Category Archives: art collectors

Fulfilling Sounds of the Season

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“A child is God’s opinion that life should go on.” ~ Unknown 

Last weekend I listened to the singing of one of the most beautiful musical compositions ever composed that, to me, signifies the arrival of the holiday season. Quintessence, www.quintessence-abq.com Choral Artists of the Southwest, joined by amateurs nearly filled the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque,New Mexico to usher in the beginning of the Christmas Season. They sang selections from Handel’s Messiah. 

Not realizing singers were in standing sections based on voice types, my family and I went into the nave and sat between the bass and sopranos of the choral group. Once others began to file into the church, choral director Matthew Greer explained that people were welcome to sit “shotgun style”, at their own risk, or in the organized sections for bass, alto, tenors and sopranos. 

We had come only to listen. We stayed seated just where we were. Seated far from the tenors and altos, it was interesting to be amid two very different sections of sound found on the musical scale. It was challenging to hear the blend. Our position within the church demanded that we be alert and very present in the moment to fully appreciate the blocks of tone and volume differences emanating from places all over the church. 

For me, the highlight of the afternoon, was hearing the selections For unto Us a Child is Born and Hallelujah! My husband and I often think that these verses were written just for us! Are there better words to describe the feelings that come with God’s awesome gift to mankind and to couples who wish to bear a child? To a mother, the arrival of a child is the most perfect embodiment of love there is. 

Quintessence will be presenting the holiday choral event, It is a Gift to Be Simple, this coming Saturday, December 3rd at 5pm, again at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church. For more information, please visit www.quintessence-abq.com.

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Historic Setting Filled with Jewels

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 “Art is something that has real value. It deepens each person’s respect for life.”         ~Dana Levin 

On the corner of 9th Street andLincoln Avenue, sits an historic building that has always been filled with riches. The building bequeathed to the city of Steamboat Springs,Colorado in 2006, now houses the Steamboat Art Museum. It is a gift from the estate of a long time artist and rancher, Helen Rehder.  The building no longer contains currency of the First National Bank. To fulfill the donor’s request, the building is now filled with wealth of another kind – top quality art exhibits. The community of Steamboat is so very fortunate to have this substantial acquisition. The museum attracts top-notch artists who wish to share their craft with area artists and tourists, alike. As each new exhibit is brought to town, emerging artists can learn from the master’s work through observation, painting workshops and demonstrations. 

On December 2nd, the historic setting of the Steamboat Art Museum will be installed with gemstone paintings of another of the country’s top master painters, Quang Ho. This artist, of Vietnamese heritage, immigrated to the United States in 1975. He became a U.S. Citizen and began wowing this country with his art five years later at the age of 16. Two years later, he earned a National Scholarship award at the Colorado Institute of Art, the same year his mother was tragically killed. He then began the responsibility of rebuilding his life and raising four younger brothers and a sister, too. 

Despite adversity and challenges, Quang Ho has become a well-respected top national artist who is accomplished at figurative painting, landscapes and still life. He has invested his time and energy in learning how to paint in oils and watercolor. He teaches emerging artists at the Denver Students Artist League and also through his publications of art books and DVDs on how to paint. 

Quang Ho’s paintings will be shown for a four month period, beginning December 2. An opening reception for members of the Museum will be held from 4pm to 5 pm. The general public is invited to attend during the Friday Art Walk hours from 5 to 8 pm on December 2nd. Quang Ho will be giving a painting demonstration the following day (December 3rd). Purchase tickets early! The demonstration is guaranteed to sell out. There are also tickets available to have dinner with the artist. For more details, please visit www.steamboatartmuseum.org. 

This exhibit is not to be missed, and it will hang until the closing on April 14th. Both locals and tourists will find a fulfilling range of compositions that this extraordinarily talented artist has allowed the Steamboat Art  Museum to bring to this town.

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Writers Who Grow as they Go

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“A fulfilling life is different to each person. You have to acknowledge your dreams, and not just wait for life to happen, and opportunities to come knocking at your door.” ~  Joan Lunden

The deadline for submissions to the Sante Fe Writers Project is December 15th  – just around the corner! Send in your books for consideration to their annual award contest now! Don’t wait. 

The Sante Fe Writers Project (SFWP) is an “independent press dedicated to the craft of writing.”  It was formed in 1998  as a grass roots trial to bring together a group of art advocates and writers. It has gained international acclaim for their literary contest and also, for their on-line journal which has been in existence since 2002. 

Published authors and authors who have never been published before are welcomed to submit to this contest. Submissions from small presses and self-published books are eligible in categories of creative non-fiction and fiction. To read the guidelines for submissions and eligibility requirements, please visit the following link http://bit.ly/bOmP26. 

 The organizer of SFWP, Andrew Gifford, (from the Writers Center in Bethesda, Maryland) has written an interesting article on independent publishing. Please visit this site to learn what he has to say about the industry.  http://bit.ly/tznXjF. 

Sante Fe and the neighboring city of Albuquerque, NM has a wealth of professional artists in the literary, visual and filmmaking fields who call those cities home. If you have never visited the area, it is filled with art and inspiration.

This blog mistress will be taking turkey day off. I will be spending the holiday with my favorite filmmaker and visual effects artist in the State that “Grows as it Goes!” I look forward to sharing more with you from the “Land of Enchantment” in upcoming blogs. 

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Sacred Writing

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“Every organized religion holds that certain behaviors, rituals, personalities, places, and/or books are sacred.” ~ Prem Prakash 

Looking for a writing program specifically focused on art and spirituality? Western Michigan University is offering a month long summer program in Prague, from June 30 to July 27, 2012. “Pitching the Sacred” has programs for visual artists, photography, yoga practitioners, Jewish Studies and for playwrights and poets, too.

This creative writing program fulfills requirements for credit hours, if you are working towards a degree. Note that scholarships are available, if you are financially in need. Early registration is suggested, this programs fills quickly.

Many independent publishers are writing books, producing films and music about the sacred and producing DVDs and music . Take advantage of this opportunity to study abroad with scholars from Central Europe and  with some of the finest American writers, too, please visit www.praguesummer.com. 

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Views from Different Generations

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 The past few blogs have been focused on “raising up” the next generation. Elders often feel the responsibility to share and teach younger generations wisdom they have gained throughout a long life. The condition of human existence guarantees that our life experiences will range from triumph to tragedy.  Depending on our own attitudes, we all form our own personal perspectives about life and how fulfilling we see it. 

When we compare the work of two artists translating the same scene onto a painted canvas,  we often find perfect examples interpreting things through a different set of values and thoughts.

 Last month, I went on the Great Falls Studio Tour inVirginia. I stopped by the home and studio of artist Linda Jones. As we walked around her work space, she shared her life as an artist. She explained how being an artist can be a solitary existence and by teaching painting to others in her studio, it allows for fellowship with other artists and a chance to share her knowledge with new generations of painters. It was fascinating to see the different styles of her student’s unfinished paintings left on the easels to dry. 

Some of the paintings in the studio were those of her daughter.  Although she shared her knowledge of painting with her offspring, mother and daughter each have their own unique and definite style. 

We came across a canvas that was in the works. Linda Jones and her daughter have undertaken an experiment of combining both of their styles onto one canvas. They paint as the spirit moves them, each contributing their own creative talents, never altering what the other has done. This painting is real testimony to the respect they have for one another’s work despite their differing styles. It will be fascinating to see the end result. 

For more information on Linda and her art, please visit www.lindajonesart.com. Thank you, Linda for opening your studio to others so that we may better understand all that you do!

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Butterflies at Art Award Night in Vermont

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“A novel is not, after all, a historical document, but a way to travel through the human heart.” ~ Julia Alvarez – In the Time of the Butterflies 

Tonight, November 4th,  the Vermont Arts Council http://bit.ly/7Ncf6e  will have their annual awards honoring three outstanding artists. All three are working in their fields to share their talents through their poetry, books and musical compositions. 

Christian Wolff will be receiving the Walter Cerf Award for Outstanding Achievement in the performing arts.  He has recorded over 20 solo CDs and his book Cues, is a collection of his writings on music. For more information on his musical compositions and his life, please visit  http://bit.ly/cJGbcs. 

Julia Alvarez is the writer-in-residence at MiddleburyCollege. She has 5 published novels, a book of essays and many books for young readers. Several of her books have been adapted for film and theatre and are available in many languages and in many countries around the world.  An organic farm-literacy arts center in her homeland of the Dominican Republic holds a special place in her heart, and she shares of herself there, too. For more information on this author and her new book which will be available in the spring of 2012, please visit  http://bit.ly/9WSMSJ. 

Sydney Lea is a poet and prose writer often writing on subjects such as ecology and the natural environment. He has two books of essays, a published novel and has just been named Poet Laureate of Vermont. He makes his home in Newbury, Vermont. To read more about this multi-lingual professor of literature, please go to  http://bit.ly/ofelnu. 

Every year I look forward in great anticipation to receiving my Vermont Arts Gala invitation, whether I am able to attend or not. It is fulfilling to learn about the artists who are being celebrated for their contributions of inspiring others in the creative state of Vermont.

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Answering the Call

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“The idea of a sacred place…is apparently as old as life itself.” ~Joseph Campbell 

We have a winner! On September 2, I wrote a blog which was a follow-up of Glassworks Inspired by Nature, the most frequently read blog on All Things Fulfilling of all time. I put out a challenge to our readers, to send in a suggestion of a beautiful building that incorporates history, architecture and outstanding glass installations. My hope was that the choice would educate me and our readers about an awe-inspiring structure that is in a far off part of the world.  

Marie, sent in her suggestion of the Chartres Cathedral, located inParis,France. It well fit the bill! This sacred UNESCO World Heritage site was constructed between the years 1193 and 1250. It is considered one of the finest examples of French High Gothic Style in the world.

Not only is the building of great historical value, millions of people visit the Cathedral because of a relic that sits inside the doors. The Sancta Camisa, the tunic believed to have been worn by the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the time of Christ’s birth was acquired by the Cathedral in c.876 and it is on display. The indoor labyrinth is of great interest, too.

The church has seen fire damage to the structure and to the vivid stained glass windows, installed throughout. The French Revolution and World War II also took a toll. But many of the original glass installations are still intact. From an art historical viewpoint, the Cathedral, inside and out, has been preserved magnificently. 

Not only is the building  notable for it’s history, architectural elements and for the exquisite glass installations, it is a sacred place for worship for tourists who come from around the world, each and every year. To read more about this fascinating shrine, please visit http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/chartres-cathedral.  

Thank you, Marie, for answering the call and for being a loyal visitor to this blog site. Contributions from readers like you make blogging all the more fulfilling.

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An Art Filled Trip

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“Inspiration comes of working every day.” ~ Charles Baudelaire

I had a most delightful plane trip yesterday returning to Steamboat Springs, Colorado from the East Coast. For two hours of it, my head was stuck between the catalog pages of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store. Reading the captions of the products in this catalog is like an abbreviated course in art history. For instance, I learned:

  • Vera Neumann’s designs (American Artist1907-1933) became symbolic of American enterprise and optimism in the Truman era.
  • Arthur George “Art” Smith (1917-1982) created his craft at the center of Greenwich Village where he led a bohemian life and
    became known as one of the most creative jewelry designers of the time.
  • It was  common practice for the Greeks in the Hellenistic times, to bury the wealthy with their most valuable jewelry of gold, precious medals and stones.
  • Jefferson R Burdick (American 1900-1963) began at the age of 10 procuring one of  country’s most valuable collections of American paper ephemera, which  included paper dolls, souvenir cards, greeting and playing cards.

The Metropolitan Museum Art Store works closely with art historians to bring products to consumers that are artfully crafted in the
design of the finest master artists from around the world. Gifts include jewelry, cards, art books, Christmas ornaments, calendars sculpture, scarves and art activity sets to engage children in creating art.

Now is the time to begin thinking about Christmas buying for your circle of art friends or family. The catalog can be ordered by calling 1-800-662-3397. Mail order and on-line ordering is available. For more information, visit http://store.metmuseum.org/.

My trip to the East Coast included visiting arts scenes and artists working in many mediums. In the coming weeks, I will be sharing more information on writers, potters, and towns that I encountered along the way. It was a very fulfilling trip. Good to be away and good to be back!

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Artfully Restoring America

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“The only thing that can save the world is the reclaiming of the awareness of the world.” ~ Allen Ginsberg

Several days ago, I returned to a town that I had not visited in almost twenty years. I was blown away by the change that has taken place in what used to be a run-down town filled with uncared for historic Federal Style buildings in the heart of the Civil War heritage Area.Frederick, amid the rolling hills and abundant farmland of Frederick County, Maryland has become a charming and vibrant community that has been designated as one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations and as a Preserve America Community http://bit.ly/pwZygfy. It was named a 2010 Top Arts Destinations by American Style Magazine http://bit.ly/aj5eGd in the Small Cities category. 

At the center of it all, are now vibrant shops, charming restaurants, and Federal style buildings that have been salvaged, restored, and renewed. Great testimony for the argument that rather than building new, America should be reclaiming spaces and places to bring life back into existing towns and cities. 

I took a walking tour of the city, strolling along the beautifully restored area of town along side the Carroll Creek, an estuary of the MonocacyRiver. I came across the  Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center www.delaplaine.org and looked in on three exhibits that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

It is fair time in Frederick!  In the upper hall way of the brick cannery building reclaimed as Art Space, was an exhibit of black and white photos that brought back nostalgic memories of State Fairs. A second exhibit, a National Juried Quilt Exhibit was one the best selections of Art Quilts that I have seen. Few quilts were of the ilk that you see on Grandmother’s beds and it was interesting to see how the names of the quilts were carried out in the artistic creation of the quilts. 

The third exhibit – Painting with Thread by Joanne Bast http://bit.ly/qfKBx6  were canvases that had been so densely stitched with thread that they created fiber paintings of iconic Chesapeake Bay scenes, charming homes or gardens, and in street scenes of other places. One of my favorites appeared to be  perhaps a village in Italy. 

The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center was just the start of my afternoon tour of Frederick. Major support for this vibrant, restored Art Space is provided by the Delaplaine Foundation, the Ausherman Family Foundation, www.fredericktourism.org and the Maryland State Arts Council. 

Join me next time for more of my travels through Frederick. In a new millennium, this town is finding success in artistically fulfilling their vision, of a vibrant community through heart and spirit.

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Architecture, Glassworks and History

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“In all things, let reason be your guide.” ~ Solon

On April 5th, I posted a blog entitled Glassworks Inspired by Nature. http://bit.ly/h0j9Uc. It continues to be one of the most frequently read blogs of all time on All Things Fulfilling. Obviously, it struck a cord with readers on this site.  

I will be writing another blog on this subject and am looking for help from our readers all over the world. If you have found in your travels or in your community, an architectural structure that is of great interest due to it’s history, architecture and the glassworks incorporated into the design of the building, come forth and post a reason why you think your suggestion fits what I am looking for. Remember – all three elements must be there – art (extraordinary glass installations), architecture and history. 

At a later date,  modern structures that wow will be featured. For now, I am searching for historical structures. This request could bring enlightenment and education for all readers. After all, there are buildings all over the world that are inspiring and carry stories of interest that the average person has had little to no exposure to. 

By the way, fulfilling things don’t come just in churches…… many public buildings, private  homes, college campuses, museums and community centers  could have the three elements that I am looking for, too. 

 Identify this structure or post in the comment section your favorite structure that fulfills the requirements of history, glass installations and architecture. I want to hear from you and the best of the best will be featured. 

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