Art, Mansions, and Forests

Read My Pins: The Madelene Albright Collection

We just returned home to Ann Arbor  from a trip to North Carolina and Tennessee.  Our first stop, Charlotte, NC, has some really special museums.  The Mint Museum has a wonderful collection of contemporary art, fine crafts, and special exhibitions.  Charlotte will soon be hosting the Democratic Convention, so the Mint Museum is exhibiting  "Read my Pins", Secretary of State Madeline Albright's pin collection.   Besides her outstanding diplomatic career, she is famous for sporting outstanding brooches. This exhibition highlighted the symbolic meaning of each pin and gives you some background on why Secretary Albright wore it during certain negotiations.  I have great admiration for this woman who is a tremendously strong, brilliant, and caring person.  She is a great role model.   Here is a link to an article about the same exhibit, when it appeared in Denver. 

The Biltmore

After spending time in Charlotte we visited the Biltmore, George Washington  Vanderbilt's extraordinary home designed by renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt. It is on a 125,000 acre estate with forests, gardens and a winery (that was added by his descendants). The mansion is the largest home in America. Vanderbilt was highly educated, well read, and fluent in many languages. The Biltmore reflected his taste and wealth.  The science of forestry was developed on this property in the late 1800s by Fredrick Law Olmsted (landscape designer of Central Park). It is a fascinating place to visit.  I also enjoyed my first official wine tasting experience. 

Smoky Mountain National Park

Our next stop was Smoky Mountain National Park which is definitely not suffering from a drought this summer. We enjoyed several good soakings and the spectacular scenery. The natural beauty of the Smoky's is breathtaking and has healing properties. I wouldn't mind returning someday.

Summer Still Life #2 and thoughts on climate change

11" x 14" 

Colored pencils on Stonehenge paper

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

I am doing a series of produce in my glass bowls.  Here are some Michigan cherries. 

Our Michigan cherry crop was drastically reduced this year due to the bizarre weather.  I keep encouraging better ecological policies by joining environmental groups and writing to my legislators. I also drive a hybrid car, and recycle.  If those in charge would have acted more responsibly in formulating our energy policy, we might be in better shape. I hope that we can work to lessen the damage done to Mother Earth.

Summer Still Life

11' X 14" colored pencils on Stonehenge paper
ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

Beautiful summer produce inspired me to do this piece. These colorful peppers in a glass bowl shouted "delicious and joyful".

University of Michigan Union - Dreamseeding

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

Barb will have artwork on display at the University of Michigan Union with the Dreamseeding Show during the month of July. This show seeks to nurture the notion that peace and harmony with all life can be found in our hearts, our communities and our world.

Film Celebrating Women Artists

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt
36" x 50" Acrylic on Vinyl

Special video showing of Carol Morris' film "Celebrating Women Artists"on Friday, June 1, 7pm at the Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty St. This newly edited version of a 2007 documentary is about one of AAAC's seminal public art exhibits in which many Ann Arbor Women Artist members and Feminist Project-Michigan artists participated.  Running time: 33 minutes. In all, the 50 imaginative banners were painted by 27 women artists and one man, and displayed on lamp posts downtown.  Nineteen of the artists were interviewed in the film outside under their banners.

Curated by Christy Kelly-Bentgen, the 2006 "Off the Wall" exhibit was in conjunction with Rutger's University Feminist Art Project, and paid homage to "famous" women artists 1950-1980.

 Please note that Tomoko Ogawa, an Ann Arbor artist who was interviewed,  unexpectedly passed away a few years ago.  She was a young and gifted artist whose exceptional homage banner for Yayoi Kusama was used for the logo of the exhibit and the cover of the video.

Carol and Christy willl be at the 7:00 showing for comments. Refreshments".

~ Ann Arbor Women Artists announcement

Drawing Glass and Water

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

My students asked me to do a lesson on drawing water and glass. These are really interesting subjects to render.  You have to draw what you see through the glass and water. The objects appear distorted and actually become abstract shapes.

Trying To Go Vegan ♡

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

My husband and I have been (mostly) vegetarian for many years. Recently, we saw Dr. Sanjay Gupta interview President Bill Clinton on CNN about his battle with heart disease. Clinton is currently following a diet recommended by Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, which is designed to prevent and actually reverse heart disease.  

This diet is totally plant based, or vegan. Dr. Esselstyn also discourages eating nuts, avocados and oils such as olive oil.  We bought the book and our family is now vegan when we eat at home. We are slowly losing weight and feeling very healthy.  This diet change was easier for my husband who is a very disciplined and focused person. I occasionally succumb to gastronomic temptation, especially when a Thanksgiving turkey is presented to me!   After many years of being lacto-ovo vegetarians, we became aware that we needed to cut eggs and cheese out of our diet for health reasons. 

I hope that more people will do their best to cut down on the unhealthy foods that are so prevalent in America. It is very hard to make these fundamental changes to one's diet. Food is wrapped up with many strong emotions: love, memories, pleasure, not to mention taste!  Taking small steps towards more healthy eating and getting more exercise is a good plan. A more plant based diet not only helps us individually, but it helps the health of our planet. Raising beef, poultry and commercial fishing practices are depleting resources around the globe as well as causing more pollution that contributes to climate change.    

Creative Colored Pencil Projects

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

Here is a project from my class, Creative Drawing with Colored Pencils.  I ask my students to select an image that is significant to them personally, and have them render it in colored pencil using different hues and values.  The coffee cups were inspired by Andy Warhol and the trees are a variation of a previous colored pencil exercise in blending colors.