National Soaring Museum in Elmira, NY

The welcoming reception to the art exhibit, "Gliding" sponsored by the Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes (http://www.earts.org/) was held yesterday at the National Soaring Museum in Elmira, NY. (http://www.soaringmuseum.org/).  I had never been to the museum other than to drop off my two pieces of art, but found the display of gliders fascinating.  The art show by local artists was focused on the theme of gliding and represented an interesting selection of interpretations of that theme.

For my entries, I chose an osprey that was leaving its nest, which I caught while in Ft. Myers last winter.  The other entry was taken from the window of the plane when we were gliding into JFK early one morning at sunrise.  For once, the stewardess did not tell me to put away my camera!

In the glider exhibit, I was drawn to the glider used during the war to bring the military into Germany.  How did they get the glider out of there again?  The other glider that caught my attention was a replica of the Wright Bros. glider. Their actual plane was just a modification of the glider. Such brave souls to fly that instrument!

WW II Glider

Wright model

Pulled the gliders

Osprey leaving the nest in Ft. Myers

Gliding into JFK

nancyridenourartist: Cornell University Mann Library Mushroom Exhibit

http://events.cornell.edu/event/opening_reception_the_other_side_of_what_mushroom_photography_exhibit

Cornell University Mann Library Mushroom Exhibit

Tonight was the opening reception for the Mushroom Photography show.  A while back, they sent out a request for images of mushrooms in the local area to have in a show at the library.  They received the digital images, printed them, mounted them in various sizes, and produced a very pleasing show.  It is well worth a trip to the library to see it this month.

I have one image in the show and am pleased with how they printed it. The mushroom was found on the side of the gorge along a trail near the suspension bridge.  I used my point and shoot Nikon to capture it.

Enjoy the show!

My image

Charisma Amarylis

A couple weeks ago, I purchased a large Amarylis bulb at Cayuga Landscape in Ithaca, NY.  It was pricier than those at the large box stores and I wondered what the difference would be. Well, to my delight, the larger bulb was much more productive than the cheaper alternatives! Two firm spikes rose from the bulb, with 5 flowers on the first one. The second stalk is a bit behind, but I am sure it will also have several blooms. This is a spectacular flower and unique in coloration.  I took several photos in the house with limited lighting, but the results are pleasant.

Several of the images below have been altered by some of the artistic filters of Photoshop.  I find the alterations interesting and fun to do.

Hope you enjoy this winter floral display.

Buddha tiles

Yesterday, I produced some designs for porcelain tiles with a Buddha accent.  One of my customers had asked for such tiles for a kitchen wall, so I designed several to choose from.  Most of the tiles include the lotus flower, which is closely connected to the Buddha.

Many Buddha statues find the Buddha sitting on a lotus flower, since the lotus flower is considered very pure.

I found these Buddhas during travels and at home.  Each was taken with my digital camera and transposed to the montage that is now a tile image.  I have found Buddhas in the San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden, The Selby garden in Sarasota, Florida, in the yard and home of friends, in my own collection from travels to Thailand and Laos, from a store in Sedona, and from a poster.

These tiles can be produced in the dimensions 4x4, 6x6, and 8x8 and can be used for trivets, coasters, wall hangings, and back splashes in the bathroom or kitchen.