Beauty Break

A couple weeks ago, I had a running-around day.  I went to the nursing home, picked up a form and had to run it downtown... While I was there, I decided to give myself a beauty break.  Uh, no, I'm not talking about a day at the salon (pedicures are my idea of hell!). I'm talking about a visit to the Art Museum.  I went to the museum for that talk with Ohio artist, Susan Shie, a month or so ago.  She was amazing. I wanted to see the full Earth Stories exhibit.  Here are a few pics in no particular order...

 And here's Susan Shie's piece in the collection.  Uh, if you read my first Day of Beauty, you'll remember how much I like making myself part of the art (see my shadow?).

After the visit, I went next door to Glass Growers.  If you've never been...go.  I drop in every time I'm down that way because they always have something new and cool.  I've mentioned before that I love to collect Erie stuff.  We have a number of prints.  Well, I bought a cool picture of Beach 10 on Presque Isle by Jason Floyd Lewis.  (You can see my reflection in it as well! LOL)

If you're one of my Erie friends, head down to the Art Museum and then stop in and check out Glass Growers.

This isn't a paid endorsement...I just love my city! If you're not in the area, I hope you enjoy visiting through my books and blog.  And if you're in the area, drop in for a real visit!!

Holly

Confessions of a Party Crasher

Everything But a Groom

PS.
Confessions of a Party Crasher is live on Amazon for pre-order and if you haven't heard, the Everything But... series is going to audio and there are sample's up, and the entire series is on sale this month in advance of the audio releases!

The Art of Finding Glee

Dietrich Wegner, Studies in Solitude

I had a rough day last month.  Normally I can jolly myself out of most funks, but this was more than that.  I knew I needed to shake myself up a bit and rediscover my glee, so I closed my computer and headed down to the Erie Art Museum.  A day of beauty was just what I needed.  It was a grey, drizzly day in Erie, PA.  It sort of matched my mood.

I wasn't sure how well my plan would work, but when I caught sight of my shadow on the wall in the museum, I saw that my hair had gone Medusa again.  (It's like a Chia Pet...if you add water, it springs to life.) Rather than make me sigh over the fact my hair has a mind of its own, I smiled as I looked at my reflection.  It kind of summed up how I felt that day...a bit frazzled.  That smile broke the ice.

As I continued walking through the museum, I noticed that I could see my shadow in all the art.

Jose Picayo Polaroids

Jose Picayo Polaroids

I could literally see myself in all the art there.  As I studied my reflection and the artwork, I thought about the artists.  They'd had an idea and that art grew from their need to express it.  Then they sent it out into the world.  And here I was, looking at it and making myself a part of their vision.  I could see myself in the people who were captured forever in Picayo's Poloroid exhibit.  I could find myself in alone in Wegner's study of solitude...only I wasn't alone.  I was part of his art, so he was there too.

The more I looked, the more I realized I was a part of all the art, Medusa hair and all. I was part of their vision, and they'd become part of mine.

By the time I left the museum, my glee was back.  I was inspired.  I got home and opened my computer and wrote a scene that made me smile.

Everyone has rough days.  Sometimes we all need a day of beauty to remind us that we are part of...well, everything!

Holly

Dietrich Wegner, Studies in Solitude