Real Men Wear Kilts

I couldn't resist the chance to hear bagpipes being played, and what better place than the yearly Gathering of the Scottish Clans. Just 50 miles north of Austin, the historic town of Salado has been hosting this celebration of all things Scottish since 1961. The weekend schedule of activities includes not only piping and drumming, but a "Bonniest Knees" contest, Highland dancing, a Scottish shortbread competition and the Highland Games.

Pipers strolled the grounds warming up for the judges who consider

the timing, tuning, expression and execution of the bagpipes. The

Peobaireachd is the classic music of the great Highlanders.

 

The "Sheaf Toss" requires a 16 pound block to be tossed over the bar.
The bar represents a bale of hay.

          Pipers of all ages from Central Texas perform and compete during the weekend.

The tartan has become the symbol of the Scottish people.

Tartan patterns are called "sett". The variety of tartans

has never stopped growing, and almost every surname

from the British Isles has been associated with a Clan

and their tartan.

A bit of Scottish humor- A Scots boy came home from school and told his mother he had been given a part in the school play."Wonderful," says the mother. "What part is it?" The boy says, "I play the part of the Scottish husband." The mother scowls and says, "Go back and tell your teacher you want a speaking part."

                                                

One Man's Trash.....

Hello, and  yes, you are on the right page.  I am trying out some different blog formats and inevitably there will be some kinks as I navigate my way through these changes.  Unfortunately, I do not have control over every design aspect, so please bear with me as things evolve. 


If you haven't already seen the current El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You About Africa exhibition at the Blanton Museum, then you are in for a treat. The exhibit, a retrospective of the artist's work over the past forty years, is on loan from the Museum for African Art in New York City. It is traveling across the country and The Blanton is the only venue in the Southwest to have this exhibit.

El Anatsui does not dictate the exact way each piece is hung, so the overall configuration can vary with each exhibit

El Anatsui is a West African artist whose luminous work is made of liquor bottle caps,

aluminum cans and found metal objects. He transforms discarded metal into stunning monumental free-standing tapestries. 

Born in Ghana, he now lives in Nigeria where he is a professor of sculpture at the University of Nigeria.

A close up of the intricate work in these metal sculptures

The man standing in front of this piece gives an idea of the large scale
of El Anatsui's work

On close inspection, you can see some of the brand names on the flattened
metal pieces

Before the 1970's, Anatsui worked with wood and ceramics. Included in the exhibit are some of his chain saw sculptures that evoke the changing African culture and experience during colonialism.

* Remember, museum admission is free on Thursdays, and parking is validated.    

Fire and Sand

The first time saw Dale Chihuly's work was at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  Odd that I would discover this Tacoma native so far from home.  Seeing his spectacular chandelier suspended from several stories above the grand entrance room, took my breath away. There are now more than 200 museums around the world that include Chihuly's glass art among their collections.


I could go on and on about the amazing creations of this sometimes controversial artist, but I would rather you see for yourself, the beauty and genius of his work.

The V & A installation 2001, London

Part of Chihuly's artistry lies in the way he is able to capture the feeling of movement in his glass.

2005 exhibition in Kew Gardens, London

Chandelier suspended from a glass gabled roof

                                        

                                        "Chihuly Bridge of Glass" 

 Pedestrians walk below this 500 foot overpass that connects dowtown Tacoma

with the Museum of Glass. Over two thousand glass objects are suspended above the glass ceiling, creating a sensation of underwater brilliance. The Austin-based architectural firm, Andersson-Wise collaborated with Chihuly on the development of the concrete and steel bridge that serves as a backdrop and frame for the artist's work.

I've included a short video made by Dale Chihuly.  Please click
below to view. 

  

Chihuly video

Images of Autumn

Fall is my favorite time of the year. The color of pumpkins, cooler temperatures and the anticipation of the upcoming holidays fill the air. Once again, I can hear the Friday night sounds of high school bands playing at the nearby football field.
I haven't spotted any fall color, except for a few leaves on a Japanese maple, so I have added one picture that I took while in Asheville, N.C.  It wasn't the peak of the season, but I'm sure you can tell which of these pictures is not like the others.

Every year the front lawn at Tarrytown United Methodist turns bright orange for the annual pumpkin sale. I think it must be the biggest pumpkin patch in town.

                               

                     


          

These are better than any candy apples I remember