links, thinks, and a photo exhibit tease

post #270
        So much sun today -- which this time of year nicely warms our south facing house. I'm almost ready for some more snow, but hopefully not so much all at once!
       Today I have two links, take 'em or leave 'em, but first some shots from my photography exhibit at the Rowan County Arts Center.  Several readers have indicated they liked seeing the setting up process, so this will be a kind of follow-up report from last week's post. 

a banner outside the Arts Center building -- my name up in plastic! Nice!

The first of several "snaps" of the place without the long tables and the photos leaning up against the sides

from my series following a few milkweed plants for a year

the visitor guest book -- page 1 --

and some cards for sale that match the hanging photos, a few smaller/unframed versions for sale as well, along with copies of Counting on the Woods, a poem by George Ella Lyon, and my photos.

Here is a favorite photo  -- my neighbor Sandy's cat whom I discovered snoozing there when I got into my car one day to return home, with the Destination perfectly placed. I give it the title of "on the way." I'm always glad when I have my camera in the front seat of the car and am ready to go.

I would like to give two links today, and the first is for George Ella's newsletter. Being Kentucky's Poet Laureate for two years has kept her even busier than usual, but I am awed by the amount of work she manages to pull off, including her quarterly newsletter. She is unfailingly original in words and in person. 


The other link is for the great conference coming up with information about gifted kids, put on annually by an organization that I was part of for many years, the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education. They have made such a difference in our state, and, in this time of budget cuts that push the needs of children aside, I think it is even more important then ever to stay informed and to speak up for the importance of each child receiving the education they need and deserve. I hope to be able to go to at least a day of the two day event, Feb. 22-23.        

winter and my photo exhibit both take shape

post #269
       I have a bit of catching up to do, so here are three winter photos, a short winter video,  and a preview of my exhibit, which we set up this afternoon -- which is why this blog is being posted later than usual this Sunday.  Because of the big snow we had a week ago, many things are delayed, including the publicity posters and postcards for my exhibit.  And school in this county was out all last week. Everyone is hopeful things will be back to normal tomorrow.
       OK, first I'll show some snow, which was the lovely kind but just way more than we usually get. We think we had 15 inches in our area. Counties south of us had a lot more.

THE BARN and THE BEAUTY:

I can't resist a snow person photo, of Natalie trying to make dry snow work.  Sorry it is not a better photo!!

    That same day we did some shuttling with a four wheeler, a truck, a tractor and a friend's car to shape up my driveway in order to be able to get out if needed.  Part of that included my getting to ride in the Rhino (a two seater 4 wheeler) while we backed down a long stretch of the driveway.  I looked behind me while holding out my cell phone as we sped along -- the loud noise of its motor is, well, loud! I really enjoyed the ride, and I hope readers here do as well. I thank Tim and Jason for all their good neighbor efforts and help!!

Jason and the Rhino

IMG_2629 from Ann W. Olson on Vimeo.

     Then, this afternoon, my exhibit at the Rowan County Arts Center started to take shape. I have four photos here of the decision work in progress -- how to group my 35 photos, where to put the groups, etc.  My friend Taral Thompson took on the task with her generosity of spirit and her expertise, and was helped by Wayland Coffey, an intern at the Arts Center, who will have hung all the photos by the time I write this at 8 p.m.! I am so grateful for the way artists help each other and for Taral's help today in particular.

    I will have more photos from this event next week. In the meantime, here is a copy of the poster which the Arts Center has designed and had printed. I just now received this copy in my email. Good job, Wayland! 

"What Catches My Eye" exhibit

post #267
            Well, I am biting the bullet, so to speak, and doing a photo exhibit all of February. Making a public display. Sharing what I see with whomever braves the weather and has time to stop by.  No snow photos, but a little bit of ice (one of the photos from last week's blog post).  My biggest sized images, a few from digital, a few from when I was using slides. In advance I thank my neighbors for letting me hang them on a wall, and I thank my artist friends, like Taral, Jennifer, Wayland and Ash, who these next two weeks will help me pull it all together.          
         There will be a poster, a postcard and some local news information. However, I am writing about this today because my blog has always been about photography and Appalachia, and showing one's art in a local public forum is about both those things.
         LOCATION: Rowan County Arts Center (which used to be the old Courthouse) on Main Street in Morehead, Kentucky
         DATES: February 1, 2016, through leap year, until March 4, 2016
         RECEPTION: Friday, February 26, 5 - 7, probably with some words spoken by the photographer...and questions, by anyone who comes, answered or at least discussed.
         HOURS OPEN: 10 - 4, Monday through Friday, and by appointment on the weekends.

        In the meantime, here are a few more photos from last weekend's adventure in southern Kentucky -- besides the pond images I shared last week. Enjoy!

porch decor

VIEWS FROM THE HOUSE, with signs of recent weirdly warm weather:

VIEWS FROM WITHIN THE WOODS, on the way to the pond, travel by the "mule".


 

This is really how it looked.

ENTRANCE SIGNS: 

Pretty good sample of photos for the middle of January! Thank you, Peg, for your hospitality and your great talent driving that mule. (Sorry not to have made a good photo of it.)  Next time....

February round-up -- monarch butterflies, local art show and roof ice sculptures

post #178
      I have had too many bits to keep up with myself this month, so today's post has three that have been waiting in the wings.  The first is a New York Times article about the monarch butterfly way stations.  Click HERE.  Actually, this bit is all about wings....  I am definitely going to be doing more milkweed preserving in the years to come.

       The next bit is from a local art show at the Rowan County Art Center (formerly the county courthouse.)  The Cave Run Arts Association had the exhibit space this month (February), and all members could enter three pieces, 15 artists in all.  These next photos were made during the opening reception.  It is very possible that the exhibit will be coming down soon, so I apologize for not getting this information out sooner!  

The largest painting in this photo is by my husband, Frank.

this day, one of the three photos by me

      The Arts Center has several studios, and they were all open during the reception.  These walls show the amazing watercolor work by Linda Brewer.  Linda teaches a weekly class in here, thus the work tables and chairs.  She shares the office with photographer and mixed media artist Priscilla Gotsick.  
                                                             *   *   *   *   *   *   *
      Even though today there is no snow on our ground, it has been quite the month for the white stuff.  I made several photos of this shed -- it shows what can happen with the right combination of snow, of melt and of overhang....

going, going  --  but not yet gone!

       I am finishing today with one photo from 5 days spent with grandchildren this past week.  Oh, the satisfaction of placing those last two pieces of a puzzle!  Well done, kiddo!