from local gardens — a peaceful, earthy sort of festival where people mill around peering into booths filled with lavender in various forms: bouquets, wands, sachets, creams, oils . . . even edible products like lavender-infused honey or — yes, this is a real product —  lavender ice cream!

And one of many reasons this is a sweet-smelling festival is this — most of us are carrying string-tied bundles of lavender everywhere we go  from Jackson Square to the adjacent Farmers Market!

Three ladies and a dog with lavender bundles!

First stop for me:  the booth of Anne Freels, designer of cornshuck dolls. Anne shared the benefits of lavender with customer Lynn Carroll  — how the fragrance has a calming effect. And bouquets dry naturally but retain their pleasantness for years to come.

Anne Freels helps Lynn Carroll select the perfect bunch.

Marie Bullock offered beautifully displayed Victorian lavender wands woven with colored ribbons. Marie said, Victorian ladies didn’t always bathe every day as we do, so they kept a lavender wand to wave in front of themselves.  The fragrance of lavender would mask any unpleasant odors.  If the wand’s smell lessened over time, the lady would merely pinch the wand, releasing the fragrance into the air once again.

A bouquet of lavender wands in the Heaven Scent booth

Under the label Heaven Scent, Marie offers products made with lavender oil like moisture cream, angel drops, linen spray, and lavender toner. Who knew lavender could be so versatile!

Creams, oils, and drops from Heaven Scent

Honey Rock Herb Farm (Louisville) brought pictures of lavender fields, books on lavender, plant markers, bags and bunches of lavender as well as organic catnip and manuals on the care and growing of herbs.

Pictures and products in Honey Rock Herb Farm’s booth

Perhaps the Profusion of Purple Award (if there ever was such a thing) could go to Scott County Lavender, a booth that was purple to the max — everything from creams to t-shirts and products bottled in purple.

The very purple booth of Scott County Lavender

Pat Osborne told me about Lavender Hydrosol, a by-product of a distillation process. What remains after the process is pure mountain stream water infused with lavender essential oil.  She said that essential oil could be compared to perfume whereas Lavender Hydrosol would be similar to cologne — not as concentrated but quite effective!

Pat says you can spray Hydrosol on a pillows for a lingering fragrance. But Hydrosol spray can also kill germs, lessen the sting of sunburn, repel fleas in pet areas . . . even have a cooling effect on hot flashes!  A wonder elixir, for sure, if it does all that!

Pat Osborne of Scott County Lavender telling me of the wonders of Hydrosol

Many area nurseries and herb farms brought their healthiest, showiest plants for sale.  Melanie and Kathy from Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm told me about their location in the Marlow Community near Oak Ridge where herbs are their specialty, but they also have a wide selection of native plants and garden accessories. You really ought to come out to the farm right now, Melanie told me. It’s at its best.  You’d love it!

Melanie and Kathy from Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm

My favorite booth was this one by Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm. There’s just something appealing about weathered doors and antiques used as garden art.

Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm booth reminds me of an old-fashioned potting shed

In another booth by Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm, terrariums took center stage.  This topless one held gentle fern-like plants poking above glass to catch the light. (I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making these for gifts, so this one inspired me to give it a go! I love these!)

One of several terrariums from Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm

Although succulents have never been a favorite plant of mine (I think it’s their hard leaves or compact nature that I don’t like), I have been successful with these hardy plants in spite of how I feel.  So I’ve come to look more closely at them as mainstays in my biggest flower pots.  I especially like the looks of a whole flat of these from Erin’s Meadow basking in the early morning sun.

Succulents and garden accessories from Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm

Some of the most colorful blooming perennials were brought by Sunlight Gardens. The sign near these native Coneflowers says they’re great for cut flowers!

Colorful Coneflowers from Sunlight Gardens

Another sign told me something I didn’t know about Blazing Stars — they’re butterfly magnets!  (They must also be photographer magnets, because several of us were kneeling down to catch the perky color and full blooms on film!)

Sunlight Gardens also brought these showstopper Blazing Stars

Working craftsmen are always a pleasure to watch at a festival.  Scott Weatherly of Crossville stopped his work for a few minutes to tell me about the art of chair caning, a craft he’s practiced for twelve years.  After soaking the cane, he weaves traditional patterns that look best with the lines of the chair. He was putting the finishing touches on this unusual pattern to bring new life to an old piece.

Chair caning demo by Scott Weatherly of Crossville

Linda Baldwin, The Barefoot Weaver, from Heiskell, has been weaving for eleven years.  She told me that after she “got into” weaving, she loved the craft so much she bought the house next door to use as her studio! She weaves placemats, runners, pot holders, and other home essentials, and it thrilled me to watch her hard at work right there in her booth.

Linda Baldwin of Pine Ridge Handwovens provides onsite weaving demonstrations

This particular runner was something I don’t often see — it was woven with a combination of yarn and strips of torn cloth. Sturdy, yet beautiful — with a contemporary feel.

A runner by Linda Baldwin mixing yarn and strips of cotton cloth

Melissa Ball of Stony Clay Station Pottery creates wheel thrown stoneware pottery in her studio in Lenoir City along with partner Benjamin Qualls. She was busy that morning judging from the long line waiting to pay her for her wares.  I asked one customer if her pottery purchases were for gifts, but she smiled and said, Actually no. These pieces are just for me!

Melissa Ball of Stony Clay Station Pottery in Lenoir City

Finding old linens is a hobby that Tina Richey has had for years.  Now she’s putting the embroidered tablecloths, napkins, pillowcases, etc., to good use! She gathers similar patterns (like florals, birds, dogs, etc.); stitches the small pieces together to form larger blocks; and then cuts out fronts, backs, and sleeves to create these one-of-a-kind jackets! Her Knoxville business of wearable art and accessories is known as Spotted Horse Crafts.

Tina Richey shows off one of her themed jackets created from vintage embroidered linens

Jeri Landers — whose dreamlike drawings and scherenschnitte (paper cuttings) have drawn me in for closer looks (and purchases) for years — had a stunning booth. At the Lavender Festival, she was selling her fabulous children’s books.  They’re not only sweet stories . . . they are beautifully illustrated! Look for The Journey of Bushky Busybottom — one of several bunny tales — by Jeri Landers, one of the busiest artists I’ve ever met. (This stunning backdrop is an enlargement of one of her illustrations!)

Jeri Landers, author and illustrator, signs a copy of her latest book.

From Morgan County came Lana Manis whose business Honeysuckle Lane drew me in to her booth.  Her hand-crafted creations — tiny pillows and lavender sachets — have been featured in Romantic Homes, Early American Life, Sunset, and Victoria.

Lana Manis adorns pillows with flowers stitched from ribbon and thread.

She uses bits of ribbon to form flower petals and leaves.  Then she adds embroidery stems and stitchery embellishments — all against a backdrop of  lovely linen in yummy colors.

A tiny pillow topped by a ribbon and embroidery Coneflower by Lana Manis

Jenni Dickenson of Napping Cat Flower Farm in Maryville not only grows these lively flowers — she creates little bouquets and then arranges them in colorful — or plain — tin cans.  Even the names of her bouquets are cute — like “Hippy Chick Farmstand Mix”! (Apologies for the slightly blurry photo.)

Jenni Dickenson of Napping Cat Flower Farm with her colorful bouquets

When she told me she sets up at the Knoxville Farmers Market on Market Square Wednesdays and Saturdays, I knew I could find her again and take home several of her bouquets for gifts in the near future!

Colorful bouquet in a can by Jenni Dickenson

The creator and editor of Flour Sack Mama, Anne Brock, promotes green living on her blog (floursackmama.blogspot.com) and in her booth. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest giving tips for thriftiness and better living that protects the environment and us, too!

Anne Brock of Flour Sack Mama

She offered children a chance to be a part of the festival by making little lavender sachets.  The kids selected fabric, filled the pouches with lavender furnished by The Ferrell Shop, and then stitched the tops closed.  Here’s a dad helping his daughter put the finishing touches on her lavender sachet! Sweet, huh?

A dad helps his daughter make a lavender sachet in the Flour Sack Mama booth

Sweetwater Valley Farm was there, too!  If you haven’t been there for a visit, you can take your children or grandchildren to see farm animals on one of the prettiest farms in East Tennessee in Philadelphia.  (Call before you go to get the schedule: 877.862.4332!)

Amy passed out samples of tasty cheese from Sweetwater Valley Farm

For the Lavender Festival, they passed out samples of Sweetwater Valley Farm Cheddar Cheese and let guests have a taste of Artisan Honey Jelly — that’s right, honey with the consistency of jelly! Mmmm.  Would love that on a hot biscuit!

Honey Jelly from Sweetwater Valley Farm

Behind Jackson Square was the regularly scheduled Farmers Market, so I headed past the festival booths to see what the farmers had brought.  The Cruze Farm girls (well, not many of them since they were manning booths at three locations all on the same morning) brought Lavender Ice Cream and Lavender Honey!

Those cute Cruze Farm girls were there!

Since I had to have my hands free to take pictures all morning, I made no purchases until the end.  And what I came for was right in the Oak Ridge Farmers Market: Joe Hollar of Knoxville was grabbing handfuls of  lavender from an open truck bed, tying those bundles with string, and making lots of customers (including me!) very happy!

Knoxville lavender grower Dan Hollar had customers lined up!

It was heavenly to walk away with my souvenir bundle of lavender that I smelled in my warm car all the way home! (Not this one — but isn’t it gorgeous?!)

An enormous bouquet of lavender sitting near Joe Hollar’s stand at the Farmers’ Market

Each year the Lavender Festival offers a newly commissioned piece of art for sale.  The website posted this lovely pastel work by Mary Katherine Chin titled “Lavender” as the 2012 featured art.

“Lavender” by Mary Katherine Chin

If you want to come to the Lavender Festival in Oak Ridge’s Historic Jackson Square next year, be sure to check the website for dates and times.

The Oak Ridge Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays, 3 to 6 P.M. and Saturdays, 8 A.M. to noon from mid-April through late November.  You can find locally-grown vegetables, herbs, honey, meats, cheeses, baked goods, plants, and fresh cut flowers!

And she was right, after all.

Included in our recent blog, Five things to do in a day in St. Petersburg, Florida, Florida Craftsmen is one of those finds that tourists might miss.  It’s on Central right in the heart of other artsy stores that carry re-purposed items, shabby chic, and cast-offs-turned-must-haves.  But this shop is different.

Florida Craftsmen, 501 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL

Originally organized by Louis and Elsa Freund, professors at Stetson, the couple wanted a place to showcase fine crafts and artwork in a more permanent location than the temporary exhibits afforded.  Although organized in 1977, Florida Craftsmen lacked a suitable permanent location until George Rahdert made the old Rutland Department Store available in 1995.  After purchasing the property in 2002, Florida Craftsmen felt settled, offering crafts downstairs and space for artists upstairs in the area known as ArtLofts.  The current exhibition, Earthworks, is on display through March 1, 2014.

Vase by Marilyn Endres. Photo from Florida Craftsmen website.

Inside, you’ll find a vast array of creations — jewelled chairs, Santa ornaments, hand-dyed scarves, wheel-thrown pottery, and whimsical items that can be worn or displayed.  And you can’t help but be impressed with the talent and creativity of each artist.

Because there’s not one definitive style that pervades the shop, you’ll have to go see for yourself the limitless creativity and artful displays.  My sister was right, of course:  You don’t want to miss Florida Craftsmen.

Florida Craftsmen

A statewide non-profit organization for fine craft art

501 Central Avenue

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

227.821.7391

Website: http://floridacraftsmen.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Craftsmen-Inc/352815711033

Be sure to check their website for exhibits, gallery receptions, and special events.

“Duncan Boat Dock” by Janis Wilkey

Anytime art and food are paired for an evening to benefit a worthy recipient, you can count us in!  And so it was that when Knoxville artist Mike Berry emailed an invitation to attend Strata-G Jubilee at the Emporium on June 20th benefiting the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), we didn’t hesitate to take him up on it.

It was an evening of live music, original art, live and silent auctions, assorted wines, and Southern hors d’oeuvres! Most of us frequented the buffet more than once.  And who wouldn’t?  Spicy chicken fingers, barbecue short ribs, candied bacon, country ham biscuits, assorted cheeses, and fruit — all from All-Occasion Catering. (Click here.)

Quite tasty!

Art on easels lined the tables on both sides of the open space at the Emporium for the silent auction, and bidders added their names to the lists.

One of my personal favorites in the silent auction was an oil on canvas entitled Home Grown by Marie Miller.

Artists who donated original creations included Joe Parrott, Kathie Odom, Connie Gaertner, and Mike C. Berry of Knoxville; Wayne Blankenship of Fountain City; and Victoria Pearmain and Janis Wilkey of Chattanooga.

Three artists donating work to the event: Joe Parrott, Connie Gaertner, and Mike Berry

“Sunset at Seaside” by Joe Parrott

In addition, five artists painted live at the event: Joe Parrott, Connie Gaertner, Victoria Pearmain, Kathie Odom, and Mike Berry.  As each painting came up for auction, the artists told of the inspiration for the piece and where it had been created.  (How many times do you get to hear from the actual artists?)  Some of the paintings were quite wet since final strokes were added right before the auctioneer called for the goods!

Artist Kathie Odom painting live at Strata-G Jubilee

Auctioneer Harold Reed kept the audience entertained with his quick wit and uncanny observations about art and what makes people bid!

Artist Mike Berry tells the audience about his painting while auctioneer Harold Reed looks on.

For the live auction, baskets of wine as well as paintings like this beautiful scene by Joe Parrott were on the block.

Bright centerpieces topped the stand-up-height tables where people gathered and talked.

Dan Hurst, President and Founder of Strata-G let me snap this picture next to Victoria Pearmain‘s painting Ginkgo Tree. (We think he’s smiling because this is the first event of its kind — and it’s a hit!)

But he was quick to note that the real work was handled by a lot of others.  Like these three guys: Trevor Zimmerman, David Forehand, and Elliott Barnett. 

Jenny Freeman, Vision Implementation Manager for Strata-G, and Betsy Childs, President of Geothermal Utilities, LLC, had fun visiting with the guests and celebrating the end of a classy benefit that was both fun and artsy!

Jenny Freeman and Betsy Childs celebrate a successful event!

Strata-G is an environmental group with this mission on its website: A veteran owned small business committed to a legacy of environmental and energy stewardship through the successful application of engineering, science, and technology.

This same weekend, the company entered two teams in the Dragon Boat Festival (Click here for info) also benefiting KARM! Good corporate citizens, for sure!

It was a fun night for art and KARM — and we hope we get another email from Mike Berry next year.  After all, what’s not to like about art, good Southern food, and a glass of fine wine with friends?!

Strata-G

2027 Castaic Lane

Knoxville, TN 37932

865.934.3400

Website: http://www.stratag.org

Knox Area Rescue Ministries

418 N. Broadway

Knoxville, TN 37917

865.673.6540

Website: http://www.karm.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Knox-Area-Rescue-Ministries/167989479885270?fref=ts

All-Occasion Catering:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alloccasioncatering