Willkommen

Yes - the Willkommen is straight off the architectural entrance to the original Fairview German Language School. Another mural - another dedication. Stop by this Saturday from 4 - 7 p.m. at the corner of McMillan and Wheeler to help dedicate the new Clifton Heights mural. It's a beauty.

Hazel the Fish

This fellow got into some trouble today. While left home alone he found Andy's fishing lure which must have smelled nice. Hazel got himself hooked clean through his lower lip. Poor boy.

Michael Pollan and More

Today's New York Times featured Colleen's alma mater - Warren Wilson College - for it's eco dorm, one of the top in the country. The best part is that the dorm was proposed by students about 10 years ago while Colleen attended the WWC. How's that for empowering. Students made it happen.
and...

Xavier University is presenting an exciting lecture series focused on Food and Agriculture. It's free. Today Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and food culture critic extraordinaire spoke. It was very inspiring. Also looking forward to see Wendell Berry speak in April!

Tarbell in Top Hat and Tails

So I've been meaning to post some pictures from the ArtWorks Program. That will be a process. 15 projects this summer so there is a lot to show. I'll start with a mural that we will be celebrating this Saturday - if your free from noon to three, stop on down. Central Pkwy and Vine. It is a fun head to toe portrait of Mr. Jim Tarbell, dressed in top hat and tails in homage to Peanut Jim in a jovial pose. At the party the Cincinnati Dancing Pig Jug Band will be performing, there will be Graeter's, Sausages from Avril-Bleh, Fresh-Frozen Lemonade, and more. Also it's a potluck just for fun. And there will be plenty of peanuts. Learn more here.

Love this picture found on a local Cincy blog. Someone had their kid pose as if Jim was stepping on him.

Our apprentices, spread out attacking the priming on every level. This wall in the heart of downtown was actually tagged with graffiti from top to bottom on 4th of July weekend. This team had their work cut out for them.

Mr. Tarbell stopped by one day to help paint, in his seersucker suit no less.

A Love Letter For You

An inspiring visit to West Philadelphia to see Steve Powers working on his amazing new public art project, a series of 50 rooftop murals which can best be seen by riding the El train. Steve grew up in Philly and this project has been a long time in the works. He was inspired in part by a grafitti artist known as Cornbread who painted messages of love on walls in the 60's to impress his girlfriend. Steve partnered with the Mural Arts Program and received a huge award from the Pew to get this project done. Learn more about the project here.

Some of Steve's crew still working - they were down to the wire to finish before the big opening

At SEPTA, the train station, lots of great ads promoting the artwork 

View above from the 63rd street station and views below while riding the train

Awww... after dinner, a Steve lovefest

Felt Whale

I love, love, love, love this. 

Now on view at the Fabric Workshop is the most stunning sculpture created by Tristin Lowe and his team of assistants. It measures 52' long. I was not able to take my own pictures so I found these but they don't do justice to the work. The texture of the sewn skin including built barnacles must be appreciated up close.

Michigan Vacation

We spent a week on the Leelanau Penninsula with our friends Johnny and Gilly and our pups Maggie and Hazel Roy. The weather was perfect. The trip wasn't long enough.

View of the sunset from the dunes

Adrienne and John's cottage, one of the oldest in the Glen Lake area, where we had the pleasure of staying.  

A walk through the woods on the way to Empire Bluff. 

Views of Lake Michigan

Tucker Lake, a nice spot for kayaking

At the beach, with the pups

Maggie loves to play fetch. Really this trip is all about the dogs.

Northern Michigan is fruit country - our first day we headed to the local farmers market where we bought or were tempted to buy plums, peaches, pears, blueberries, apricots, apples, and tart cherries. We got the last of the season's tart cherries - enough to make pie and jam.

A visit to a fruit orchard

Swimming with Hazel Roy

Fishermen