Galpin Lake, Excelsior

Shorewood Welded Whimsey

"Whimsey" might be a weak word to describe these heavy duty welded wonders. Artist Gary Berry, a neighbor, welds these fantastic creatures at home. He tell me he has many more.... I pulled around the final corner on my way home only to be greeted by a gigantic black figure with arms above his head in a menacing manner. I was surprised, then laughed as I passed the welded metal menace. No question that Gary’s own large frame is reflected in this work, which stands over 9 feet tall. His Golden Canine (I do no know the names of the pieces so this must suffice) weighs about 600lbs., but doesn't eat much! Gary talks about these works very affectionately, and has a somewhat paternal relationship with them. Not unusual in the arts, and certainly not in the sculptural arena. They have a presence.

Apple Day Approaches....

An Incident on 394

The song on the radio was very appropriate; "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues", Perhaps a call-in. This was perhaps a call out. Speeds had dropped and I rolled by and took a couple photo. Callous. Not really, just life in the city. He wore a short sleeved white shirt and dark slacks. Late 40s. Dark hair combed back.

Trainspotting is fine art

I have given some consideration and thought to these box car artists. I have taken interest in street graffiti, but only in a jaded manner. Most street graffiti has its own tired rhetoric and disregard. Railroad Car Art interests me more. It travels. The romance of the rail. The fact that I have been harassed while taking photos.... photos of art that in many cases must have taken hours to create. I can relate. The defacing of property- well that is a problem. More later on the moving canvas.

“Sails” sculpture in the Excelsior Commons

I was taught art criticism by Leon Golub. He was the master of the objective analysis of art. Formalstic - at least to start. (His art was not objective but social) For me, In the end I have done no formal art criticism. Here we go: The Katherine Nash piece “Sails” is an 1980s sculpture of welded brushed metal, steel I believe. Simple, abstract pieces were very common in the late 70s and early 80s, to my recollection. - They came from the large following of minimalist sculpture of the time. “Sails” is a series of triangles connected to create a 3 level stack of pyramids. The cold grey color and brushed metal quality lend a water-like shimmer to a contrasting hard metal structure. The two concepts at first seem at odds. I think they are, but the shapes do echo sails, and the colors, water, enough to make a connection. Perhaps at this point one might consider the timeless enduring qualities of water and the transciency of metal. The contrasting materials then make a deeper statement.

Crow, Excelsior Bay

I will begin this week with a crow. Later I will post an analysis of a sculpture in the Excelsior Commons. Analysis will be according to the style of my mentor, artist and art critic Leon Gollub. "y'know!"

Carson's Bay 8-14-2014

Grays Bay revisited.

I visited Gray’s Bay briefly. The sun rose behind the boat, making a photo of the boat.... well, pretty unlikely. I was trying out a camera I purchased a few years back but never used. When I discovered my “old favorite” still had more digits left, I put the “new” one in the closet for later reference. That time has come. Digitals cameras are not forever, and having a reserve is reassuring. The literature box is obscured by the foliage. I pulled the stalks back. Summer rules. Not so this year. Summer has been very hard to find.

Apple Days in Excelsior (September)

The tradition of Apple Days continues this weekend. LATER: Oooos! A brief review of my Event Calender informs me that Apple Days is on Saturday, September 20th. I have to get higher power reading glasses.

Tonka Cruiser Car Club. A Weekend Car Show, Excelsior

A neighbor of mine is the organizer. Another couple are regular participants. They sat and talked. They told me engine details and part numbers. They explained aircraft engine timing. They grew up with cars and grease on their pants. I confess I didn't have much to offer. I was told that the Studebaker didn't have any chrome, all the exterior bumpers and "chrome" were made of stainless steel. That I could understand. The tork and camshafts and 12 cylinder Jaguar timing, not so much.
The top end speed, 100.

Oars up, Carson's Bay at 7:45pm

Catch the Fizz

Sitting On Top of the World

The sunny Tour De Tonka

They got a late start! These two riders were hastily trying to close ground. I arrived late to capture a few photos of "The Tour". The riders I caught were just coming off the final climb on Market Road. Shorewood. A little sun stressed, they cheerfully cruising toward the finish.

Tour De Tonka a word of caution...

Plan your route(s) tomorrow around Lake Minnetonka carefully, there will be delays and detours because of the "Tour De Tonka".  There will be frustration.

Last year  as the "Tour" wore on into late morning, I drove down a local boulevard only to be stopped by an Officer who was directing traffic. I stopped. He was tired (this is my excuse for him) and after stopping me I waited. He then appeard to wave me on. Frankly, I do not know what his gesture meant but I began moving forward down the road. He began to yell at me, hitting, almost banging on my window. I rolled down the window and caught myself in an outburst, but I did say:  "I am just TRYING to do what you are telling me to do!"  Unsatisfied- he was still infuriated.
So I waited.... and he exasperatedly waved me on.




Enjoy. Ride and drive with care.