My Show on Mackinac Island

Wow, I cannot believe it has been a month since I updated my blog. To say I have been busy is an understatement. Last Saturday evening was the opening reception for my miniature show on Mackinac Island. It was a very eventful weekend.
We arrived on the island Friday as I had some framing to complete before the show. The weather was already getting nasty and was the beginning of a rough weekend on the island. The ferry ride was more like going to the amusement park and the wind was buckling our umbrellas in the opposite way they fold. Not to be deterred, we went about our business and helped the gallery owner finalize the setup of the show.
Friday evening was the opening reception for my friend Bill Murcko's show at the library that hosts art events as well. We fought our way over in the wind and driving rain (no cars on the island) and talked with Bill, Betty, his wife, and their son who had flown in from New York. I took a picture of Bill next to my favorite painting in the show. I love the expression on the girls face in this painting. One wonders what she is thinking about!


The opening reception for my show was Saturday evening and the weather again did not cooperate. I had a friend that called to say she would not be attending the show because she was not about to get on the ferry -it was so bad out. We found out later that more than one freighter heading into Lake Michigan thought better about continuing their trip and were anchored behind the island to shelter themselves from the storm. Many people did venture out, however ,and it was a great time. Below is Bill Murcko attending MY show along with the mayor of Mackinac Island (in pink) and her mother (back turned away) who is the most spry 90 year old I have met in my life.
The gentleman in the baseball cap is Rev. Vincent Carroll, pastor of Little Stone Church. I am talking with his wife Molly, who is also an artist. They were kind enough to invite us to services the following morning. We attended and we quite surprised to be sitting in front of the governor of Michigan who was up on the island for the annual Mackinac Bridge walk.

Its not polite to point! My husband was taking the pictures. Hm, This was one of the better ones.

All in all it was a great weekend in spite of the weather. It is always good to get home, however, and I am settling back into my painting routine.

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend and didn't get windblown wherever you were at.

Till next time,

Freezing On Mackinac Island

Thought I would show one of my latest paintings that I delivered to the island on Friday. This is a well loved Indian chief who is affectionately called Duck. He is a well known figure who officiates at all the parades. This painting is 4 inches by 4 inches and is painted with acrylic on ampersand gessoboard. I had a lot of fun with this piece and am considering painting some of the reinactments at Fort Mackinac.
Friday, my husband and I made our first trip to Mackinac Island for the season. The weather was horrible. The ferry ride wasn't too bad considering the windy conditions but for some reason the coast guard was sitting outside the harbor-hmmm. We walked up to Lilacs and Lace, another store owned by Jack, the gallery owner. He has just expanded his store and gave us a tour. On the way over to Victorian Summer Gallery, about two blocks away, we observed some of the horses returning to the island.

This was the best photo I could get as these big boys were moving at a fast pace. They had just taken a ferry ride from the upper peninsula and were spooking out at every noise! Just before I took this shot we had to scatter as one horse actually jumped up onto the sidewalk and almost took out the trash container in the picture. The island in season has over a hundred horses that are used for everything from taxis, trash pick up even UPS deliveries. No cars are allowed on the island.

The gallery is not open for business yet this year and looks a little bare without all the flowers in planter boxes that will be present soon. I was so busy talking with the people in the gallery I forgot to take any pictures. I get engrossed in conversation!

After leaving the gallery we walked up to the Grand Hotel to see the tulips that are on display every spring. It was so cold that every one of them was completed closed up! I can't blame them. We quickly walked back downtown and parked ourselves in one of the restaurants for lunch. We waited as long as possible before walking down to the boat docks. The weather forecast called for 2-4 inches of snow on the island.

Hopefully it will be warmer when we return next month.

Till next time,