On Friday, Artrageous opened to the public. You can now vote online for your favorite pieces, which are all listed here. The Swift Swallowtails are number 42, which made me think of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. In this case, I fully agree that the answer, and vote, is 42! I attended the opening […]
On Saturday I discovered the River Trail Nature Center. I needed a nature getaway between errands in various burbs, and this was a mid-way point. It was love at first sight. Upon entering the parking lot, you can see various large cages. After I parked and went up close, these turned out to have various animals for […]
In mid-July I took an excursion to Utica to clear my head and ground myself in nature. My favorite park in the Starved Rock Area is Matthiessen State Park. For a while it was a well-kept secret, with most tourists favoring Starved Rock Park. Unfortunately (for me) it has gotten more popular over the years, […]
Last week I took a road trip to Utica to satisfy my July travel itch. It is just 2 and a half hours from home, an easy drive actually when you skip rush hour. I had visited the Starved Rock area a few times, and gradually upgraded my stays from a KOA cabin with plastic […]
Just before Memorial Day weekend the Chicago Botanic Garden announced the arrival of an Atlas Moth in their Butterflies & Blooms exhibit. I eagerly drove up that Saturday, but many in Chicagoland had the same idea, and I didn’t feel like wasting fuel in a long line of cars. Instead, I returned last week and […]
“Amongst the earliest known entomologists were women of rank, wealth and fashion who reared butterflies, painted them and embroidered their images on cloth.” ~ Michael A. Salmon, The Aurelian Legacy This month my Lady Lepidopterists encaustic collage is featured on Light Space & Time’s online gallery. This collage was in the works for some time, […]
I attended a lovely wedding last weekend which called for a short road trip to Indiana. I’ve only passed through Indiana so it was a fun reason to explore the state a little. Upon entering I was greeted with signs promising Krazy Fireworks and Showgirls, along with Hoosier references. Further in, however, the scenery changed […]
Last year the Lincoln Park Champer of Commerce held its first Artrageous event. My Swift Swallowtails were selected to participate, and it was lovely to be part of the activities surrounding the inaugural event. I was thrilled to see Artrageous listed among calls for art earlier this year, signaling its success. Of course I wanted […]
On Friday, the Arts of Life is hosting the opening of its second annual Square Foot Show. Last year’s opening was a bright and uplifting evening, and I look forward to seeing what art has been contributed this year. More than 100 pieces from the Arts of Life and other artists from around the country […]
In keeping with my lepidopterist/entomologist month I am immersing myself in the life of Margaret Fountaine. She was one fascinating and gutsy lady (the kind of company I like to keep). I am reading her (edited) diary and a biography about her simultaneously; each fills in blanks the other doesn’t, so it’s a cool exercise. […]
