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Home-Made Fulfillment

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“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.”  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Last weekend it was showery. But it was filled with the harvests of intentional living bringing a mix of fulfilling things to do beginning on Thursday at a lecture and slide show given by Adrienne Stein and Quang Ho at the fabulous Ladew Topiary Gardens.

On Friday evening, The Maryland Center for the Arts provided a second opportunity to see the exhibit of the 2023 Harford County Plein Air Painters. Local art, painted outdoors at many cultural and familiar sites around the county in which I live. The talented artists who participated provided plenty of visual pleasure for me – one who is drawn to representational paintings at it’s finest.

I self-created my own seasonal blessings on Saturday by spending the morning listening to George Winston’s Autumn selections while I cooked. Winston is well-known for solo piano compositions which are said to be, “melodic, warm, pastoral music.”

So what did I cook? Seasonal favorites, of course! Butternut squash muffins filled with warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, a dash of clove and ginger, made even better topped with apple butter. And green split pea soup – flavors enhanced with hearty chunks of ham and a hint of thyme. A gastronomical melding of autumn flavors. A little sweet and savory.

At the end of the day, through a simple choice I made about what I value for this website, I attended an event that brought more coziness to my heart and soul. I went to a small village where the people who settled it in the 1800’s shared many of the cultural values I also try to embrace in my every day living.

Won’t you join me? Come on back in four days hence, on the 16th of October, and we will revisit a time in our nation’s history when life was very different.

Finding the Majesty in Art

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“My work reanimates historical painting genres forming a bridge to the present with fresh insight and imagery.” ~ Adrienne Stein

On Thursday of last week, I attended an art lecture given by Adrienne Stein and Quang Ho, 2023 Artists in Residence at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, MD. I entered the exhibit venue through Harvey S. Ladew’s library of books housed in his Art Barn Studio. As you will see from the photo, most books in his collection which were published during the earlier decades of his life (1887 – 1976) were bound with linen, devoid of graphics and color. Only the title attracted a reader. But, once I stepped into the next room where the art exhibit of Adrienne Stein and Quang Ho’s work was hung, it was a whole different story – an abundance of color everywhere!

I and others who arrived eager to learn more about the art of Stein and Ho were not disappointed. They indeed provided artful insight into their painting processes. Quang Ho talked about viewing things as they are, as you see them, rather than painting them as they are commonly known to be.

Adrienne Stein discussed having a vision for one’s art, which as she says, for her, “is often about cobbling things together combining several visions.”

Both artists spoke about going beyond the obvious to bring the real majesty forward onto the canvas, often by “the color story” which is being presented in the painting. Quang Ho’s words hold much wisdom for students, as he advised being an artist is not only about being able to perform but it’s also about inspiration. His words, “The real master of art expresses feeling rather than technique, which is achieved through intuition rather than education” explains Quang’s thoughts more thoroughly.

If you are an art collector or an artist, check out Turner Fine Art Gallery They and other galleries, including Wild Horse Gallery represent the art of Quang Ho. Adrienne Stein’s website shows her paintings in the very best light. Both are top, award-winning, master artists who inspire others with their paintings and with their individual interpretations of the artistic process. Both communicate it well. What each of this husband and wife pair present to the world is a divine but different gift of talent they have been given. The only way to get to their level of achievement is continue to work at it, and by discovering one’s own authentic vision and by developing it over time.

To my way of thinking, the art of Adrienne Stein and Quang Ho was completely befitting of the venue which is said to be “One of ten top topiary gardens in the world.” What a beautiful pairing. Henry S. Ladew would be so proud of the benefactors who supported this show and the committee who selected the 2023 Artists in Residence. The two so closely fit a beautiful vision of providing exquisite art for an extraordinary venue. Both top class, all the way!

 

Art Holds Memories

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This oft-repeated expression could have come right from an art collector’s mouth ~

An artist and I stood talking about the 2023 Plein Air Week in Harford County, MD. He told me of a scene he painted of a local farm, which has been passed down from generation to generation. When asked, the farmer welcomed the artist on his property and told him to set up the easel wherever he wished. The farmer gave the artist high accolades when the painting was complete. The painter felt sure the farmer was going to say yes, he’d like to claim it as his. The farmer passed.

A few weeks later, the farmer’s next door neighbor (also a farmer) called the artist and inquired about the painting of his neighbors farm. The caller said he’d like to purchase it because his daughter is getting married and he wanted to give it as a wedding present. Evidently, there were many memories made between the two neighboring farms.

Needless to say, the artist was delighted and so was the farmer’s daughter who received the gift. 

This story was shared with me by an active member of the local Liriodendron Wednesday Artist’s Group. Indeed, local art of familiar places holds memories for the collector.

Splendor in the Day

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The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine … is simplicity. Walt Whitman

There could have been no finer day for the quick draw Paint Out competition in Bel Air, MD yesterday morning. Easels and artists lined the Historic Main Street and in other locations, scattered throughout town for two hours. A short window of time to complete a painting!

It is always refreshing to see youth jump in on the fun, and work on their painting skills. One participant appeared to be as young as 5. I spoke with a fourteen year old and she has been doing the yearly competition since the age of 8. Her practice is paying off well, I was impressed by what she was bringing to her canvas.

A few collages of photos tell the stories of just some of the plein air painters who participated. Indeed, there were many! And at the end of the two hours, winners of the 2023 Paint Out are selected.

The Paint Out is just one of many other arts events spread out throughout Harford County for a sixteen day period from September 15 to Sept 31, 2023.

Do return in four days time, I will post some of the fabulous paintings on display at the Bel Air Armory from September 15, 2023 reception and awards ceremony which kicked off the arts festival. On September 17th, the exhibit will be moved from the Armory to a space just a stone’s throw away, just behind the Bel Air Armory for a six week period. There are a few events scheduled in October.

Honoring Old and New

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“The role of culture is that it’s the form through which we as a society reflect on who we are, where we have been, where we hope to be.” ~ Wendell Price

Historical Societies play an important part even in today’s world. In fact, they are vital organizations serving as weavers of the past with the present.

Last night, the annual gathering of the Historical Society of Baltimore County was held at the Manor Mill Gallery for a second year in a row. An excellent choice of venue! Many elements of what has quickly become a community gathering place are present at the Manor Mill Gallery. The primary use of the pre-revolutionary grist mill, is an art gallery. Art exhibitions are held there and as well as workshops planned to fit the historical venue. On site is a pottery studio, which appeals to those who enjoy one of the earliest crafts in our country.

The HSOBC program of the night was “Maryland Voices of the Civil War,” author and historian Charles W. Mitchell presented. The audience was given a glimpse into his book through his reading of letters, journals and diaries of ordinary people, such as farmers, children, enslaved people, clergymen who lived during the era. Many documents spoke of their personal viewpoints, struggles and concerns about loved ones who fought for liberties of fellow Marylanders.

Historical societies are a defensive line in the battle of today’s changing culture.. It is vital to protect the ideals of community cohesiveness because it has always always been a stronghold in our country’s history.

I’d like to thank Scott and Taylor Batton (my brother and my nephew) for inviting me to attend the annual HSOBC gathering. They both serve as Board members to the organization and their company, Batton Builders, has experience in historical preservation and revitalization of Maryland’s heritage.

Art, music, light food and drink and tours of the Manor Mill Gallery made for a delightful evening, which was not only fun but also informative and educational.

In a few days hence a new art exhibit, “COUNTER CURRENTS: THE FISH SHOW” will be opening at the same site. Stop in to the met the artists and to support them. For more information, visit the Manor Mill Gallery website.

American Decorative Arts: Winterthur

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“Well, while we’re here, let’s do it!” My twin sister and I agreed wholeheartedly that we may as well check one off on the bucket list while in the Brandywine Valley.

After an informal lunch on a patio at a Main Street local eats place in Centreville, Delaware, onward we went to Winterthur “America’s artistic, cultural, social, and intellectual history and home to the DuPonts, a dynasty of entrepreneurs, engineers, collectors, and horticulturalists.”

Even though I already knew a little about the home/museum, library and gardens of Henry Francis du Pont (1880–1969), and his two succeeding generations. I was overwhelmed by the property’s expansiveness. The mansion has 190 rooms and on the 2600 acres, at one time they had their own post office, dairy and butcher, gardens and orchards which fed 250 workers who also resided there. I was completely astonished at the overwhelming spans of the grounds, home and library which houses over 100,000 volumes of “rare books, trade catalogs, manuscripts, ephemera, and photographs related to the study of art, decorative arts and design, everyday life in America, and Winterthur’s estate history.”

The estate has 25 miles of walking trails through woodlands which spring forth with seasonal blooms such as azaleas, dogwoods, hellebores, daffodils, trilliums and redbuds. But that is only some of the most notables in spring. There are stars in every season. Rather than spend the day walking, we opted for the garden tram which took us all over the estate and it is included in the admission price.

The museum has furniture, china, silverware and fine art paintings befitting and collected by the influential, wealthy family of DuPont industrialists who saw it as their civic duty to drive industry for the prosperity of our country.

Photos – Two distant views of DuPont Dynasty’s 190 room mansion at Winterthur.

The DuPont’s legacy story continues with each generation of DuPonts who have a variety of interests and passions. We only touched part of what was there to see at Winterthur, and there is so much more in the Brandywine Valley for next time I visit. I’ll return for a tour of artists N.C. and Andrew Wyeth’s home and studios, and the Nemours Estate and Hagley Museum, also DuPont properties. I’ll keep an eye on upcoming art exhibits which strike my fancy at the Somerville Manning Gallery and will draw me back to the Brandywine Valley so very willingly.

Photos from through the lens of a cellphone could never capture the expansiveness of Winterthur so I’ve posted a small glimpse. Visit their website for more information and for professional images, taken by their professional photographers.

2023 American Impressionistic Society Show

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Thanks to some artist friends and acquaintances, our second stop in the Brandywine Valley was on our list of things to do and places to go before we even left home. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

The location of the 24th Annual National Juried Exhibition of AIS was just a short trip from the Brandywine River Art Museum into Delaware on a gorgeous country road, winding alongside the river. I had an idea of what to expect to see at the show – exquisite art from artists all over the country who have reached top levels. The Somerville-Manning Gallery’s fabulous location in the small stone settlement of Brecks Mill – Henry Clay historic district is what I wasn’t expecting. In 1813 the settlement was the home to Alfred Victor du Pont’s early 19th century woolen mill. The stone gallery shares building space with the village’s Post Office and the Brandywine River runs through the settlement tripping over the stones lining the stream bed.

Photo: The host of the 2023 AIS National Juried Exhibition was the Somerville-Manning Gallery located on the second floor of this fabulous historical stone building in Montchanin, DE.

The gallery assistant was both welcoming and knowledgeable. I could have stood in front of each and every painting for a whole afternoon. Too many words are needed to describe the quality of the work and all that I was seeing in each painting. My twin sister summed it up by saying “I have never been exposed to fine art like this in an exhibit anywhere.” But, our life-time experiences have been different even though we are twins.

What else was of great surprise to me, was to come across Chula Beauregard‘s painting “Winter Gathering” which won 2023 Artist’s Choice Award! I met Chula while living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for ten years (her home town). At the time she was represented by Wild Horse Gallery, a place where I worked. I had the great honor of writing a book about one of her earliest art mentors, Richard Galusha. Chula and I became nice art acquaintances when I interviewed her in November 2011 for a post about her vision for her art career on this website AllThingsFulfilling.com. Wow! Has her command of her art ever grown since then and her collectors list has too!

I share photos of just a few more images of the many, many paintings included in the 2023 American Impressionistic Society‘s Show. My apologies for the poor photography. The paintings were many, and getting good photos with corresponding attribute labels was difficult. Outstanding images of all paintings, and of AIS Masters, including Quang Ho, are in the show catalogue. It may still be available by contacting the Somerville-Manning Gallery.

(Photo: The building which housed du Pont’s woolen mill can be seen across the Brandywine River.)

Before you leave this post, check out the Somerville-Manning Gallery website, too, for more information about the exhibit.

In a few day’s time, I will share more about our Magical Day in the Brandywine. We hit one of our regional bucket list items. It was quite overwhelming!

Magic of the Brandywine

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“Something waits beneath it. The whole story doesn’t show.” ~ Andrew Wyeth

Photo: View of the Brandywine River from the Museum

In the dog days of summer, it’s hard to find the “bony structure” of the Brandywine Valley that was often described and seen in the canvases of the Wyeth Family paintings. The density of trees and leafy greens prevents it. This August the art at the Brandywine River Art Museum was full of contrasts.

Abstract Flash: Unseen Andrew Wyeth exhibit was as stark as the winter landscape in the Brandywine devoid of the lush trees and foliage which is abundant in the summer. The collection is color-limited and as brittle as the gnarled hands of old Man Winter and the tree branches. That is not to say I did not enjoy it. Such is what makes much of Wyeth art distinguishable and identifiable immediately.

Book covers by N.C. Wyeth which are still seen today on many of the classics was also included in the Wyeth art displayed at the museum located in Chadd’s Ford, Pennsylvania, often referred to as “Wyeth country.” This author/book-lover appreciated revisiting many of the images I saw on front covers of the books which sat on my bookshelf in my childhood bedroom.

Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. Book Cover Illustration (1918) by N.C. Wyeth

In the second exhibit, the art of Joseph Stella is in sharp contrast. Saturated with bright color, top to bottom. Nature is seen in a most visionary way – full of energy, both magical and imaginary. Like a tropical floral environment ramped up to the nth degree.

One of many of Joseph Stella’s floral paintings

My stop at the Brandywine River Art Museum was our first in a day filled with art, history and all things fulfilling. My twin sister and I love to see and experience museums and other cultural places together. Do return to this website. I will have more about our visit to the Brandywine Valley in my next post a few days from now.