Friends in art and pumpkin bread

Cleaners here yesterday, so I went off to do errands and stop in at the library. This is our own township library, not the one where I meet my knitting friends. 

I checked on the jigsaw puzzle lending area

All 500 pieces, about my speed. The lending period is three weeks though. I'm still only about two thirds through my parrot puzzle, after more like three months. 

But if I ever finish it and establish there are no missing pieces, I might donate it to the collection.

While I was there I visited the art gallery. Not being too humble about this -- I founded it, got the library director to join in, pushing for it back when this current library was being designed and built. 

I'd already established a commitment for the previous building that there would always be local art exhibits of serious artists, though the building was completed under a previous director and hadn't included a provision for art.

At that time I founded the artists group, which has undergone various forms and sizes and continues though I'm just a supporter now, encouraging today's exhibitors but not being active in the group.

I also wrote all the protocols for exhibiting, to avert future issues. These were familiar to me as a long time exhibitor and curator of art shows, and juried participant, but unfamiliar to the library director.  Anyone may apply to exhibit, not just the members of the artists group.

We established the art chat instead of an opening, so the artist could talk about their work, rather than just the usual food event where the art's lucky if anyone looks at it. 

That was over 25 years ago and I love to see how it still flourishes, largely because there's a gallery so no question of not using it, as well as the energy of local artists. Back when I had energy and exhibited, it was my home gallery and I was invited to do an annual solo show in whatever medium I was working in at the time.

Anyway the current exhibit is about art and peace, arrived at by consensus of the group, and I picked just my favorites from a strong show of 23 works,  to show you. As you see, a locally based self selecting unjuried group is producing some good work.

Located in the gallery in this building

One side 

Other side! Art Lee is a wonderful person, playful artist, good gardener and great supporter of other artists. I'm pretty sure I've seen him wearing this hat and shirt.

Nelly Kouzmina works in nuno felting which is how this work was made, fibers felted onto a background to create the image. 

These giclee prints by Terrance Cummings, are a way of showing how the dove, symbol of peace, can emerge from the helmet, symbol of war. 

Prayer flags in burlap with prayers and beliefs silk-screened on, by Mousumi Banerjee

Vimala Arunachalam's small oil, 5"x7" is also the header for the show statement. It depicts a first time grandfather holding the hand of his newborn grandchild.

Collage art by Elaine Rosenberg showing contrasts in color and form between anxiety and tranquillity, art bringing peace. 

Back home, the pumpkin wildly decorating the front step, came in because frost was expected last night 

So I cooked it and used half the oulp to make a pumpkin walnut loaf

I used the banana bread recipe, with one cup pumpkin replacing one cup banana pulp 

And since I do like yogurt cream cheese, I made a bit, just drained overnight in the fridge

Here's the resulting cheese, with whey for future soup making.

And

Here's breakfast, slice of seasonal pumpkin bread with a spread of yogurt cheese. I may go back for seconds.

Yesterday was also Textiles and Tea, but it would be blog overload to add that now. Also I wanted to tell some bird stories from petcare days, real avian characters. Another day!

Meanwhile here's what I like to remember

Happy day everyone! 

Photo AC