House of Hoops

This is just a very small sample of the shoes available to wear when playing basketball. The prices range widely as does the selection for all kinds of activities: walking, running, jogging--boggles the mind. It helps when the salesperson knows the product, as did the man who helped our grandson. He steered us away from the more expensive Jordan shoes, which he thought were substandard compared with other lines. Our 13-year-old grandson got a terrific pair of size 13 basketball shoes, which, incidentally, are not featured on the photograph that I hastily snapped before we left. What kind of sneakers do you use?

First Attempt

Well, this photo will make a good benchmark. It's my first attempt at a night photo, and it wins the award for 2007 worst photo. Nowhere to go but up!!

Eight More Days

This is an image that will get me through the next eight cold and snowy Minnesota days before we fly to Mazatlán, México for three months. Eight more days!!

Watercolour

On my first trip to South Africa, I found the art world in Durban particularly appealing. I especially enjoyed an art cooperative called the Bat Center, and I made some purchases. I fell in love with this vibrant watercolour, brought it home, had it framed, and hung it above my fireplace. I treasure it. Crazy Cow at Durban Daily Photo has posted a number of photos of the building and some of the art work for sale there. Go see some of the photos, starting here.

Third Snowfall

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." -Norman Vincent Peale

T'was the Night Before Christmas...

"The grandkids stockings were hung by the chimney with care..." Bet you can't guess which stockings are theirs!!

Geo. Morrison's Lake Superior Driftwood Sculpture

Title:Collage IX: Landscape
Artist:George Morrison
Date:1974
Medium:Wood
Dimensions:60 1/8 x 168 1/2 x 3 in. (152.72 x 427.99 x 7.62 cm)
Creation Place:North America, United States, Great Lakes/Woodlands region.

George Morrison
(Grand Portage Band of Chippewa)
Contemporary artist George Morrison is recognized as one of the most significant 20th-century Native American painters.

Born in 1919 on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation near Grand Marais, Minnesota, Morrison went on to study with the New York Art Students League and in France with support from a Fulbright scholarship. He later returned to his homeland, where he rediscovered his Anishinaabe roots. Morrison found the north shore of Lake Superior especially inspiring. He once described this personal journey as a "search for my own reality; I seek the power of the rock, the magic of the water, the religion of the tree, the color of the wind and the enigma of the horizon."

He envisioned the horizon of Lake Superior to be "the edge of the world," and in 1967began to focus artistically on the horizon line, which he described as "more of an obsession." He confided, "I have been using it ever since, as a focal point, to identify the landscape."

In 1970 Morrison began teaching art at the University of Minnesota, where he too produced numerous outstanding young Native and non-Native artists. He never stopped learning, exploring nature and venturing forward through his paintings. Most of his later life he spent painting back home in northern Minnesota. He walked a lot around the surrounding area and once revealed, "There is a spirituality in the landscape at my studio in Grand Portage: the water and the air and the atmosphere. All those elements are coming into me from what I see. I'm not looking at it like I'm painting it. But all of these things are in my mind. It is alive and it changes by the hour. Perhaps that very thing has been transplanted into my head, and then I'm transforming that onto the canvas." To read more of this excerpt comparing Morrison with Southwest Native American artist, Hauser,click here.

He was married to Hazel Belvo, another Minnesota artist, who taught at Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Saint Paul Academy and is known for her series of pieces based on the Witch Tree. Morrison passed away in Grand Marais.

Retirement-AT LAST

After 35 years of faithfully serving the people of the State of Minnesota, my dear husband Jim is retiring. Alleluia!
Lori Swanson, the current Attorney General, presents Jim with a placque acknowledging his service. Grand-daughter Olivia shares the center of attention, of course! Uninvited, I might add! An observation was made that based upon her energy, perhaps she might become a future Minnesota Attorney General!
The man on the right is the ever-popular Warren Spannaus who was Attorney General when Jim first started practicing law. Current and former colleagues, clients of the state of Minnesota, secretaries, judges, friends and our family attended the gathering to wish Jim well and to give him a send-off into the unfamiliar territory of leisure. Since I retired in 2003 I've been waiting for a playmate, and we'll begin our sojourn immediately after the holidays. Where? South of the border, of course.

Dedication with Cheer

I'm not really advertising for Walgreens! This volunteer for the Salvation Army danced a bit and sang as she greeted customers scurrying to and fro from the store as the holiday buying period winds down. I have to admire those people who give up their own precious time to volunteer for charity. May they receive the same consideration from others: family, friends, and strangers. Today I intend to go out of my way to make a stranger feel welcome. A good goal, don't you think??!!

Skillful Artists

While visiting a bookstore and coffee shop, I noticed these young artists who were lettering a "sale" for the store. Customers were mesmerized by their ability to letter backwards and with their obvious skills. They graciously agreed to allow me to photograph them on this bright, crisp Minnesota holiday. Hope they like the result!

Nutcracker

This nutcracker in Rice Park in downtown St. Paul is the same decoration that was one of the figures in the Christmas display last year. Although it is an attractive holiday icon, I was a mite disappointed that the decorations were not different. An aside: I haven't posted for the past few days and will probably post sporatically for awhile. I've been to three funerals this past week, and yesterday one of my favorite people on earth died. Puts quite a damper on the holiday cheer.

Favorite Tree Carving

Perhaps it's the influence of The Christmas Carol, but I have always associated this figure, which was carved from a tree, with the holidays. I've posted it from a slightly different angle previously, but it deserves another appearance, don't you think?!

Monsignor Terrence J. Murphy

Monsignor Terrence J. Murphy, 1920-2004, served the University of St. Thomas for 50 years, including 25 years as its president. Murphy was the university's chancellor when he died in February of 2004.

Since I've recently posted a number of art objects I found on the St. Paul campus, I think I should tell you a bit more about the school. The following is from the Wiki website:

"The University of Saint Thomas (also known as UST or simply St. Thomas) is a coeducational archdiocesan Roman Catholic institution of higher learning based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1885 as a Catholic seminary, it is named after St. Thomas Aquinas, a medieval Catholic theologian and philosopher who is the patron saint of learners in the Roman Catholic Church. Now a university with four campuses (St. Paul, Minneapolis, Owatonna in Minnesota, and Rome, Italy), it currently enrolls more than 11,000 students, making it Minnesota's largest independent college or university." To learn some fascinating history about this institution, click here.

Touchdown, Vikings

This is what happens on the field when the Vikings score a touchdown at home in the Dome, not one but several flags go sailing across the field.

Logos and Labels Again

Although the colours are a bit faded, the logo itself is quite clear. The line down the middle indicates where two doors meet to close the opening. It's a familiar sign, but one perhaps you have not committed to memory.

My American Gothic

A delightful ceramic plate found at a craft fair. Recognize it?

"American Gothic," Grant Wood, 1930 Owned by the Chicago Art Institute

Chapeau, Anyone?

Hats off to you, folks!! Have a good week-end!

Hello Dolly!

Another craft fair doll!

Craft Fair

A local middle school has an annual craft fair which I always attend. This year was no exception and despite the falling snow on Saturday I trudged over to see the wares. These doll figures always appeal to me altho I've never purchaed one. Attendance in the morning was sparse because of the snowfall, and my favorite vendor of spectacular birds was not there this year because of a family illness. I had hoped to photograph one of them to show you. Perhaps next year!

Untitled: A Light Dusting of Snow

We're getting more snow! I snapped these just as the flakes started to fall to show Untitled in a slightly different way. See yesterday's photo to compare.

Untitled

This bright and unusual sculpture has a plaque but, unfortunately, it has been vandalized. The identifying words have been scratched off, which is maddening. I took this photo last Friday, the day before our first snowfall so I'm sure it has a different appearance now. I probably should go back and snap it with snow surrounding it.

Season's First Snowfall, December 1, 2007-10 inches

After an afternoon and evening watching snow fall on December 1, these are a few scenes I observed during my Sunday morning stroll the next day.

The Cage

This sculpture on the lawn near the O'Shaughnessy Science Hall on Summit Avenue has a plaque. To learn more about the sculptor, click here and here.

The High Bridge-The Mighty Mississippi

The High Bridge is a bridge that carries Minnesota State Highway 149 over the Mississippi River in St. Paul, Minnesota. The bridge is a two lane, street set-up over the river. The original bridge, built in 1895, was damaged by a storm in 1905. The southernmost five spans were rebuilt. Due to deterioration over the years, the old bridge was demolished in 1985. A new bridge was built and opened in 1987. The ornamental ironwork on the new bridge was built using iron from the old bridge. The High Bridge has a height of 160 feet, making it the highest bridge in St. Paul. (Wiki Website) ADDED LATER: The photo is not tipsy; the bridge is indeed slanted because the banks on either side are of different heights. The boats are a paddle wheeler used for tourism and houseboats as restaurants and a B & B.

There are 128 bloggers who have theme day photos. Visit as many as you can and leave a comment! Here they are...Enjoy!
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