Art In Bloom at the Minneapolis Institute of Art - Blooming Spectacular!

Art In Bloom has been happening annually at the Minneapolis Institute of Art since 1984, but this was the first year I've been able to attend (these are the silver linings of my missing my Venice life dearly as I'm here taking care of my family). I took my Mom for opening day, and it was nothing short of breathtaking. Spectacular! *(I've been so busy lately between caregiving and other writing that I haven't been able to share many stories here, apologies. THIS demanded its own spotlight for sure though).

Floral artists make arrangements to accompany many of the works of art in the permanent collection at MIA, and there were MANY to see.  We were determined to see them all - and did - over a full afternoon of discovering the flowers scattered throughout the entire museum. 

Each was more gorgeous than the next, and it was very hard to choose a favorite ... so I'm going to share many of them with you. 

As flowers perish, the exhibit is on only this weekend, through Sunday, so I encourage all in Minnesota this weekend to get there, and all the rest of you get to see them virtually, because I know you'd love it too. 

The only thing I can't share is the marvelous aroma enveloping the museum ... ahhhh. 

It sounded like the process for choosing artworks to honor was a little haphazard, as each artist I spoke to had a different experience of how they wound up with the one they got. One guy just decided to make a floral replica of the Notre Dame football stadium, and find an artwork to match later! He also got extra credit because his glass vases were hand-blown! Wow.

 

I was amazed to learn that many of the pieces were done by amateur flower arrangers! One lady was a lawyer that likes to arrange flowers, several were retired and fill their days with flowers, and some were from real deal florists from all around the Twin Cities. ALL were glorious. 

MIA has such a vast and diverse collection that each room is different than the last, and the flowers followed suit. Materials from nature, and the creativity that resulted in these fantastic creations was truly moving. There is so so so much talent in this world! 

There were tours going on, but we opted to go it alone ourselves and revel in the magic of discovery. Several of the artists were on hand, often seen watering or adding flowers and making sure their work was perfect. 

 

That was nice because you could ask questions and hear all about their process ... to the point where now we kind of want to try our hand at it ourselves next year - anyone can! 

It was fun to see some of my favorite permanent pieces so honored, like the Native American costume with its top hat and photographic lining beautifully replicated in flowers. 

Some artists played it very literal with their recreations ... 

 

 

 While others did more of an abstract representation ... 

 

 

 No matter what they chose to do, we loved every one of them and hoped that they all go to good homes when the show wraps on Sunday. They should auction them off to a good cause, I know I'd be bidding on several just to cheer up the home for a few days. I'm really not sure what happens to them when it's over. 

 

I learned a lot yesterday listening to the artists, about technique, brush strokes, post-Impressionism, realism, structure, all kinds of stuff that came just from asking about flowers. You truly could spend the whole weekend there and still have more to listen and learn from. 

 

It was so packed yesterday that we didn't really linger with any one piece, and that would be fun to do, but there's just so much ground to cover, and people to dodge.

 

We'd wait our turn to get in close for a second, then scoot away to let someone else in. This would be the one to get locked in for a night at the museum!

 

 

I LOVED this one, florally ...

... and then seeing what it represented just felt so joyous. 

In these rather bleak times - both weather and world-wise - flowers bursting out everywhere and the good feeling it gave everyone was very heartwarming. 

It would be very hard to maintain a bad mood with all this beauty around. Beauty, Art, and Nature truly SAVE. It gives us HOPE. 

 Look at these whimsical pink shoes! 

Look at the Frank Lloyd Wright hallway piece! 

 

Look how they did her black stockings! 

Look how good this coat is!

Oh wow, look how they represented this nude woman!

Mom, check out this chair one! 

Look how this one is exactly the painting! 

 

I love how the flowers match his jacket!

Oh, I want to crawl inside this one and live here forever! 

The above was pretty much a verbatim recording of me enthusing about everything yesterday. We truly enjoyed it so much, and hope that as many people as possible will be able to get to MIA this weekend. It's supposed to rain all weekend, so I can't think of a more perfect way to go cheer yourself up and give the gift of this beauty to your soul. 

 

Thank you to MIA and all of the artists involved, both with their work in the museum collection and the artists who worked with flowers. You truly lifted our spirits ... and what is better than that? I'm going to bring in Yeats (snippets from Ode on a Grecian Urn) to explain the feeling of this beautiful show ...

 "Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed

         Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;

And, happy melodist, unwearied,

         For ever piping songs for ever new;

More happy love! more happy, happy love!

         For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd

For every (painting), and for ever young; 

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
                Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

 

 

 Art in Bloom is on now through this Sunday at MIA.

Good Friday Hope

I usually say "Great Friday" every year on Good Friday, but I don't feel like that this year. I wrote a story about finding comfort and solace in Wood Lake a week or so ago, and now I think I need a Wood Lake walk more than ever. My older brother, Rich, had a mild stroke on Monday night, and we can't be with him due to the global pandemic, so he has to deal with it all by himself in the hospital surrounded by scared workers and patients. I really am trying so hard to be gnarly and strong and have my chin all the way up, because I know how much more many, many people are suffering, but MAN ... there are moments where I don't even feel like trying anymore. So I look for hope. Like the little tiny blue flowers (Snowdrops!) poking out of the soil after a long winter! I haven't been in Spring in Minnesota for like 25 years, so these are true thrills for me, as well as HOPE that warm, sunny days are fast approaching.

I'm taking an online Yale class about happiness, and it's probably the best time ever to be taking it, because it actually has forced me to focus on what there is to be grateful about, and how I can extend more kindness to people around me.

None of this awful virus stuff was happening, obviously, when the class lectures were filmed, and I'm sure the Professor had no idea how hard her students would soon be struggling to find - and share - that happiness. Yet even amid all this madness ... you can still find it. Trust me. Like, there is a litter of baby kittens in a tree in my neighbor's backyard! Snowdrops and roses and whiskers on kittens ... !

There is an awful lot for me to deal with, much of which I don't speak about publicly, but believe me, it's a lot. But no more than so many people dealing with so much right now, and I keep telling myself that. I keep telling myself that this too shall pass. That there are so many silver linings. That I am SO fortunate, in the whole grand scheme of things. That the grass has turned green, seemingly overnight, and that this shows us all that there is an end to the darkness - another symbol of HOPE.

My family home is across the street from a church called HOPE Presbyterian, so there is a constant reminder of that hope right there. My family's church (Nokomis Heights Lutheran) left a surprise on our doorstep yesterday, which was a luminaria with an electric tealight, asking us to put it out each evening to symbolize HOPE for everyone. We will. And I will keep the hope alive in my own heart, as hard as I can. Please call me on it if you hear of me losing it. And keep on spreading the love, not germs (Window sign made by my precious Mom)!

Happy Easter Weekend to you all. The very weekend meant to symbolize HOPE. Love you.

One Love - One Sky - One Family!

I cut through Muscle Beach a lot on my morning walks, and lately there have been little inspirational messages in chalk there nearly every day. This morning's message was especially lovely, because it is a BEAUTIFUL day, and this message is exactly what the whole planet needs to be hearing now ...

  
   
One Love. One Sky. One Family. We really are all one, and it gets so discouraging that so many people can't seem to grasp this concept. It's a global village. We're all in this together. Things people do affect everyone. Every day the news is downright awful, but it doesn't have to be. We can make change. The message next to the above one was a little deeper ...

"Truth is clearly visible for every individual who dismisses what they're taught to believe in." I don't know who is leaving these messages, but if they see this, thank you and I appreciate them. And you. And I think you're rubbing off on people, as I've been seeing happy little chalk posts all around town, like on this walk street heading to the beach ...

It just adds a little cheeriness to your day, and we can all use a whole lot more of that now. I gotta go. I've got some sidewalk chalk burning a hole in my hand - and I hope my message will find you well.

One Love!

Sprung!

Spring! It's here! I think the whole country is rejoicing as evidence of a new season surrounds us. After some morning showers here in Venice, the day emerged bright, blue skied and all around town windows have been thrown open to let in the sunshine and the scent of the jasmine busting out all over.

The morning beach walk revealed the unobstructed view of the ocean, as all of the winter sand dunes have been bulldozed down, another annual harbinger of spring. Soon the lifeguards will return to their posts and the tourist traffic will join them ... and that will be awesome too, but right now is that feeling of freshness, clean, and the opportunity for NEW that we look forward to all winter ... and here come the Spring Breakers!

My family and friends in Minnesota have been suffering through a brutal winter, and as it all melts and little green leaves begin to emerge, it's so dramatic that it tends to make winter worth it. Though more subtle here, the signs of change are still present, and after all that rain this year, we too are grateful. Tonight is also the Super Worm Equinox Moon, a great time to reflect on that gratitude and make plans for the months ahead (I'm told. I'm hardly an expert on all that biz, but I believe). It's called the Worm Moon because this is when the worms begin to poke their heads out of the ground for the returning birds to grab 'em - especially if they arrive early. It's also the last Supermoon of the year, so be sure to look up!

Times have been pretty tough for everyone, it seems, so this time to begin anew feels even more real - and necessary. So set your intentions and get after them! The Supermoon is smiling on that.

"On soft spring nights I'll stand in the yard under the stars 

Something good will come out of all things yet 

And it will be golden and eternal just like that 

There's no need to say another word."

- Jack Kerouac

Big Sur

 

The Jacarandas Are Blooming!

For about the last two weeks I've been getting memories on Facebook that say "First Jacaranda sighting of the season!" or something like that, but this year has been slow to see the gorgeous purple flowered trees spring to life and announce the official start of our "Spring" in California.

Yesterday I was heading back from dinner, I looked down and saw purple blossoms on the sidewalk. I looked up to see a small jacaranda tree, just starting to bloom! It's a late bloomer of a year in a lot of ways, but I get the same thrill every time I see the first mist of purple filling the streets of L.A. Spring has truly sprung! Finally. And here comes Summer! 

*Just don't park your car under these beauties. They're a drag to clean off.

Spring Bulldozing!

There are different signs of Spring in Venice than there are in the rest of the country. Sure, there are the spring showers (God willing) and the resulting flower blossoms, there are the sudden influx of tourists on their Spring Breaks, people are wearing less clothes ... but above all, you know it's Springtime in Venice when the bulldozers roll in to get rid of the giant sand dunes built for winter protection - and sand sledding.

They're out there now, creating better views for the Spring and Summer, and letting us all know that the seasons are indeed changing. Another sure sign of Spring is the appearance of on-duty lifeguards, and they're out there right now too.

Ahhhh. Breathe it in, and maybe extend an invitation to your friends in Minnesota, New York, etc, to visit. They are all absolutely OVER Winter, as they look out their windows today to evermore snow. I'm kind of jealous, but then I had a glorious beach walk, and found that my grass was literally greener, and I got right over it. Spring is awesome, whatever the weather, wherever you are. Enjoy!

Happy Spring, Lovers And Late Night Bloomers!

Spring has sprung! My Mom is here visiting, and it's her favorite time of year, when everything comes back to life. After long Minnesota winters, the warmer temperatures, the flowers blooming, and the general feeling of re-birth is extra tangible, but here in Venice you can feel it too. The jasmine and mock orange are busting out everywhere, we're actually getting to use our dusty umbrellas, and people have that Spring spring in their steps.

I took a sunset stroll yesterday, and decided to go down an alley I don't think I have traversed before. I was rewarded - as you often are here - by a big mural on the back of a house, of masked lovers dipping back in an embrace. It's called "For The Late Night Bloomers" by Ms. Casey O, and I adore it. Spring fever! I love it. There are so many unexpected surprises that you can discover walking around Venice, and that's why we love it. The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

Happy Spring to all! May you feel the renewal in your own heart, and go out and do some good with it.

"It is Spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't know quite what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
                                                                                        - Mark Twain