Thanksgiving 2023

 With the McCusker clan in Center Point, Iowa.

Halloween 2023

 Halloween north and south: Mark (Ace) in Coralville and me in Waterloo.

Breder Retrospective and Artists' Reunion

On Friday, October 6, I had the honor and pleasure of attending the Fort Madison Area Arts Association exhibition Hans Breder: Intermedia Retrospective. Executive Director Lori Illner Greene was organizer and host and produced a lovely exhibition catalogue that included a quote by me about my mentor and professor Hans Breder (1935-2017). Mark (Ace) and I met up with artists and old friends Cherie Sampson and Jill Brown and lingered in Fort Madison afterwards for a meal at Simple Table.

 

L to R (Ace, me, Cherie, Jill)

 

 

 

L to R (me, Doreen Nidey, and Lori).

Goodbye sweet man

Our dear friend George Stratton died this week just shy of his 77th birthday. George was a highly-regarded and beloved actor, singer, and artist in the Iowa City and Coralville, Iowa community. George will be best remembered for his theatrical roles including Orsino from Twelfth Night, King Richard II from King Richard, and King Henry II from Lion in Winter. He is also remembered for his mellifluous baritone voice, his natural stage presence, and his facility in building and painting sets for theatre and opera. We love and miss you, George!

 

 

Ole Buddies

An opening at the Hearst Center for the Arts (HCA). Chatting with artist Jack Miller.

 My buddy at HCA, curator Emily Drennan.

 My sweetheart of the Pride Fest.

 2023 Cedar Valley Pride Fest. Clockwise from upper left: fabulous queens, rainbow mannequin, buddy Jess Cruz, Leslie and the LYs, buddy Anastasia Parsons.

2023 Trip to Nashville

 

 Mama in the Krispie Kreme. 

 

With Aunt Brenda and cousin Rodney in Lebanon.

Opera & Art & Horticulture

As in years past, I spent a weekend in Des Moines to attend the Des Moines Metro Opera, see art exhibitions, and visit the city's lovely arboretum.

 

DMMO has installed banks of prairie plantings, and in July it's in high bloom. So gorgeous and fragrant! I was lucky to see the final performances of these new productions: Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges and Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle. Spectacular!

 

The John Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Notice the bird's nest in the abdomen of Louise Bourgeois' Spider.

 

 The Des Moines Art Center. Below is a little collage featuring 3 moments from a digital movie by Yorame Mevorach, who coincidentally designed the set from DMMO's Bluebeard's Castle.

 

A hot day at the Des Moines Botanical Gardens.