Reflecting on a Year Turned to Art - 2014

When I reflect on 2014, I realize it was a year that began and ended with art. Along the way, some lovely travel was sprinkled in.

Workshop students at GAMi ©Mary Montague Sikes

I love interaction with other artists, so what could be more satisfying than working with a group of adults teaching experimental painting. My workshop at Gloucester Arts on the Main was the first of many I taught or took during the year. I was happy to be part of Mary Anne Beckwith's class in Boone NC in August and, as always, enjoyed Karen Eide's encaustics class at West Point. In December, I taught my experimental painting class for Arts Alive in West Point.

Along came February-March and off we went to Palm Beach FL and Jupiter for St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training. We stayed two weeks and got to watch so many of the young rookies, including Oscar Taveras, the talented superstar of the future who later died in a tragic car accident in October. In the dugout photo below, Taveras is facing first baseman, Matt Adams, 32. Spring training is a special time when everyone is hoping and dreaming of going deep into the post season. The Cardinals came within one game of another trip to the World Series.

St. Louis Cardinals' Dugout Spring Training 2014 ©MMSikes

Late March, I put on my writer's hat and was guest speaker for the York River chapter of King's Daughters in Gloucester. In May, I enjoyed painting en plein air at Rosewell. For the event, I purchased a special French easel that I put to use again in September painting outside at New Town Art Gallery.

Painting at Rosewell ©Olen Sikes

In July and September, I participated in Pastel Society of Virginia art exhibitions. The first was at the Glen Allen Cultural Art Center.

In July we were treated to a trip to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, planned by our daughter, Allison. Our other daughters, Alicia and Amy, participated as well, making this a very special event. Because of their extreme interest in Aviation, we spent one day at the Aviation Museum near Portland.

Olen at Air and Space Museum ©MMSikes

During September, October, and November, I was excited to be a visiting artist at New Town Art Gallery in Williamsburg. It was fun to get to know most of the gallery artists and to participate in gallery events.

New Town Art Gallery at Night ©MMSikes

Enjoying the Tropical Setting ©Olen Sikes

 In September, we spent a week in Hilton Head SC and then a week in Puerto Rico. Those warm weather memories will help us through a cold Virginia winter.

November, we hung a huge art exhibition of 11 of my largest paintings at the new Ward Center for Contemporary Art in Petersburg. The opening night for that show will take place, February 13, 2015. We also flew out to Sedona AZ, landing in Flagstaff for the first time.

Ward Center Exhibition ©MMSikes

Sedona from Hillside restaurant ©MMSikes

In December, my dear friend, Mary Jane Tolley, hosted an art show open house for some of my work in her home. I loved meeting her friends and discussing my work with them.

Much more art than writing provided Notes Along the Way in 2014. Wonder what will happen in 2015 when my new book is released? We will soon see how the story of the artist in Evening of the Dragonfly will frame the new year.

Crater Lake National Park Provides Great Photo Ops

"Mt. Hood" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Flying into Portland, Oregon en route to Crater Lake National Park provided the first of many photo ops in a lovely and scenic state. As we approached our landing, Mt. Hood appeared on the horizon. This was the best view of the iconic mountain that I had for our entire trip.

Our daughter, Allison, has been planning our Crater Lake visit for almost a year. She and her sisters, Alicia and Amy, were not disappointed in the many hiking trails that offered even more chances to take pictures in a variety of scenic locations.

En route to our destination, we stopped at Cline Falls State Park where we had a chance to see a different kind of water view. We stopped and took more pictures at the quaint town of Sisters. Our daughters enjoyed seeing the Three Sisters Mountains located not far away.

"Cline Falls State Park" ©Mary Montague Sikes

While at Crater Lake, we stayed at the Lodge which was constructed in 1915. It sits on the edge of caldera (volcanic basin) and overlooks the lake. Extensive renovations in 1995 left it with a 1920s appearance. Two mornings during our stay, I went outside onto the hotel verandah before 5 a.m. to photograph the predawn hour. The first morning was hazy from the smoke of a forest fire. The second morning was much clearer, and I marveled at the sudden appearance of the bright sun on the lake's edge at 5:45 a.m.

"Crater Lake Lodge" ©Mary Montague Sikes

    

The majestic scenery that one finds at Crater Lake National Park is glorious and well worth the drive to visit this extraordinary park. We took the Rim Drive shuttle the first day we were there. The Park Ranger volunteer was vivacious and extremely helpful on the tour around the lake that featured numerous photo stops.

For those who appreciate the National Park system the way we do, Crater Lake is a must visit. Thank you, Theodore Roosevelt and all the other far-sighted people who have made the National Parks possible. Thank you for saving our beautiful land.

"Overlooking Crater Lake" ©Mary Montague Sikes

"Crater Lake Sunrise" ©Mary Montague Sikes

"C" is for Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park with its deep blue waters is located in the state of Oregon. According to Wikipedia, it was established in 1902 making it the fifth oldest National Park in the system. This amazing lake is almost 2,000 feet deep. Besides the lake, the park encompasses a destroyed volcano and surrounding hills and forests.

With a violent volcanic past, the area must be filled with drama and history. It's said to be a place to watch the rise and the setting of the sun through pristine clean air. Sometimes the waters glow with lovely shades of purple, orange, and pink.

The 33-mile Rim Drive around Crater Lake is part of the park visit not to be missed. Trail hikes abound from easy to hard. Rangers at the Park make talks and lead guided walks. In the southeast corner, volcanic pinnacles grace the scenery.

First opened in 1915, Crater Lake Lodge features history exhibits and much more. We plan to visit the lodge during the summer and hope the snow has melted from the windows.

Because of the heavy snowfall, the north entrance road and Rim Drive are closed most of the year. Those roads usually open in June or early July.

Crater Lake National Park will be our next National Park destination. I can hardly wait to arrive there, camera in hand, to photograph the landscapes and the pure blue water of the lake.