What if You Were a WPA Artist Today?

Last Sunday Frank needed to go down to the library at Wayne State to check out a book he wanted for his class.  I decided to go with him and he ended up not checking out the book he wanted and I ended up checking out two books to use to research weaving from Guatemala.

Afterwords - we walked to the Detroit Institute of Arts for lunch and a which visit.  Their current exhibit is:

                Government Support for the Arts: WPA Prints from the 1930s

I realize they plan these exhibits many years in advance but I find the topic interesting during this time.  During that depression the government wanted to put people to work including artists so funded this project to provide them work.  Seems like we could use that type of project now.

To try to make their exhibits more relevant, the DIA has taken to providing postcards with a challenge that the ask you to reply to.  This one stated:
     "WHAT IF YOU WERE A WPA ARTIST TODAY? You'd be paid to capture the "everyday American Experiences" of your own time.  On the back of this card, draw or write about the kinds of images you would create."   They had pictures of some of the examples.  What would you draw or write?  I am still thinking about it but you can see some of the examples at this link:

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/detroitinstituteofarts/sets/72157622901746919/

A Bright Day

Woke up this morning to the sun - finally.  Seems like it has been grey for too many days in a row.  I broke out the camera to try to capture something other than grey skies.

From there I went to the Michigan Weavers Guild meeting.  It was one of the better meetings we have had in a long time.  One of our members,  Lois Bryant, gave a talk on inspiration.  It was interesting to see some of the early art work she did in grade school and college and how she has come back to themes or a look she had 30 years before.

After her presentation she did an exercise with us where she had us cut blocks out of magazines then mount them.  She uses them as a starting point to spark an idea - whether it is a shape or a color palette.   It was interesting how each of our "cut-outs" were so different.  An interesting exercise would be to do it in another color pallet that you normally are not attracted in.

Disappointing Olympics

I am an Olympic junky - but it is hard this year.

I was shocked when I turned on the TV for the opening ceremonies and it was not on my faithful channel 9.  I am used to the Canadian station covering the Olympics.  How can they not cover the Olympics in their own country????  Turns out it is on a Canadian station we don't get.

So instead of my fix of cross country skiing, biathlon and other sports you don't usually get to see (yes - even curling!), we get too much snow-boarding, too much short track skating and not enough long track skating.  And also - all the interviews instead of just covering the sports.  

Did get to see one cross-country race (probably only because a US guy was supposed to get a medal which he did).    So I sit here with my computer, with the TV on - as I troll the web trying to find what I want to watch.

May just have to try to go to London for the next Olympics if I can't get Canadian coverage.

Grey with Warmth

The day was grey but kept to my plans to break out the camera on my day off and go to Belle Isle.   I was hoping that the Belle Isle Conservatory would not be closed for the holiday and it was not.    Very damp and cold day but I soon had to take the coat off as I took my pictures.  You can also check my web page to see some of todays pictures.

Snow is Back

Winter snow came back earlier this week.  Before work I went out to take some pictures.  Not particularly happy with them ---- trying to hurry too much.  Here are a few.

Not What You Expect to Find at the Optical Store

Tonight I was on my way to the Roots store to buy my traditional Winter Olympic hat and I saw a loom in the window of Optiks on Maple in downtown Birmingham.  I go in and they have two different fund raisers for different weaving project.
The Namtegna Project is sponsored by Cranbrook Kingswood Weaving Studio. They assisted in building a weaving studio in Namtenga Africa.  Their weaving for sale their is in cotton and of simple patterns.  They can be worn as scarfs but I may go back and get one as a table runner.  They also have some beautifal wool scarfs and shawls made with vegetable dyes and woven in India in a village in the Himalayans.  You can tell they have been weaving longer than the African group but they are both interesting.  I will try to bring a sample of the scarf I purchased to the next guild meeting.  If you are in the neighborhood - stop by and take a look and perhaps support one of the groups.
The window design is quite clever so I thought I would share some pictures I took of the display