Art and Writing Can Make a Good Match

Sometimes I wonder about the merit of being an artist and an author. Both demand a great deal of time. And, although it's a poor fit for my artistic persona, I've found that both require considerable marketing skills.

Opening Night - MMSikes

In the exhibition currently on view at the Art Education Center of This Century Art Gallery in Williamsburg, I've enjoyed the opportunity to combine my work as both an artist and author by showing the original art created for my book, Hotels to Remember. At the opening events, it was fascinating to hear stories of people's experiences with the hotels I have documented in my book and in the paintings from that book.

Many people related events from stays at the Hotel Roanoke. Several had fond memories of attending Beta Club conventions there. People who enjoy visiting hotels built near old train stations pointed out that at one time the station was visible from Hotel Roanoke. Gallery visitors recognized  many of the classic hotels including The Jefferson, The Homestead, St. Louis Union Station and even The Empress in Victoria BC. I was intrigued by their comments and memories.

London provides musical entertainment. - MMSikes

It's fun to show along with two other painters, Juliet Kirby and Elaine Abbott, a jeweler, Jason Hillegas, and a book and box craftsman, Devon Rawson. The show continues with open houses, Feb. 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 9, 1 to 4 p.m.

Sometimes art and writing make a good match.

Signing Hotels to Remember (Elaine Abbott paintings on the wall)

--Mary Montague Sikes









 Pastels - Bright and Free
   ASP-153-1  Saturday, May 4, 2013
            Times: 9 AM to 4 PM   /   Course Fee: $78    Members $69
Instructor: Mary Montague Sikes
Pastels Bright and Free is a workshop celebrating the joy of color that this vibrant medium brings to artists of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Sikes will offer demonstrations and also work individually with participants. With more than 30 years experience teaching students of all ages, she has found pastels to be a most versatile art medium. Bring your lunch and enjoy a happy, colorful experience!

The Jefferson Hotel, Alligators, and Blogger Stats

With all the interest in U-Tube productions going viral, a current peak of interest in a blog I wrote last June about the alligators that used to live in the Jefferson Hotel lobby has me wondering. In the last seven days, there have been almost 700 page views of that little story. That's almost going viral for me.

I'm not sure how the stats in the Blogger "overview" come about, but I like the listing of the most viewed blogs. Until this past week, the blog I wrote two years ago about Joe DuBois and the sad and unexpected ending of the Medium television series has always topped the list of page views. (That's probably because my blog post comes up second on the Google page--I don't know why.)

That alligators were ever allowed in lobby of any hotel is certainly amazing. I wonder now if guests were in any danger while they were there.These days, the Jefferson has a wonderful array of the iconic alligators in its shop in the Rotunda lobby that is appropriately named Gators Gifts.

Alligator at hotel entrance - copyright MMSikes

During the Christmas holiday season, the bronze statue of one of the original live alligators is decorated to greet guests at the lobby entrance. What a lovely way to honor those creatures that used to adorn the hotel in their unusual habitat.

I'm still curious about the Blogger stats which, incidentally, are completely different from the stat counter I keep at the bottom of my blog. If anyone knows what causes difference, I would welcome that information.

The Jefferson, alligators, and stats. The hotel is worth a visit just to see and photograph the bronze gator. But the restaurants are good too...

--Mary Montague Sikes

Weekend News-- Snow, Books, Art, and Giclees

We have the coldest weather in Virginia that we've had for the last couple of years or more. Late this afternoon, snow came down in a rush and made the roads super slick. I'm glad we don't have to go out tonight.

Jacquie Rogers of Romancing the West has me for her guest this week. I'm discussing my novel, A Rainbow for Christmas and much more.

On the Romancing the West site, I'm also talking about the exhibit of work by Lillian Wilhelm Smith, the illustrator of the Zane Grey books. We saw this show at the Sedona Art Center while we were there last November. I loved reading the Zane Grey books and dreaming about the Old West and was especially interested in the paintings that were part of her work.

Next week, I'm one of five artists putting up work for the February show at the Art Education Center Gallery of This Century Art Gallery in Williamsburg. Twelve of my original paintings from the Hotels to Remember project will be featured in this exhibit. It will be exciting to see the pieces together again. All of the paintings in the book have been reproduced as Giclees. Five of those will be part of this exhibition.

What are Giclees? many of you are asking. The word was created over two decades ago by a printmaker named Jack Duganne who wanted to depict prints made with an inkjet printer in a very positive manner. Giclees are made by carefully matching all the colors in a piece of art using high quality archival inks that will last over 100 years (if kept out of direct sunlight). The pastel reproductions are beautiful and much easier to frame than the originals that must be handled very carefully.

The art exhibit at 110 Westover Avenue will feature Elaine Abbott, Jason Hillegas, Devon Rawson, Juliet Kirby, and me . The opening reception will be Friday, February 1, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

What Does It Mean to Be Present?

"Waterlilies" original pastel MMSikes

What does it mean to be present? That's a provocative subject I've begun to ponder. 

Are you attentive to the person conversing with you inside a crowded room? Sentence fragments and words from others around you creep in and garner some of your attention. You try to listen, but the clutter of sounds pulls you away. You cannot stay in the present.

Now, even while talking on the telephone, you are probably multitasking. Reading e-mails on your computer. Doing a Google search. And we all know about those who text and drive. Never in the present.

As I consider the way a writer works, I don't believe he/she is really present. Not often anyway. Writers are off on flights of fantasy to some far away dream-struck destination. They are considering, recording, remembering, but they are not present. Even now, as I strike the letters on my keyboard, my mind is far away to other lands, a scattering of ideas, a fantasy landscape that no one but I will dare to enter. Even the mundane pulls me away from the present. What we might have for dinner. What I will do tonight and tomorrow. In fleeting images, all these thoughts pass through my mind.

I think of the true artist. Is she the one who is forever present? Hypnotized by imagery, drugged with paints, her mind connects with color on the canvas and is held like a magnet that will not let go. Time flies by, but she does not notice. She is caught in the present.

Writer. Artist. What does it mean to be present?

Are you?

--Mary Montague Sikes

Departure of A Legend and An Icon

The statue of St. Louis Icon, Stan Musial - MMSikes

What makes a legend and an icon? I don't believe it's possible to define exactly, but for St. Louis Cardinals' fans, Stan Musial has been a legend and an icon almost from the time long ago when he first appeared in a Cardinals' uniform. Unlike most major league baseball players, he remained on one team all of his playing career--22 years. Then he made St. Louis his home for the rest of his life which ended Saturday, January 19, 2013.

Although in declining health, Musial was always present for special events including the season openers, playoff games, World Series, 2009 All Star Game and more. At the season openers, we often saw his grandson drive him around the stadium warning track in a red golf cart. He was "The Man" in St. Louis. His statue stood at the main entrance of the old Busch Stadium and was later moved to the new stadium when it opened in 2006 and now stands at the main entrance there.

Musial was an ambassador for baseball, a gifted player who long stood in the shadows of the more heralded greats, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. He was just as good--maybe better--but the other two players were in New York and Boston where center stage lights shown brighter.

America needs icons. America needs legends. Ones that the children can look to as their special heroes.

Number six is retired forever. A hero is gone. Cardinals Nation is saddened.

--Mary Montague Sikes