Goodbye 2016

This year I did not send Christmas cards, I sent New Year cards instead.  (I'll post it tomorrow.)

In November, I resigned my seat on the Fayette County Public Arts Committee. The more things change, the more they stay the same.  Buy me a beer sometime and I'll tell you the story.....Let's just say the biggest, baddest, and best lesson of the last year is when you find yourself in a place that is no longer fun and the situation is taking up all of your spare time. Do something about it.  

I haven't entered into as many exhibitions this year. I am looking to write more. I think I am going back to my idea of a collection of essays based on my experiences in photography.  My goodness there is a gold mine loaded with chunks of great material there!

To end 2016, here is a photo of the moon last night.  Just a Cheshire Cat Smile....

Photo Tape Up Exhibit at PTC Library

Drop off a photo this week!

Put Your Money (or Your Time) Where Your Mouth Is....

Last night I became a member of a restructured Fayette County Public Art Committee. For those familiar with this blog -- you know last September, November, December, and January I posted my feelings of the old committee and their direction. Other county residents and I began attending meetings and voicing our concerns.

In March the Board of Commissioners voted to restructure the committee and all spots were up for consideration. Twenty-three people stepped up to interview for the eleven open positions of the new committee. Thankfully, the two commissioners conducting the interviews felt that I was qualified to be one of the new members.

I want to thank everyone offering support and encouragement through this time. I have endured many insults and accusations. Now it is time to hit the ground running and embrace this opportunity to change. Change is a powerful word. I feel that if you do criticize, you need to be prepared to make a difference if afforded the chance.

Prince

Five weeks ago, I learned Prince was coming to Atlanta.

Four weeks ago, the day after Prince tickets went on sale, I had two. 

Three weeks ago, just as we were preparing to leave to head to the city, the show was postponed.

Two weeks ago, the concert was on and was awesome.

One week ago, as I sat down to a picnic lunch with friends in the most amazing private garden, a text popped up on my phone from my husband telling me the news.

Besides the memory of an amazing performance from someone, obviously in the midst of a struggle no one really knew about, I will always remember the atmosphere in the theater. The woman sitting next to me was super excited, telling me how her mother took her to see Prince in 1985 and how she has loved him ever since. The couple behind us, well, the woman, was expressing her displeasure of waiting on the sidewalk, by herself, for her friend/husband (?) to arrive. His response to that was to shift the conversation to marvel at the scene from earlier when Prince road past us outside and waved from the backseat of a black Suburban. During the performance I looked around me; down, behind, across rows of people packed into every seat, dancing in their seats, waving their arms, singing, loving Prince. 

Prince performing Heroes in honor of David Bowie

Fredericksburg Trip: Belmont

I arrived at Belmont, home of artist Gari Melchers and now part of the University of Mary Washington, very early on a December morning.

Morning mist and the steeple from Falmouth Church seen from the view looking down toward Ingleside Drive from the house.

Sunlight hits a window a few minutes after I arrived. Standing in this spot, I heard the Rappahannock down below me. Since it was winter, I could see it through bare trees.

There were a few Christmas decorations on the house -- for the season. This wreath and pine garland on the front steps made me wonder what was inside. I did not go in -- too early and not open, nor did I peep in the windows.

Down the front lawn, a pretty steep hill, a track cut into the grasses ends just around a short bend. 

Belmont, or as others call it, The Gari Melchers Home, is a national historic landmark in Falmouth, Virginia. The home sits on a hill above the Rappahannock River facing toward the Falmouth Bridge to Fredericksburg. Julius Garibaldi Melchers studied and taught in Europe and had a studio in New York City. He spent his final days at Belmont in Stafford County.

Previous posts from Fredericksburg, December, 2015:

The Rappahannock  and  Chatham

Peachtree City Library Photo Event

So anyone reading this blog knows of my frustrations with a certain county's public arts committee. I've heard many people complain about a situation and want someone else to do something about it. 

That is not me. I feel like if you are going to complain about a problem, it is constructive to offer a solution. My solution to this problem is to do something to begin to involve the community, invite others to come to the community, and have some fun with art. 

Photography is my primary medium -- so let's start there.

Partnering with the Peachtree City Library, our grass roots group planned its first event. A photo pin up (actually painter's tape up) exhibit for all! Details are above. This is for anyone -- you know we all take photographs. Let's pick one to show to anyone and everyone walking into the library.

If you would like to learn more about our group, we have a Facebook page -- Fayette County Art Collective. Come join us, participate when you can. More exciting events are in the works!

Fayette County Public Arts Committee Lays an Egg

The latest meeting of the Fayette County (Georgia) Public Arts Committee came to order at 7pm on January 25 in the public meeting room in the county complex. First update on the agenda; In God We Trust project. Commissioner Steve Brown let everyone know that the project was no longer an art committee project, the Board of Commissioners had taken it over.

Commissioner Steve Brown said, “The Board of Commissioners threw the whole thing out and started over.”

Even though the committee no longer had control, a 10 to 15 minute discussion proceeded to dissect the project for font choice, color, size, and placement.

We learned that the infamous Photographers’ Agreement was still with the county attorney.

Moving on to the Break Room project we heard all about the redecoration of a private, county employee break room; carpet choice and a photo depicting something resembling a Tiki Bar inset into the wall. (This is where that $300 Keurig coffee pot is going.) None of this was business of the art committee. Due to public comments, the Board of Commissioners switched funding for this project to a ‘contingency fund’ and away from the art budget. There is art going into the finished space. High school students painted canvases in the style of Wayne Thiebaud. Cakes and ice cream cones in a pop art style will decorate the walls in the employee breakroom. In October the committee heard the paintings were completed. Last night we were told only one was ready to hang. As far as I know there was no Artists’ Agreement written by the county attorney for this project. Total for this project is just under $3300, no compensation for the artists.

The animal shelter project was next. The shelter needs repairs to the building inside and out. The outside of the building is scheduled for a renovation later this year or early next year. That does not slow the art committee from moving forward with painting metal panels to attach to the exterior. The committee was not interested in a mural project here. Someone from the crowd added that a mural at the animal shelter, something like at the water plant, could be great. People adopting would be able to have their picture taken in front of it. They could be shared on social media and in the local paper. The mural idea for the animal shelter was shot down. The Water Treatment Plant loves their outdoor mural so much, they want something inside. If this mural is so well received, why not do something similar for the animal shelter instead of clunky metal panels? It would cost less and be seen easily from the busy road. But Commissioner Brown says there is no need to see any of the art on the animal shelter from the road. A roadway traveled by many each day on their way to three schools and a busy shopping area.

Then came the eggs – Easter Eggs. It’s too late to get anything going for Easter, 2016. Commissioner Brown thinks Fayette should become the county of eggs.

“Does anyone know who makes the cast things, and they’re painted, like Newnan does? The large figures, a lot of cities paint them, Athens did bulldogs. If we find a company that makes those, we might be the only egg out of the whole bunch.”

OK…..

Next another project opportunity for the art committee. A local elementary school has an old mural and would like a new one.

When Commissioner Brown finished selling the idea to everyone he asked, “Does this sound like something we should get involved with?”

A local artist attending her first committee meeting spoke up and said, “No.” She went on to say that the school system had a great fine art department to use and this should not be committee business but handled through the school system.

Discussion began about how most, if not all recent, projects are for student artists. There is no balance to projects the committee becomes involved in and those initiated by the committee seem more like decorating/renovation projects in county office space.

This committee spends their budget on just about anything besides art; IKEA benches, wall paint, frames, canvases, brushes; but where is the payment to an artist for their vision…their work? Some may think I am in this looking for a piece of the budget. I am not. I have made a public pledge that I would sell no work nor take a commission from this committee. I am a concerned citizen with knowledge of the art world and would like to see growing art and culture opportunities in my home county. It would be beneficial for the students and local hobbyists to be able to interact with professional exhibiting artists, curators, collectors, etc. to learn and grow.

Comments from the spectators increased asking about the direction of the committee, past and future projects. Commissioner Brown instructed committee members that they were free to leave since he knew they had families and kids and needed to get home. They did not need to stay to hear all of “this.” Other members of the community in attendance voiced their concern over the lack of depth in the projects and unwillingness of the committee to accept outside ideas.

Commissioner Brown said, “Well let’s just give the people an opportunity to leave and we’ll have the other argument, this is, we are getting way off the agenda.”

I pointed out to him that this is a meeting of the public arts committee and we were at the section of the agenda for questions and comments.

I asked Commissioner Brown how much of the budget has been spent for art.

“I thought you met with Steve Rapson (County Administrator) and he gave you those numbers already. He told me you already met with him and he gave you that,” he shot back at me.

“Yes, but do you know that,” I asked again. 

Others in attendance looked to him, waiting for an answer to my question.

"I don't know the specific, it's thousands of dollars," he finally answered.

He was referring to one project, the water plant mural. The muralist was paid $3,000 in four installments. The Fayette County Public Arts Committee has spent more than twice this on incidentals and art supplies for student art.

Others spoke up about the direction of the committee – such a high number of projects involving students.

I mentioned that I had extended my hand to the committee with writing calls for entry, securing jurors with credibility, and working through the photographers’ agreement.

Commissioner Brown said, “If you want to offer some suggestions, send them to me.”

“I did,” I replied, “last September.”

At this point in the evening, Commissioner Brown stated, “It’s deteriorating, it’s deteriorating. Let’s call the meeting, let’s call the meeting. It’s falling apart.”

Nothing was falling apart. There was a discussion and attendees asking questions. Were these questions the committee did not want to answer? 

At one point during the meeting Commissioner Brown stated, “Public art in our context with this committee is not really an economic engine, you don’t create the economic engine with a volunteer committee and a meager budget and having a few volunteers try to do things.”

In my opinion, this tells me the committee is made up of the wrong people. I know of plenty groups doing very well with volunteers and a low, and I mean l-o-w, budget, sometimes no budget. It also shows Commissioner Brown’s lack of awareness at what a thriving arts program can do for a community. By not supporting art and showing its value, no pay to artists, the committee is influencing county residents to see art should be free.

I suppose the only big-ish idea that came from this meeting was the eggs all over Fayette. Again, student artists were suggested. I think the committee has egg on their faces. Commissioner Brown recently called me hostile. I am merely holding him and this committee accountable. 

And to be clear, yes I met with the county administrator to request the financials of this committee. A stack of invoice copies were placed on a table. Nothing was broken down by project. Some of the invoices were hard to read. Along with another concerned citizen we had to piece together what went with what project as best we could. After that request, the county digitized the invoices and put them on the website. You can view them at this LINK.

Fredericksburg Trip: The Rappahannock

I've spent many warm days on the rocks of the Rappahannock River. My friend, Denise, and I parked along Riverside Drive in Fredericksburg, walked down the dirt path, climbing over rocks to get to the water.

Occasionally I stepped in the river on the Stafford side (the side where I lived). Walking carefully over water smoothed rocks to find a good place to sit. There is still a faint scar on my shin from a slip on those rocks -- not so smooth when you land on them accidentally.

All of the photos here are from the Stafford side, taken on Ingleside Drive. These are from my trip back home last month. An unusually warm morning in December.

This last one taken looking toward the Falmouth Bridge. The long exposure shows streaks of light from the cars driving across the bridge and along Riverside Drive. 

Workshops for the New Year!

So, if anyone wonders what I did over the holidays besides edit photos from my trip to Virginia and learn how to use the gadgets on my new car, I worked on my class schedule for photo classes at Turnipseed Farms!

This winter I bring back the popular Beginner Creative Photography class to help you learn how to use your camera. Explore the settings while you stretch your creativity. This class begins February 1 and ends March 21 (8 weeks, Mondays from 10am to noon) -- just in time for spring photos! Each week we cover a new topic and always work through settings and opportunities. 

In addition to BCP, I added -- by request -- Intermediate Photography, (8 weeks, Mondays from 10am to noon) April 4 through May 23. This is a next step for anyone wanting more. Learn what can make a photo memorable and stand out from the crowd. In this new class you accept new challenges to develop projects, create books, critique, and think about exhibits (public or just in your home). It may sound like a lot, but think of it as a kick start to the future. 

IPhone Photography is back May 21 (10am to 2pm), better than ever -- delving into apps and how-to's to make sure you are comfortable creating beautiful images all on the phone. No computer needed! If you saw my Morning Walk exhibit in Columbus last year, more than half of the photos were done with my phone. Come will a fully charged battery and be ready to play!

Students ask me how I edit and why I choose certain looks for my photos. On April 16 (10am to noon), I will present a lecture, How I Edit My Photos, two hours filled with tips and information. This lecture is open to more than my class limit of four. Come loaded with questions and be prepared to take a lot of notes.

Last year I completed my certificate through UCLA Extension's Writers' Program in Creative Writing, Nonfiction. In many of my assignments I used photographs to jar memories and create prose to set s scene or envelop the reader in the story's surroundings. On March 5 (10am to 2pm), I will help you write in response to images you have to craft words to match the scene. These writings can become stories, poems, or just a short piece of prose. If you are interested, Writing in Response to the Image is your class!

All classes, except the lecture, are very (I must stress very) limited in size. If you are interested, send an email with any questions and reserve a spot. I also take on one or two private students at a time and I have openings now. If you are shy or need a flexible schedule, let's talk privately. Classes include my handy take-home class notes. And former students can tell you, I am always available via email to help them.

Fredericksburg Trip: Chatham

Last month I visited my hometown Fredericksburg, Virginia. It isn't truly my hometown. I was born there, but grew up on the north side of the Rappahannock River in Stafford County. I always say Fredericksburg when asked since most people have heard of it. Not many know of Falmouth. It was a short trip home for my mother's birthday. I only had a couple mornings free to shoot. My primary spot was Chatham for a view of Fredericksburg at sunrise. 

Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock

St. George's Church

Slate walkway

Entrance gate to Chatham

During the Civil War, Chatham was used as headquarters and hospital for the Union Army. The home was built in 1771 and became part of the National Park Service in 1975.