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A note from our President!
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
Scott Adams
Happy March creative friends!
How has your winter season been going? Will March come in like a lamb and go out like a lion? Or come in like a lion and go out like a lamb?
Since visiting Ireland and Scotland, I am fascinated by all things related to either. Including Outlander and Jamie and Claire Fraser! So - I love the idea behind St. Patrick’s Day, but I really wasn’t familiar with all the details behind it. I decided to look into the details and share them with you because after all, everyone is a little bit Irish on St Patrick’s day! According to some accounts, blue was the first color associated with St. Patrick’s Day, but that started to change in the 17th century. Green is one of the colors in Ireland’s tri-color flag, and it has been used in the flags of several Irish revolutionary groups throughout history. Ireland is the “Emerald Isle,” so named for its lush green landscape. Green is also the color of spring, the shamrock, and the Chicago River, which the Midwestern city has dyed green on St. Patrick’s Day for the past 40-odd years. St. Patrick's revelers thought wearing green made one invisible to leprechauns, fairy creatures who would pinch anyone they could see (anyone not wearing green). People began pinching those who didn't wear green as a reminder that leprechauns would sneak up and pinch green-abstainers. Supposedly, there are only two kinds of people in the world,” an Irish saying goes. “The Irish and those who wish they were.”
While I am of Irish heritage, I am also Finnish and I am sure many of you don’t know (other than Helena) there is also a Finnish celebration in March. The legend of St, Urho originated in Northern Minnesota in the 1950’s. However, there are differing opinions as to whether it began with the fables created by Sulo Havumaki of Bemidji, or the tongue in cheek tales told by Richard Mattson of Virginia, Either way, the legend has grown among North Americans of Finnish descent to the point where St. Urho is known and celebrated across the United States and Canada, and even in Finland. St Urho’s Day is celebrated on March 16th, the day prior to the better-known feast of some minor saint from Ireland. The legend of St. Urho says he chased the grasshoppers out of ancient Finland, thus saving the grape crops and the jobs of Finnish vineyard workers. He did this by uttering the phrase: “Grasshopper,grasshopper, go to Hell!” The feast is celebrated by wearing the colors royal purple and nile green. St. Urho is nearly always represented with grapes and grasshoppers as part of the picture.
So on March 16th I will be wearing purple and March 17th I will be wearing green to support both my Irish and Finnish heritage. Now I just need to figure out what day the French celebrate their heritage –I believe that is, Bastille Day, Celebrated on July, 14 as the French national day …So at least I have a little time before the next celebration of my heritage.
As a reminder, the murrini challenge is due at the April 4th meeting at the Flint Institute of Arts. I am looking forward to seeing the challenge bracelets everyone makes!
Are you making beads? We need your beads for Bead Bonanza and also for Bead and Button! You know, Bead Bonanza is right around the corner…
Upcoming Meeting Dates to put on your calendar:
March 14th 1 pm Kim Meray’s house
March 15th Bead Bonanza – Please contact Cindi Brunell if you plan to participate. We also need people to work the booth!!! Are you volunteering?
April- ISGB Gathering- March 30 – April 6th -Is anyone from our group attending?
April 4th Flint Institute of Art tour-Saturday! Entry is free! Murrini challenge bracelet is due!
May 17 The 17th is proposed as the 10th is Mother’s Day.
June Meeting date? Bead and Button (?) Sunday, May 31 to June 7
June 13 & 14 Jerri Warhaftig class- Toledo Museum of Art – Register with Susan Richards now!
July 12th Picnic at Cyndy Gohsman’s house
Aug. No meeting
September Meeting
October 11(?) Bead Bonanza
October 23-25 Retreat at Lake Huron
November 7th Winter Wonders
December Holiday Gathering
Looking forward to seeing you at Kim Meray’s house 3-14-2020, at 1:00. And also at Bead Bonanza on 3-15-2020!
Stay creative-
Pam
“Every artist was first an amateur.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Pam Kellett
Drpamkellett@gmail.com or 248-709-3808
