Barclay Martin Ensemble at the 77th Annual Plaza Art Fair

The group played for about 1-1/2 hours. A good time in the open air:

Barclay Martin Ensemble

Barclay Martin:

Barclay Martin

Barclay Martin2

ShoutOuts to artists from the Plaza Art Fair 2008 – Part 2

Links and pictures from the 77th annual Plaza Art Fair, Sept. 20, 2008, in Kansas City, Mo.

Check out these artists:

Heinrich Toh, booth #521, monoprints

John Charbonneau, booth #271, photo montage

Tim Hooper, booth #215, painting. On his Web site, Tim writes that most people call him, “Mr. Hooper.” His paintings have a cartoon pedigree, but also are story tellers. Mr. Hooper tells the story of his painting, Winkin’, Blinkin’ and Nod. The artist was walking down a street in his hometown Nashville when three, burly  ”homeless” men walked up to him and asked him for money. Here’s Mr. Hooper with the painting inspired by that encounter:

 

Winkin, Blinkin, Nod and Mr. Hooper

 

Mark Orr, booth #408, Scavenger Art

Barbara Lash, booth #329, beaded objects

Samuel Yao, booth #208, basket art

Pam Kehoe-Peterson, booth #300, jewelry

Rick Dunn, booth #113, ceramics (check out the Mr. Dee-lish bowl, if it’s still there)

Cathy Rose, booth #428, 3D mixed media. Here’s a sample of her work:

Cathy Rose1

 

Cathy Rose2

 

Cathy Rose3

Ben Buonaiuto/Cicada Books, booth #246, handmade books

And last, but CERTAINLY not least, photographers. I always look forward to the photography (pure photo and photography with mixed media) that the Plaza Art Fair gathers for our ogling and collecting pleasure. Here are eight that I saw and loved:

Joel Anderson, booth #103

Barbara Kline, booth #231

Barry Hendrickson, booth #101, Ireland in Black & White

Audrey Heller, booth #119

Chris Dahlquist, booth #249

Michael Cole, booth #325

Mike McMullen, booth #337

Cali Hobgood-Lemme, booth #440

It’s a beautiful day! If you’re in Kansas City, I hope you’re able to fit the Plaza Art Fair into your schedule.

Dogs of the Plaza Art Fair 2008

 

 The temperature was in the 80s, although with thousands of people mulling about on pavement, it felt like it was in the 90s. One dog found a cool, relaxing place to hang out while the Barclay Martin Ensemble performed on the main stage.

Shade under the table

Chihuahuas were the popular breed in my sightline. First, there was Nike:

Nike

Then Selena (“Lena”) and Rosita (“Rosie”):

Lita and Rosie

Katie and Sasha, two Bichon Frise beauties, were out with their “dad.” The owner said his daughter was at college and missed her puppies.

Katie smiles for the camera:

Katie

Sasha’s turn to pose:

Sasha

And Stella, a pug, the “grandpuppy” at the Pam Kehoe-Peterson Jewelry booth (booth #300):

Stella

Plaza Art Fair 2008, Kansas City, Mo. – PART 1

Another September; another Plaza Art Fair with something for everyone…and everyone was there today.

I didn’t make it through the seemingly miles and miles of art booths, but what I did see was outstanding. It is a very good year.

There are booths of jewelry, woodwork, painting, fiber arts, glasswork, mixed media and photography. Here’s a taste of what you can see tomorrow, if you haven’t visited the fair already:

Lisa Crowder Jewelry, booth #314:

Crowder’s from Austin. She skipped last year, but was at the Plaza Art Fair in 2006

Lisa Crowder1

Lisa Crowder2

 

Jewelry artist Kina Crow, at booth #308:

Kina Crow1

Kina Crow2

Kina Crow3

 

My friend and Kansas City artist Anthony Pack,  Booth #213, was popular (as usual : ). While I was in the booth chatting with the artist, a family came in and bought two pieces of hanging art for their two young boys. 

Here’s a clip of Anthony and some of his favorite pieces:

John Petrey’s 1960′s tv-mom-inspired dresses at booth #205 were a hit, too:

A new look for Waldo

Last year the building at 75th and Washington Streets in the Kansas City, Mo., Waldo neighborhood burned down. Several businesses were lost including Kennedy’s bar and Apanaire French Bakery. 

Here’s a news clip showing the fire and plans for the rebuild:

Today we saw the nearly complete restructure. Pretty slick and totally different than the old building:

 

Kennedys rebuilt

What do you bring to a party when…

…the invitation asks you not to bring anything? (This is mainly applying to children’s bday parties.)

Some colleagues and I were sitting around at lunch today and someone mentioned that they’d tried to steer people away from bringing gifts to their child’s birthday party, but EVERYONE brought a gift! Another mother said that she’d asked people to bring a food drive donation only…guests arrived with a donation AND a gift for her son.

Two mothers reported that they’d acted on the invitation request – didn’t bring a gift – and when they got to the party, they were the only ones without a gift.

So, the conversation turned to how to deal with that. What do you bring, so that you’re respecting the host’s wishes, yet not feeling like a slouch showing up empty handed!

My favorite suggestion was to bring a bottle of wine for the parents.

What do you think? Any ideas?

Butterflies aren’t free at Powell Gardens…

…it costs a few bills to see them in captivity. But I saw no one – human or butterfly – abused or complaining!

Powell Gardens in Kansas City, Mo., is a beautiful nature exhibit. Here are some pics I took when I went to the annual Butterfly Adventure Land (just two weekends each year). The Butterfly Conservatory is an enclosure that holds hundreds of butterflies for an up-close-and-personal view. They’re snacking on foliage, as well as landing on people’s arms, clothing, hats.    

Butterfly on flower

Largest caterpillar in Missouri

 

Butterfly blends in