Walking in Three Rivers

Walking isn’t as easy as it used to be. I walk shorter distances more slowly than I used to, wearing Crocs instead of these shoes, which I now have listed on eBay.

Until the time change, my friend and I walked in the dark. Sometimes it felt adventuresome, as if we were getting away with something. On the days when her schedule isn’t tight, we still go 4-5 miles, although that’s nothing compared to when we trained together for a 1/2-marathon. Still, we are happy that we can walk and can do so in places without traffic, traffic lights, or sidewalks.

In the predawn light
During daylight hours
In the predawn light
During daylight hours

One day recently, Trail Guy and I poked along our street where he pointed out a peculiar sight on our neighbor’s lot.

Not real, mighty peculiar, and completely without an explanation.

I found a small sparkly on the ground, which I ended up securing to the fence of the former day care at the Presbyterian Church.

While admiring the view from the Catholic church, I wondered what the bright red was in the distance. It most likely is a truly spectacularly bright tree. We weren’t so fortunate when we chose our own Chinese Pistache trees, nor when they created volunteers on our lot.

I’ve always admired this barn across the highway, and being November, I also admired some red trees in the distance.

Walking more slowly and going shorter distances does increase one’s awareness of the surroundings. That is a good trait for an artist to cultivate.

P.S. Yeppers, two churches in our neighborhood, neither one “ours”.

SIMPLY HOME

Walnut Orchard, 10×10″, $200

CACHE Gallery hours are Fridays 1:30-4:00, Saturdays 10:00-4:00, Sundays noon-4:00.

Tuesday, November 12, 6:30-7:30, I will give a demo/talk called How To Draw at CACHE. It is full.

Locals, at CACHE

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How’s that for a mysterious title? 

“Locals” is the name of the current exhibit (i.e. show and sale of art) at CACHE, the new name for Exeter’s Courthouse Gallery and Museum. It stands for Center for Art, Culture, and History in Exeter.

I qualified to show in Locals in spite of never having lived in Exeter because my studio was there for 9 years. 

There wasn’t a limit to the number to be entered. Normally in a group show each applicant is limited to 3-5 pieces, so I entered five. 

Then we were asked to record ourselves talking about each piece, so that visitors who bring smart phones and ear thingies can scan the scribbly square and listen to artists. 

The piece above is Kaweah Oaks Preserve, painted specifically for this exhibit. (If the title of the show is “Locals”, it stands to reason that the art ought to be locally themed).

Here is a little bit of what I said in my recording about the painting:

“Kaweah Oaks Preserve is a place we all just get used to passing without really noticing anything in particular. Driving home on Highway 198, I was surprised by how clearly Alta Peak shows from Kaweah Oaks Preserve. I snapped a few photos through the windshield, then did some photoshop work to see if anything might be useful.”