October 26, 2008

Way's Fruit Farm, Stormstown, Pennsylvania
photo by Sharon Lee

Sarah comes a Callin'

I've avoided getting political on this blog as everywhere you turn someone is praising or cursing one of the two presidential and vice presidential candidates but lo and behold Sarah Palin came to Way's Fruit Farm (a mere five minute walk from my home) to get a pumpkin with her daughter. It's unusual that she would visit such a remote area when most of the candidates and their supporters regularly stop in either State College or University Park only twenty minutes away.

I'm not sure how much a trip to Way's Fruit Farm cost Ms. Palin's supporters. I know that she was in Johnstown earlier in the day (1-1/2 hours southwest so perhaps she and daughter were passing through on their way to bigger and more populated places. Perhaps her campaign strategist thought a stop at "real America" would boost their support and perhaps it did. The day following the visit the Way's had a larger than life McCain-Palin sign.

Watching the election campaign has been interesting if nothing else. Barack Obama bowled in Altoona. Sarah Palin bought a pumpkin in Stormstown. Not sure what any of this has to do with running a troubled country.

Peace Always
Sharon

October 25, 2008

My Riff with Jack

I have never understood the Jack-o-Latern. Before I go on I must interject that I have for the past 19 years secured a pumpkin for my daughter, carved out the guts, an indication of eyes, nose and mouth and lit it from within with a stubby candle. The glamour of the pumpkin lasts at most an hour when the fruit is fresh and unblemished with rot.

Only in a culture of excess would it be acceptible to nuture a rotten piece of food on the counter for a week up to several. Although perfectly edible Jack-O-lanterns are traditional not used for food-their purpose is that strickly of decor. A few months ago my only child moved into her own place prompting an reassessment of my surroundings. This year the only pumpkins that will be brought into the house will be meant for pumpkin muffins, pie or pudding.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 24, 2008

Yesterday, accompanied by a friend who owns a pick-up truck we headed to Pittsburgh (2-1/2 hours southwest) to pick up my artwork from the Fein Art Gallery. Showing at this gallery was an expensive though useful experience and had the article in this issue's, Art Calendar about "vanity" galleries come out a month and a half sooner, I might have learned the same thing at a much reduced cost. Anyway onward.

As we were driving through the dark mountains away from the city to our rural community of darkness we imagined my art work in the bed of the truck, in particularly the menstruating puppet from the Menstruation Theatre, flying out of the bed and landing in a well lit (preferably) intersection (Super Sheetz, McDonalds, strip mall at a stop light). I recreated the scene in the road in front of my house to pass on the full illusion.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 22, 2008

Cuff design-Angela Keslar
Hand model-Meagan Brandt
Photography by Sharon Lee

Everybody raise your hands!

I've decided to vote this presidential election according to the candidates hands. My criteria includes: looks, grace and movement. Hands down (pun intended Barack Obama has a large lead over Sen. McCain.

Here are the reason's why:

Skin Color
Barack Obama has finger skin the color of a milk chocolate Hershey bar, a beautiful smooth mellow brown color.

John McCain has hands the color of Gluten-free rice bread-whitish grey with a hardness and chalky texture

Barack Obama uses his hands in a fluid and graceful way such as a dancer uses his or her body in a performance. It is magnetizing to watch.

John McCain pumps his tightened fist in a repetitive pound not unlike the pistons of a car engine. He also counts weird with his hands while he is making a multiple layed point.

Barack Obama looks as if he has smooth manicured nails. Most likely this is done in secret as the press would be all over him for such an indulgence. I imagine Michele pushing cuticles back with an orange stick and buffing his nails to a lovely sheen behind closed doors late at night.

John McCain looks like the kind of guy that gnaws off his nails then rubs them against a rock to smooth things out.

I'd like to include Sarah Palin's hands possibly giving John the nudge he needs to make the race closer than it is but I suspect there are dried pieces of wolf, polar bear and bull shit underneath her nails which would be smelly and unsightly making including her a bad idea.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 21, 2008

Internal Dialog
2004
acrylic on masonite
48" x 48"

A day full of fabulous dimentional clouds-grey and white with peaks of intense blue skies.

After a day of excilerating balloon soaring I decided to keep my feet closer to the ground. unfortunately that involved much vehicle driving running errands which left me just a short time for panting. I've started a new painting. No vision yet where it is to go. I just know what has to express through this painting for it to feel completed. (hope that makes a lick of sense).

For me painting stories on my canvases are much like writing fiction based on non-fictional characters and events. It is the best of both worlds where you can use stranger than fiction and make things work out in a manner that feels correct to the creator.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 20, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee


With a threat of snow (at least in the Northern regions of central Pennsylvania) and clear skies for a good part of the day, I decided to take out my hot air balloon for one more lift this season, cruise to Bethlehem, Pa and visit a wonderful vegan bakery, Vegan Treats. This bakery has nailed vegan baking in fact I would hold any of their baked goods, tiramisu, sticky buns, eclairs, cookies to any other bakery vegan and non vegan alike.

As I gassed up the ballon and headed home I bit into a delicious jelly donut, dripping sweet freshly made strawberry jam onto my jacket while looking at the most spectacular foliage against a blue-grey sky (perfect color for accenting the vivid reds, orange, yellows, browns, purples and greens). Life doesn't get any better than this.

Peace Always

Sharon

P.S. Just kidding I wanted to see if anyone was paying attention

October 19, 2008

Because my art is based on personal experiences, issues or observations with/from friends, family and acquaintances are usually part of a painting. At times, I suppose, this can be uncomfortable for some to be publicly exposed in such a manner. I try to keep this in mind while at the same time not compromise the vision I have and what it is I want to say.

Such is the case with my latest start. Several days of metamorphosing the person who is to be exposed into a bird, toad, then alien I was inspired by an old Mexican woodcarving that I had acquired many years ago. The figure is in a position which speaks to the experience I want to share. Tomorrow I will translate the woodcarving on to paper then transfer to the canvas where I can begin to paint.

Peace Always

Sharon