Blue Ridge blog

Potty Art

Art really can turn a frown upside down.
I was checkin' out the scenery on the Georges Gap Rd and passed by a display of toilets I've wondered about for years. See, if you twist your head just right, you'll catch a glimpse of what appears to be a row of toilets peeping over the yard's horizon. But to date there was never any context to make sense of the partial view. Still, even finally piecing together the puzzle doesn't necessary make the scene completely rational, so we'll categorize this yard as art.
How did I finally capture these images?
Previously I was too timid to stop and ask permission to take photos because a person who collects toilets in their yard, well, their personality is difficult to predict. But today was the day to solve this mystery. I reckon I was channeling my inner Nancy Drew. I pulled into the driveway and knocked on the door. No answer. So I took it upon my nosy self to walk around to the side and get a good look-see. The owner uses the toilets as brilliant little utilitarian planters. And they please me, too. I especially like the bag of manure in the foreground which is used to fill the toilets with the necessary brown gold.
Some folks may see toilet art as tacky and weird, but I see it as quirky, fun and now I can't wait to meet the artist.

It is a new friends Friday.....

It is October in Valle Crucis. I ventured downtown to take a couple of shots and to pick up my mail. In the process I met two new friends.
First, I had the pleasure of meeting and conversing with Maria over at the Alta Vista Gallery and B&B. I lingered in the historic Farthing home which is covered in outstanding works by the likes of local artists B. Jean Baird and J. Sporn. I'm nosey so I slipped around to the side of the house and saw this little guy wearing his fall colors. Maria told me that he is one of the most photographed item by visitors. Naturally, I did the obvious and snapped a photo of the Valle Crucis Nameless Gnome.
Afterwards, I slipped by the Mast Store where I was introduced to Stewart Little (Hush. I'm sure he's never heard any of the jokes you're thinking right now.) Come to find out, Little is a photographer and has a Flickr site with some great photos of the area posted. This is one of my favorites.

Keeping it real

This is a photo I took yesterday morning while leaving Valle Cruics Park.
Today, I haven't done much other than change out bloody gauze for fresh and ponder images in a Joyce Tenneson book given to me by a dear friend.
Let me explain.
My baby had her wisdom teeth extracted today. As her caregiver, I have stayed by her side, patting her hand, dutifully exchanging ice packs, but mostly forcing pain pills down her gullet. When she has not been lucid, I have enjoyed picking up the book and gazing at the photographs within, wondering at her art.
My friend, an accomplished photographer himself, was fortunate to spend a week at a Maine workshop studying with Tenneson. Before his departure I had told him of my insane envy because Tenneson is one of my favorite American female photographers. I was introduced to her work back in 1997 during a gallery showing in New Orleans. She was experimenting heavily with polaroid products at the time and her portrait images were etheral and haunting. And they still are.
My friend met me at the doctor's office and sat with me while my daughter was under the knife, all the while entertaining me with the details of his adventure and keeping me from worry.
Then he gave me the book. Inscribed by Tenneson inside is:
"For Marie, A Lady of Courage and Grit! Joyce 2007"
I laughed outloud when I read the words and said to my friend,
"She doesn't know me."
He replied,
"No, but I told her about you."
Somehow, I loved his words best of all.

Want to know other contemporary American female photographers I admire?
Sally Mann, Mary Ellen Mark, check out this photo she made down in Valdese. And then there is the not so contemporary because she is dead, Diane Arbus. Last but not least is Cindy Sherman.

Music Fest in Sugar Grove

Doc Watson is a self-professed 'musician of the people' who tries to stay away from pedestals, yet I can't help but place him up there in my mind. Any day I get to listen to him sing is a treat. Today I listened to him play to the press for an upcoming performance at the Music Fest in Sugar Grove this weekend.
Next on my day's agenda: Sit with dragonflies.
Oh, I love my job today...

P.S. This is the 10th annual MusicFest and I'd like to note that all the bands are from North Carolina. O.k., so the Kruger Brothers are originally Swiss, but they like North Carolina mountains the best.

P.S.S. Oh how in the world am I gonna cover both the MusicFest and the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games? Hope the parking press pass gods are smiling upon me;) Really--this is work.

P.S.S.S. Welcome all of y'all from the Delphi Forum. Yep, Doc is 84 years old, but I assure you from what I heard yesterday, the man has his mind and music all together. He is a wonder!

Ttv Mast Store and Ttv Harley..

I have grass stained knees and that's a good thing. It means I've been outside shooting and the weather is warm enough for me to exchange my wintertime uniform of jeans and hoodie for that of my springtime extravagant white t-shirt and running shorts. Last week sometime, Kathleen Connally of Durham township posted a photo on her blog of a daffodil shot through the viewfinder(Ttv) of an old camera. At first I thought it was just Kathleen creating her usual groovy photos and I didn't want to copy her style. But then as I was looking over the works of another fantastic photographer, Bonnie, I saw she had a whole flickr set of Ttv photos. It was then I thought to myself, whoa, I can finally make use of some of the old cameras I have in my collection. I certainly don't have the process down pat, but am thrilled to be using my Spartus Full-Vue and Brownie Reflex cameras. Ttv is a well known craze and even though I am late, I'm still jumping on board...
Now y'all 'scuse me. I need to go scrub my knees and dress for my daughter's final performance with the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra. They are playing Stravinsky's 'Firebird.'

**Update**
The Spartus Full-Vue camera was my dad's a VERY LONG TIME AGO. And Dad, Harley sends her love.
**Update#2**
Oh LOOK! photographer Ron of Dujour does Ttv as well. I'm late to the party.

Watching me watching you...

These guys would barely gave me a second look. After securing several 'safe' shots from my Jeep, I had to get out of the car, walk closer towards them, wave my hand above my head and yell, " Hey y'all, look at me dammit." Finally they did. Snap. This shot.

Lots going on this weekend and next, but there are a couple of happenings that are near and dear to my heart so thought I'd share 'em with you:

1- Scott's newest book 'They Hunger' is on the bookshelves. It's like Deliverance meets Eric Rudolph meets Vampire bats. Read on...

2- Mark Smith is Valle Crucis' Hollywood connection. Smith is a screenwriter and director and his newest film is 'Vacancy' starring Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale. The movie opens on April 20th. Watch the trailer. On a personal note, Mark's wife is my friend and birthday buddy. We were both born on April 9, 1963. Our daughters also share the same birthday as well as being spin class fanatics.

3- The Appalachian Roots Revival is next weekend. My paper is sponsoring the event. I will be there.

4- The Boone Music Reunion is next weekend as well. It is a get together of Boone bands from the late 70's-90's. The organizers have worked hard to collect and archive mp3's from 28 Boone, North Carolina bands. Wish I could be at the Gamekeeper. On a personal note, my college roomate, Ruth B. married Opposition guitarist Dave Hubner. Last I heard, Dave had achieved the rank of Lt. Col and was the TF-1-77 Commander based out of Germany. He had served at least one tour in Iraq. Ruth and David have two boys and are living who know where? I bet Dave still plays the guitar and Ruth is right there swooning. She better still have my pink sweater I gave her...

Sal's garden; everywhere you look is like discovering colorful Easter Eggs...

My treat for you today is a small collage of 3 dimensional follies by Sal Kapunan, a taoist hillbilly artist. Sal lives in the Grand Boulevard bungalow neighborhood adjacent to King Street in Boone. Just about as long as I can remember, Sal has decorated his yard, house, roof, wife and even the Appalachian Cultural Museum with his pumped up versions of whirly-gig yard art. Yes, he has a book which investigates most of his individual work, but this link takes you to a brief, yet thorough description of his kooky, whacked out art--and I mean that in the most delightful way. As I followed down his garden path today, I was blatantly aware I was trespassing, but only because his eye candy was too difficult to refuse. As I photographed his works I thought to myself, "This is a man who likes to see other people smile." I know it made me.

And speaking of candy. While doing a bit of Easter basket shopping, I fell victim to The Candy Barrel Yikes. Today my favorite candy in the whole wide world is the Neapolitan Coconut Slice.