Art from the Soldier by Pamela Wilde has such a beautiful mission behind it that I’d like to give you an update of a previous post . The time is nearing and here are more details about it’s September 2024 Opening Exhibition.
Date: September 20, 2024 5:00pm to 8pm
Place of Show: Ophelia’s Making Agency, At the corner of Career and Creativity
280 W Market Street YORK PA
Don’t miss it!
The other day I read an article about an art collector and I love the heart behind his art collection. Part of his collection is being shown at a community library. The owner of the paintings has amassed the paintings for a reason far different than for it’s monetary value. It goes much deeper than that. Here is a link to the article, and it is well worth reading because it explains what is at heart of the gentleman’s collection. Click here to take a few minutes to read this short article.
Today’s post on AllThingsFulfilling.com is short but I wanted to share my thanks to the Bel Air Arts & Entertainment for bringing back arts educator, professional freelance singer and performance artist, Julie Kurzava for another of her 3 part lecture series. Yesterday, I attended the first of the program which was focused on the music of Irving Berlin. Over the next two Monday’s the series will continue with the music of George Gershwin and then Cole Porter. It’s not too late to jump in on the remaining sessions. They have been so enjoyable and educational.
Last May, Julie Kurzava’s three part series on Early Broadway Musicals was equally as interesting. Ms. Kurzava is well-schooled in her field of music. For me the icing on the cake is to hear her beautiful voice when she chimes in singing bits of pieces of the tunes she is speaking about. Boy oh, boy, would I love to hear her sing one song all the way through. Her voice is perfect for performance music!
More than fifteen visual artists stopped by the weekly gathering yesterday on May Day, to say, “Hey, take a look at my new painting!” It was a great day to be outside. The sun was shining and there was a gentle, moderately warm breeze which swept across the lawns and portico at the historic Palladian Mansion, “The Liriodendron.”
The art talk was as interesting as always, with creatives sharing their methodology and their visions about what they brought to various surfaces. The exchange of questions led to insight about their individual style preferences, favored art supplies and so much more, such as when their paintings will make their debuts in future local, statewide and regional shows or beyond. Thus, I restrain from posting photos of individual works of art, most of which were very colorful.
It was so good to be among these artists once again. The only disappointment was although the wisteria overhead was still dripping with flowers, their purple shades of color have faded to mostly shades of gray to white. Then watch out! It is known to become wild, carefree and unruly. The new shoots of green will quickly wind and twine along along anything they can grab onto and hug.
It was a fabulous May Day with some of the many talented Harford County artists at the historic home and estate of Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly and his wife Letitia.
Yesterday, on the Sabbath, I rested my eyes on the glories of springtime at Maison Nord Garden. The private gardens were open to the public to benefit the Harford Community Action Agency.
Rhona Frank and her daughter Chrissy own the 7 acre property. Rhona’s creativity along with her her collaborator, Kelcey Degnan and their other botanical helpers is evident everywhere. Chrissy’s claim to fame is “chief duck-keeper” and event assistant. Several outbuildings were colorfully painted to perfectly accentuate certain areas. As I spoke with the elder of the two ladies, it became evident great thought is put into the design and the species of flowers she wishes to highlight at various times of the year. I was charmed by the succulent display which was planted and overtaking the roof of the children’s playhouse. The red flowering quince trees and the tulip display were beautiful as well as the woodland flowers which have poked up from under the earth – lenten rose, bleeding heart, primrose, ajuga, Virginia bluebells, just to name a few.
As I strolled the paths and the gardens, I reflected upon how God’s magnificent powers along with seed, water, soil and light, yields nourishment for both body in the way of food, and for soul, particularly after the barrenness of color all winter.
When the property was purchased, it was a farm. Now viola! Seventeen years later, many labors of love have been put into transforming it into floral gardens. The owner explained other garden highlights which will appear throughout the gardening season.
I’d like to thank this mother and daughter team, who were both delightful, for my experience there today. I jumped in on a portion of the garden tour which provided me with the names of a few plants I was unfamiliar with.
What a wonderful way to support a vital community organization, by sharing the beauty of the fruits of their labors. Look forward to returning!
Harford County, Maryland has much in the way of talent, including creatives! Pamela Lofgren Wilde, wife of one who has proudly served this country, is using her portrait painting skill to bring to fruition an art exhibit in this area and beyond this fall. She has painted the faces of military women and men who are also artists. What a beautiful way to honor those who have given so much to protect and defend our country.
Here is a link to a preview video https://bit.ly/4cWEMgi . More details will come when the date of the exhibition is put into place.
Pamela Lofgren Wilde is an artist who has relentlessly used and given her skills in many ways to the artistic community in this county. A real warrior she is who has strengthened this creative community by her presence in it.
Above: Havre de Grace Amtrack train track by artist Pamela Wilde
Ahhh…the golden age of train travel. It was an era when travel etiquette was expected. Some of the first few paintings I encountered yesterday when I walked into Monkton Mill Station/Gallery exhibit depicted the romantic side of train travel, rather than the trade and commerce aspect of what railroad transportation brought to our country.
If nostalgic feelings come to you, like me, with seeing the rust and gears of an old steam engine, a view looking out a train window hung with a curtain of lace, the graphics on train cars or the sight of a train crossing sign, then there were romantic images presented by all the participants. You can take in all of this and more from the works of the participating artists – Don James, Heather Shreve, Henry Coe, Don James, Douglas Lake, Dora Patin, Raymond Burns and Janet Little Jeffers.
The exhibit included oil paintings, photographs and other archival artifacts such as the formal uniform of a conductor and old tickets sold by the cashier in the booth. The entire exhibit relates to the train industry. There was even a beautifully constructed model of a train car which enhanced the overall experience of the show. Indeed, it was a journey through a time which was central to western expansion, when family names like the Vanderbilts, Edward Harriman, Andrew Carnegie and other industrial pioneers and railroad tycoons were tossed around like baggage being moved from train to train.
Stop in and see the show, which will be at Manor Mill Station/Gallery until April 21, 2024. And there will be a train day at Manor Mill Gallery on March 30, 2024. Get your kids or grandkids aboard by registering!
The small town is passing. It was the incubator that hatched all our big men… ~ Will Rogers
A few weeks ago, I went to a very absorbing art exhibit at Liriodendron Mansion based on the art of Jeffrey Conover. The artist uses his creativity by returning to a passion he had as a child- model building. Conover’s miniature fictional town is named Yelverton. The exhibit tells the story of life in 1900 living in a seaside village which was at the time central to the transportation industry. Boats sail in and out of the harbor, and at the wharf is a boat builder. A lighthouse sits as a beacon of hope and to guide through the storms. Cows graze on the hillside nearby where the creamery sits. There is also a clothier, a trading post, a livery stable and community churches as well as a mansion complete with a billiards room, lit by a Tiffany lamp. The Sheepscot River Valley Railroad runs through the town. Each handmade structure and all of the other embellishments helps one to imagine life in Yelverton. The exhibit invites us to envision what our perfect “Yelverton” would look like.
After reading the artist’s biography, it seems to me modeling building has been Conover’s pathway throughout his life. He’s had an honorable military career, working in intelligence communities and now is helping young people to appreciate wholesome values as a lay youth minister. He is an outstanding and upstanding model himself! For more photos and information on Conover’s impressive creative project please visit his Facebook page
I’m grateful I took time out to see the Yelverton and Sheepscot Valley Railroad exhibit at Liriodendron Mansion. It transported me to another place and time. Isn’t that what good stories are meant to do?
The way I see things, enriching the fabric of a community is it’s thread of cultural offerings. And in this county where I live, there is a real appreciation for all forms of art. On Sunday before Thanksgiving, I attended a concert that wove music and the fabric arts together for a lovely evening. The setting of St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church in Hickory, MD magnified the event further. The church squares the block with it’s gorgeous tall, gold-domed presence. And colorful handmade quilts stitched by Flying Geese Quilters Guild were displayed across backs of pews and at the front of the church.
The musical program of the evening stitched together themes of all the things a life filled with goodness should include. The opening composition of the program had commissioned lyrics written for it, titled “Fabric of Gratitude.” Each one of the other songs was sensitively chosen for the stories they told, many remixed, patching together some of the complexities we face throughout our lives. But the words and music of Annie Lennox and Craig Hella Johnson tell how there is beauty even in brokenness in 1,000 Beautiful Things. But Thanks be to God, even in brokenness, there is always hope for rebirth. The music of George Frederic Handel from “Messiah” told of this truth.
Measure me Sky! Told of possibilities, dreams and adventure which was a great segue into the next part of the program which included the Deer Creek Youth Choirs who sang of what childhood ought to be filled with – joy, laughter, nature, finding independence and finding purpose. However, purpose may come at anytime, even in later years, with wisdom, acceptance and truth.
One of my personal favorites incorporated the words of Mark Twain and it was sung by the children. The humor in it hit my heartstrings, because I identified so strongly with the words on several levels. “My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” Thanks be to God, the challenges did not last a lifetime. Two other favorite compositions, about literature/bold adventures and A Welsh Prayer, music by Paul Mealor and words by Grahame Davies told of the spirit of giving and service. The prayer was sung with accompaniment of soloists, as were a few other songs. Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) spoke of family heritage and making sense of life.
The final composition How Can I Keep from Singing by Robert Lowry arrangement by Daniel McDavitt focused on hope; the perfect ending to anything! As it’s been said, “Always walk on with hope in your heart.”
The two partnering organizations, Deer Creek Chorale and Flying Geese Quilters Guild, presented a rich interweaving between craft and song. Thank you to both and also to the Harford County Cultural Arts Board, Maryland State Arts Council and to the Citizens of Baltimore County who made the memorable event possible.
‘The final aim and reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit.‘ J.S. Bach
“When eating fruit, always remember the one who planted the tree.” ~ Vietnamese Proverb
Today, I became a little melancholy as I joined in singing some of the most well-known songs of the season. They are hymns of thanksgiving. Scores of children may never know the beautiful lyrics of Come, Ye Thankful People Come, For the Beauty of the Earth, We Gather Together and Now we Thank Our God. In today’s culture, saying thanks to our Creator is no longer permitted in schools and even extolling the basic principles of our Founding Fathers is sometimes controversial. Fewer families attend churches where these traditional songs are sung.
To my way of thinking, the best thing to have in abundance is gratefulness and appreciation for all we do have in this country. It is good for the well-being of our society and our future generations.
On Monday after Thanksgiving, I will share with you more thoughts that came to me today along this thread of integrating old traditions with new ideas.
Photo Above: The illustration is from the History Hustle. Pictured is John Chapman, the real “Johnny Appleseed.”
All Things Fulfilling 