From the Barefoot Files...

This is my great grandmother. Her birthday is February 14, 1886. This looks like it was a birthday cake. I don't know why it is taken outside. It looks a little weird to see this table placed in front of a bush of some kind and she is standing behind the bush. She has been on the blog before -- a family photo with her, my great grandfather, my grandmother and her brother as young children.

I don't remember her -- she died when I was very young. Her husband, my Granddaddy Sam has been featured on the blog before in a photo and his recipe for Dandelion Wine. We really don't have a lot of photos of her. Many of the photos of her I have seen are with her in the bed. Her last years were spent as an invalid. I like to think about her as she is in this photo -- looking happy and outdoors.

Nature Undisturbed 2010 Update

Nature Undisturbed™ is a celebration of the natural world. The show brings together a diverse collection of photography showcasing the wonders of nature that many don’t take the time to see. It is the hope of the show creators that after viewing the photography, you are inspired to get out on the not-so-beaten path. Perhaps you happen to take along a camera to capture the light through the leaves and continue to enjoy that day each time you view the photo. This is the show that brings the outside in for all to enjoy. Come, see the show and look through our windows on the world around us.

In the fall of 2008 Southern Conservation Trust approached Donna Rosser about having a photography event featuring her photos. Rosser visits Trust properties frequently to shoot. As soon as Rosser heard this she immediately thought of not just a photography event of her work – but an event that would feature photographs from many talented photographers. Rosser envisioned a juried show bringing together photographers, photography collectors, and nature enthusiasts. With the plans for the show well underway, one thing was still not decided; the location. Dogwood Gallery was interested in hosting a photography event. Rosser knew with an excellent location like Dogwood and the talented photographers in the Atlanta area, the show would be a winner. Nature, Undisturbed's inaugural year drew 190 entries from 43 photographers. The show opened to a packed gallery.

Like the 2009 show, this year's exhibition showcases the simple, yet majestic, beauty of nature, wildlife, and our local landscapes. Each unique image echoes the sentiment "a picture is worth a thousand words"; a powerful reinforcement for the importance of greenspace and natural habitat protection for future generations of people and wildlife. We have received 320 photographs from 75 photographers representing 10 states.

Opening reception for Nature Undisturbed™ is April 16 at 6:00pm. On April 17, also 6:00pm, Susan Todd-Raque will speak on collecting photography. Susan Todd-Raque provides art advisory services for private collectors, corporations and artists. Specializing in vintage 20th century photography and work by selected contemporary photographers, she brings a wealth of knowledge from over 20 years as an independent art collection consultant, curator, educator, appraiser and writer on the photographic arts, earning the respect of private and corporate collectors in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and New York.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Southern Conservation Trust, a nonprofit land trust dedicated to preserving natural areas in the Southern Crescent for enjoyment today and future generations.

Panoply

Last week I met the staff at Panoply in Newnan. They are very nice -- and they have quite a collection of art in their shop. My getting to know them was in connection with me photographing some interiors for them. Also, I took the opportunity to shoot some shots in their shop as well.

There is some interesting artwork here.

While looking around I saw work from some of my friends; Martin Pate, David Boyd, and Gail Jensen. There is even a photo on the wall that was in Nature Undisturbed last year!

From the Barefoot Files...

This week -- I have another good one from Granddaddy's stash; the Mexicali Beer Garden in Tijuana, Mexico. Interesting and wow -- 15 cent beer! Earlier I Googled to see if I could find any info about this place. I did find a postcard from the 1920s where the cost of the beer was the same. So that (and more info below) helped me date this photo to the 1920s.

There are not many people in this shot -- or automobiles. Just part of a car to the right side and a couple guys standing by the post. This must have been very early in the day. I would suspect this place would be busy and popular as the day went on and into the night. The whole time I lived in California I never went to Tijuana. Now -- I wish I had just once -- to see this place and what it looks like now.

Exploring the internet (isn't the internet wonderful?) I found a great little website telling all about Tijuana. And on that site I found this old picture of the corner. Again -- it is from the 1920s. It seems this was a popular destination during prohibition.