ARTFUL READERS CLUB

Book Review for May 30, 2014

THE INVENTION OF WINGS by Sue Monk Kidd

If you read and liked Sue Monk Kidd's THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, you'll love THE INVENTION OF WINGS! Based on a true story, this historical novel tells of Sarah Grimke, the daughter of a wealthy Charleston slave holder and her lifelong rebellion against slavery. In the mid-1800's, for her 11th birthday, Sarah was given ownership of a 10 year old slave girl named Hetty (nicknamed Handful.) Alternating views between these two females...their coming of age... the story follows the pair through 30+ years as they each struggle to escape oppression and find freedom for their bodies, minds and souls. It's about equality! This was GIRL POWER when girl power was unheard of, in the voices of strong women, both black and white! 

But, this is more than a story about the abolition of slavery. It's about women's rights, religious freedom and taking action against injustice whenever and wherever the need arises!

In the author's note, I discovered that Sarah and her sister (and co-crusader) Nina, were real people and it is most accurately THEIR story. Their contribution to the movements to abolish slavery as well as to gain equal rights for women is astounding...thanks to Sue Monk Kidd for honoring the part these sisters played in the betterment of the human spirit!!

This book will make you sad, angry, disgusted, outraged, happy, triumphant...you'll be reminded why slavery is one of the ugliest ideas ever...and you'll be glad that there were those who were strong enough to stand up in protest and make a difference!!

Thanks so much for stopping by...I'm looking forward to reading other reviews for this month and seeing the associated art... 

BIRTHDAY POSTING

May 29, 2014  

Happy Birthday to me! A yummy dinner tonight and a fun weekend with my family...perfect celebration! Hope you're all well and enjoying your day!

I've been working on some art challenges and would like to share my creations with you.

At Flicker's DIGITALMANIA group, the inspirational artist for this week is an Alaskan-born, Oregon-based woman named ANAHATA KATKIN. She's a mixed-media artist and co-founder of PAPAYA! Inc. Here's a piece I created in her style...

THE THREE MUSES were fashion conscious with their theme of HATS...

and finally, INSPIRATION AVENUE was seduced by MAGIC!!

Fun challenges...thanks for checking in.
Wishing you a happy weekend ahead...be safe!

Big Hugs,
abbyj
 

THREE LITTLE ONES...

May 25, 2014  

Hi Dear Ones,

Hope this short posting finds you well and enjoying your days...

The word BALANCE conjures up a variety of pictures. Now that it's finally Spring, I see a balance in nature...more each day! COLLAGE OBSESSION's challenge blog asked us to create a piece of art representing the word... A balanced life is something for which I've always strived...

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART asked us to look into our inner child with a theme of DOLLS... This is a picture of one of my Ethiopian adopted family members, Mimi. She's 8 years old and loves dolls in any form... as much now as she did when she was very little. Dolls are such a natural and international thing...

This is a little one I met in Namibia...a child of a Bushman friend.

Finally, at TAKE A WORD, the theme is BOOKS...

Hoping your week is peaceful...but enjoyable and fulfilling! 

Wishing you love,
abbyj

A VARIETY OF ART

May 22, 2014

We're coming up on Memorial Day Weekend and those who predict the weather say it'll be sunny and hot! I can't imagine how many barbeques there'll be...tradition for this weekend!! Do enjoy yours...

The online art challenge blogs have kept me busy on the computer creating a variety of art... sharing time!

COLLAGE OBSESSION very simply asked participants to complete the phrase, "A is for ___". My A is for Activism.

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART declared their theme to be GLAMOUR. I looked at a man's version of glamour...tongue-in-cheek...

TAKE A WORD was definitely thinking summer when they asked for a beach scene...

and THINK MONDAY, THINK ATC (TMTA) wanted to see a piece of art with stairs... I had fun with this one!!

Finally, at Flicker's DIGITALMANIA, our inspiration this week was Hungarian artist, KINGABRIT...a wizard at photo manipulation. I created these two pieces in her style...

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you've enjoyed the art...and will join me again sometime next week.
Wishing you a fun-filled weekend...
Hugs,
abbyj

HOGRET (MARGARET)

May 16, 2014 

Hi There,

This is a quick posting about a new artist (for me...) Her name is Margaret and she's a collage artist from South Africa. She has many styles...all colorful and interesting. At Flicker's challenge group, DIGITALMANIA, we studied her art and created pieces in one of her fabulous styles. These are my creations...all fun to do and certainly, a challenge!

Enjoy... and thanks for your quick stop-by!

Hugs until my next,

abbyj 

PLAYING WITH ART

May 13, 2014 

Hi Family and Friends,

I trust your week has started on an up note...I've spent some of my time trying to work the pounds off at the gym, keeping my limbs and muscles stretched and loose, finishing a book that I loved (Sue Monk Kidd's THE INVENTION of WINGS) and creating some challenge blog digital art pieces on the computer. I'd like to share them with you.

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART asked for a creation with DOORS...I used a piece of graffiti I photographed long ago in Barcelona, Spain, put it on a door I photographed in Italy, and added a Central New York dog...

Next, TAKE A WORD was thinking back to times of CHILDHOOD...so was I, creating a mixed media and photoshopped piece...

and finally, for THE THREE MUSES, they challenged participating artists to create POSTAGE STAMP PEOPLE... I used the same stamp for both because I couldn't decide which to use...

Thanks for checking in...enjoy the rest of your week.

'Til my next,

Hugs,

abbyj

 .

MOTHER'S DAY, etc.

May 9, 2014 

The Mother's Day we know is a holiday that's barely 100 years old, but it's been celebrated in one form or another since ancient Greek and Roman times. For those interested in its history, click here! 

In honor of Mother's Day, challenge blog COLLAGE OBSESSION has declared its theme to be Mother's Day based... although most of the art I've done for this posting has an element of Mom in it...

for MY Mom...

and for our daughter and her two...now much older!

INSPIRATION AVENUE asked to see art about WATER...Mom's involved once again!

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART was interested in the CIRCUS...I put Mom in one of my circus pieces...

Wishing you and yours a Happy Mother's Day...I hope it's memorable and that you feel appreciated and loved for all the good you do! Put ME on the list of those who appreciate you, please! 

'Til our next meeting,
xoxox,
abbyj

 

ARTFUL READERS CLUB 

April 25, 2014 

 INFERNO by Dan Brown  

Dan Brown's books are always a mysterious and thrilling ride. Many say his books are "formula" books... so what? That formula works! I loved the DaVinci Code as well as Angels and Demons ...and I loved  his latest offering, INFERNO! It's always interesting how he combines the past with modern, futuristic twists.

Harvard Professor of Symbology, Robert Langdon, has been thrown into a harrowing world, intimately involved with Dante's Inferno,  one of history's darkest and most mysterious literary masterpieces. It's a tome from which many classic artists drew inspiration as well, creating masterpieces of their own! Futuristic science, cunning, forward-looking genius, classic art, secret passageways and voyages through Italian and Turkish landmarks...all in pursuit of something that could irrevocably alter the world. What more could a good mystery require?
I had to create two pieces of art for INFERNO... one based on Dante's Inferno...

 

and one based on "the puzzle"... This is a bit of a spoiler alert, but it won't ruin anything for you should you choose to read INFERNO! I promise!

Off to read some of the reviews and see the corresponding art from some of our other Art and Sole ARTFUL READERS CLUB members on Facebook...perhaps you'd like to see them too and add some books to your "to read" list!

See you next month for my regular monthly review and waaaay before that for a regular blog posting.

Big Hugs,

abbyj

A JOURNEY TO INDIA  I

April 22, 2014 

From the magical romance of the Taj Mahal, the world's most beautiful (material) gift of love,

 to the vibrant hues of Varanasi;

 from the majestic tigers of Bandhavgarh, Kahna and Pench 

to the tranquil serenity at the foothills of the great Himalayas...

and all the chaos, crowds and cacophony of sounds and aromas enveloping me, India has filled my heart with memories for a lifetime!

After traveling for almost 24 hours, it surprised me that it didn't take long to become fully engaged in the chaos of DELHI. This mega-city is home to nearly 18 million people and seemingly as many travelers...the majority of whom are Indian. Nice to see the people of India touring their own country!! Delhi is well stocked with treasures from the Mogul era (early 1500's,) including CHADNI CHOWK, a sprawling open-air market that's been operating since the 17th century. As our rickshaw puttered down the threadlike alleys that link the market in a tangled web, I was overwhelmed by the smells... coriander, turmeric and paprika-everything all mixed together! And then, there were the bazaars, selling everything from jewelery to spices, flowers, saris, food, rugs...even a street dentist! It was hectic, colorful and a completely thrilling sensory overload. 

We went from opulent palace hotels smelling of rosewater to filthy streets covered with refuse and wandering cows.

Then, on to VARANASI, my favorite part of my entire India experience. Varanasi, India's holiest city... Hindu... that's altogether indescribable!  It, too, is home to multi-millions of residents with as many pilgrims and holy men...all journeying to bathe in or cremate their departed loved ones along banks of the most polluted river in the world, the GANGES.  The Ganges is the focus of all activity in this holy city...daily festivals and ceremonies to bless, give thanks, mourn...and perform life's daily tasks like bathing, tooth-brushing, washing clothes, shaving...it all happens here with audiences and participants numbering in the millions...mind-numbing to observe and be part of. Finally, amongst these enormous throngs of people, there are the required skills (for the tourist) of dodging cows (and their dung,) bicycles, rickshaws and motorcycles, while trying to watch where you're going as well as taking it all in...not for the faint of heart!!!

  

Please continue on to Part II of my journey...(by clicking on Older Posts)

Namaste!

xox,

abbyj