Congratulations to Mary on her victory in the Whacko Yard Art Photo Scavenger Hunt. As promised, Mary will recieve a Geek Prom T-shirt and Space Patrol walkie talkies. I’m also throwing in a used copy of Cinderella’s 1988 hit album Long Cold Winter, since the contest ended on the first day of spring.
The Whacko Yard Art Photo Scanvenger Hunt is over and the finalists are Mary and Mark. (Sorry, Barrett, but you missed the deadline. Those rules are there for a reason, mister.)
I said I’d allow comments to sway my decision, so those with a strong opinion on who should win have until … oh, let’s say noon … to make their voices heard. After lunch I’ll return from my chambers with a decision.
Now, I don’t know if this counts, because I took these pictures back in September and I don’t know if it’s still standing (it looks like parts of it were made out of papier-mâché, so I’m not sure how it would’ve fared through the winter months), but it was definitely in a yard and it was definitely art.
And yeah, definitely a little whacko, too.
(East Superior Street, near the Northland Country Club, 9/21/08.)
I love Christmas trim! The more, the merrier, I always say. Fortunately, that’s not an uncommon sentiment in the Ashland area, so around Christmastime there’s plenty to enjoy.
One shining jewel in the Garland City’s crown? This fabulous yard display on the east end of town:
I love it! There’s so much, it’s hard to find an angle to get it all in the frame at once!
Now, heaps of Christmas trim alone don’t make this whacko yard art. I get that. The devil’s in the details on this one:
1. This picture was taken on Tuesday. This week.
2. The people who own this house are known around town as “The Cowboy and Mrs. Cowboy.” (They run the local Subway franchise, and like all local fast food franchise operators, they are local celebrities.) Also: The Cowboy sidelines as an Abraham Lincoln impersonator every February.
3. While the majority of this display is store-bought and/or inflatable, there are some fabulous homespun touches throughout that really shouldn’t be missed. My favorite: the Santas up front…especially Patriot Santa.
Oh, yeah, and they squeezed a little Jesus in there, too.
Petus Rockus. This rock was found in Keene Creek, left here by the Wisconsin Glacier 23,648 years ago. Placed on this stand May 1985 by Ken Seehus.
Please come out and enjoy a Perfect Duluth Day sale this Saturday, March21st at Bohemia Arts from 10am to 3pm.
ALL ART SUPPLIES and GIFTS 50% OFF for PDD perusers!! Just mention this post to receive your discount.
There is still much to be had, but supplies are limited!
BOHEMIA ARTS- 22 N. 1st Ave W Downtown Duluth 722.2919
*and though gasping it’s last, dying breaths, it’s not dead yet. there is open studio figure drawing every saturday from 10-Noon for $8 and upcoming art shows and music.
“QED”, starring Brian Matuszak & Cheryl Skafte, and directed by Minden Anderson.
March 20-22 at the Shack
Good food, great show!
Call (715) 392-3463 and reserve your spot soon!
While running errands today I came across this lovely piece of yard art. I’m posting it as a challenge, because I know you can do better. And because a piddly blizzard like today’s is no excuse to stay inside.
Announcing the PDD Wacko Yard-art Photo Scavenger Hunt
You have until 10 p.m. next Thursday, March 19, to post the most awesome yard art photo on this Web site.
“QED” by Peter Parnell
March 13-15 and 20-22
Starring Brian Matuszak and Cheryl Skafte
Directed by Minden Anderson
Physics can be fun! At least when taught by Richard Feynman, the real-life Nobel Prize winning physicist who also frequented topless bars, played bongos, and appeared in college theater productions. Oh yeah, he also figured out the atomic bomb and the space shuttle Challenger explosion.
Call (715) 392-3463 for tickets and a delicious dinner!
Tickets are $20 in advance – $25 at the door
You're invited to Aaron McLeod's Senior Art Exhibition to be held at the Tweed Museum of Art this week.
Fellow citizens, it is time for Aaron’s senior exhibition. The amount of preparation and development he has put in is staggering and this promises to be one of the best examples of student work to come out of a UMD program.
The exhibition runs March 3rd-8th. Aaron invites you to attend the opening on Tuesday, March 3rd from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Tweed Museum of Art.
Don’t miss out, or you’ll miss out. So there.
Please be aware that some of the work will be rather challenging and although there are no uncensored explicit images, the show covers a wide range of imagery, subjects, and media.
Cleverly disguised as an ad for a fantastic book by an amazingly talented artist and writer, Chris Monroe. I work hard to promote the many excellent books I come across – a great number of them from within this region: blogging (at least semi-regularly), writing a weekly newsletter and talking to people through facebook and twitter and, most rewardingly, at the store – talking about books and authors that I love and that people have shared with me. It’s hard to then see a book that I’ve worked to introduce people to being used as a way to drive money to amazon.
I’m not saying you need to buy it at the store where I work. Or buy it at Fitgers. Or buy it up at the Mall. Or even that it’s the end of the world to buy it from amazon. But I do want to confront this notion that amazon is either neutral or the only game in town (which it most decidedly is not since it has nothing to do with our town whatsoever) when it comes to links about media, especially books. IndieBound lets you search all books in print and then, after you’ve learned a bit more about them, lets you find a locally owned, independent store of your choice. You can search for varieties of local businesses across the US. You can add you favorite local businesses. Authors can affiliate themselves with IndieBound and receive a portion of the sale (not being an author, I have to rely on rumor that the terms are more generous than amazon).
I’m not advocating amazon abstinence, but really try to measure your options more carefully. Get excited about local businesses. Get excited for local events. Celebrate our musicians, writers, actors, publishers, artists, etc. who really make this area so wonderful.
