Can't Wait to Get it Home on a Wall

Johngideon's art class...week 3...how awesome is this piece!

The background is saturated with beautiful color, the how of which Johngideon cheerfully explained to me...something I would never have thought of. The children placed small pieces of colored tissue paper on their "canvases" which they then "painted" over with water, using a paint brush. After a few moments, they pulled up and discarded the pieces of tissue paper, and were left with beautiful dyed areas of mosaicy watery pink, purple and blue colors that are just gorgeous. To finish their works of art, they then painted winter scenes in oil pastels and white paint. (I am sure the instructor chose the snowy theme for her syllabus not expecting this February week to hold 70 degree days!) I can't wait to get this piece home to grace our walls. Love it!

Poor Johngideon's eyes were red all day because we took him and Montgomery swimming last night, for the first time since Labor Day, while the older kids all had other social places to be, and I didn't think about grabbing goggles...until he looked like a bloodshot imbiber an hour later. Ooops!

After art class, Johngideon and I joined a few friends downtown at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, a newer museum I am rather ashamed to say I have never visited, other than for an opening day outdoor festival Maia's dance group performed in. Over the last several years I've seen advertisements for exhibits that piqued my interest and increased my intentions, but I still never quite made it down. Our visit was very enjoyable for both of us.

We especially enjoyed a special exhibition of contemporary black women artists called Material Girls. Turns out one of the artists, Maya Freelon Asante, creates large colorful works of art in...guess what..."bleeding" tissue paper dye! Unfortunately (but understandably) we couldn't take photos in any of the galleries, hence our outdoor shots above. However, the two photos directly below are from Maya Freelon Asante's website... http://www.mayafreelon.com/ ...

We both loved the Material Girls exhibit for the amazing works of art created using such unusual, everyday and/or repurposed items. Johngideon particularly enjoyed an intricately beaded statue (unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the artist). I especially loved the large and wonderful recycled tires abstract sculptures (I know that doesn't sound attractive but they are quite beautiful, and so texturally rich!) by Chakaia Booker...these two images below are from her website.... http://www.chakaiabooker.com/ ...

Talented women!

Next to the Lewis museum is another museum (I think it's called the Living Classroom?), that has a huge colored glass wall patterned as an American flag. We thought it was striking and cool.

Finally, as I was searching for parking near the museum, I was flabbergasted at how much the city has changed in this part of town, seemingly overnight (but I am sure I just haven't driven through this area in a year or so). What was a rather sparse and junky-looking few blocks of flat and gravely land and decaying buildings is now a neat new urban community of lovely new rowhouses...

I truly sensed a community feel to the neighborhood as I drove through. Normally I am not the biggest fan of gentrification because of the social and economic injustice that often accompanies it, but I do think this area is improved for the better...hopefully the homes are within financial reach of a diverse population...but I have my doubts. I'll have to research a bit before I can fully allow myself to really embrace and enjoy the fresh beauty of the area.

All in all, it was a very nice (and very windy) day.   :o)

Take care. Much love.