On Art and Artful Words

[mrdreamjeans]

Anyone who has been to my home understands how much I love artwork ... photography, theater memorabilia, oils or acrylics, sculptures and pottery. I've been fortunate to be able to purchase or be gifted with original pieces in all of these categories and being surrounded by them brings me joy.

This morning I've been organizing ... (I'm always organizing:) ... and came across two items I'd like to share. The first was a business card for an artist whom I met on tour with "Evita" in Memphis in 2005. When I was there, I ate daily at the family restaurant, The Blue Plate Cafe and Gallery. The artist's name is Debbie Richmond and she is a member of the Animal Artists Hall of Fame. She does extraordinary paintings of dogs, horses, wildlife, wild animals, abstracts .. in acrylics. I was immediately drawn to her work, the use of color and her ability to capture the personalities of her animal subjects. Alas, the only items I could afford at the time were a series of cards featuring golden retrievers. I showed them to gotmoof when he visited in March. Tim loved them. I'm saving up to buy an original painting of hers, perhaps even commission her to paint our beloved dog, Dixie. Please check out her website ... www.debbierichmondart.com ... If you love animals, you'll be happy you visited.

The other item I wanted to share was a second quote from the book, "The Good Husband of Zebra Drive". I'm setting aside my cynicism and hoping that this could be true ... in our families, in government, with friends ...

Great feuds often need very few words to resolve them. Disputes, even between nations, between peoples, can be set to rest with simple acts of contrition and corresponding forgiveness, can so often be shown to be based on nothing much other than pride and misunderstanding, and the forgetting of the humanity of the other ...

Finally ... a wish to my friends and their mothers ... Whether you are blessed to share time today, have the opportunity to speak or are simply holding them close in your heart and memory, I honor your mothers. Happy Mothers Day to them, to their sons and daughters ... I thank your mothers for bringing you into life and thus into mine.

Comments

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

You? Cynical? Maybe for a few seconds at a time. Your sensitive romantic spirit always wins out.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, my friend! Perhaps, that is why we are becoming lifelong friends ... We have that in common.

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Lovely thought at the end there.
Debbie Richmond does wonderful - and inspiring - work! I enjoyed the web site hugely (will write to you about it).
Alexander McCall Smith has been on my 'must read' list for some time now ... ah, summer is coming up ;0)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I believe you're the only one in my acquaintance that checked it out. I'm disappointed in that. I have several artists and appreciators of art on my friends list. Her work is first-rate! Thanks for viewing it and for our frequent exchanges. They make it easier to get through the day.

HUGS!

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

I have always found that when a good friend is enthusiastic about something, it's worth my while to check it out...it seldom if ever fails to payoff in some delightful and surprising way.

You are often in my thoughts. My time has hit snags recently because of the odd work pileup at the end of this semester ... but I'll shortly get back to reading the blog.
In the meantime, BIG HUGS!

[gayhawk.livejournal.com]

Neil, that was so endearing. I offer the same sentiments to you and your mother.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Randy! I hope several pairs of eyes read this sentiment and the men and women attached to those eyes either honored their mothers or remembered them fondly. I know I lack a certain cynicism meter which irritates some people, but I'm not going to change. I mean what I say and say what I mean .... You ought to be heading out for your home away from home for the weekend. Sounds like a wonderfully relaxing place.

HUGS!

ps ... I don't know if you saw the past where I said I was coming to Minneapolis at the end of the month. I'm coming for perkk's 40th birthday party and house-warming. I'll be staying with gotmoof. Will you perchance be attending?

[gayhawk.livejournal.com]

Speaking of the home away from home, unfortunately the weekend you're coming up is a long weekend at the trailer. So, we'll leave Thursday (31st) after work only to return on Sunday (3rd) - like ships passing in the night.

I don't know when John's party is, but perhaps we could meet for dinner which ever night it isn't. (Hinckley casino has an awesome prime rib buffet on Saturday.) But I'm sure your social calendar is booked with old friends. I so would love the chance to at least meet and I'd like for you to meet Scott, too. Let me know.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Looks like we'll miss meeting all together. I arrive in Minneapolis at 10pm on Thursday, May 31 and leave early morning on June 3. SO, I guess it's "next time":) John's party is Saturday, June 2 from noon to 8pm.

HUGS!

[gayhawk.livejournal.com]

I seriously consider it MY loss. I hope you have an awesome weekend partying with John.

*HUGS*

[bearnight.livejournal.com]

I heard you're already packed to come to Mpls. LOL

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Ummm ... I plead guilty to that mostly being true ..*grin* ... I have so many clothes and two small closets in the house, so I always leave some items in a weekender. That way, I'm ready to go at a moment's notice:) I wish I could go somewhere this weekend; then Bear Pride (though I don't particularly care for it,I do love Chicago.) Will I see you at the Perkk party at the beginning of June? I hope so! HUGS!