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Long stretches of
roads were flanked on both sides by acres and miles with wide-open
views. The land, sky and both large or small bodies of water were too
strong not to be felt even though driving kept my attention.Tall clumps
of burnt red grasses waving in the wind told of a good rainy season
earlier in the year. Strong healthy cattle grazed on the pastures either
in groups or sometimes scattered over a large range. Reflected in the
water were the puffy white clouds floating along with the same abandon I
felt as I was on my way to an art-book-craft show in Stillwater, a town
only around forty miles away. This was to give me a break from daily
humdrum chores.
The Best Western
Motel is probably one of Stillwater's nicest and it was the host for the
area craft people. There were tall open arches for entry ways on the
front. No warning was given for what was to greet the guest who entered
there on this day of gathering together artists and artisans. Some early
birds already had their creations exhibited and in place. Others were
carefully erecting modern looking racks. No heavy out of place display,
here. Instead the wire supports were airy and light. Their purpose was to
hold the artwork and not to take up any visual place for themselves. Their
job was obviously to hold the beauty of the artist's work. This was as it
should be because so much of the artwork was so unbelievably breathtaking
it was hard to move away from one to another.
Lavender soaps,
sachets, bath salts; wood turnings from tree gnarls; photography so
striking and strong it was like something alive; beadwork from tiny beads
and brilliant to make the piece like fabric; wood carvings intricate and
delicate; stained glass pieces something to covet at any price, and these
were only to mention a few.
Years ago Mother and
I had started carrying our card table around to the shows we together had
arranged. One by one we began to find people who were willing to go for a
day in order to display their crafts. As the years progressed folks picked
up on the fun and pleasure of meeting together with others who were
equally as interested in working with an art or craft. To look around at
this classy show that was of well planned spaces and orderly displays,
was a far cry from what we originally had done. This was one hunderd times
better. If I stopped a moment, I could make myself believe the city of
Dallas was around me rather than the small prairie town of Stillwater,
Oklahoma.
One of the displays
was a use of photography in a unique way. She took pictures of old
homesteads and super imposed ghostly figures of people who may have lived
there into the picture. Her calendars, cards, t-shirts and cups with this
photography were definitely different. It was a tongue in cheek approach
to a subject that might have been just an old house and which held little
interesting before the figures were put there in their hazy forms. I had
to have one of her calenders as she poked fun at old pictures of farm
life. This will be a great gift for my daughter-in-law who likes to joke
about their farming endeavors.
Anyway, my mind has
been refreshed, revived, renewed just from gazing upon the exciting
exhibits at the Best Western Motel, December 2004. Now let some fancy
therapist, explain this to me. The only reason I can see is that there is
so much strong, good energy, involved. To see others directing their
strength, mind and thoughts to creating works of art some how or another
ties into our own mind and we are able to regroup, look again and get
ready for the next challenge. Something like, “If someone else can do it,
so can I!”
Was this the reasoning
behind the Welch people's dedication to their crafts and which made them
the only nation England could never completely conquer? It was told even
after the English built castles on their lands the people of Wales would
set their crafts below the castles, where upon the inhabitants of the
massive structures came out to frequent their booths. In this way they
mingled with the Welch and many were absorbed. So, even then there was
merit in the practice. |
