Friday Art Romp in Anacostia

Cappy and Molly Ruppert who make it all happen

Look for the colorfully decorated tree smiling at passers by

Last night was my first show of the new Orange Explains It quilt hung on a gallery wall. It's big and orange with an impact that was as bold as the colors are bright and the response was very enthusiastic. There were dozens of art works on display all different and interesting in their own ways which is always the case at an ART ROMP. Lots of artists from the Warehouse gallery scene on 7th St. NW where Molly Ruppert, with help from her big family, hosted a couple dozen art romp parties over the last 20 years. I was delighted to see so many artist friends and their new work and meet lots of new art admirers. 

The new Anacostia Arts Center is such a great space. Clean white walls, beautiful light hardwood floors without a scratch or a bump, it seems to be brand new but is housed in what appears to be an old dime store front. Located on Good Hope Road in SE right off the 11th St. bridge over the river. I was inspired by the director Kate Taylor Davis to begin thinking about all the things we can do in a new artist center. Figure drawing has been mentioned as something they would like to have there. However there are lots of ideas that come to mind when I think of ways to use empty rooms in such a cool building. What would you do with a big building full of these lovely rooms? 

I must admit I was reluctant to go to Anacostia in SE when I first heard about the show's location but I was harboring old fears and prejudices about Anacostia. Clearly these were unfair and will soon be history. Hope you can find your way there soon and drop in to see the show. 

This Art Romp Exhibition is open through Sept. 15th 2013. 

Anacostia Arts Center 1231 Good Hope Road, SE 

Washington DC 20020 more information here:

www.anacostiaartscenter.org

Orange Explains It, quilt on the wall. 

wider view of the front doors

Long deep corridor with railings around skylights to the floor below where business meets 

Caught the amazing artist Ruth Trevarrow coming through one of the gallery doors

 families are always part of the gallery scene

Glass artist Sean talking to collectors Christina & Nora

 

Molly explaining something to her grand kids 

Keith and Matt discussing the art

Chesapeake bay house autumn artists retreat

cirrus clouds blew in to view for a week of perfect weather 

first arrangement of wild and garden flowers Keith built upon arrival

view from the bay window at dawn one morning 

sun rise on the bay

Kudzu grows up and over trees in the little valley by the red house 

Unknown bug in the field

the boats docked in Chesapeake Beach by the railway trail 

green heron at the edge of the water hunting tiny fish thousands of them were visible from above on the boadwalk

one of many great blue herons stalking

beautiful cirrus clouds and crisp autumn air make for perfect walking weather by the bay

Mallard ducks on the waterway below the board walk trail

wild magenta purple morning glory on a barbed wire fence; ample seeds collected to add to our garden next season

King fisher perched on a pole along the waterway squawked  and fled a closer perch when we passed on the boardwalk 

white snowy egrets on that distant pier and in the shallow water's edge

on the ride home we pass in a Nature Conservancy's preserve and there was a flock of 9 wild turkey's strolling in a field at the edge of the forest.

Here the turkey's are marching off into the shadows aware of us but not panicked by it... still the photo from the car seat wasn't the best. 

beginning to notice some color in the eastern clouds as they approach the bay from the west.

we rushed over to the lake to get the best views of the sunset looking west

Rain had been in the forecast all day but not until sunset did we see any clouds 

by the time we made it to the lake (10 minute quick hike from the house) we began to see not only clouds and colorful sunset but what looked like rain falling

We headed back to the house as it began to get darker since we didn't bring a flashlight

from the bridge where we talked to a few of the fishermen who showed us their catch the white of the clay cliffs by our house are visible across the bay

We had a really great time staying in the Ruppert's red house by the Chesapeake bay this past week. Keith and I packed up everything we would need, including food and linens as well as tools and supplies to make our respective artist projects and drove only 40 miles from our apartment to the bay house Molly and her family offered us to use as an artist's retreat last week. We spent a day getting unpacked, setting up the studios we needed and then rains came and we were ready to work inside. Once the rains passed we were ready for a good long walk and there is always plenty to see and enjoy. I left my Internet and TV at home which allowed me to be very focused on my quilting projects and resting in between with good food and company. We took turns cooking, I made breakfast and lunch then worked while Keith made dinner and our late night egg white & bran galette with fruit, a routine we began while dieting that we keep because we love it so much. We went one day to Chesapeake Beach to the great little thrift shop. I got an armload of quilting fabrics and sheets plus two hand knitted wash cloths two dress shirts two pair of pants and two ceramic vases for a grand total of $7.50. Astounding to walk out with so much for so little. Then we took an ambitious walk on the boardwalk and trail along the old railway path. Nature abounds there with tidal marsh and flowing waterways that empty into the bay. Forest and fields... birds everywhere and a few wild flowers for the careful observer were a delight. I took a limited number of photos for the whole week. Total came to 46 in the end many of those of the amazing sunset and storm that passed over Fairhaven Cliffs the last evening we were there. We got drenched on the warm walk home but it was worth the wet spell to see the beautiful sunset and get a record to end our week with a dramatic show of colors. It is such a blessing to have an occasional retreat from the city where we saw wild turkeys, bald eagles, king fisher, blue herons, crows, ground hogs,deer and more creatures to many to list. Keith heard owls several times very late in the night but I slept through the concerts of hooting on this visit. We enjoyed a night of star gazing on the deck a few times and walks on the beach to collect drift wood and cuttings for Keith's work. I tried my hand at reed cutting (bamboo) to make some pens to draw with like Vincent Van Gogh used. I did only one drawing this time but now I have a collection of bamboo to cut as needed for more this winter. For me completing the Rose-star quilt basting was a major accomplishment for my week but I am going to post later on the quilting accomplishments when I get a few more photos to show.

third week at the bay

quilt top 

quilt back 

one of the inspirations for the Fairhaven quilt was the amazing colors of the sky over open water 

I spent a third week at the Chesapeake bay red house alone the beginning of October. Molly invited us back to finish our retreat that we interrupted by hurricane Irene. It was almost a month hence and things were a little different but much the same in the house this time adding heat over night as the night time temperatures were below a chill. Once I got all my food and artist and life materials packed and loaded up the drive was quick. The red house was just like we left it last August 27th after the power failed and we had to pack up and come home to the city a week early. Keith couldn't come with me this time so I was prepared for a different kind of experience. I packed up the quilt I began and took it back with new materials for a back design and added an ironing board and card table to expand my set up to be more user friendly. Before all I had was a side table for the sewing machine and a stack of twin beds for "table" space and ironing. This time I had a goal of finishing the top design sewing and making a back and getting them put together with a sandwich of cotton batting in between so I could begin quilting here at home. I also took my big sketch book for morning watercolors and my journal for morning pages. Food and water to drink.... casual clothes and flannel bed sheets.
I arrived to find Molly was in the city and Cappy was there alone. I got my things unloaded and got right to work making my dinner. Then I ate it and walked over to tell Cappy Ruppert that I was there and show him my sketch book. He hadn't seen any of the work I have done from the first visit. We enjoyed a nice visit over some decaf coffee. Molly arrived back from her big Wash. Project for the Arts (WPA) party excited to tell us all about the people and places she had seen. We stayed up late discussing everything we could think of about the time since our last meeting. I told her my plan to finish up the quilt top first.
I completed a daily watercolor sketch each day. I worked all day every day except one on the quilt parts and stopped to cook, eat and walk to enjoy my experience of the Fairhaven community and did a few artist visits with Molly and neighbors who were all very supportive of my work. On my walks I met a wood worker from Arizona named George. He is doing some extra fine finish work on his brother the architect's house at the top of the hill.  I also met a neighbor of his Farley who has a lovely garden I stopped to photograph and found her nestled in the steps next door on a walk the next day. She was kind of hidden from sight soaking up the afternoon sun.  It was fun walking in the late summer sunny days. It had been cloudy the first part of the week. I had a visit from three of the Ruppert grand children who helped me get a start on the quilt parts placement in my design. They are going to make a quilt with other grand children and Molly next summer! I was helping them get a feel for how to begin.

The Fairhaven Cliffs 

My quilt workroom

View of the bay on Sunday the first morning was cloudy

Monday was cloudy too 

Teddy wearing dad's long striped soccer socks, Christian and youngest brother Michael placing strips of fabric on the felt board helping me design the layout of my quilt top. 

cloudy day view of the bay from Foust's house

Clouds come and go thick and thin....

Foust's house garden native hibiscus is red. 

native flowers by the road

view from the bridge between the bay and the lake looking back at the cliffs up the bay side. 

Same place as above looking towards the lake near the bridge

a road up to the Fairhaven Flats 

container garden using drift wood container an idea that will be stolen for my own garden

Blue herons like this spot to fish on the bay we saw them daily

The cliffs from the end of the pier 

early morning view of the hill beside the red house

watercolor sketch of the same...

a white tailed deer with small antlers appeared twice on the hill to graze in the afternoons

On the road by Tacaro a brick baron's estate near by begged for a bicycle ride or a walk. I settled for a drive to save time to work on my projects. 

field of pumpkins and cattle seen on my trip out of Fairhaven on Tuesday to get groceries

close up of the cattle and pumpkins in the field

Last day this boat had been moored in front of my window all night and set sail as I was having lunch. 

dozens of these butterflies were feasting on local asters everywhere when the sun came out. 

numerous monarch butterflies were seen passing by my window and I caught this one on Foust's butterfly bush

actual view of the work station for sewing and ironing 

My drift wood brought home to make a hens and chicks container like the one at the bay. 

the drift wood has very cool inner recesses that will be covered with sand, pebbles and sempervivum and sedum this time next year. 

detail of quilting work with pearle threads 

hoop on quilt and some of the pearle threads I am using to quilt by hand

I am very grateful to Molly Ruppert for this generous gift of lodging in the red house at the edge of the bay. What a treat to be given and share with her the lovely Chesapeake bayside life. I dream of having a house of my own like this but even a short visit is a blissful experience. Now I have my work cut out to get the Fairhaven Summer Quilt completed. I began quilting as soon as I got home and settled in I know it isn't going to take as long as the yoyo quilt did because this quilt is well on the way towards completion. Special thanks also to Steven Stichter for his advice on working with pearle embroidery threads which he used in his amazing creations. I went to see him last weekend and got a fast review of his work and all the questions I needed answered in less than two hours.