Hello folks. Have just returned from a trip to the Midwest. Fourteen days of driving to small towns, little and medium large cities, in two states for very short visits to family and close friends. While in Ohio Heidi, my wife, and I had discovered a treasure trove of decades lost art in the basement of my grandfather’s house. Many drawings and a few paintings were created by my family members going back all the way to my great grandmother, my diseased dear grandmother’s mother. I also found art created by my grandma’s brother, my great uncle Gordon, who died in world war two. He was in the navy and lost his life within six weeks of service. His drawings that I now possess are of specific war planes. Some drawings go back all the way from his grade school days. The drawings are accurate representations of the airplanes. There are drawings of dog fights and battle scenes in the air that remind me of drawings that I did during class in grade school, (my images were influenced by GI Joe). I found unbelievably beautiful sketches that my great grandmother made, (who was a housewife). I also have a couple of paintings and drawings that my grandma’s sister made, my Great Aunt Nancy. She passed a way about a year ago. She was the first person (besides my best friend) who acknowledge that I was an artist and encouraged me, fueling the confidence I desperately needed. Here are some images of these pictures. If I have any artistic talent, it is because of them.
My Uncle Gordon Faulkner
My wife and I went to the fantastic Cleveland Art Museum. It had been several years since my last visit. It was great seeing those canvas old friends although I did not find an old girlfriend of mine. I wonder if she’s still hanging in the museum or has been moved to another collection. If my recollection serves my right I believe every time I had seen her I wanted to go back in time to kiss her hand, hold her tight close to my body, look in to her eyes and listen to every word she says. Of course that wouldn’t be the case now since I am married to a beautiful woman who I want to kiss her hand, hold her tight close to my body, look in to her eyes and listen to every word she says. After the short but sweet meeting, the two of us went to Grand Rapids Michigan to see her best friends. There is an art competition in Grand Rapids which is called Art Prize. It is a month long exhibition which the city is the the art gallery/museum. There are art works everywhere, grocery stores, restaurants, churches, murals and other public art. The juror is the public. Each person has a say and a vote. The top ten artists with the most votes win cash. First place is 250,000 dollars. It is certainly a sight to be seen, and my artist friends you should grab a venue next year and show your best. I do have to say that it didn’t exactly meet my expectations but to be fair I didn’t see all of the art. It is a pretty decent size city after all. I did go to the Grand Rapids Art Museum. The whole first two floors was devoted to Art Prize. I did look carefully at the art and went to the third floor to compare it to the museum’s permanent contemporary art collection. I want to know what is considered museum worthy. I continue to wonder.
Finally, I have to say that I finished and attached my most recent public painting. The small painting is on another abandoned building downtown on SW Park Ave nearest cross street is SW Morrison St. I believe. I am concerned with the size in relation to the door. I feel like I need to add another piece to somehow connect to the small painting. Here is this painting. (If some law man or woman is reading this, just joking not mine.)
