Thursday, June 2, 2011

Round the Fountain Art Show 2011 Lafayette, Indiana

The 38th Annual Round the Fountain Art Show at the Tippecanoe County Court house in Lafayette Indiana
was able to start and finish as the eminent storm clouds held off just long enough to let everyone feast their eyes on some amazing talent.

Don't forget you can click on pictures to enlarge for a better view.

Every year I have my favorite and this years Fab Find is photographer & artist Chris Maher - Fine Art Nude Photography from Lambertville, MI


This is the display that drew me in
And this would be the one that Chris would describe as my "A-ha" moment
He was also the most joyful, enthusiastic & informative artist I met that day.  He really wanted you to know about his work - how & why he creates.  He says it best “ I Create photographs that reveal a woman’s beauty and celebrate her intimate connection to the eternal.”
This is not playboy fluff.  These are some of the the most tasteful and creative nudes I have ever seen.
Hubby spotted the one that resembled a flame and insisted that I photograph it.  Chris asked him if he noticed the bodies.  Hubby looked at him and said "Duh".  Chris said it is amazing how few people do.  I can understand that because the "Flame" is so perfectly formed.
 
Just amazing
To view more of Chris Maher's work visit DreamsOfTheGoddess.com


I wish the lighting had been better so that I could show off this artist who wants to share the love of his craft. He is Berry Davis co-owner of Neptune Hot Glass from Celina, OH.
Berry Davis & Collette Fortin use heavy precious metal to create solid glass sculptures, to portray ocean themes.  Berry and Collette spend the entire winter making these beautiful glass statues and then spend the summer traveling around to art shows selling them.
Ecology is alive and well in the artist community. With the purchase of any of his sculptures that have "Save Our Seas" etched on it, he will donate 5% to aquatic preservation.
Neptune Hot Glass doesn't currently have a website, but you can contact them by email at colletteinneptune@bright.net  Each piece is it's own unique creation.


When I spotted Lindsey Elizabeth Tull - a painter from Shelbyville, IN. - I was thinking how awesome this would look in my living room!
 
"Paintings filled with Light & Imagination"

I'd say she's having a Whale of good time.  Ok, so it's not a good pun, but it's the best I could do after a day like this.



Bronze Indian Sculptures by James A. Ford 
from Richmond, IL
Jumping in & out of tents my flash didn't go off.
My pictures don't do his pieces justice, so please stop by his website JamesAFord.com to see how exquisite these sculpture really are
You can also Like his FaceBook Page


Love the colors in this Randall Scott Harden painting
from Noblesville, IN.
And it says "Vintage"!  Another piece that works really well for me.  Randall's website was not up and working at the time this was written, hopefully he'll have that corrected soon.



Interesting Ceramic Wall Art by Steve & Miky Cunningham - Cunningham Pottery - W. Des Moines, IA
Love all the different textures and colors



Kyle Spears Photography out of Nashville, IN.
is an Awesome Photographer
 His booth is always bustling with activity
 The crowds really try and absorb every detail
he captures with his camera.
 He practically had to kick us out of his booth
Definitely worth making a trip to his website KyleSpears.com to see all the wonderful photographs
He also has a FaceBook Fan Page




Apologies to Deborah Keese and Alan Freund from Ann Arbor, MI for drooling all over their counter, but these burl wood boxes are the bomb!
The woodworking craftsmen ship is outstanding.
All natural - No stains are used.  Pieces are cut from solid blocks of wood so there are no joints.
Visit BurlWoodBox.com to see more of their
jewelry & trinket boxes



Contemporary Abstract Textured Paintings by John Blower from Fennville, MI
To see more of John's paintings visit BlowersStudios.com





Wagar Glass by Mark Wagar from Riga, MI
Yummy
 Mark does not have a website but you can reach him via email at wagarglass@hotmail.com




Thoroughly enjoyed Mixed media artist Darron Chadwick from Carmel, IN
Darron uses actual old comic book pages, vintage postcards & stamps (not reproductions).
Learn more about Darron's art at ChadwicksStudios.com



Really like Sculptor Thomas Yano from Vermilion, OH.  Unfortunately he does not have a website or email address to obtain scheduled upcoming shows where he is participating.  Phone number is 440-967-4623
He works mostly in bronze, brass and copper.



JT Dunphy - Woodturner from Mount Vernon, OH.
"He uses rescued hardwoods from storms & landscaping casualties thus the business name Turned Treasure"
My friend inspecting Turned Treasure's fine craftsman ship
No website but you can email him at JDunphy1@columbus.RR.com


Ceramic Artist - Paul M. Jeselskis from Michigan City, IN.
Designs functional & decorative porcelain pottery
You can view more of his pieces at Pauljeselskis.com


Some musicians popped in this year
to add a little flavor to the festivities.

Turned out to be a very pleasant day.  However, in the midst of all the cavorting, I got home, only to realize we had not bought one single thing to brag about!  What were we thinking?  Of course, I do have their addresses!  Now to decide which one - hummm?  My living room is Blue, Yellow, Orange - I have the "Hair" album on display.  Can you guess which picture I decided on?  I'll give you a hint -
It will work really well with my strobe light.


Hope you get a chance to go out and visit
with your local artist this summer.


Ciao!
KJ the JunkYard Gypsy




Tuesday, May 24, 2011

How to eat a Cupcake

 This is how you're suppose to eat a cupcake
 Not like this
Note: No frosting on the face - Not even a sprinkle
Cupcake eating is an art
that requires all the yummy goop on top to be removed by squishing it through your fingers & mushing it up on your lips so that you not only taste the sweet sugar but also feel
the whole frosting  experience.
And you don't actually have to eat the cake, before requesting another cupcake.  The cake is merely a means of transporting the sugary fluff.

So next time you have a cupcake -
Dive in and find your inner child
Cupcake Cheers to you!
KJ










Friday, May 20, 2011

Antiques & Vintage Treasures JunkYard Gypsy Style

Up bright & early this weekend to do a little
treasure hunting.
This is just a small sampling of what I scored.


I consider this early 1900's child's artist easel
a touchdown!  The upper portion use to hold a roll of paper to doodle on, of which the writing section is about 3 inches in height (not much doodling room).  The desk section folds up and becomes a blackboard.  Very sturdy, very cute.
That's my new lamp I scored at auction, that hubby had to go home and collect the truck for since I had already filled up the car.  Hubby says - Note to self - "Do not leave wife at auction all by herself to retrieve truck, because she will have filled up the truck by the time you get back"!
 Note to hubby - don't be raining on my
happy dance auction winnings.
Had to have this metal lamp for the cool beanie helmet - but when I got it home I found out it's way cooler than I thought because it's an adjustable tilt!
I painted the last one red.  Any suggestions on what color to paint this one?  Oh, and my free standing birdcage which needs a redo as well.  Perplexed on what color to paint that as well.
Springed rocking horse has paint wear, but it's in excellent condition for it's age. Fisher Price musical Farris Wheel with the little people guy still churning out tunes!  Some retro bowed-tined mirror in need of a paint job.  Blinky eye doll (can't resist them) in the Box!  With her full wedding garb.

I'm going to use the old antique clock case to create some shadow box art.  Obviously something about time - think I'll save that for a winter project.

Found Bert & Ernie's Sesame Street house set at an unadvertised yard sale.  I love unadvertised sales, I swear they have the best stuff.  Just an ole (I use that lovingly - cause I resemble that remark) hippie couple down the street (he looked like a Prof from Purdue - braided beard - loved it) unloading their shed cause it seem like a good day to let go of some stuff.   I spent over $30.00 just at their sale.
I probably could have spent the day with them & kept buying because she kept dragging out more stuff.  I think I thought I was in heaven.  So anyway I picked up the Fisher Price Choo Choo, tin toy top, and the 1950's puzzle and MADE myself leave the premises.  I'm so tempted to go back, knock on their door and do the Picker TV thing.
I'll let you know if get that brave.

So take that pile and quadruple it and those my finds from the last 3 weekends.  I have a lot of listing to do!  Now if I could only teach hubby new tricks- 
sit, stay, list.
:)

Ciao!  My gypsy caravan friends ~
May your Junking endeavors lead you to Fab finds!






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