Artists Galore!!

Right before “lockdown” in 2020, Nigel and I traveled to Columbus, Ohio, a three hour trip. Ours wasn’t a “fateful trip”, or was it? Little did we know how tiny our lives were about to become! For more than 18 months, Nigel and I literally stayed home. This past week, we returned to Columbus, specifically the Franklin Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. This gem of a park/conservatory/museum is located in a neighborhood of downtown Columbus. If you have the chance to go, I highly recommend it!

Harvest Blooms

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The Conservatory is also home to a lovely botanical seasonal display. There is something for everyone here! My oldest granddaughter and I happened to go in 2019 during this same time of year. I was amazed by the pumpkin sculptures then as well as now. This year, the children’s area had these cute brooms set up. I really wanted to go to Pumpkins Aglow, but the weather was cold, foggy, and rainy. Since our hotel was a 45 minute drive away, we opted to bypass the evening program. From all of the lights dangling from trees and the pictures on the website, it looks like fabulous fun!

Faery gardens, pirate ships, and a giant spider!

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In this area of the botanical gardens, little faery houses and gardens abounded! No one was around so I felt free to indulge my inner child! I was intrigued by these stumps. I mean, they would tower over faeries, right? But, they were fun to play with! We didn’t get any shots of the pirate ship. It was a little underwhelming once we got to it. It was pretty one dimensional. The spider, though! Not one dimensional at all. I have a couple of friends who would run screaming from the picture!

As you can tell from the pictures, pumpkins are the stars of the show! There was an area featuring pumpkins carved by members. Pumpkins hung from the branches of the trees (I think these were artificial). Fancifully carved pumpkins lined the walkways. The little pumpkin house above was cute. But, I was missing the huge one made from all different colors of pumpkins as well as those misshapen, warty ones. After we finished taking pictures, we happened across it at the back of the gardens. We were in the moment by that time so no more picture taking!

Paul Busse Garden Railway Exhibit

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The Paul Busse Garden Railway (here) was a delightful exhibit of g-scale trains (that means nothing to me, but it might to you!). The exhibits were made from all natural plant material. And, there were different “lands” through which the trains traveled. I was amazed at the details. I loved watching the little kiddos running from one “land” to another. One of the pictures that caught my eye showed Paul Busse at 16 months old riding in a neighbor’s train caboose! You can read a little more about Paul Busse and his art here. And, he has an exhibit here in Indianapolis! Guess where we’ll be going soon!

Dale Chihuly!

Nigel and I first came across Dale Chihuly’s work in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2001. We were there celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. I admit I didn’t get it. Colored glass reeds sticking out of the ground? I didn’t understand how that was art. I liked other pieces in the installation, but I still did not understand the attraction.

A few years ago, we took a fabulous train trip from Chicago to Seattle to Los Angeles to New Orleans and back to Chicago! If you’re ever considering a train trip, don’t think twice! Do it! While in Seattle, we visited the Chihuly Garden and Glass (read more here) at the foot of the Space Needle. I was completely mesmerized. Perhaps, I’ll do a blog series just on that train trip. It was one of the highlights of my life! And, while there, I realized you don’t have to “get” art. You appreciate it; you drink it in; you feed your soul. Chihuly’s art moved me to tears at times. Beauty, in its many forms, does that to me. You can read much more about Dale Chihuly and his work here.

The Franklin Conservatory has a permanent installation of Chihuly’s work scattered throughout the biomes. I wouldn’t say they blend seamlessly into the landscape! They are gorgeous, otherworldly, and stand out against the different flora. Two years ago when I visited the Conservatory for the first time, they had a much larger installation of borrowed Chihuly pieces. Some of the pictures in the galleries below are from that visit.

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And, of course, there is an active hot shop just outside the Conservatory. If you get there early enough and during the active months (currently April to early January), you can watch a glass blower build vases, balls, and other baubles. It’s amazing to watch a molten glob of glass transform into a marbleized piece of art. My daughter, oldest granddaughter, and I visited a local hot shop and made glass flowers. Calling it a hot shop is a drastic understatement! I could barely keep my eyes open, and my mascara (I wish there had been a warning about this) kept melting and sticking my lashes together. This happened in about 30 seconds but felt like 30 minutes! If you’re at all interested in glass blowing, look for a hot shop close to you. Even if you don’t make something, you will be fascinated by the process!

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You can see a couple of the huge koi in this pond. This exhibit reminds me of another at the Chihuly Gardens in Seattle. In that exhibit, the walls and floors are black. The floors are highly polished so the art reflects off of the floor! If you ever get the chance to go to either Seattle or Columbus and you like this kind of art, do yourself a favor and go!! It is gloriously beautiful! Actually, just google Chihuly exhibits, and you may find one close to you!

One of my favorite artists, April Cornell!

Are you wondering why this post is labeled “Artists Galore!!” I’ve showcased two artists, Paul Busse and Dale Chihuly. And, now, I’m showcasing one of my favorite artists, April Cornell. If you’ve read my blog for even a little bit, you’ll know my love for April Cornell clothing runs deep. April, however, is not just a clothing designer, she is a real artist! I am constantly amazed at what she creates in the most obscure places. The floor of her flagship is a canvas for her. The outside of her store is another canvas. She even hides her paintings away! Don’t believe me? Watch this! Here’s a look at one of April’s paintings on the wall of her home! In fact, check out many of her videos to see her in action. April is also an avid wool felter! The fabric for most, if not all, of her designs is based upon her artwork! Every time I wear an April Cornell dress, skirt, or tunic, I feel I’m wearing a piece of art. Maybe it’s because I’ve actually met April, but I believe she also has an active desire to make all women feel beautiful. Her clothing makes me feel special and fabulous! And, if you’re into the “Cottage Core” look, April Cornell is truly made just for you! Please take a minute or an hour to check out April’s website. You may find yourself a convert!

The Lewk

I know this stunning dress reads as brown at times, but it’s a lovely shade of aubergine! I absolutely adore it! The floral design includes hints of blue, cream, and rust. The bodice and front hem are heavily embroidered in an ivory (tending toward gold) thread. The sleeves are three quarter on most people! On me, they are more like bracelet length. Made from moss crepe, this gorgeous dress (described as a tunic…hahaha) also has pockets! April Cornell dresses frequently have button-on tie backs to fit the dress to you. I’ve found those ties to be just a little too low for me. I’ve always planned to move the ties but have been too lazy to do it! Well, I moved the ties for this dress up to the top of the bodice embroidery. It provided just the right fit then. If you don’t like this version, there are two others (here and here). The leggings (similar) are from J Jill and are a couple of years old. Surprisingly, they were a complete match to the dress! But, as I look at these pictures, I’m not sure they are the best look. I think they make me look a little more dumpy than necessary. I’ll be on the lookout for tights that will work with the dress and the booties I’m going to wear with the dress. I cannot hem the dress because of the embroidery. I’m thinking of taking it apart at the bodice and shortening the skirt part. I had taken a pair of L’Artiste booties to wear, but I completely forgot to put them on. I only realized when we were well into the park! These are my Sofft sneakers. I wore a pair of Lagos blue topaz studs and a John Hardy Naga bracelet to accessorize my outfit. Because of the embroidered bodice, I decided to not wear any kind of necklace.

Wrap it up, Marsha!

In an ordinary year, Nigel and would take a couple of long trips and several short driving trips. Needless to say, we haven’t traveled much at all. In July (before I was blogging), we did rent a home on Hilton Head with our daughter and her family. I am not a fan of heat and humidity…what was I thinking? This, then, was our first “just us” trip. Nigel and I have a routine when it comes to traveling. I mean, we’ve been traveling together for almost fifty years! When we travel, we generally go to museums rather than theme parks and such. What about you? When you travel, are you a theme park person or an experience person (even though theme parks are experiences in their own right)? Do you like art installations like Chihuly? Or, do you prefer exhibits like the Paul Busse Garden Railway? Have you been traveling? Let’s have a conversation. Please leave a comment, and I promise to respond! And, feel free to share my blog with any of your friends. I am so glad you come by and visit!

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