Crystal Bridges, Forest Lights, & Fall Foliage

Last weekend we ventured to Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, AR, to see the North Forest Lights exhibit again. We saw it at the end of 2019 and loved it. Rather than lug my camera around, I took pictures with my phone.  Alas, those pix were lost in cyberspace whilst trying to update and sync my iPhone and a new iPad. But the exhibit is the same with just a few minor additions, so click here to see the same photos taken in 2019.

Irony - in 2019 my lens fell off the camera and tumbled over a bridge rail. This time I lost some pix off the phone. If we ever go again, I think I'll just leave all electronic gear at home.

We stayed at the exhibit until 10:30pm. It's such a magical, mystical, enchanting walk through the woods. They're saying this is the final run for North Forest Lights, so better get your tickets and get over there!

Curved hallway.

Dale Chihuly glass sculpture.

The next day, we toured the museum and walked the surrounding trails. It's a top notch art museum and the grounds are gorgeous.

This is from the "Infinity Mirror Room."  We took some video but it got lost. It's beautiful to experience. If you want to see someone else's video of it, click here.

I had to include this picture. I think it looks like the Borg queen from Star Trek: First Contact (picture on the right). It's actually supposed to be the famous dancer, Martha Graham. Not sure I'd be flattered if I were she.

I love mixed media art and sculpture. I always say "art is everywhere and in everything."

This photo is not out of focus. That's how this piece really looks in person. I thought it was a quartz of some sort or some strange coral thing. It's made of 1000's of buttons! See description below:

I'm pretty sure those are Dale Chihuly glass balls in the water. I saw the same thing at one of his exhibits in OKC.  He has several pieces at the museum - even outside! There's one in particular that is huge & part of Forest Lights.

(from 2019)

I asked a docent how they protect it in bad weather. He said they don't! And if a piece were to get damaged, Dale would just replace the broken bits. He said the only time one of the spirals have gotten broken was when a deer hit it. They got the culprit on camera too!

This installation is outside. It was one of my favorites.

900 silver spheres are sitting on the pond.

The artist must have known that everyone would stop in front of it and take a selfie. So, can you guess what he called this?

"Narcissus Garden"

It was a perfect fall day. Sunshine, mild temps, and beautiful leaf color.

The giant spider used to stand at the entrance courtyard. They've enclosed the courtyard with a beautiful domed skylight and moved spidey outside where he belongs.

There are several bridges, but not a single one made of crystal :(

There's just nothing better to soothe the soul than a walk through the woods on a fall day.

Below is another Chihuly glass sculpture. It's on one of the trails.

And finally, here is my (silver) Tree of Gondor waiting to greet you or bid you adieu at the museum entrance.

 The whole Crystal Bridges complex is world-class. I highly recommend a visit!

Another Small Town

Last weekend, I felt like taking a drive on a pleasant weather Sunday. Not too far, and maybe someplace that might serve up an interesting photo or two. 

Just up the road lies Claremore, Oklahoma, former home of American humorist, Will Rogers. After all my years here, I just learned that he was born in a Cherokee family and his father was a leader in the Cherokee Nation.

My husband is always such a good sport for me and my camera :) You could actually read the content of the newspaper. I wonder if it was based on a real newspaper from the published date (1837 or thereabouts)?

Pretty much everything was closed for Sunday in downtown Claremore. They have several antique stores that I always enjoy browsing when I visit, but only one was open that day.

But I can always spot a bit of architecture that interests me. What do you see in the wood in the image above?

Notice the blackbird sitting on the window ledge? 

Some ladies were setting up for a baby shower in the town square gazebo.

Some building art.

A quaint little cafe.

 It was a short walk around town but the convertible ride to get there was worth it! 

Just Some Random Pix

It's time for some new pictures! I'm tired of looking at the last post already.

I was going through my folders looking for something specific and came across a folder from 2012 labeled AprilMayMisc.

So here's a collection of random photos. Some were taken at an art deco building in downtown during a photography class field trip. Talk about random - that turquoise chair...! I think another student brought it along as a prop and we dragged it all over downtown.

Who knows how this pic of a mess of wallpaper got in that folder. If I remember correctly, that was around the time we were redoing the bathroom and I probably thought that pile would make a neat texture image. Which, I think, it kinda does!

I like these old lamps and details in the ceiling, too. Totally reminds me of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. There are dozens (maybe hundreds?) of medieval lanterns or lamps hanging from the ceiling. You can feel the ancientness there. I expected that old crusader from Indiana Jones to appear at any moment.

But this is not the Church of the Nativity. These images are from one of Tulsa's famous art deco buildings.

Not sure where these flowers were, but I liked the contrast above and the shape below. Told you this was a folder of randomness.

I really want to write an interesting blog but there just hasn't been anything burning on my mind lately! I seem to be in a creative flat space. I figured I'd start by just manipulating some old pictures and maybe it will stir up those juices. Might have to repeat the process a few times, but this is a start :) 

PS: Yep - that chair was from a photography class on urban wedding portraits. One of my least favorite classes. Here's a couple photos from that session.

While it was fun shooting around downtown, and this model was very nice and game for anything, there were some really aggressive and obnoxious students in that class. They acted like papparazzi.  I think that class is the reason I don't do weddings as the principal photog. I like being the second photographer and getting the photojournalism shots.

One guy especially stands out in my memory. He would jump in front of other students to get his shot and when we had class critiques, he was pretty cruel. Who knows, he's probably making megabucks as a wedding photog now. Or a celebrity papparazzi.