Ah, summer

These days summer seems to go by in a flash. There never seems enough time to savor the season and this year was no exception. But after the Artist's Market there was a little time to relax.
The gardens were spectacular, especially the daylilies. Abundant rain and sunshine made everything thrive despite my neglect.
And then there was a marvelous week on the beach. No full moon over the ocean this year (although late night revealed a waning last quarter shimmering over the water.) But there were clear nights filled with stars and an excellent view of the Milky Way. Jupiter, like a jewel, still above Scorpio.(All the more lovely, reflected in the ocean.} One night the Perseids put on a marvelous show.
The days were spent on long walks, and swimming in the ocean every day. There were many opportunities to photograph trees and flowers to use in my collages. The weather was mostly lovely (though a couple of spectacular storms made things exciting). I love living in the hills of the Finger Lakes, but the ocean is a special, soul-soothing place for me.
Home now, with a bit of summer left, my thoughts turn again to art. There are no deadlines to spur me into production so it will be a time to explore new directions.

Ithaca Artist's Market

Long exhausting day. (Exhausting week actually).
But lots of fun. Watching peoples faces light up as they walked into my booth was very gratifying. Listening to people comment on and compliment my art all day was worth all the effort.
It was my first time at the Ithaca Artist's Market and quite an experience. I even sold enough art to want to do it again. And considering the competition I think I did reasonably well. Ithaca is a small community with a large number of very talented artists.
All week the forecast for Sunday was rain. But the day started off with mixed clouds and sun, and got even more sunny as the day went on. The market was festive and crowded.
At the end of the day I could barely move. I sat on my porch watching the light fade. My daylilies seemed to glow in the twilight along with the occasional firefly. And when the Full Buck Moon rose I knew it had been a good day.

Grassroots

Four days of music. I've been going to the Grassroots Festival for the past 10 years.
Almost didn't go this year. After all, the Ithaca Artist's Market is next weekend, and I should have spent this weekend getting ready. But few things nourish the soul (and excite the muse) like music. So I'm four days behind where I should be. And still smiling.
Thursday night the evening sky was suddenly filled with lightning and torrential rain. (fortunately I was cozy under the dance tent listening to Cajun music). It looked like the festival was going to be a wet, soupy mud-fest. But the next three days brought the most amazing sunshine and blue sky, and things quickly dried out.
And oh, those nights! Early evening the crescent moon hung in the western sky. When it finally set the crystal sky was ablaze with a million stars. Jupiter sat atop Scorpio, and its brilliance made the constellation seem strange and familiar at the same time.
All the while music drifted sweetly in the night air. When I finally dragged myself away and headed home I noticed the Pleiades climbing into the sky, and I knew it was well past my bedtime.

Moosewood

Another mixed blessing. An unexpected opportunity to show my work suddenly appeared. There was a cancellation for the July art showing at Ithaca's famous Moosewood Restaurant. I was able to hang a show with two day's notice. Very exciting.
But the downside is that I was planning to use those pieces in the Ithaca Artist's Market coming up at the end of the month. So I am going to be scrambling to get some pieces ready during a very busy month.

Solstice

Clusters of heavy thunderstorms going through all afternoon. This evening was the opening of the "Art in the Heart of the City" sculpture on the Ithaca Commons. The rain stopped and the sky cleared off just minutes before the ceremonies began. Afterwards, a tour of some of the sculptures. I talked about my two sculptures and seemed to get a good response from the crowd. Lots of excellent sculptures in the show. A must-see for anyone visiting Ithaca this summer.
Back home and off for a walk. On the longest day of the year there is plenty of light left. The air, cool and clear, cleansed by the storms. Distant clouds, puffy cumulus, chased eastward by the cold front.
The moon, a thin crescent sliver only a couple of days ago, is almost first quarter. The image is an inspiration for a mandala collage. And with sculptures done I will move on to my digital art. After all, the Ithaca Artist's Market will be held in just a few short weeks.

Dark Pyramid

Sunday morning I installed Dark Pyramid on the Ithaca commons. The sculpture is made of polychrome ferro-cement with a copper tip. It is almost nine feet tall. The installation was quite a challenge, particularly transporting it in my Subaru. It is the largest sculpture I have made, and I think I've reached my size limit.

Duamutef

Saturday morning I installed Duamutef on the Ithaca Commons. The sculpture is over six feet tall and is made of polychrome ferro-cement. It is based on Egyptian canopic jars