BOHO FEST 2018 COMMUNITY MANDALA

AWESOME * BODACIOUS * COPACETIC and GREAT VIBES - the ABC's of Leesburg's first BoHo Festival. I had the great pleasure and honor of facilitating the huge mandala canvas painting in front of Sip on Main. I began painting the center of the mandala off site. The city's crew bolted it down to the pavement to keep it in place and then the kids filled in the outside rings. So much fun! I will be finishing off some details and we will have a huge backdrop to use AND be able to have the kids put their little hand prints all around it at the next community event. All good!

Rather than type more about this BRILLIANT event I am simply going to post a few photos. The whole day was exceptional. Smiles everywhere! And yes, we are making BoHo Fest an annual event.

#leesburgarts
#arthappenshere

   

OH AND ONE MORE THING...

REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT SIP & CRAFT PARTY AT THE LCFA ON OCTOBER 3RD. THE CANVASES ARE 12" X 12' AND PRE-LINED FOR YOU. NO ARTISTIC ABILITY REQUIRED.

MAKE IT A DATE NIGHT OR FUN GIRLS NIGHT OUT.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

THE LINK IS AT LEESBURGARTS.COM * SPACE IS LIMITED

https://www.leesburgarts.com/sip-craft-parties/

COME PAINT STREET ART

We are all geared up for BoHo Fest this coming Saturday the 22nd. And... it has been decided that we will be painting in tempera a huge street mandala at one of the cordoned off intersections. HOW FUN! It will be a community mandala. I am looking for volunteers to help me get all the chalk lines snapped and the inner core painted before 10 AM. Do you want to help? It takes a village to paint a community mandala. :)

I have decided to make a circle surrounded by a 6 pointed star and layers radiating outward. People can come by and add their personal touches. Tempera paint washes off but it would be advisable to not wear your best Sunday outfit.  We will have aprons available so you can play with us without getting too messy. FUN!

Speaking of fun, we had a great trail walk last Thursday in honor of National Wilderness Month.. Two more walks focusing on Environmental Art are scheduled for this month. After those we have to cease for awhile until after the holidays. The parks close at sunset. Here's a photo of our motley crew at Sabal Bluff Preserve.

And here is a blast from the past. Facebook reminds me of what I was doing from years past. Yesterday was the 4 year anniversary of when I created the Ames Mansion Mandala for the Blanche Ames National Juried Art Show. Crawling around on your knees helps you stay young. We began that way and for me it hasn't changed. I will need to bring my cushy little kneeling rugs for Saturday's pavement gig.

Well that's it for this week. There is much to do. Acoustic Art Lounge is happening Wednesday night at the Leesburg Center for the Arts, the trail walk is Thursday (meet at Flat Island Preserve at 5:30 in the parking area), Friday is Open Studio at 10 am, Coffee & Convos at noon and then the last big push getting the BoHo Fest all set up. Do stop by.There's gobs of unconventional fun to be had right in Downtown Leesburg. ART HAPPENS HERE!

BOHO EARTH FASHION - ORGANICALLY CHIC

Today rushed by and I almost forgot to post for Mandala Monday. Today's post is another Earth Art Dress. YEY!  BoHo Fest is almost here (Saturday September 22nd - Downtown Leesburg) and Sweet Magnolia is bringing her best friend Rosemary.

Rosemary is wearing a fuzzy sweater vest with shawl collar, a belt of sweet gum, bodice of rain tree pods and skirt of Spanish moss woven with dried rosemary - of course. BOHO EARTH CHIC!

I rushed to take some photos and videos before another storm hits. These dresses are not made to live out their lives outdoors but by the big mandala garden  behind my home studio they sure look fine. To think last year I had everything tied down and packed into closets as Hurricane Irma spun closer and closer. I am very thankful for today's calm in contrast. I am preparing to make some modifications to the garden this month. The MUMS are in stock but pavers are a bit harder to find. Stay tuned!

Make sure to stop by on the 22nd and check out the festivities. Here is a link to the BoHo Fest page. https://www.leesburgarts.com/bohofest2018/

MAGNOLIA YOU SWEET THING

It's Labor Day here in the USA and also MANDALA MONDAY! I just got in from cycling. I am making it my routine to pedal in the morning. On my route I ride over a bridge above an inlet. I usually stop and re-hydrate there and check out a huge magnolia tree. Last year I saw so many of its pods on the ground but wasn't quite ready to collect them. Well I am ready now!

A little voice said back track a bit and note the house number. I had never seen anyone outside. Sure enough the grandson was there. I gave him my card. "When those pods drop please call me. I will come and get them out of your way."

What do I do with them? LOTS OF STUFF. Here is an example. I call her "Sweet Magnolia".

"Magnolia you sweet thing. You're driving me mad."

There are a few more finishing touches to be applied then I need to set my studio lights up for a proper photo shoot. I have another piece that I am working on too. I used an oil stain on Spanish moss in the design. It needs to dry more before I continue. Maybe by next Monday...

Yes - Earth Art Dresses!  It has been too long since I made them for historical sites and state parks. It took a bit of time and trail walking/cycling to learn my area's botany. I AM SO EXCITED! These new ones are not 100% bio-degradable. I have made them to last with wire, paints and glue but most of the ingredients are organic. I need a new tagline for this enviro art work. I no longer can say...

"I don't make rotten art. I make art that rots." These are designed to last.

Oh and don't forget. September is National Wilderness Month. To help people get outside I have agreed to run four trail walks after work on Thursdays in Leesburg so that people can explore 3 different area preserves. We will meander the parks as I point out cool artistic things you can do with foraged organics. But please note - no picking. We cannot take anything from the park except inspiration. :) Check the Leesburg Center for the Arts website for details.

leesburgarts.com