Saturday Night Art Walk: Dogwood

I’ve been missing in action for the last week or so for a very good reason… I was busy lying to Mr. Basketmaker!

Yes, I was being totally deceptive over the last six weeks ago. Is it bad if I was starting to enjoy it?

Explanation: it was his 50th Birthday last Saturday and he made me promise NOT to celebrate the occasion (First lie out of many…).

I convinced him that he had basketry work outside of Atlanta at the Basket Cottage in Milton. How I did that, I’m not sure because I cannot remember all the little fibs I told. Long story short, we drove down there last Friday. And because I was so exhausted over all the work it takes in deceiving your husband, I went to bed early and quickly fell asleep—totally missing 5 Questions Friday.

His intimate little surprise birthday celebration was lots of fun and he wasn’t upset with me at all! (which I was very stressed about— I will post later this week some highlights.)

So I haven’t posted all week because I was seriously recuperating! And poor Mr. Basketmaker ended up losing a couple days of getting ready for the Indiana Convention. So I was doing everything I could to help him out. And last night, he was supposed to call, while at the Convention, to answer his questions but he didn’t due to falling asleep (at least that’s what he told me this morning when he phoned!).

So on to tonight’s Art Walk which will be all about the 79th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival that we went to the day after Eric’s birthday. There were over 200 artists so I will highlight the ones that we found inspiring.

The Wine I’m drinking this evening… Uhm, Chardonnay. I don’t like to admit that because isn’t it common knowledge that single men listen for women ordering Chardonnay at the bar because it means they’re ‘easy’?

The last few songs on my Pandora playlist: Tom Rush, Caitlyn Cary & Thad Cockrell and Robert Plant.

The first artist I admired was Atlanta artist, Daphne Covington.

Her composition, colors, texture and energy were amazing. I could look at her work for hours. As an abstract artist myself, I can really appreciate her talent.

Not too many basketmakers there but here’s one I found interesting and quite beautiful…

Above piece is from basketmaker and woodturner Jerry Maxey of South Carolina.

SCAnother abstract artist I liked was Su Abbott whose paintings reminded me of rusted metals, sitting outside for decades, forming an interesting patina…

The above painting was acrylics painted on board. I love the earthy nature and corrosion from time that it conveys.

Mr. Basketmaker and I both enjoyed talking and learning about the work of artist Kent Ambler…

Above is one of his woodcuts. During our conversation, I told him that after taking classes of this art form in college, I discovered I was too lazy to continually line things up and run it though the press. He was quick to add that maybe he’s lazy as well because he intentionally doesn’t strive to line up each plate’s colors, which give it this unique bounced image effect. Now why didn’t I think of that way back when???

Next are two very cool photographs from artist Michael Bryant. I believe Eric’s mom Joanne and our friend Suzanne liked his work as well.

I love both the abstract yet traditional approach to his work. Both of these images were created by doing multiple exposures.

Now who doesn’t love a shibori? Next is textile artist Michael Smith of North Carolina.

He dyes silk as non-traditional shibori. I loved it and wish I could purchase one of his wearable creations (I’d have to sell a lot of paintings for that…).

And finally, for the quilters (which I am not but I appreciate the medium)…

I’m always drawn to quilts that tell a story, like this one above.

Hope you have a relaxing Saturday Night!

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