Nature will prevail

There is always hope that whatever we manage to pave over, nature will prevail eventually and return the earth to itself. Above is a patch of flowers growing right in the middle of the paved parking lot outside our studio. Below - thought a bit hard to see - some small trees grow from the top of a 200 foot tall smokestack of an old power plant here in Rochester!

Back on the path

After too long with trips, shows, etc. I got back on the canal path last nite and tonight.

Not sure what the fruits above are, but I didn't eat them.

The cherries below however, were delicious and plentiful!

Father's Day

I've talked a lot about being an Uncle, but being a Dad is really cool too. The day to day Dad stuff ended years ago when my son grew up and started his own life, but Father's day is a good reminder of all those wonderful days, and of the great moments that continue in adulthood! I'll soon be adding Grandfather to Uncle, Dad, and Son in my titles list, but in the meantime, I'm very glad to be related to a bunch of really great folks!

Our latest work - so cool to create new pieces!

Another new dancer from Louise's Daughter (and son-in-law) We particularly love this group of three, but she is spectacular in any quantity!

Detroit Festival of the Arts

Wow - nice people, good music - again - and lots of cool stuff going on in addition to the art show..... but unlike some shows like this, the crowd does not ignore the artists, and they seem to like taking some home!

My video of these guys at http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2036516028

Pictures above are of one of the most amazing "puppet" events I've ever seen. All I can find about them is the entry in the festival program - Close-Act Visual Theatre from The Netherlands, brings "Sau'rs" featuring gigantic pre-historic creatures that combine sound, rhythm, and humor as they move through the festival site. Can't find any web site related to their work. Only entries seem to be about their appearance at this festival.

Three "Sau'rs" and their handler look and sound really cool, and attract a huge crowd of folks who follow them like the Pied Piper! Somebody inside works very hard on stilts, manipulating the jaws, the head, neck, eyes, tail, tiny arms, etc., alternately accepting a hug from a little kid, and turning on an unsuspecting photographer with a mighty roar!

Casey at 33

Our son turned 33 today, but due to good training, he hasn't grown up yet. Here he is "bowling" with his new Wii game system!

A nice reflection on things

In our art at home series, here is one of our spirals reflected in a bathroom mirror, while a dancer graces the wall..... how much fun to prepare for the day here!

Not many booths with live music right outside the window! This is one of the shows that is easy on the back, easy on the eye, and easy on the ears! Just to give credit where due, this is the 100 American Craftsmen show in Lockport, NY last weekend.

and not many booths with a hard working nephew ready to help!

Pat and Vanna show off my first poppies of the season!

Uncle

I've told you before how much I love being an Uncle, and this weekend - Wednesday through Monday, I'm getting to do that full time. Doesn't get much better than that! Another school event - this time for my niece getting an academic achievement award. Young people at her school can actually earn an academic letter....... in my day "letters" were only for the jocks! How cool to pat kids on the back for being smart as well as for having great hoop shots!

Bike rides around town with the nephew ---- trips to the not quite local roadside ice cream stand...... side trips to places that figure in my family history while they are in school!

Pictures below........ my niece all dressed up for her award ceremony, nephew outside a mysterious underground structure he showed me --- a cistern? a root cellar, ????? ...... and the Atlanta, NY train depot from which my mother left for college, and that my great great grandfather took the traveling preachers to after services at the Ingleside, NY church.