Studiology

Green Thumbing

Now that spring is in full swing, it was time to get around, visit some gardens, meet some gardeners. As luck would have it, there are friends and acquaintances that also live in the Charlottsville area, and some magnificent gardens! A private tour at the University of Virginia was led by Jim Murphy, the former supervisor of the grounds, husband of Margo Reed, and daylily hybridizer at Woodhenge. I was first introduced to Margo at least 35 years ago when I offered her some land to plant seedling daylilies. That relationship lasted for many years and the extra daylilies were sold at the plant farm ($2.50 per clump), we called them Cabbage Patch daylilies. 

With Jim in the lead we learned a lot about the management of the gorgeous mature trees. Smaller gardens are scattered all over campus, all of which also need managed around the occasional weekend party. Oh the tales Jim could tell.  The architectural components were incredible, large column tops were installed here and there, and one of the first roof top gardens is also at UVA. 

An invitation to see Cole Burrell Gardens - Bird Hill was happily accepted, I have heard about this garden for many, many years. Cole's incredible space is filled with large drifts of native wildflowers and specialty perennials.  To use a popular word, I was gobsmacked!

The Historic Garden Tour for Charlottsville was held in an area very close to home, so it was also necessary to attend. The houses were incredible, primarily old estates with lots of land. The flower arrangements in and out of the homes were fabulous, the day was gorgeous!

Between and after these day trips, I have been busily planting at home: plugs in the mini meadow, a shade garden that is shaping up nicely, and the beginnings of a sun plot. The rain today was a welcome sight, it's been way too dry! Yesterday I found a clump of Iris cristata growing wild among the Pinxter azaleas along the periphery, life is good! 

Happy Earth Day

 

 

 

 

Rhymes and Collage

Some deadlines have arrived for new art. These recently finished pieces are part of these 2 shows, all at the McGuffey Art Center in Charlottsville, VA. They will hang for the month of April and I can't wait to see everyone's art hanging together. I found the Rhymes theme a bit challenging, but decided to go for it and was happy I did. Once again I was challenged to go outside of my comfort zone. With each one I have included the rhyme or collage direction. 

This first piece is basically cardboard and paper mache. I loved the poem/rhyme and spent a lot of time on the build.

"The Little Elf"

I met a little Elf-man, once,

Down where the lilies blow.

I asked him why he was so small,

And why he didn’t grow.

He slightly frowned, and with his eye

He looked me through and through.

I’m just as big for me, “said he,

As you are big for you”.

The lilies or lilium come from Lilium tigrinum or tiger lilies (also known as Lilium lancifolium), which have spots on the inside of the petals. The lily parts; pistil and anthers are blowing sideways, as are the leaves he is sitting on. The idea was to infer movement. 

The collage pieces were fun, especially as components were combined, text in the background, elements in the foreground. This one was designed around the small pin at the top which is a Western Safety Award pin. The man with the double stacked eyepieces became a senior safety inspector and the title is "The Senior Safety Inspector Had Seen it All". The propeller spins, loose wires are twisted on the sides, and the text in the background is about how to help someone who is bleeding. I was looking for an industrial feel with the paint, and left parts of the propeller looking very worn. When it's spun the lines become a circle.

In the pre-build on this piece, she was completely different, there were many, many changes. In the end her title became "Her Dark Cloud Hat matched her Raindrop Brooch". The cloud is embossed metal on a piece of wood cut like a cloud (from my scroll saw), the side pieces are from an antique clock and looked like rain channels, her brooch was a last-minute decision and there was a lot of drilling and sanding to get it in. 

Each month has a theme, some on the complex side, at least for this artist that builds 3D pieces from available materials. I've also found myself in a blue period, so there will be an effort to do something not blue. We shall see how that goes.