A.R.T - Its Just "Super"!

 "Late September Sunrise"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 

"Super Blood Moon Total Eclipse (the last of the Tetrad)"

photograph composite - © Bruce A. Morrison

Many things have been "Super" around the studio here at Prairie Hill Farm!  The "Super" sunrises, the "Super" moon; and in a week and a half a "Super" art weekend with the October 10-11, 2015 12th Annual Artisans Road Trip!

Want a "glimpse" at a "Super" 12th Annual Artisans Road Trip?!  Its coming to Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa on Thursday - October 1st with an Artist's Reception to kick the exhibit off from 5-8 PM!

ANOTHER "Super" glimpse - the 2015 Artisans Road Trip Exhibit will be coming to the Pearson Lakes Art Center at Okoboji, Iowa on October 8th and running through December 2015!  Get another view of a sampling from A.R.T.  An Artist's Reception will be held Thursday, October 8 from 5-7 PM.

Mark your calendars for some "SUPER" art on the 2015 Artisans Road Trip open studio tour - coming to our Studio/Gallery on Saturday/Sunday - October 10 and 11 (9Am-5PM on Saturday - 12Noon-5PM on Sunday)...we'll have wonderful art, delicious treats (voted the best on the A.R.T. circuit!), scenery and conversation!

Make a great weekend SUPER! Hope to see you there!

Art EMC 2015 Corporate Purchase Announced

Art EMC 2015 artwork selection

top "July in the Valley", center " Along the Southeast Corner Fence Line", and bottom "Creek's Bend" all oil paintings © Bruce A. Morrison

 

Although it began in 2005 - 2013 was the first year I heard about EMC Insurance's program to support the arts in Iowa...they have a program called "Art EMC" and every 2 years they put the word out to Iowa Artists that they will purchase an undeclared number of works from Iowa Artists that year for their Corporate Art Collection.  Not only that but they leave the purchasing up to the voting via their employees - which really makes it even more unique!

 

Art EMC 2013 artwork selection

"Medford Avenue Bridge" oil painting © Bruce A. Morrison

 

In 2013 I submitted 3 pieces of work for consideration and the EMC employee vote honored me with the purchase of my painting "Medford Avenue Bridge" for their collection...they have since used that painting to illustrate their Art EMC program online and in their brochures.

 

This year the artwork specifications had changed slightly and I only had 3 paintings available that met the criteria so I entered all 3 pieces.  During the summer I was apprised that my work had passed through each voting period but no word as to which painting might have been the vote getter...until this week when I was told a decision had been made and I was one of the finalists.  

 

When I asked the 2015 Art EMC Art Coordinator Caitlin Stewart which piece the EMC employees had selected she said, "Well, this is a bit unusual but - all 3!"  Wow!

 

I'm very happy to say the least and a bit overwhelmed!  I have to make a delivery run to Des Moines now but, hey - that's OK!  And I do have to make a return trip back to EMC in November when they will have a dedication of all the artwork that has been purchased for the EMC Corporate Art Collection through their 2015 Art EMC program! 

 

Great ending to summer!

Print(s) of the Week - "Morning Beatitude I and II"!

 "Morning Beatitude I"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Morning Beatitude II"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on either image for a larger view) 

This week's "Print of the Week" is a double treat!  I created the "Morning Beatitude" number 1 print last year, and this year have added "Morning Beatitude" number 2 to the collection.  Both images are of the same creek (Waterman Creek across the valley from the studio), and the images are from the same stretch of creek but the newest addition (print number 2) is slightly downstream from the original image (number 1).

These are both very idealistic landscapes of a wonderful quiet and serene summer morning.  Webster's defines "beatitude" as "A state of utmost bliss." and I have to concur that is exactly my feeling during these depictions along this beautiful stream!  Of course we could get into the Biblical use of "Beatitude", but suffice it to say I truly felt blessed myself at this time and place.

I have printed these two photographs as a matching pair, or to be considered separately - whatever your situation desires or dictates; both are beautiful snippets of a time and place that will ingratiate any home, office or locale!

Thank you for stopping by the studio blog today!  I want to remind everyone out there that the 2015 Artisans Road Trip is coming up soon!  On October 10th and 11th (Saturday and Sunday) we will be taking part in the 12th year of the A.R.T. here at the studio!  Be sure and put us on your calendar if you can - we'd love to see you!

Have a great last few days of summer!

 

Plant of the Week - Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

Sneezeweed (Helenium autmnale)

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

 

Oops!  I posted the plant of the week on my "A Tallgrass Journal" blog site last week but forgot my art site...well here it is -

 

Sneezeweed - bless you!  Well, not really!  There's no pollen in the breeze and sneezing affected as such with this prairie forb...I always wondered why it got this name and the one place I found with a "story" behind the name was in the book "Restoring the Tallgrass Prairie" by Shirley Shirley, a University of Iowa Press publication...a book with some good info on germination and seed I might add.  Shirley Shirley mentions the use of this plant's leaves - dried and made into snuff "cause sneezing and supposedly ridding the body of evil spirits or clearing congestion.  Considered a good tonic by the pioneers."  So there ya go!

 

Sneezeweed (Helenium autmnale) with Monarch

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

This forb is listed as most commonly found on moist prairies and sites...on our property it exists on a hillside slope that isn't too terribly moist so it may be found in a variety of conditions.  It is one that needs full sun for the most part so ours fits that condition.
 

 Sneezeweed (Helenium autmnale) with native flies and bees

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

 

Sneezeweed is a late summer/early fall forb here, usually showing up with the flush of goldenrods and the beginning of asters.  And it is a great pollinator plant - attracting bees, wasps, butterflies and flies of all kinds!  It is said to cause "issues" with livestock grazing so that is something to be aware of if it occurs in grazed pastures - this would also make it a dominant forb in such a situation as livestock would tend to avoid it.

Catch the August bloomers while they're still with us - Sneezeweed, the goldenrods and the asters will be with us well into September though!