Artwork: Bacon and Eggs

Bacon and Eggs - Toni Youngblood, assemblage, 2010

To celebrate the repair of the north patio gate and fence, I've hung my assemblage, Bacon and Eggs on the stretch of fence that blew over in the last wind storm. Who knows how old this old wood picket fence is? The milling of the Gothic-style post finials and deep cut pickets is rare today. This style is not what you'll find at the Home Depot or Lowe's. So I'm preserving the old fence as long as she will last. The barbecue grill resides next to Bacon and Eggs!


Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled discards, yearning to breathe . . . art !

Design: Recycled gate with embellishments

My house came with a perfectly situated area on the south side for a veggie garden. With two big curious dogs, I needed to block off the area to prevent the hounds from foraging through the future veggies. (Photo from four years ago.)I had a guy build a six-foot tall fence with vine-like twisted rebar on the top, for fun.

Instead of having him build a gate from scratch, he installed a beautifully functional sturdy second-hand iron gate that I found for a very low cost. However, as one of my friends (who for what he may lack in imagination, he more than makes up for in stating the obvious) said, "the gate is missing three finials". Well, yes it is, and my "plan" was to continue the organic theme of the wild rebar topped fence onto the gate.

Yesterday afternoon I completed this little project. I created sunflowers and leaves from saved tin cans and connected them all with a "vine" made from metal coat hangers. There is now a handmade sunflower (matching this year's main garden crop) in each place of a missing finial. The center of the "vine" twists and turns into the word "Sun".

I hung a big iron sunflower (votive candle holder) on one side of the gate (to obscure the old lock mechanism). The tin flowers, leaves and iron vines will rust over time just as they have on the wind chime I made over ten years ago, shown in the photo below.

Creativity & Wonder: Yesterday, two years ago...

Above: Goose with Peacock Aspirations, acrylic on canvas, Toni Youngblood 2009

Yesterday, two years ago...I busted loose and began stretching my wilted and atrophied wings---to take off and fly!!! I was prepared with my "What if" list of things I'd LOVE to do! And I also posted early in my blog's life about "Lemonade, the Movie", which covers the topic of creative types being laid off from their "real" jobs. After being set free into the great unknown-wild-wide-out yonder, they discovered how to produce happier more satisfying meaningful lives for themselves using their own skills, talents, hearts, souls, and loves to make their "living".

*****Check out this spanking new blog: Salt Lake Concert Posters

It's produced by Charley Hafen Jewelers - Gallery and is a jumping off point from the 1995 exhibit, Salt Lake Sixties, which showcased 1960's Utah Rock & Roll Posters and artwork owned by several local collectors. It is a pleasure for me to be involved in developing the blog venue for documenting this historic creative material and period. The blog also serves as an on-going project of documentation and solicitation for more information regarding the Salt Lake Sixties. What do you know? Salt Lake Concert Posters

Artwork: Utah Watercolor Society Fall Exhibit entry

Above: There you stood on the edge of your feather, Expecting to fly - Toni Youngblood, 2010, watercolor on Arches watercolor paper. Words by Neil Young from his poem/lyrics for Expecting to Fly.

The submissions request is early this year---the deadline is today. I just made it! Whew! The theme: "Poetry in Color", calls for paintings inspired by a line in a poem to tie in with the Utah Humanities Book Festival.

Artwork: Almost home...

This pup's portrait is complete and ready to go home! What a cutie she is with her unusual blue coat and matching eyes!
Above photo: Kitty-in-a-Basket (tastes just like chick'n), was sent in by the talented Vincent-O, the stunning drumming architect.

Artwork and Creativity: Peace and Gallery Stroll

Photo: Toni Youngblood, Allium Seed Pods, 2010

Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world. - Etty Hillesum

August Gallery Stroll - August 20th, 6-9 pm.
For a printable (PDF) version of this list, click here.
15th Street Gallery – 1519 S 1500 E; 801-468-1515Currently showing contemporary still life, abstracts, land and cityscapes by Gia Whitlock, Aaron Bushnell, Andrjez Skorut, Lloyd Platt and Aaron Lifferth.
A Gallery – 1321 S 2100 E; 801-583-2100Please join us for a special evening to meet the artists of A Gallery.
Alpine Art – 430 E South Temple; 801-355-1155Traditional Contemporaries, featuring the work of Marian Dunn, Anthony Ithurralde, Dave Marlaire, Cassandria Parsons, Jeff Pugh and Angela Woods.
Anthony's Fine Art and Antiques – 401 E 200 S; 801-328-2231Currently offering an important collection of early Utah art, including J. B. Fairbanks, John Hafen, J. T. Harwood, Ranch Kimball, Alfred Lambourne, Lee Greene Richards, LeConte Stewart, A. B. Wright, Mahonri Young and others.
Art Access – 230 S 500 W; 801-328-0703 Art Access Gallery is pleased to host the annual Partners Exhibition featuring the work of six teams of mentor/apprentice artists. Access II Gallery is hosting the annual Teen Workshop Exhibition featuring selected works from six summer workshops.
Art at the Main – Ground floor of the Main City Library, 210 E 400 S; 801-363-4088 Improvisation, a new collection of paintings by Sue Martin will be featured along with music by John Louvier and friends.
Artistic Framing and Sugarhouse Gallery – 2160 Highland; 801-486-4893Artist Nada Meeks and her show, the Dark Arts, will be on display this month. These photographic works are loaded with ambiguous and sinister content. Sure to delight, we invite all to embrace the macabre.
Blonde Grizzly – 15 E 400 S; 801-355-9075Featuring paper cuttings by Cindy Ferguson. Inspired by roadtrips throughout the country and a general feeling of patriotism, Cindy’s show, titled Glory, Hallelujah, is a tribute to the United States.
Charley Hafen Jewelers – 1409 S 900 E; 801-521-7711Featuring two artists this month: Dayle Record’s Abstract Waterscapes present photographic images from nature and its patterns repeated . Jake Reese shows his colorful, spontaneous figure paintings.
Finch Lane and Park Galleries / Art Barn – 1340 E 100 S (in Reservoir Park); 801-596-5000Presenting the Glass Art Guild of Utah with Fusion and Vision through September 17th.
Food Art at the Broadway Market – 242 E 300 S; 801-363-3939Offering greeting cards, local sterling silver food castings made into fine jewelry by Laura Besterfelt, pottery by Sidney Smith, petrified wood fruit and vegetable bowls and organic produce made into unique edible art. Come See!
Frame Shop at 6th and "L" – 752 E 6th Avenue; 801-359-4604Presenting Glery Becerra, amazingly detailed oils and acrylics that inspire and uplift and Jane Carlston Myers, award winning work in public collections in Asia, Canada and USA.
Hope Gallery and Museum of Fine Art – 151 S Main; 801-532-1336Featuring a distinct collection of European masters from the 16th to 21st centuries, including the largest collection of original Danish works (outside the Danish national museums) by notable artists such as Bloch, Kroyer, Henningsen, Wegmann and Molsted.
HORNE Fine Art – 142 E 800 S; 801-533-4200Take a vacation right in town. Dive into Jamie Wayman's swimmer paintings, linger in local restaurant patios by Karen Horne and enjoy Wasatch front vistas by Phyllis Horne.
the Hotel – 155 W 200 S (upstairs); 801-660-5857Presenting Gallery Stroll after party beginning at 9pm. Evenings Live, upstairs in the ballroom + mercury lounge, is a one-of-a kind experience integrating live art, live music and new collections from featured artists every month in a high energy nightclub environment.
Mestizo Gallery – 31 W North Temple #700; 801-596-0500Featuring the Starving Harvest. This visual sensation features the dynamic paintings of New York City native and local transplant, Carlos Perez. The show features dramatic narratives and complex combination of urban, eastern, and western academic principles.
Michael Berry Gallery and Custom Framing – 163 E 300 S; 801-521-0243 Presenting a group show featuring works by Lucia Heffernan, Willamarie Huelskamp, Tim Little, David Marti, Pilar Pobil, Victoria Stovall and others.
Phillips Gallery – 444 E 200 S; 801-364-8284 Annual Summer Group Show.
Rio Gallery – 300 S Rio Grande; 801-533-3582Presenting Celebrating the Life and Memories of the Rio Grande's 100 Years, sponsored by the Utah Division of State History.
SLC Ink – 1150 S Main; 801-596-2061Presenting Illuminations, by David Normal. “Illuminations” are an application of a commercial signage technique to a fine art purpose that creates an alternate world of mythic satire. Like glowing stained glass windows, they invoke a sacred atmosphere.
UT Artist Hands – 61 W 100 S; 801-355-0206Many Hands, a summer group show featuring the works of the gallery represented artists. Showing June 18th through August 31st. Each month different artists will be on hand for demonstrations.
Williams Fine Art – 200 E South Temple Ste 100; 801-534-0331Featuring contemporary paintings of historic Black Rock. Join us in viewing work by David Meikle, George Handrahan, Dennis Smith, Ken Baxter, Susan Gallacher and others. Also see new arrivals by Kate Starling, Elva Malin and Charles Muench.

Creativity: The two-headed lady...And Free Film Series

More family fun from the reunion: Last Saturday was Carnival Day for the children in the family and one of the attractions was the two-headed lady (aka my identical twin nieces in a very BIG dress!).

My multi-talented and entertaining house mate is head of the Free Film Series this year at the Associated Students of the University of Utah. See this semester's line up on the poster above.