A Word About the Visual Arts

"How important are the visual arts in our society? I feel strongly that the visual arts are of vast and incalculable importance. Of course I could be prejudiced. I am a visual art." 

-- Kermit the Frog

Dennis Reinke painting Quiet Place watercolor during Rockies Plein Air Quick Draw competition in Estes Park, CO August 27, 2011

As the wife of a painter, I admit I'm prejudiced when it comes to the importance of visual art in our society. I know that a painting can do more than bring pleasure to the viewer, it can also inform. A work of art can act as a historical document. Before cameras and videos, artists captured entire cultures with their painting. Think of cave art and hieroglyphics. 

Dennis has been painting the Rocky Mountain National Park for quite a few years. Some scenes he previously painted have changed dramatically, either through natural disasters or ecosystem restoration and management. A part of the Park's landscape history lives on in his paintings. Of course, Dennis will tell you that his art is first and foremost his spiritual connection. And that is of "vast and incalculable importance" to him.

This year's Plein Air Rockies event came to a close on Saturday. But not before the 90-minute Quick Draw competition in the morning at Riverside Plaza. About 30 artists painted  under the beautiful Estes Park sky. . .

Dennis was the first to finish with his watercolor Quiet Place.

His interpretation of this scene. . .

The artists framed and hung their "wet" paintings for the auction, which immediately followed the Quick Draw. . .

I helped our friend Jeff keep track of the auction sales. . .

The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park sponsors the annual event, with the help of many contributors and volunteers. I'm glad I live in a community that supports the arts, but all the glory belongs to God the Creator. Without Him there would be no arts, visual or otherwise.

Praise the LORD! 

Praise the LORD from the heavens; 

Praise Him in the heights! 

Praise Him, all His angels; 

Praise Him, all His hosts! 

Praise Him, sun and moon; 

Praise Him, all stars of light! 

Praise Him, highest heavens, 

And the waters that are above the heavens! 

Let them praise the name of the LORD, 

For He commanded and they were created. 

He has also established them forever and ever; 

He has made a decree which will not pass away.

Psalm 148:1-6 

Nancy

Make Time for the Hummingbirds

"And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still."

Robert Frost, A Prayer in Spring

Getting things done is fine, but sometimes you have to make time for the hummingbirds. After dinner Friday night at our friends' home, we sat on their deck watching the petite birds drink from the feeder. It took several tries, but I managed to get a descent photograph of one darting bird. 

Here in the mountains most people keep a feeder near their house to attract the tiny creatures. Unfortunately, the sugary liquid in these feeders attracts bears too, so conscientious residents, such as our friends, take the feeders in at night. 

Hummingbirds fly at approximately 25 mph and flap their wings 60-80 times per second. (Yes, you read that right. 60-80 times per second.) They've been clocked at speeds in excess of 50 mph during courtship dives. This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "falling in love."

Even with time out for the hummingbirds, we still completed several projects here at the Reinke Homestead this past week:

When we designed our kitchen, we made room for a wall mounted pot rack. The one I had my eye on retails for $60 -$90. I found the exact one I wanted on Craigslist for $20, hooks included. It was a gray color that didn't really work with our oil rubbed bronze hardware, so I spray painted it with RustOleum ORB. It looks great and saved us at least $40 (spray paint included). . .

The money I saved on the pot rack paid for the kitchen cabinet pulls and knobs Dennis installed. . .

Several months ago I ran across a very cool DIY project at the Serendipity Chic Design blog. Lisa had made nightstands from an antique vanity she found at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. They were tall and narrow, just what I needed for our tall bed and small bedroom. One day I wandered into Furniture Connections, our little used furniture store here in Estes Park, where I found a small 1940's vanity for $25. It looked similar to this one. . .

I bought the vanity, took it home and stored it in the barn. While we were moving things around in the barn a couple of weeks ago, we came across my find. I knew I had to do something with it, so I asked Dennis to help me take it apart. He graciously obliged and I went to work. First I lightly sanded the pieces. Then I mixed up some colors from the miscellaneous leftover paint we have, ending up with a pretty close match to the buttercream and pink in our bedspread. Several coats of paint later, my nightstands were ready for their new home. Since there's no room for a nightstand on Dennis's side of the bed, I placed both nightstands next to each other on my side. Each one is only 12" wide, so there was plenty of room. I think they turned out pretty cute, and I like the extra drawer space I have now. . .

The Plein Air Rockies 2011 event has begun and Dennis is once again participating. I can't wait to see what he paints this year.

"Let every skillful man among you come, and make all that the LORD has commanded" Ex 35:10

Nancy

Autumn Days in RMNP and The Farmette

There's a subtle change in the air and in the landscape. The days are shorter and mornings are cooler. Bull elk are beginning to bugle in preparation for rutting. From our apartment I hear their strange sounds in the distance. This morning in RMNP I photographed a bull on a mountainside.  The third one I've caught on camera in the past week. They're such magnificent animals. I may start a whole page just devoted to the elk. (The bush in the foreground of the photo is full of fall color.)

Our backyard has changed from green, pink and purple -- to tan, brown and gold. 

Yesterday Dennis participated in the Lyons Farmette Plein Air.  A benefit for the Boulder County Arts Alliance. The farmette is a delightful place and I enjoyed capturing the event with my camera. The artists' work hung on trees and fences.

Dennis enjoyed painting the irrigation canal. 

Betsy, the farmette owner and host (along with her husband Mike) dubbed the painting Redneck Riviera, which is what they call the canal.

It's always a pleasure to meet the other artists. Seeing them paint with chickens scratching around them brought a smile to my face.

The gardens of the farmette are beautiful. So many lovely flowers to paint.

 

After Dennis finished painting, we took advantage of the delicious catered food and the fantastic music.

I love the quaintness of the farmette.

The farmette animals seem to love it, too.

Even on the farmette, autumn has arrived.

Tomorrow we head off on a road trip to the Western slope. More joy!