The Take Joy Society begins its third year this month. We had a gorgeous day to begin our theme this year of exploring different nearby towns. Four of the six members got together to check out a new project recently completed in Hagerstown, MD called the Cultural Trail. We met at the Washington County Fine Arts Museum, which I featured last year in our January get-together, to view the art pieces by member Cindy in the exhibit "The Art of Life: Celebrating 85 Years of Art Education". . . .
Cindy followed in her late father's footsteps as an art teacher in the county schools for many years. One of his paintings was also being exhibited. . . .
The Jury chose Cindy's acrylics painting, "Coon Feet," especially because it was unique. Cindy found these skeletal feet in a barn on her husband's family's property, leftover from the days of Davy Crocket caps and fur coats. . . .
In recent years she has begun metal-welding sculpting using rusted junk she's found on the farm or at auctions. This one is called "Upcycle". . . .
The Cultural Trail begins just outside the museum in City Park. . . .
This is the first sculpture we came upon. . . .
This one, situated in the pond, has been in the park for a while. . . .
The Canadian Geese, Ducks, and Swans are one of the fun features of the park. . . .
It was about a 20-minute walk (without stops) along the trail. Besides the brick walkway, the signs and crosswalks led the way. . . .
The pinwheels spun in the wind. . . .
The temporary fence will eventually be replaced with a metal fence with cutout designs. . . .
This is the Before photo in days gone by of the brightly-painted building that you caught a glimpse of in an earlier photo. . . .
On the map below you can see how far we've come. We don't have much further to reach our destination. . . .
Our destination: Lunch at the Plum . . . .
On our walk back we got a different view of the Mural of Unusual Size. . . .
We walked around the pond back to the museum, then parted until next month. . . .
Does your town have special features like this to attract businesses and people?
❤️Take Joy❤️
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| Courtyard of Museum |
Cindy followed in her late father's footsteps as an art teacher in the county schools for many years. One of his paintings was also being exhibited. . . .
The Jury chose Cindy's acrylics painting, "Coon Feet," especially because it was unique. Cindy found these skeletal feet in a barn on her husband's family's property, leftover from the days of Davy Crocket caps and fur coats. . . .
In recent years she has begun metal-welding sculpting using rusted junk she's found on the farm or at auctions. This one is called "Upcycle". . . .
The Cultural Trail begins just outside the museum in City Park. . . .
Note: If you find the signage difficult to read, just click on the photo to enlarge.
This one, situated in the pond, has been in the park for a while. . . .
The Canadian Geese, Ducks, and Swans are one of the fun features of the park. . . .
It was about a 20-minute walk (without stops) along the trail. Besides the brick walkway, the signs and crosswalks led the way. . . .
Cindy was our guide, giving us additional behind-the-scenes information about the exhibits. . . .
All the photographs were submitted by local people of local people. Those that did not win a spot on the wall were given space on these utility pole covers. . . .
As we wound our way down the sidewalk and across streets it wasn't long before we found another exhibit. . . .
The temporary fence will eventually be replaced with a metal fence with cutout designs. . . .
This is the Before photo in days gone by of the brightly-painted building that you caught a glimpse of in an earlier photo. . . .
On the map below you can see how far we've come. We don't have much further to reach our destination. . . .
The last exhibit of more portraits. . . .
Our destination: Lunch at the Plum . . . .
On our walk back we got a different view of the Mural of Unusual Size. . . .
We walked around the pond back to the museum, then parted until next month. . . .
Does your town have special features like this to attract businesses and people?
❤️Take Joy❤️
I'm very sorry to have missed this interesting day with all of you! And also sorry I'll miss the Waterford Fair! Doug and I arrived in Seattle today.
ReplyDeleteWe missed you, too, Edie. You're doing some pretty interesting things yourself!
DeleteI especially loved this tour as it brought back fond memories of my visit there with you & Ken!
ReplyDeleteNext time you come I'll have to take you here.
DeleteWe did go to Hagerstown to the museum. I remember those bears statues & the ducks in the water, etc.
DeleteWe sure did! You have a better memory than me!
DeleteAnother cultural tour like only you can do them, Cathy! I love the Mural of Unusual Size - it's creative & gorgeous. We don't have anything quite like that in Rochester but we do have quite a number of old buildings that have been re-purposed into apartments & commercial spaces, especially along the river here. Most of them are old factories or flour mills [Rochester is known as both the "Flour City" - for our mills - and the "Flower City" - for our famous Highland Lilacs]. There are also smaller buildings along the river which are now trendy little restaurants or coffee shops. Back in the day I think they were "dry goods" stores, hardware stores, "haberdasheries" and dress shops etc. Remember dress shops? Back before the days of big box stores and malls and online shopping? I remember going to a dress shop once with my mother when I was about 6. She was getting something new for her brother's March wedding. A VERY vivid memory for me. I was just agog at the beautiful sight. Racks of dresses, suits, skirts & blouses in the front of the store - no pants or trousers at all that I can remember. And in the back sleepwear, lingerie [including girdles - GIRDLES !!!], hosiery [no panty hose yet], cocktail dresses & evening clothes, hats, gloves and even some jewelry I think. A whole glass case - like at a bakery - displaying nothing but ladies' handkerchiefs! I'm sure my jaw was hanging down around my knees - I can still remember how breathtaking it all looked to me. I haven't the dimmest memory of what my Mom bought but will never forget how that place impressed six-year old Me. I couldn't WAIT to grow up & be a lady who could buy clothes there. Anyway, back on topic - I think Rochester is making a real effort to use many of our older buildings again. I'm a big fan of architectural repurposing & renovation. I always dream about winning the lottery & building my dream house - but most of the time I'm searching for & then renovating an old house & property. And I can't think of anything here that's on a scale like Hagerstown culturally. You're lucky to have all that in your "neck of the woods." Is Hagerstown far from you? You have so much American history right around you there in Maryland! Have a great weekend! Peace.
ReplyDeleteJanet, it's so nice to have you back with your comments. Hagerstown is half an hour away. They are trying to revitalize their downtown area and are hoping this Cultural Walk will encourage people to come back downtown. Frederick has the creek that runs through town. With all the restaurants and shops we get a lot of people coming up from Washington, DC. Hagerstown is 30 minutes further from DC. We've done a lot of repurposing of old buildings. It's great to keep the old architecture. Rochester's river probably helps draw people to those trendy restaurants. Your memories of that dress shop when you were 6 is precious. When I was 15 I got a job at the soda fountain and opened an "account" at our little town's dress shop and spent just about every paycheck there.
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