Random Photo #18

Random Photo #17

Too Late, Too Soon...

The Natural Resources Preservation Fund of the Mackinac Island Community Foundation is presenting a juried art exhibit July 3rd - July 29th. 

16 pieces, created by 12 artists were selected for the show.... and two of them are mine!

In my ongoing effort to use beads in non-traditional ways, I created two mixed media pieces. The first is titled "Beautifully Invasive: Hawksbeard". Right now this is a familiar scene on the Island, the darkness of cedar forests, blanketed in a carpet of bright yellow. I was surprised to learn that in Michigan, hawksbeard is only seen on Mackinac at such high concentrations.

I created the piece by using gel medium to create the tree trunks (lots of texture), painted the canvas and then beaded right through the canvas to emphasize the flowers.

The second piece, "Trillium" focuses more on the native flora and was started in a similar manner, using gel medium and paint, but the bead work was first completed and then added to the canvas.

The goal of the show is to be both visually pleasing and thought provoking - consider what may happen to any environment if invasive plants and/or animals overpower and destroy the native ecosystem. History shows many examples of what can happen and it is unfortunately becoming an increasing common problem in our modern world. 

Local Eats

I'm very excited!!!

We recently signed up with Local Eats, an interesting variation on the CSA(Community Supported Agriculture) concept. While there are traditional CSA's within driving distance, we just aren't able to commit to traveling off-Island to pick up our share every week, but Local Eats works with local farmers and will deliver our basket to one of the local ferries for us to pick up on arrival on the Island - although Ann Marie did say it felt rather like putting an infant on the boat unattended!

Last week we received our first basket:

A dozen eggs
Rhubarb
Fresh Oregano
Spinach
Arugula
Several types of Lettuce
Radishes
Green Onions
A Bouquet of Flowers

We've been eating very well, lots of salads, a spinach and white bean soup, a couple of frittatas, black pepper pasta with arugula, buttermilk rhubarb cake and a fabulous rhubarb and raisin relish.

Really looking forward to tomorrow's delivery!