Sep 2021 - Art Party, Torie & Rory, Pics, VA Creekside, ToP, Jane's Roses
Hello readers,
September raced by. The weather has been glorious, and my mood has lifted.
Four things on the art scene... (*photos below)
I did a small painting job creating a large-veined faux finish marble backsplash to match a granite counter. Earthy browns will never go out of style. When I picked up artwork from my exhibit at Liberty Financial Group I was delighted to learn the boss purchased two of my prints! (Street lamps & River View). The Art Bar minimalist show “Not so Much” was a big success. Here are some photos. LINK. This weekend I hosted my piano students and their families for an Art WITH Anita party in the garage. I set up long tables with acrylic paints, canvases, brushes, sponges and combing tools. We also painted rocks and mini matt boards. Then we munched out on snacks, lemonade and cake. No one drank the painty water and only one person dipped their brush in lemonade. I’m pretty sure I had more fun than they did. I have the set up ready to go – anyone else want to do a group painting party??? Wine instead of lemonade. Let me know!
I started the month with a really feels wedding in Iowa. This one was very special with deep family connections. The bride’s grandfather, Fred Kehret, was my mom’s cousin and sponsored her family to come to this country from Germany in 1950. The bride (Torie) and her brother were special needs kids adopted by two very special parents, Dan (my second cousin) and June. Victoria has cerebral palsy. At the age of two she started having surgeries to strengthen her legs. Years of leg braces and many more surgeries never made a dent in her sunshiny personality and warm heart. She is the best hugger I’ve ever met. The bride and groom, Torie & Rory (how cute is that?) met in a college program in Iowa City. The University of Iowa REACH (Realizing Educational and Career Hopes) is a comprehensive transition program for students aged 18-25 with intellectual, cognitive and learning disabilities. Courses center around academic skill building, career preparation, internships, independent living, and self-advocacy. The entire wedding party was made up of REACH classmates! We got to know several of them and some of the parents. They have remarkable stories, and have overcome so much in their young lives. They are proud of their accomplishments and the friendships they have found. Me, too. Our 5 day trip to Iowa was also a Lieber family reunion – with many meals and fireside chats to catch up. We even did a cousin soul train line at the wedding. A young man from the wedding party jumped in with some break dance moves at the end and smoked us all. LOL.
My other cousin Deborah (the bride’s aunt) rescued some vintage photos with a great story. The Kehret farm was sold many years ago. There had been a remodeling project that closed access to the attic storage and trapped a large steamer trunk behind a wall. The main house was well over 100 years old and was set to be demolished. Luckily the owners rescued the trunk. Old Aunt Mary had saved every receipt and scrap of paper she owned, but there was also treasure hidden in there. Photos of my mom on her 18th birthday and my grandfather when he visited Iowa from Germany as a young man were among the highlights. So cool! *pics.
The Veterans in Focus photo group is back in full swing. Last week we went to Creekside Valley Farm in Mequon. It was the prettiest appointed farm I’ve ever seen. Besides plump pumpkins and gorgeous gourds - they have a quaint gift shop, animals, an old barn / theater, funny signs, games, a corn maze and hay rides. Highly recommended! One of our guys crossed the creek and almost tangled with a bull. Not recommended! Next week, we visit Holy Hill. I finally finished the photo slideshow from our last VA outing. Stops included Jackson Park, Forest Home Cemetery, UWM, Barnacle Bud’s, and the MSO Warner Grand Theater. The slideshow will be completed shortly. Find VA VIDEOs on my YouTube page.
Tom and I had an outrageously fun day at Summerfest. Fest attendance was low - but that made it more appealing to me. I’m not a fan of the huge crowds and long lines. What was really fun was how many musician friends we bumped into. WOW - it was another reunion! And we got our steps in with 4 round trips between two stages on opposite ends of the grounds. The Klement Jazz stage by the north gate had amazing local groups and at the south end BMO Harris stage we grooved to TOWER OF POWER! After 53 years they are still the most earth shattering funk and soul horn band around. These guys kicked butt!
To end the month Mom / Elsa and I went to see her roses. Said roses are now maintained by Jane, who purchased the old house four years ago. Jane, the house and the roses are all blooming with life. Jane writes poetry, refinishes furniture, is a retired teacher and super grandma, and makes beautiful framed art from dried flowers – including wedding bouquets & funeral flowers. She also creates resin pieces. She thinks she is not an artist. She surprised us with a ‘heart’felt gift of LOVE made with Elsa’s rose petals. Oh my heart ❤. That made the month glow-rious for me.
Hope your mood has lifted too. Life is still hard out there.
2000 people are dying of Covid daily. Schools are closing.
Stay masked. Get vaxxed.
Anita
ArtByAnita / FusionFotoArt / PianoByAnita / WebsitesByAnita / Instagram
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Dan & June / Torie & Rory / Opa (at 27) & with Oma with Elsa at 18
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Jane and Elsa's roses / LOVE rose petal art
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2 Sold Prints / Marble backsplash w granite counter
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Creekside Farm / Paint Party / samples / smiles
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Anita Burgermeister, eclectic independent artist in Milwaukee ~ creator of fine art, photography, faux finishes, murals, websites & more. Sharing musings or news about creative people & events in art, music, magic, dance, dining, film, writing, city life & more. Hope you enjoy and read often!
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