Art In The School on Ocracoke..... The Students and Their Creations

Today I'll begin to attempt to explain the scope of my experience of teaching on Ocracoke Island as a visiting artist in Ocracoke Alive's partnership with the school.  It's been overwhelming in the best possible way!  It's hard to know where to start, so I'll begin today at the heart of it all with The Students and Their Creations.  

While I was on Ocracoke, I was asked to work with students in 4th through 8th grade; home school students of all ages were also included.  To say that these young folks are amazing would be an understatement.  They were enthusiastic, well behaved, funny, and engaging.  Without exception, I enjoyed my time with each and every one of them.

It was interesting to watch the manner in which they approached their projects.  Some dove right in with reckless abandon; others were more thoughtful in planning their creations.  With only forty-five minutes per class, including travel time, we added additional after school sessions for all who were interested in attending.

The pictures that follow will share my time with them in a manner that words can't possibly express.  

Students at Work

 

Their Creations

Artists With Their Creations

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So many folks contributed to the success of my time on Ocracoke, and I'm grateful to each and every one of you!  Names aren't being named here, because I'm afraid that I'll miss someone.  Instead, I hope that you know who you are, and that you'll accept an extra hug around your neck as an expression of my gratitude the next time we meet.  

To read more about how I learned about this opportunity, the Ocracoke Community, and our Retreats on Ocracoke, please visit our ReMe Retreats Website by clicking here.

Our Field Trip to Brown's Hardware

When I was a kid, I loved going to The Hardware Store in Caste Village with my Dad.

Today it's hard for me to pass a Hardware Store without stopping.  Upon entering, one whiff of that-old-time-hardware-store-smell takes me right back.  It's a combination of fertilizer, oil, and history; and it hints at the treasures waiting to be discovered.

Recently during our ReMe Retreats Planning Session, we indulged in a brief field trip to Brown's Hardware in nearby Mt. Gilead.  What a treat!  Joe and Misty made us feel welcome, and they indulged us in a behind the scenes tour with plenty of time for photos.  A few of them follow:

LOVE this piece!
Each drawer is crafted
from a vintage cheese box.

The stump!
The anvil!
The hand tools!

Damned camera.  lol!

A full service store, with a touch of irony.

At the end of this aisle, in the middle of the steps,
is a door that led us to a
behind-the-scenes glimpse....

...of an area that seemed to be frozen in time.

Eclectic collections.

Seemingly random parts and pieces.

If these walls could talk!

Given its abandoned feel,
by nature a little bit creepy.

NOBODY puts Baby
in the corner!

 

 

 

 

February Folk Art and Fearrington

Just a peek at the corner of the mural on
Beggars and Choosers.  Crazy beautiful!
Created by
Lanelle Davis and Beth Goldston.

Yesterday, I enjoyed every minute of one of my favorite annual traditions here in North Carolina.  Our pilgrimage to The Fearrington Folk Art Show.  I've been attending this show with friends since I first moved to North Carolina.  Through the years, the show has gone from being the focal point of our day to being our destination AND the source of inspiration for the adventures that follow it too.  Those in attendance may ebb and flow; but the one certainty is that we always have a ball!

At 8:30 AM, OT (OT=Our Time, which is 15 minutes or so later than regular ole EST.), we met at The Pig (The Piggly Wiggly in Vass, North Carolina is a place where some of our most memorable adventures begin.).  We made a beeline for Fearrington, with two quick detours first to gaze upon the amazing murals in Downtown Pittsboro.

The Art Cars greeted us in the parking lot; we had coffee at The Goat; and we entered the show shortly after it opened.

Miz Thang and The Cap Man were front and center outside this year.  Inside, we were overstimulated in the best possible way.  How could we not have a wonderful time?  We were with old and new friends in a warm setting surrounded by the most amazing variety of all form and fashion of Folk Art!  

Well said!

Just a peek at the show itself.  Pure magic!

With our in-the-moment-mindset, we proceeded to lunch at my favorite restaurant in Pittsboro, Small B&B Cafe.  Great people, delectable food, an environment that's choc-full of Folk Art...and the soon-to-be-home of The Small Museum of Folk Art.  Trust me.  When you're in Pittsboro, just visit!

Fundraising for this exciting project is ongoing.  Please click the photo above.
"Like" their Facebook Page.  And stay tuned for additional updates.

During our time there, we were joined by some sweet friends and amazing artists from Greensboro. Theirs is a story that deserves its own post, so more on them later this week.

Next, based on their glowing recommendation, we were off to Rusted Roots in Hillsborogh, NC.  It...and the other stores in the area...absolutely rocked!  We shopped until they closed on us, and I feel certain that a return trip is in order in the not-too-distant-future.

We meandered from one place to another yesterday with no real agenda in mind, and it was pure bliss.  Our final stop of the day led us to the studio of Sam Ezell.  Oh what fun we had!  Sam welcomed us with open arms.  We were able to catch a peek at the tools of his trade and of his work in process, while he allowed Lori to play Vanna White.  She took us on a tour of virtually every finished piece in his studio.  Happily this time I remembered to take photos!

Sam's studio with a few of his birdhouses on display.

Mary and Sam.

Sam and Lori.

Sam and Me...and Elvis photo bombing.

Sam and Me with Miz Lib.

Sam's Art Truck.

The perfect end to a day of Folk Art...

...and it looks like Gracie approves my selection.

 

It's All About That May - Eavesdropping on Dinner During ReMe - Ocracoke - May 2014

Yesterday, amid the snow and ice here in North Carolina, I took a visual trip down memory lane on The ReMe Retreats Blog.  That post was all about our ReMe Retreat - Ocracoke - October 2014.

Today, I'd like to take you on the briefest of audio tours of our ReMe Retreat - Ocracoke - May 2014.  Unbeknownst to those in attendance, I allowed my video camera to roll during our celebratory dinner at the end of the week.

(Not to worry, Ladies!  There will be no images of you gracefully and demurely dining on our Traditional Seafood Boil.  Ha!  Instead you'll hear the sweet sounds of your voices, and I hope that you'll enjoy this as much as I did.)

It's hard to describe what the women in attendance at both of our ReMe Retreats - Ocracoke - 2014 mean to me.  We fondly refer to each other as "ReMe Sisters"; they're in my heart daily; and my life was forever changed by them.

I'm looking forward to all that 2015 will hold for each of us, and the day that this soundtrack will begin again, live and in person, on Ocracoke Island.

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Videotaping became a habit for my at both ReMe Retreats in 2014.  This is the first of many that I'll share with you here.

Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This...

A Frog for All Seasons

... but she never mentioned that the days could stretch into weeks...or months...or even years! ;-)

It's been that kind of season for me. I've been rolling along, trying to take one day, and even one moment at a time. Slowly but surely, I'm making positive progress.

As I was dealing with the day-to-day chaos of life, I all but completely withdrew from my online presence. I was absent from Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and my blogs; and I apologize for my absence.

The good news is that I'm back, and I'm feeling stronger than I have in quite some time.

Thank you for understanding that I just couldn't squeeze one more thing into my days.

And most of all, thank you for being patient with me.