The View Out the Window

 

I was at the Heard Museum yesterday for another "Artful Mornings" event and since I was there, I stopped in the gift shop to see what new things might be on display.  But before I even started looking, I was drawn to this window.  I found the view of the cactus outside the window and that red wall to frame it irresistible. There is something about a red wall that catches my eye every time.

There were a lot of new things in the shop but I think this might have been my favorite.  I always like Roxanne Swentzell's work but this little duo was just so sweet.  It's too expensive for me to buy but I can photograph it for free.

At the Artful Mornings event, a curator talked about a new show that will open in April and I can't wait to see it.  The concept for the show is so unique.  I'll tell you about it when I see the show.

Relaxing in the Garden

 

I was at my friend Glenda's house Thursday evening and we were sitting in her back garden enjoying the warmth after a very hot day.  We topped out at 106 degrees according to the radio.  Simply crazy weather. When her garden lights came on, I couldn't resist a photo of that lovely setting.

Another Trip Down Memory Lane

 

Here is another very old photograph that brings back pleasant memories.  This photo was taken in the summer of 1985 on my very first trip to Europe.  The first stop was London and while walking along the streets near my hotel which was close to Hyde Park, I caught sight of a blacksmith at work. What a surprise that was seeing someone shoeing horses in the middle of a very big city.  I remember the hotel was called Royal Eagle and it was on Craven Road but I don't know this exact location. It could be Bathurst Mews judging from a few photos I found on a Google search.

Today this would be gentrified and full of expensive flats.

 I thought this old photo was a perfect candidate for some artistic expression.  A little photo editing magic and it looks like an artist's sketch.

Oh What Memories!

 

This photo sums up a unique experience perfectly.  It was taken in 1986 in Vancouver Canada.  Here's the story behind this image.  In the summer of 1986 I and a few others attended a national conference in Seattle Washington.  None of us had ever been to a world expo and the 1986 World Expo was taking place in Vancouver.  We decided to add a visit there after the conference.  We asked a local travel agent to find us tickets and accommodations.  Because the event was so popular, the agent was having trouble finding a hotel but finally found cabins available on two decommissioned ships that had been put into use to accommodate the needs of tourists.  What we didn't know was that the ships had been decommissioned some 20 to 30 years ago.  The doorway above leads to our cabin which was about the size of my current walk-in closet.  It had two bunkbeds and the person in the top bunk could not sit up without bumping the ceiling.  We were only there for two nights so we just made it work and it gave us something to laugh about to this day.  

I remember taking this photo of the broken deck chairs thinking that it summed up our "cruise ship" experience perfectly.  

The colors had started fading on this photo before I got it scanned for preservation. 

Three Flowers From the Past

 

I'm sharing three more photos from that "Favorites" file in my Photos app on my Mac.  In the photo above, I captured a bee already laden with pollen sitting on top of an echinacea bloom.  This photo dates back to 2010.

This is a photo of a blanket flower standing tall with a background of purple flowers.  This one was taken at the Desert Botanical Garden back in 2013.

This last one was also taken in 2013 this time in Newport Beach California.  When I visit California, I'm always on the lookout for a perfect bird of paradise bloom.  They can be found almost everywhere in southern California and I simply love their exotic look.  I caught this one with the sun shining on it but the background heavily shaded giving it an almost black background.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 

My chiropractor's office got in the St. Patrick's Day mood with lots of green items placed around the waiting area.  Here's hoping you enjoy the day with or without a glass of green beer.

And if you get a chance, kiss an Irishman (or lady) as suggested by these throw pillows I saw in a shop window.  

For the United Valley

 

I discovered a new mural on the back side of the Park Central complex.  It's full of color and features lots of happy faces.

The first time I spotted it, the artist, Liliana Mora was still working on it even though it looked nearly done.

I went back yesterday to have a second look.  The mural was commissioned by the Valley of the Sun United Way who have their offices in that building. It's a lovely way to celebrate the work they do.

Taking part in Monday Murals.

School Cloister

 

I love the symmetry of a nice cloistered walkway so whenever I see one, I try to take photographs that will emphasized those repeating patterns.  The Brophy College Preparatory School has a very nice cloistered walkway.  I stopped there recently to get a few photos.

One photo taken from the outside and another photo taken in the shade of the covered walkway.  

Of course, there are other elements that add to the ambiance of the school.  A nice fountain near the walkway adds the sound of bubbling water.

All those beautiful features are enhanced by an equally lovely bell tower on the top of the building.  This Spanish Colonial Revival styled building has been a landmark on Central Avenue in Phoenix since 1928.  

Bright Colors

 

I saw this Gazania bloom in the front garden of a home when I was on a walk and I couldn't resist a photo.  Such a bright and happy looking flower.  It's welcoming the spring even if the temperatures here are more summer-like than spring-like. This has been an extremely warm winter with temperatures in the 90's these last two days.

Slow Moving Skyscapes

 

While I was in Scottsdale last weekend, I stopped in at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.  The museum was in the midst of an exhibit change so there were only two exhibits on view.  This one is called Pathfinding by artist Evan Roth. It had two components, a slow moving video of sky images and a series of quilts inspired by the sky.  The video was slow paced visions of clouds passing across the sun.  It was quiet and relaxing.

The second piece was a series of quilts all designed with inspirations from sky scenes.  

I only took photos of two of the quilts but they were all interesting to see.  

Art comes at us in many, many ways.

Flowering Trees

 

I was at the Scottsdale Civic Center last weekend where I spotted two trees that were blooming at the moment.  This pink one I believe is called Rosy Trumpet tree.

For this one with the white blooms I used Google to identify it as an Amelanchier.  Google indentification can be hit or miss so if any of you plant experts know better, please let me know.

A Big Announcement & Rain

 

My good friends Julie and Dave hosted a patron's event at their house late Monday afternoon. The event was to announce the new Phoenix Symphony Music Director.  In the top photo we see Peter Kjome, the Symphony CEO and to the left is Paolo Bortolameolli, the new music director. He is a Chilean-Italian conductor who has performed all over the world and will start leading the Phoenix Symphony for the 2026-27 season.

After the announcement, a quartet of symphony musicians started playing some beautiful selections of music for the attendees to enjoy.  

After about 3 minutes of great music, the skies opened up and the rain started pummeling everyone on the patio.  We made a very speedy retreat getting the musicians out of the rain followed by the trays of food that had been placed out for all to enjoy.

The whole change from patio to living room took less than 8 minutes and that beautiful music now filled the house.  After the music ended, everyone retreated to the kitchen to enjoy all the great food that had been rescued from the rain.  It's a good thing that Julie and Dave have a big kitchen.  The event was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in spite of the unusual weather disruption.

Those Hidden Assets

 There are many times when I take a photo thinking I'm looking at a single subject and then when it's downloaded I find something else hidden there.  In the photo above, I found a tiny little insect sitting on the wheat shaft.

On this photo of a jimsonweed bloom, I found a tiny little ant climbing up the shaft coming out of the center of the bloom.  

I took this photo of the Chihuly towers that greet visitors to the Desert Botanical Garden just at dusk.  I thought the dwindling light would make a good background.  But after downloading the photo, I notice and airplane coming in for a landing at Sky Harbor Airport.  Can you see it?  It's just about to go behind the mountain.  

You never know what might be lurking in the background. 

Wet Rocks

 

This is another photo that I found in my "Favorites" file.  I remember when I took this way back in 2013.  It was a rainy day at the Desert Botanical Garden.

This fountain made from a very large stone is surrounded by small stones.  I remember thinking that those stones looked so attractive all shiny and wet.  I especially liked that red one inserted among all the gray.

The fountain usually looks like this when I walk past it.  Those small stones aren't nearly as attractive when they are dry. 

One More to Celebrate

 

One more artist from the Celebration of Fine Arts.  This time it's Ray Tigerman who paints these southwestern paintings with bold and bright colors.

I remember his paintings from visits to this art show in previous years.  I like his style.

He had one sculpture in his little space that I liked very much.  

There is always a lot of art on display at this annual event.  I also enjoy talking with the artists.  That opportunity makes this event pretty special.

Positioning the Subject

 

I have two more photos from the "Favorites" file today.  This one was taken in May of 2014 when I spotted this cactus with an agave plant situated a few feet away.  I like the way they complimented each other.

Almost exactly a year later in May of 2015, I photographed the same cactus and this time it appeared centered with the agave plant.  The same two plants, just two different perspectives.  Which do you think works best?

Harvesting the Archives

 

The Photo application on my Macbook allows me to mark certain photos as favorites and files them in a "Favorites" folder.  A few days ago, I was wondering what all I had placed in the folder so I decided to have a look.  I found some real beauties that never made it on to the blog.  This one was taken in February of 2015 at the Desert Botanical Garden.

This one is also from the Desert Botanical Garden and it was taken in May of 2015.  A monarch butterfly enjoying a pretty purple flower.

This photo was also at the Desert Botanical Garden.  Obviously I get a lot of my "favorites" from the garden.  This spider lily plant grows out of fountain and I've only caught it in bloom two times.  This photo was taken in September of 2017.

Most of the photos in the favorites album have been posted before but these three never made it onto my blog before.  

Artistic Styles

 

Shannon Leigh has her own very distinctive style of painting her mostly western paintings.  I had to study that one to the right to see the cowgirl emerge.

I really like the style of Martin Blundell's paintings.  All those straight lines stacked up draws my eye into the painting to form such beautiful scenes.

Dale Terbush has a more realistic style to his paintings.  I admired this one with the brilliant sky very much.  By the way, that is the artist busy at work to left in this photo.

Adding a Touch of Humor

 

Bruce Marion is a painter who depicts a variety of wildlife in his paintings. This year he added a touch of humor with these two paintings of Jurassic Cowboys.  It never would have occurred to me to depict a cowboy riding a dinosaur. It looks like a life or death bronco ride to me.

Pete Tillack's paintings always contain something that is a bit out of place.  In the two paintings above  it's furniture placed in odd places.  He added a bit of humor with the small piece to the left of the lower painting.  It professes that "This is Not Art Yet it Has Appeal!"  I've seen that "banana art" joke before but I liked the way he juxtaposed it with his own art.

 This last piece is from artist and sculptor Parker McDonald.  He's added a row of brass song birds perched on a flute.  Very clever since the sound of birds is often depicted by the sound of a flute.