This blog is working to represent four entities (Click on the menu to the left):  1. The TGO Photo Club (Click Photo Page), 2. Blue Heron Galleries (Click Art Page),   3. My thoughts on many things in life (Scroll down this page or Click JIMSDAILY Thoughts)  and 4. Selected art to share (Click Selected Art).

MY THOUGHTS ON APPRECIATION:    ——————————–

My subject today is really about APPRECIATION. Today’s specific APPRECIATION is for the art around you.  Which art – The art in the Blue Heron Restaurant of course.   Without it the walls would be so drab – they would be mundane. 

APPRECIATE that each artist spent hours putting in that last line, that last glint in the subject’s eye, or that last flash of color to lead our eyes.  These last brush strokes help us see beauty, experience emotion, or just unknowingly have the art relax us as we sip the drink before dinner.  APPRECIATE the artist and the hours they put in to create the art for us.

So, what is an artist?  An artist is someone who makes art. 

So, what is art?  From Webster: “Art is the product of human creative skill and imagination, primarily for its beauty or emotional power.”

Enjoy the beauty and emotion of a flower up close.

How does art come to be appreciated? – Skill and Effort by the artist – That is how.

I was reading a story in the Washington Post about how news photographers freshen up mundane White House photos  – they are artist. They use their skills to bring out a story, even in a mundane moment.

“The helicopter lands. A Marine opens the door for the president. He is escorted to the presidential plane. The commander-in-chief salutes and disappears into the cabin of Air Force One.”  It has got to be a rather mundane news story – don’t you think?

The White House press pool was brought to the airport two hours ahead of his departure, giving the photographers time to consider their options for the best shot.

Brendan Smialowsk worked every second of his allotted two hours to plan and prepare himself to capture the upcoming mundane moment – his piece of art!  Laying on his belly for one half hour protecting this exact spot to capture the shot he wanted  – this is the art he got!   I feel he worked with his skills to create interesting beauty and emotion – art.

(Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)  The APPRECIATION that followed is what I read in the Washington Post article.  I understand Trump asked an aide to request a print of this photo.  APPRECIATION.

Your Blue Heron art is the product of the skills of 50 artists.  The Galleries are the product of the artistic skills of  each artist, supplemented with efforts of Gloria Brubaker the gallery manager, the restaurant manager, the CSA management, and volunteers from TGO residents and the CSA board .  Hundreds of hours go into to creating and maintaining the Galleries. — APPRECIATE them and ask your aid (husband, wife, or friend) to purchase a piece of art for you.  The brochure in the Gallery tells them how to make the purchase. Show your APPRECIATION with a purchase.

The current hanging has 35 pieces of art – I will display them all soon – but for now click the “Art Page” in the left column (near the top of this page) to see a beautiful selection from the Gallery.