As part of the 10 year anniversary of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, the workers at the Greenway Conservancy planned a very colorful event. Thirty dancers frolicked along the Greenway while seven different colored lights illuminated the fountains. New lights were installed specially for this celebration.
The event began with a pretty water display. Normally, the lights at the Greenway are white. But, for the first time, colored lights were installed at the Greenway for this special event. This event was held twice earlier in October. But those events weer held during the daytime without colored lights. I thought a night time display would be much more interesting.
After a few words from the creator of the event, Peter DiMuro of Public Displays Of Motion, there was a pretty fountain display.
Interpretive dancers began moving along the grassy greenway.
The highlight (no pun intended) of the event, was when the dancers made it to the brightly colored fountains.
The dancers, aged 14 to 75, were equipped with umbrellas while they danced along the fountains. They creatively used the umbrellas and light to make some very pretty colors.
There’s no word on whether the Greenway will conduct another display like this. But, if they do I will be there, umbrella in hand.
This one was particularly challenging to photograph. I used a higher than usual ISO (between 300 and 1,000) with a fast shutter speed (500 and higher) to capture the water as it shot up in the air and the dancers. While I did have a flash I used it sparingly. For one, I think the flash was frowned upon giving the fact the darkness mixed with the light from the fountains made the event so pretty. I also think it wasn’t necessary, especially since I could use PhotoShop to bring out the colors. I was also able to hide mistakes by utilizing the darkness ( :
Shoots like this are hard since you want to use a fast shutter speed to capture motion, yet you often want to use a slower shutter speed in low light situations. So, I compensated with a higher than usual ISO to capture as much light as possibly. While it varied throughout the shoot, I generally used a lower F stop (around 4.0).
Summary: Donna Castellano’s Cover To Cover repurposes books to make meaningful interesting works of art.
It’s a shame that once you read a book its no longer of any use. Unless, you’re Donna Castellano.
Donna, a native of Elmhurst, IL, has been using old books and other repurposed materials to make art for many years. All of her art on display, which includes a variety of subjects, has one thing in common: books.
Donna told me her evolution to working with books was a gradual evolution. Initially, she was working with found objects and other repurposed objects. Then, during the 2010s, she began incorporating books into her artwork. Castellanos cuts, folds and binds parts of books to create her art. While the works of art on display aren’t necessarily entirely made of books, they all have parts of books incorporated into them. As you go through the photos it may be hard to believe these works of art are made out of, at least in part, books. They look like any other work of art.
One of the major themes of her work is family. You can feel the love and respect she has for her family and those closest to her in many of her works.
Fair warning. Due to the large volume of art pieces, this is a long post. So, buckle up!
This work of art was displayed in the main entrance to the museum. It is just an introduction to Donna’s work.
At the entrance to the The Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts where the main exhibit is located, there were these works of art.
“Due Date” (2025) is made of book cover cardboard, library date due cards (does anyone else remember these?) and found objects.
“School Books” (2025) is made of illustrations from the 1987Die Galerie Der Fische book and vintage encyclopedias and book covers. All of the fish in the work of art are all actual fish such as balloon fish, electric fish, frog fish, football fish, lungfish, butterfly fish, red fish, blue fish, etc.
Donna created “House Mouse” (2022) out of book covers.
In the literature accompanying the art work, Donna writes that reading a book for the first time can feel like stepping into another world. While reading from cover to cover, it is easy t be transported-swept into new settings, illustrations and ideas that take us on an immersive journey. Most importantly, by engaging with stories we not only connect with the authors and illustrators who created the books, but with the people around us when we share them.
As you will see in her works of art, much of Donna’s work is drawn upon from her personal experiences and popular culture. Through some of interactive work and her imaginative creations, she draws people into her world and her creative mind.
“Fall Asleep Reading Sheep” (2025) is an example of Donna’s creative mind. It is made of book bindings, salvaged table legs, papier-mache and wood.
“Picking Spring Flowers in the Spring Field” (2025) is made of 1895-1896 Hampton County Biographical Review books, found objects, springs and crystals. They look like real flowers to me.
Animals, flowers and other works of art lined the hallway of the museum. But, we’ll get to them later.
First, let’s take a look at some of the art in the Wheeler Gallery. The Wheeler Gallery has a variety of diverse art. One example of this unusual art is “A Fluffle” (2025) made of doll heads, found objects and book covers. Their names are Faith J Lory, Beulah B.B., Ada and Wilma.
Donna used her real life experiences when making “Cicada Invasion” (2024). She has lived through 4 Cicada invasion while she has lived in Illinois. While many people find cicadas disgusting and the noise of them deafening, Donna finds them to be fascinating. She remember when her family went to have a picnic in the older part of town where the invasion hit the hardest. Instead of grass, Donna said all you could see at the park was cicada shells.
Keep in mind, all of this art has been made, at least, in part of books. It’s really easy to forget how much of Donna’s amazing art work is made of basic materials.
One of these more elaborate works of art is “Little Red School House” (2025-2026). The idea for the “Little Red School House” came from Donna’s school vacations. Yes, her vacations. Her family and she would often stay at a motel in their favorite vacation spot of Baraboo, Wisconsin. The motel was aptly called the Little Red School House. And, although it may seem the last thing some kids would want to do during their school vacation, Donna would play “school” while on vacation. This work of art is made of plywood and book covers. Even the squirrel, who is reading a book, is made of books.
Inside the school house are some lights. “Turn On Your Frog Lights” (2025) is a reference to Donna’s childhood. Donna and her brother would try to catch as many lightning bugs as possible. Her brother thought it would be interesting to feed the frogs lightning bug and see what happens. Apparently, it was quite a sight to see, The frogs stomachs would light up after being fed the lightning bugs! “Turn On Your Frog Lights” is made of book covers and biology transparencies.
Another work of art in the Wheeler Gallery is “Gas Light” (2020) which is made of book covers.
Art can be a very subjective thing and may hold special meaning we don’t see at first glance. “XO When We Gather” (2025) has very a very special meaning to Donna. The piece, which is made of encyclopedia covers, Gather missal covers from Mary Queen of Heaven Church and book screw posts, was made to honor her father. The piece honors her father’s last day. The black area which may look like a shadow is meant to represent her father. In a way, it is also a shadow. As it is the shadow he left behind. Donna’s father passed away while mowing the lawn. The church books that form the picnic table represent the gathering of the people in your life around you in love and support when there is a death. The picnic table was a big part of their lives growing up. It was a place where they gathered with friends, family and neighbors creating loving memories.
“The World In Your Garden” (2025) and “How It Works” (2020), both made of encyclopedia covers, are reminders of Donna’s childhood. Before video games and the internet, Donna and her family and friends would spend hours in the backyard with the garden hose, whipping buckets of water at each other and filling water balloons.
“She’s All A Flutter” (2019) is made of a vintage photo, embossed book cover cardboard and encyclopedia butterfly illustrations.
The “Nature Book Series” (2022) has some famous people and personalities in their works of art. You may recognize a few of them!
From the top (left to right) they are “Prince”, “Beauty School”, “Eggstra Eloquence”, “Fun Guy”, and bottom from left to right are “House Fly”, “Fly Away Hair”, “Fish Tank”, “Charmer” and “Shell Shocked”
“Tree Of Knowledge”, “/red/Sky” and “Tree Of Wonder, Chapter Book of Men and Women” (from left to right) were made of book covers, pages, and bindings from encyclopedias. These works of art look like they could be paintings or perhaps even enhanced photographs. The “Tree Of Knowledge” (the first work of art from left to right) has an especially special meaning to Donna. The encyclopedia she used had an embossed image of a boy and girl. She decided these books would represent the big, huge maple tree in the backyard of her childhood home. The tree served as her hangout and fort. Her brothers, sisters and she would climb up the tree and nestle in the middle of the branches and talk for hours. The tree has five distinctive branches, one for each sibling, that stretch out like fingers on a hand.
“Bookworms” (2025), made of hole punched book covers and book cover cardboard, is another reminder of her childhood. Catching bait for fishing was a big part of her childhood. Her father used to flood the yard the night before their fishing trip. In the morning, they would go out into the yard barefoot and pull the worms out of their holes. The past summer, she put her family to work punching out and stringing these worms together.
Made of vintage encyclopedia illustrations and acrylic on old military cot, “Busy Bearded Bees In History” (2019) is a tribute to historical men who had bees. Donna made the beards into bees.
You may have to look very closely or zoom in to see the details of these works of art to see get the full meaning of their names. The work of art at the top is “Scapegoat.” The bottom row from left to right are “Political Landscape”, “Sheepscape” and “Eggscape.” They are made of embossed book cover cardboard, bookbinding materials and encyclopedia illustrations.
“Do You Hear the Blue Bird?” (2019) is made of book covers from the 1950s American Encyclopedia.
“The Cardinals Rules” (2025) is a tribute to her father and others who have passed away. Made of book covers, the cardinal is a nod to the belief that these birds carry the spirits of those who have passed. Donna said that whenever she sees one she always says “Hi Dad.” She said they always seem to appear at the right time when you need a hug or assurance that everything is going to be ok.
“Too Many Fish in the Sea” (2019) is made of encyclopedia fish illustrations, a fishing basket, fish hooks, fish net and wire.
“For Whom the Bell Tolls” (2025) is a tribute to the classic work of literature by Ernest Hemingway. The work of art consists of a vintage doorbell and a copy of the For Whom the Bell Tolls.
“Communitree” is another work of art with special meaning for Donna. The piece, which is made of book covers, bindings and pages from the 1950sWorld Book Encyclopedia, was an idea that started at one of her art parties. She had multiple dictionaries available for her friends to flip through. She asked them to choose words that best described themselves, her, family or friends. Then, they pasted these words on the tree. The tree is an ongoing project that is constantly being added to. If you look closely, or zoom in to the picture you can see words on the tree.
“Ms. Michell Vaillancourt” (2019) is made of encyclopedia bindings, encyclopedia pages and an egg carton.
As a side note, as I was putting this post together, I kept feeling amazed at the work of art Donna is able to make with such few materials.
“Doorman” (2025) is made of a salvaged door and Encyclopedia Britannica covers.
“Bless This House” (2025) is handwritten poem Donna found inside a book page inside a wood frame with gold leaf and book pages.
This was originally a song written by Helen Taylor that was published in 1927. It has been covered by such well regarded singers as Perry Como. The words are also listed below if you can’t read them in the poem.
“Bless This House”
Bless this house, O Lord we pray, Make it safe by night and day…
Bless these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out…
Bless the roof and chimneys tall, Let thy peace lie overall…
Bless this door that it may prove, Ever open, To joy and love…
Bless these windows shining bright,
Letting in God’s Heavenly light, Bless the hearth, ablazing there, With smoke ascending like a prayer!
Bless the people here within, Keep them pure and free from sin…
Bless us all that we may be, Fit O Lord to dwell with thee…
Bless us all that one day we may dwell, O Lord! With Thee!
“Golden Book, Golden Life” (2023) is made of book covers, gold leaf, gems, vintage Japanese gold foil, ink, watercolor and thread. Donna created this book for an Andy Warhol-themed art exhibit. And, yes, this work of art did win best of show!
Being from an advertising background, Donna has always been attracted to Warhol’s early graphic design work, especially the gold and glitz. There was a point in Warhol’s life when he realized he did his best work when it was something personal to him; he painted what he knew. With this work, Donna wanted to represent her own life and story in his style.
I didn’t recognize what these really were when I first saw them. At first glance, it looks like a work of art with a group of people. But, look closer. There are light switches at a certain part of their bodies!
Made of book covers, light switches and wood, “Turned On Turned Off” (2017) was Donna’s first biggest work of art and the oldest in this exhibit. The piece was inspired by Swiss-German artist Paul Klee, this was one of Donna’s first pieces she created with book covers, combining them with found objects.
The light switches came from an estate sale of a man who was an electrician. One of the areas of a home she likes to explore is men’s work and hobby rooms. At the estate sale, she found an old, beat-up dresser with various tools and “great junk.” The bottom drawer was completely filled with these vintage light switches. She bought the whole drawer!
The photo below shows Donna’s “Five Foot Shelf of Books.” It includes the fish called “Look At Me (red herring)” 2023, the owl at the end of the shelf called “BooBook Owl” (2026), book covered exercise clubs called “Book Club” (2025), paper mache book covered paper plates and several other works of art.
There is also a sitting area, well not a real sitting area. Rather, a chair, light, telephone (I had a phone like that) and a cute little pup! The wall coverings were made from 20th century Swedish Bible pages from The Good Book”, “The Good Book Poppies” and “Men With Hats.” Again, all of these were either in part made of books or used books to cover items.
The Reading Chair is a salvaged chair, covers from the 1940s The World Book and Encyclopedia Britannica encyclopedia sets and gold leaf.
Cyclo, the dog, is made of chicken wire, paper mache, 1920s Collier’s Encyclopedia set and 1960 World Book encyclopedia set.
“Facetime” is a vintage wall clock with clock parts and encyclopedia covers.
“Look into the Lexicon” (2025) is a vintage mirror and early 20th century German encyclopedia covers.
The Book Rack has a vase with flowers, a scarf, pocketbook and other objects all made at least in part with paper. The rug is made of encyclopedia pages and book covers.
“Should I Wear A Headband?” (2025) is made of book headbands. Donna said that when she deconstructs a book, she tried to save as many elements as possible, including the headbands at the top and bottom of the spine. She learned from the Library of Congress that these little cloth tabs are called “headbands.” During the 17th and 18th centuries, they served a purpose and also became an ornate signature for book publishers and makers. She used these headbands to make this skirt and top and shoes.
“Roger R. Grant” is a sculpture of the author from his repurposed books.
“Birds Of America” is a commentary on the “Twitter and Twitter Files controversy.” She found it funny that people were getting so upset about it.
“IKey” (2025) is a statue of their cat “Ikey” made of chicken-wire, paper mache and encyclopedia set covers. The cat’s name was derived from her father’s nickname, “Ike.” Sadly, he died the same night they adopted her.
Many of the works of art didn’t have a lot of details or explanations. Below are a list of some of the works of art that only had their names listed and the items used to make them next to them.
“Peggy Steuhholt Loves to Dance in Her Leggings” is made of book covers, book bindings and book illustrations.
King Richard of the Word is made of dictionary covers, alphabet tabs and vintage photographs.
“Re-Illustrated History” (2019) is a collection of 1920s Collier’s Encyclopedia covers and illustrations.
“Little Less Conversation” (2020) is made of book covers. Although I’m not sure that is possible.
“Organ Donor” (2024) is made of wood pipe organ pieces and medical book illustrations. I’m no doctor. But, the parts of the body in the center of the work of art such as the shoulders and ribs seem to match up!
“Give a Dog a Bone” (2024) is made of 1930-1950 medical book illustrations and book cover cardboard. He looks like he could use one.
“Knowledgeable Bearded Man in Hat aka Alfonso (2021) is made of encyclopedia covers. It is also a portrait of her husband.
“Ghostwriter” (2025) is made of Nancy Drew covers, encyclopedia covers, typewriter keys and pen tips.
“Small Pendant Light” (2025) is made of crystal lamp parts and encyclopedia covers.
Those are all amazing and thought provoking works of art. But, out of all of these works of art, there is one that stands out above the rest. Donna’s favorite work of art is Saint Joan (2024) made of book covers, encyclopedia covers and gold leaf which she is standing next to in the photo below.
Saint Joan is a tribute to Donna’s mother, Joan. In a world polarized by politics and racial and religious divides, Joan was a good book you would want to read, Donna wrote about her mother, keeping with the book theme. As the world feels like it is slipping away from family and morals, we could all take a lesson Joan’s workbook.
As a young woman, Joan had a calling to become a nun. But, after meeting her future husband, God spoke to her and said “Who said being a nun is the only thing that would make happy?” God told her marrying the man she met and having a family would also him happy. Tragically, she lost her soulmate, leaving her a young widow. But God calmed her by telling her it was not about her. It was about him.
Joan’s passion for reading and learning made the medium of salvaged books an easy choice. Each person in the work of art represents a new chapter. The five children and 10 grandchildren are all visible in the painting. You can also see things that people in her family like or were known for such as musical instruments, sporting goods and a lawnmower (more on that later) in the painting.
A companion piece to “Saint Joan”, the “Saint Joan Scrapbook” (2024) is made of book covers and paper scraps. While Donna was working on “Saint Joan”, she took a moment to cleaning up the growing pile of scraps. As she was sweeping them off, she saw a fun image appear in the mess. She quickly glued it down on a spare book cover. These little doodles became a fun little break for her as she worked on this rather emotional piece. She dated each board so you can see which part of “Saint Joan” she was working on.
Another part of the exhibit is a collection of doors fittingly called The Doors. The idea came to Donna after she finished an exhibit featuring the work of 1940s Surrealist artist Gertrude Abercrombie. Gertrude painted doors and Donna painted a lot of doors for the exhibit. Later, when Donna was invited to the Rock and Rolled Show, Donna wondered how many songs have “door” in their lyrics. The answer is a lot. But, the exhibit only includes 23 of them. Donna thought about songs and bands she liked from her era. From “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” to “Paint It Black” the majority of the songs have a rock theme. The door color was based on the color of each album the song was recorded on (for young people those were circular devices that songs used to be recorded on and played back later wow I feel old) particular lyrics with door in them are printed at the bottom of each door.
There are also some fun interactive parts of the exhibit that are interactive. In this part of the exhibit, you can create your own works of art! Visitors were encourage to finish making drawings of the figures on the pieces of paper. Donna collects all of the drawings people make and includes them in her collections from her travels.
Outside of the museum is another work of art by Donna called “Rubberland,” This exhibit reuses bicycle parts to make art.
Donna’s works of art will be at the Michele and Donald D’amour Museum of Fine Arts at the Springfield Museums until Sep. 6. She may also be making a visit to the museum this summer. Check the museum’s website for more details.
What better to post to leave a review from an author from New England! I finished reading Joyland by Stephen King recently. Below is a spoiler free review.
Reading Joyland was like being on a joyride. Sorry for the bad simile. But, don’t let the genre fool you. Joyland is more than just scary tale. While it is a horror story, Stephen managed to write it in a way that still had some warm and even wholesome moments. In fact, some of the most memorable parts of the story are not related to the horror story. The horror aspect almost seems like an afterthought. If you’re looking for a seat of your pants, tense horror thriller, this isn’t your book. But, I think it displays King’s ability to branch out and tell a well thought out coming of age story (wow I’m really wearing out the cliches here).
You can read the full review, spoilers and all, here: Joyland Review
Location: Old Sturbridge Village, 29 Stallion Hill Road, Sturbridge, MA (for GPS directions)
Cost: Prices ranged $28 to $45 for this event (members get a discount)
Parking: Lots of free parking
Universally Accessible: Since most of the events are outdoors, the event was universally accessible. But, many of the buildings at the village are not universally accessible.
Summary: Performers showed off their gravity defying, fire breathing and feats of strength at the Phantoms By Firelight event at Old Sturbridge Village.
Old Sturbridge Village transformed into a fiery family friendly festival. Alliteration aside, performers with a diverse set of skills enthralled the audience of people of all ages.
Fire breathing, knife juggling and gravity defying tricks were just a few of the performances on display during the October event at Old Sturbridge Village.
People at the event got into the Halloween spirit. These people cam to the event in their own Halloween costumes!
At the Meetinghouse, there was a display with common fears people had back when in the late 1700s and early 1800s, proving people today are not so different from people off this earlier era. We all have many of the same fears and worried about the same things. Fear of the dark, spiders and heights were some of the fears on display at this exhibit. I have some of these very same fears. Ok, make that all of them. In fact, add rollercoasters and Chucky to the list.
The fear of spiders, also known as Arachnophobia, is a fear many people have. Although some spiders can be venomous, this fear is largely unfounded. See how cute they look!
Claustrophobia, or fear of enclosed places, was, and still is, a very reasonable fear especially since people often worked in confined spaces.
Thanatophobia, the fear of death, is a fear all of us probably have.
Acrophobia, the fear of heights, was another common fear in the 1700 and 1800s. Early New Englanders had to navigate many steep and dangerous cliffs and ledges. Folklore and superstition claimed the “Devil’s Footprint” were on some of these precipices. People were said to be facing tests of faith on these cliffs. People that fell were said to have faced “divine punishment.”
Nyctophobia is a fear many of us probably suffered from as children. People who have a fear of the dark are not necessarily afraid of the darkness. Rather, they fear what may lie in the darkness like n in-law or the tax collector!
People, like these visitors, could write down their biggest fears and add it to the collection box.
If you saw my previous post about last year’s Phantoms By Firelight (2024) event, you may notice many of the events were similar, or the same. But, the performers added different twists, in some cases literally, to their performances. And, in one case, different people were performing.
The first performer was Alexander The Upside Down Man. Or sideways man for that matter!
The musical act Fox and Dragon provided the music for Alexander’s performance.
Philomena and her magic rope kept the audience riveted with her climbing and acrobatic skills. As her entrance, she did a freaky spider walk!
Philomena dazzled the audience with her mastery of the rope!
The highlight for many of the visitors were the “Masters Of The Flame”. These performers were playing with fire. Literally. These talented daredevils put on such an amazing show. Finding the best photos of their feats was very challenging.
Richard Hankes and Ashlee Morgan performed at the finale of the event. Ashlee is a Cirque du Soleil alum and a finalist from Season 19 of “America’s Got Talent.” Hankes and she hold the Guinness World Records holder for “Longest duration balancing on pointe on the shoulders,” with a recorded time of 4 minutes and 2.75 seconds. More on that later.
The finale began with an introduction of the performers. And some dancing by Ashlee and Richard.
Ashlee and Richard showed off some of the skills that put them in the record books.
Ashlee was not done dancing. After she carefully got off Richard’s shoulders, Ashlee did some hot stepping on the stage!
But, Ashlee wasn’t done. Drawing on her Cirque du Soleil experience, she showed off her skills on the rings!
Besides the featured artists, there were many other attractions. For instance, the bridge at the village was lit up and a mysterious fog hung around the entrance.
Inside the bridge were actual portraits from the houses at the village.
This is a portrait of Hannah Elizabeth Tucker circa 1843 (artist unknown). Born June 11, 1836 to Thomas and Nancy Tucker of Newton, MA, Hannah died of marasmus, a deficiency in all the macronutrients that the body requires to function, including carbohydrates, protein and fats, on December 30, 1843. The portrait was probably commissioned by her parents after her death. The portrait shows her marking a spot in her book with her finger. It is a symbol of her life interrupted. Her short life shows how difficult it was to survive and provide what we would consider the basics of nutrition during those times.
This portrait of Maria Brown was made circa 1835 by an unknown artist. Maria and her twin sister Maranda were born in Wendell, MA, on March 19, 1820. At some point they moved with their parents Jonathan and Abigail to Gardener, MA. Maranda died of consumption on April 23, 1844 at the age of 24. Eight months later on January 6, 1845, Maria died from inflammation in her lungs. They are both buried in Gardner, MA, under one headstone.
This is a family portrait that was also hung on the inside of the bridge.
The blacksmith was also busy at work. They always seem to be working on one thing or another whenever I visit the village.
From the pumpkins, flames and the buildings, there were many photo opportunities at the village.
Finally, there was a new attraction at this annual event; Halloween wreaths! After viewing the wreaths, people could vote for their favorite wreath.
This wreath made by Danielle Peters is called “Fall On The Farm.” The theme of the wreath is Autumn. She used blown eggs from her creme legbar chickens and feathers from her heritage breed turkeys.
This wreath had a spell to keep evil away on Halloween attached to the wreath. You may notice some of the elements of the spell, such as the fox and the vulture, are included in the wreath’s design.
For those of you who may be fans of the Nightmare Before Christmas, this wreath made by Jeremy Levesque was titled, “It’s Jack-O-Ween Time!”
“Witch Dream” by Jamie Black was made in honor of his mother. According to Jamie, she loved to be a witch for Halloween and she taught him many of the skills he used to make the wreath.
“The Witches Garden” by Alyssa Kellogg is a hidden garden where witches cast spells, mix potions and deadly foliage grows. The wreath features natural elements such as empty wasp nests acorns, dead hydrangeas and dry leaves.
Kristina Tyree made “Fall-O-Ween as an expression of her love for fall and the beauty it brings. Each piece was cut and stitched by hand from a pattern that she created.
“Ghost Witch Riding On Her Pet Bat Deliver A Wreath” was made by Elaine Hartman. She said she hoped the wreath made people smile. It was her first craft project.
“Pretty Deadly – Midnight Apothecary” by Danielle Ballard was inspired by the Asa Knight Store (more commonly known as the “Village Store” at Old Sturbridge Village) after dark. Danielle described it as a mournful bed of cracked flowers and tulle, dried roses and flowers are interspersed with handmade clay frames and original graphic art from an imagined Midnight Apothecary.
The theme of “Creepy Welcome” is simplicity with a touch of glam. Nadine Bransky enjoyed repurposing found objects into fun home decor.
“Bubble, Bubble, Toil & Tinsel” by Monica and Brandyn Greeno is about witches, potions, brewing and spells.
These are a few more of the wreaths that were on display!
There were some very impressive works of art. I do hope they continue this part of the event!
There were so many events and interesting attractions at the Phantoms By Firelight event. That’s why it took so long to post. I’ll jus try to post the photos more quickly after this year’s event!
Summary: Old Sturbridge Village celebrated Thanksgiving
The week before Thanksgiving, Old Sturbridge Village replicated Thanksgiving in the early United States. From Thanksgiving dinner (more like lunch) and turkey shoots were just some of the highlights of the festivities during my visit.
Thanksgiving was celebrated very differently in New England during the late 18th and early 19th century. Instead of watching football and shopping online for Christmas presents, people went to turkey shoots and cooked some unusual dishes (more on that later).
The first stop was to the small home and garden. I had never noticed before during my many but there is a room located adjacent to the fireplace. It is a very cozy accommodation.
Some of the workers were busy quilting stockings and clothing for the coming winter season. .
The fabric below was dyed using the method from the late 1700s and early 1800s. Dyers in the 19th century used natural materials to make their colors. Housewives gathered black walnuts, oak galls and goldenrod from the countryside. They cultivated plants used for dying like sage in their kitchen gardens. Local New England dyestuffs produced a range of yellows, greens and browns. More vibrant colors usually came from dyestuffs grown in warmer climates. Many country stores stocked imported dyes all over the world.
One of my favorite places to visit at the village is the Blacksmith Shop. The blacksmith always seems to be working on something interesting.
This Blacksmith Shop was originally located in Bolton, MA around 1810. It was relocated to the village in 1957.
Blacksmith Moses Wilder owned land that adjoined a stone quarry operated by his wife’s cousins in Bolton, Massachusetts. Wilder built the Blacksmith Shop using some 400 granite stones from the quarry to form the walls. He was able to maintain a prosperous business making and repairing tools used in the neighboring quarry. His son, Abraham, later took over the business.
Neighborhood blacksmiths undertook several different kinds of work in rural New England, and most towns had several blacksmiths. Some specialized in producing edge tools or machinery. Others shoed horses or turned to wheelwrighting and repairing vehicles. Many did general iron work, repairing manufactured and imported tools, shoeing horses and oxen, and making hardware and other metal items needed in the community.
This tin shop, which was reconstructed in 1975, is believed to have been in operation around 1800 to 1850.
The tin business in New England grew rapidly after 1820. Tin shop owners imported tinplated sheet iron from Great Britain, shaped it into a variety of forms, and distributed their finished goods through peddlers and country stores. They also sold tinware in their shops. Colanders, dippers, dish kettles, funnels, measures, and pans were in greatest demand. Other common items included lanterns, foot stoves, teapots, coffeepots, “tin kitchens”, skimmers, and sconces.
The Tin Shop at Old Sturbridge Village is a reconfigured the early 1800s shed. Here, “tinners” work with hand tools as well as machines that were new innovations in the early 19th century. These machines turned tinplate, made grooves and folds, and inserted wire, increasing a shop’s production.
Sturbridge and the surrounding region were home to some of the foremost rural cabinetmakers of the early 19th century, including Nathan Lumbard and Oliver Wight. These craftspeople, as well as others like them, were integral to 19th-century rural New England communities. In 2017, Village staff and Trustees began working on a plan to create a permanent home for cabinetmaking at the Village. The Cabinetmaking Shop opened in October, 2021, as a highlight of the Village’s 75th anniversary.
In the new cabinetmaking shop, cabinetmakers discuss the tools and techniques used in period furniture construction, including turning demonstrations on a treadle lathe, preparing stock with hand tools, and Federal-style table construction.
The Cabinetmaking Shop is a hybrid building, built using both historic and modern building methods in the construction of the Shop. The shop is patterned after period structures operated by early 19th-century New England craftsmen. Many elements of the final Cabinetmaking Shop will be created by craftsmen and interpretive staff working in the Village, including reproduction period tools, doors, shelves, and the box stove. The large timbers for the construction of the shop were even cut by the Village Sawmill.
The sawmill was one of the most important buildings in the village. This sawmill was reproduced in 1984.
This rare water-powered sawmill—erected on the millpond site that David Wight, Jr. first created in the 1790s—is used to cut lumber for Old Sturbridge Village and other historic sites. The Sawmill is based on what had been one of the oldest surviving sawmills in the area: the Nichols-Colby Sawmill of Bow, New Hampshire, which was destroyed in a 1938 hurricane.
Although the Village demonstrates sawmilling in spring, summer, and fall, rural mills were busiest during late winter and early spring, when waterpower was most abundant and the demands of farming were less pressing. Sawmill account books suggest that since it was so difficult and expensive to transport logs and lumber, mills like this one concentrated on custom production for local customers.
The Gristmill was also active during my visit.
The Gristmill was one of the first buildings constructed at Old Sturbridge Village. Built on the site of the Wight family’s original gristmill, the mill is made of recycled old timbers and new lumber. The mill’s massive millstones and other parts came from the Porter Gristmill in Hebron, Connecticut.
Gristmill owners served their customers by grinding grain into flour and meal for baking or provender for feeding livestock. By Massachusetts law, a miller could charge a fee or toll of 1/16th of the grain bought to him as payment for milling the rest. But rural milling was changing along with the rest of the economy; even in the countryside, cash fees were beginning to replace traditional tolls.
Originally built in Worcester, MA around 1780, the Printing Office was moved to Old Sturbridge Village in 1951.
Printing required speed, dexterity, and strength. Setting type and printing were generally the work of men and boys, but women were employed in stitching and binding books. Country printers concentrated on books, pamphlets, broadsides, and forms. Newspapers were seldom profitable in small towns, but many rural printers tried to make money from them. In order to have a variety of titles for their customers, rural printers exchanged large quantities of books with printers throughout New England. Then they sold the books to country merchants, often taking store goods in exchange. By 1820, many were printing books for publishers in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
The Printing Office at Old Sturbridge Village was owned for a time by noted printer Isaiah Thomas. Thomas moved from Boston to Worcester during the Revolutionary War to preserve his freedom to publish. It is unlikely that Thomas printed in this building, but the association with him is important. As one of America’s most successful printers, he trained many craftsmen, who influenced the trade for two generations.
The printer showed off the tools of the print shop as well as how the papers were printed on. This copy of the Connecticut, which was printed on the printer in the office is an original from the 1800s.
Of course, what would a Thanksgiving celebration be without a feast?
Thanksgiving was the biggest holiday in 19th century Sturbridge. While the turkey is usually the biggest part of the Thanksgiving meal in modern day America, it was not the case in 19th century Sturbridge. And, other parts of the meal were considered more important. es were baked weeks ahead of time and stored in unheated attics and bedrooms where they would freeze and keep for months. Pies not consumed at Thanksgiving would sometimes last until April. Also, while many people might be surprised to read this, prayer was not said before the big meal. Grace, or a proclamation of gratitude, was often said before the meal.
Turkey wasn’t the only thing on the menu. This hoof (possibly from a boar, sheep or deer) was a common delicacy of these meals.
But there were also more savory items like pies, cake, vegetables and a turkey cooking near an open flame.
Sometimes, they would store extra vegetables in unusual places!
The highlight for most, though, was the “turkey shoot.” But, no turkeys were harmed during this event. Men and women from the village took their turns at trying to hit the targets. While beginning to fall out of favor by the 1830s, competitive turkey shoots were still fairly common New England events in the fall and early winter. Participants would pay cash to shoot at nearly impossible ranges to try to win their own bird.
While no animals were used or harmed during the shoot, there were other targets used in the shooting. Instead of turkeys or other living things, the shooters aimed at the paper targets, jugs and bowls.
These are the rounds used during the time of the turkey shoot they were recreating. The shooters used the largest projectile to the left for the target practice. Imagine getting hit by that bullet, or any of these bullets for that matter. Ouch.
There were musicians and a few roosters at the turkey shoot.
I couldn’t end my post without adding some of my favorite artsy photos. One of the things I like to photograph in the village are the windows. If you get it the right time of the day when the light is shining just right, you can get some pretty photo opportunities.
Location: Park Hill Orchard, 50 Payson Ave, Easthampton, MA (2 hours west of Boston, MA, 45 minutes north of Hartford, CT)
Cost: Free
Universally Accessible: Yes. The staff at Park Hill Orchard offer a Accessible Art Cart for those who need assistance.
Dog Friendly: Yes
Summary: Art In The Orchard featured dozens of works of art from local artists.
Welcome to the third and final post from the Art In The Orchard art exhibition.
Yes, believe it or not, this is the last post of the art work at the Art In The Orchard event. And there are a few extras at the end of this post from the event. I hope you have enjoyed the posts from this event!
The first art installation in this post is “The Graces” by Ray Ciemny of Groton, MA.
Made of stainless steel, “The Graces” is an attempt to draw attention to the wind and the invisible world that envelops us all.
What captivates Ray and inspired the work of art is the notion of keeping the doors of experimentation and materials exploration open. The keys to these doors are Ray’s head and heart functioning together with an instinctual tension.
Ray tries to give new life to metal objects that were once useful and have become worn or obsolete. Ray endeavors to create a nirvana from scrap. Tension and movement whether physical or suggested has to be present in the work to make it worthy of existence.
Bamboo has always fascinated Philip Marshall of Grafton, MA. For his work of art “Bamboo 2”, Philip used construction grade bamboo, Eastern white cedar, laquer, paint and cord to create an abstract piece similar to the ones he has made using steel.
Philip is a painter and sculptor based out of Massachusetts. But, he was born in Kent, England. He is drawn to public art for its freedom of scale and because he views it as “gateway art” for those who rarely visit a gallery or museum. Although Phillip takes painting and sculpture commissions, his primary focus has been creating outdoor sculptures for temporary public exhibitions. His varied life experiences, extensive world travel and the people he has encountered, provide a rich source of material.
Michael Tillyer of Conway. MA, used a fourteen foot pine tree and some metal to make “Totem.”
This sculpture did not have a sign identifying the work of art or artist. The birds liked it though.
“Rabbit” by Tim MacKenzie of Hull, MA, was made of marble.
In an orchard, Velma stands proud – a stone rabbit sentinel with ears to the breeze and secrets to keep. Forever frozen mid-thought, she ponders the mysteries of morning dew and moonlight dreams.
The sculpture “Joy” by Michael Perusse of Easthampton, MA, is a remembrance and reflection of moments of joy in our lives. The movement of the figures, which are made of Pal Tiya (a cement-based weatherproof sculpting medium that cures to a stone-hard finish without baking or firing which is ideal for durable indoor or outdoor sculptures) can be a moment of silliness, dance, sports achievement, a simple morning stretch in a ray of sunshine or as complex as finishing a law degree and everything in between. It’s that moment your body, heart, mind and soul are one in Joy within yourself or with others.
This is a miniature sized model of the work of art.
Lynn Richards of Sommerville, MA, is interested in how light transforms fused glass to create a dynamic viewing experience. After seeing a Georgia O’Keefe exhibit, Lynn was inspired to create a larger than life glass flower bouquet which would become “Flourishing Buds.” She used bullseye glass with steel rods to create the various flower elements. The glass was cut into realistic and abstract shapes that invite the viewer to interpret the bouquet. Finally, the flowers are designed to ensure wind can easily pass through the swirl on a steel rod.
“The Four Elements Personified” by John Collins of Ware, MA, displays the four elements (water, Earth, wind and fire) as humans. Each bust made of fire clay with metal coating finish with a marble, cast iron stand, represents each element. Mounted on a four tier marble and steel base, the work unites the distinct energies of Satan, Lady Wind, Mother Earth and Poseidon.
Dave Rothstein of Florence (Northampton), MA, used hay, straw, chicken wire, steel, aluminum and a lot of ingenuity to make “Beetle in a Haystack.”
The most beautiful things are often fleeting and right under our noses. But if we don’t take time to observe we often miss out. “Beetle In A Haystack” pays homage to the ubiquitous hay bales that blanket the New England landscape. They are so commonplace that we often take them for granted. So, the next time you’re driving by a far,m or other landscape in New England or some other rural area, pause and take a look (safely).
Most hay bales contain much more than hay. You’ll often find Goldenrod, native mints, bergamot (a fragrant citrus fruit native to southern Italy) and other plants.
So it’s no surprise that Beetle In A Haystack hovers over the “Harmonics Gardens Labyrinth” filled with native grasses and medical plants and abound with pollinators. Please experience its magic and maybe you’ll discover the elusive calm and peace we search so longingly for, See what you learn about yourself and the natural world in the process.
“Peace Pole: A beacon for hope and desire for peace” by Jane Pelton Andresen of Easthampton, MA, is the perfect work of art to end this series of posts. The pole, which is made of wood, acrylic panels and clay, is meant to connect people. She included indigenous languages from the region, in this case Mohawk (territory to the west) and Wampanoag (territory in what is now eastern MA, RI and parts of CT). Both languages are still spoken today. She also included Spanish as it is the most non-English language spoken here.
The rainbow stripes represent the fact that peace without freedom and equity is not true peace.
The symbols on the pole represent what Park Hill Orchard has given to our community.
While the art from the artists was plentiful, there was additional art at the park.
There was this Poetree at the park. The Poetree included poems attached to the tree.
There were also other sculptures and works of art that were not part of the event. Some of them were sculptures the artists were selling and some were things I just noticed at the park.
During the event, one of the sculptors, John Collins, was making a sculpture of a girl’s head.
And, there was also a rooster and chicken, specifically a Golden Laced Wyandotte chicken.
AS you can see, there was lots of art at the event. But, what struck me most was the meaning and theme of the works of art. There were some very meaningful messages to some of the art! It also goes to show how creative people can be!
Location: Park Hill Orchard, 50 Payson Ave, Easthampton, MA (2 hours west of Boston, MA, 45 minutes north of Hartford, CT)
Cost: Free
Universally Accessible: Yes. The staff at Park Hill Orchard offer a Accessible Art Cart for those who need assistance.
Dog Friendly: Yes
Summary: Art In The Orchard featured dozens of works of art from local artists.
Welcome to the second part of my Art In The Orchard post! Even though I am posting quite a few sculptures and other works of art, there are still many more to share with you all. This is why I debated posting them at all. It is fairly big undertaking and I didn’t want to bore anyone with the volume of art. But, these sculptures and other works of art are so impressive, I doubt they will bore any of you!
Well, it’s another weekend and that can only mean one thing in New England: more snow! So, to brighten my and everyone else’s mood in New England and anyone else experiencing inclement weather, what better way to get our minds off this wintry weather than to look at some photos from a warmer and prettier time!
“Spiders” by Matt Evald Johnson is the first installation in the second post from the Art In The Orchard event. I know. I get it. I’m not crazy about spiders either. But, look at that face! On his Instagram profile, Matt describes himself as a “spider protector.” So, it makes sense that he would make such cute creatures for the event.
“Infinite Delicacy” by Lee Williams of Shaftsbury, VT, is a colorful work of art that shows the deconstruction and construction of nature and other things in our lives.
Lee, whose installation is made of paint and wood, makes art by disrupting things. Deconstruction becomes construction. Action interrupts contemplation as a means of accepting a path among many alternatives. Lee thinks there is a constant fluidity and changeability and elements influence one another as they entangle and smear together. The color pink saturates the sculpture which is rare in nature. It moves us toward the sublime. Poised between laughter and despair, they call to mind the natural and unnatural in their materiality.
The Fiberistas, a group of nine women artists in western MA who love to work with fiber, worked together to make a group of art installations called “The Arches Of Hampshire County.” Each work of art in this installation had 7 works of art made by different artists. All of the works of art were made with nylon twine, thread, fabric, yarn, wire and wool felt.
The first work of art was “Raphaella”(Queen of Healing) by Martha May of Holyoke, MA. It appears to be a snake with perhaps some eggs ready to hatch on the ground next to her.
RAZZAMATAZZ” by Barbara Kline of Leverett, MA, features carnival performers. Ringling Bros, no offense, has nothing on these performers!
The next work of art for this installation was “Flutter” by Martha Robinson
Nancy Young of South Hadley added to the art installation with “The Monkey Brother’s Circus” (Not All Elephants Are Gray!).
Sally Dillon and Flo Rosenstock of Amherst, MA, created “Caterpillars & Fungus Among Us?”
The final piece of this extensive art installation is “I Dream Of The Sea” by Margaret Stancer of Pelham, MA.
I told you (in the earlier post) there were a lot of works of art!
One of the things I noticed is people expressing a desire or need for people to come together and connect through their work. This is a common theme during these times. Eileen Jager‘s work of art called “We Are All One Planet” was an example of this.
Eileen, from Easthampton, MA, presented Planet Earth as the egg in a nest. The work of art, made of glass mosaic, Pal Tiya, willow, moss, pine cones and needles, represented the elements of Earth; air, fire, water and earth. Like our Earth it is resilient yet fragile. The work of art shows the forces of nature are strong and how we all inhabit this planet. The proverbial flap of a butterfly here can become a tsunami there. It’s time we understand we are all connected, we are all one planet and we all share our living, our dying and out birth.
Carved from a single block of Bethel white granite, the “Swan Side Profile” by Ryan Ackerman of Quincy, MA, merges Art Nouveau elegance with enduring strength. Shaped using a liquid oxygen/biodiesel quarry torch (the same fuel mix used in NASA shuttles) alongside diamond abrasives and air chisel, the sculpture reveals fluid grace within dense, glacial stone.
“Salutation” by Scott Keeley of Charleston, RI is an abstract figurative form in a pose that represents an international symbol of welcome and peace. The figure, made of cast iron, stands tall, arms wide open, her face gently tilted upward yet gazing at the viewer. The geometric form of the face is a reference to Constantin Brancusi. Like the way the beak in “Bird In Space” is a truncation of the soft form that makes up the body of the bird, the face in “Salutation” is a revolved cut in the soft form that makes up the torso of the figure. The focal point of the sculpture, the figure’s face, is expressed by what is taken away.
This large-scale abstract sculpture named “Medusa” by Chris Plaisted is a bold and striking work of art that captures the essence of the mythological figure while pushing the boundaries of traditional representation.
Rather than depicting Medusa in a realistic or literal way, the sculpture, which is made of steel and enamel paint, takes on an abstract form that evokes the snake haired, fearsome nature of the mythological figure. While the eyes, nose and mouth facial structures remain, components and shapes are added to make the face less obvious.
Made of stainless steel and reclaimed wood, “Forward” by Lindsey Molyneux is a tribute to horses. Throughout history, horses have played a pivotal role in altering the course of conflicts, expanding human boundaries through exploration and facilitating cultural exchanges. This transformative impact mirrors the power of connection and communication, which are more crucial now than ever.
As symbols of movement and progress, horses act as a metaphor for the human journey how, despite our differences, we can forge paths toward greater unity and movement forwards.
“Bench People” by Ed Mcaloon is designed to be both entertaining and functional. The configurations of the seat, made of welded recycled steel with oil based paint finish, are intended to invite the seated folks to face each other and interact.
The selection of female and male themes is meant to be inclusive. When positioned facing each other, these pieces create a fanciful environment.
Keeping with the chair theme, Mark Fenwick of Guilford, VT, created :Andromeda’s Chair” made of hemlock. There also seems to be a little visitor sitting in the chair. The wooden chair in the similitude of a sea wave washed rock. Andromeda was an Ethiopian woman threatened by a monster. Perseus came along and turned the beast into a rock by showing it the head of Medusa.
“Olie” by Dan Rocha is a contemporary interpretation of a carin. Carins, a stack of stones, are usually used as markers on hiking trails. While most carins are made of rocks and stones, this particular carin was made of PVC, aluminum sheet and paint. In Celtic prehistory carins also have a spiritual significance as they were used as memorials and as burial chambers.
This concludes the second part of the Art In The Orchard exhibit. But, don’t fret. There are many more to show in my following posts!
Location: Park Hill Orchard, 50 Payson Ave, Easthampton, MA
Cost: Free
Universally Accessible: Yes. The staff at Park Hill Orchard offer a Accessible Art Cart for those who need assistance.
Dog Friendly: Yes
Summary: Art In The Orchard featured dozens of works of art from local artists.
Raise you hand if you’re sick of this cold and wintry weather. Since I still have lots of photos from events and places I have visited last year, I thought it would be a good time for a change of pace and post some photos from a milder, more colorful time.
Nature and art go hand in hand. Hence, the Art In The Orchard exhibit. The aim of Art In The Orchard is to blend art with horticulture. Two of my favorite things!
Created in 2011, Art in the Orchard is a juried outdoor sculpture and installation exhibit showcasing the work of local and regional artists. Set on the grounds of Park Hill Orchard, the Art In The Orchard event is nestled among apple trees, small fruit gardens and landscaped farmland.
Because there were so many art installations (well over 30) and in some cases lengthy descriptions of each exhibit, I am posting this event in parts. In fact, I have photographed this event in years past. But, it was too overwhelming and time consuming to post all of the photos from the exhibit. Maybe, in the future, if I can find those photos I took I can post photos from those other years. Also, since this was a “meet and greet” event, you may notice artists posing next to some of their works. As an added note, some of the names of the artists were very familiar as I have photographed some of their works in the past. For instance, Harold Grinspoon, the artist of the first work of art has many works of art installed throughout western MA, namely at the Big E Fair at the Eastern Exposition Center in West Springfield, MA, and at Mittineague Park, also in West Springfield, MA.
One of the things that stood out to me was how all of New England was represented in the art. From Vermont to Connecticut, people came from all over New England to show their art.
The first work of art at the event was “Big Bang” by Harold Grinspoon of Agawam, MA. “Big Bang” is made of charred wood center and acrylic rods. It is meant to be a celebration of special occasions and to remind us to be joyful of life. The rods individually capture light and reflect it back. But, together with others it creates an impact and good feelings in us.
“Baroque Composition, Standing Figure” by David Skora of New Hartford, CT, made of welded polychromed steel, is the next exhibit. Created in the modernist tradition, “Baroque Composition, Standing Figure” was a welded fabricated metal sculpture of abstracted forms. The sculpture attempts to appropriate the energy and exhilaration of David’s interpretation of the Baroque style of art and architecture he observed while visiting Spain.
The next piece is not really a work of art. The red frame is often used for people to take selfies or photos with friends and loved ones. The hills and trees make for a beautiful backdrop, especially during foliage. It is installed at every Art In The Orchard event.
“Acknowledgement” “by Diane Travis of Northampton, MA, is a nod to “land acknowledgement.” You may have seen some signs or markers on the ground acknowledging “native land” or other forms of land acknowledgement (I’ve seen several of them in Boston and Salem, MA). This installation, made of a found table, brass copper, aluminum, paint and wood letters, is meant to be a tangible. interactive sculpture situated on the land people to refer to during “land acknowledgements” at meetings and gatherings. It also pays tribute to the original people of the land.
A compass rose set upon the table orients the viewer in the landscape of Mt. Tom, short for “Tomhoganompekut.” Say that three times fast. I dare you. This name roughly translates to “Tomahawk Stone Place.” For millennia, Indigenous people used the unique stone there to make tomahawks.
Stools set at North, South, East and West invite people to sit and contemplate the land in all directions. Visitors are encouraged to sit and contemplate the land and history in all directions. The compass has an inner and outer circle of names; the inner circle refers to the Ancestral names of original people in the area. The outer circle names and acknowledges the continuous and current presence of Native people in the wider region of Dawn Land now called New England. “Acknowledgement” is meant to confront tropes of the “Disappeared Indian”, asserting, “We are here.”
“Big Mama With Glass ” by Robert Osborne of Athol, MA is the next art installation. I was fortunate enough to meet the artist of this work of art during the event. Robert told me the “Big Mama With Glass”, which is made of solid aluminum bar and solid glass rods, was the largest of his “Mama” sculptures. He said the “Dia generation” which is Michael Kimmelman’s label for minimalists and conceptualists many of which are on view at the Dia in Beacon, NY, to be the most relevant today. Their work, according to Robert, is about optics, light, architecture and a unique philosophical approach to seeing and thinking. Robert is also intrigued by the string constructions of Fred Sandback because of his exploration of volume and space. Robert hopes to make people question and really look closely and think about the images and their interactions with his art.
“Coming Home To Roost” by Easthampton resident Christopher Woodman was inspired by some unsavory looking guests in his backyard. The art installation, which is made of a factory fan hub, multiple hand saws and other found metals and wooden beams, was inspired by turkey vultures. The previous Fall, the trees in Christopher’s yard were the chosen home for dozens of turkey vultures. Christopher was taken by the calamity in their process. He observed that for masters of the wind, they don’t always stick their landings. At one point, Christopher counted 60 buzzards, which was close to 400 ft of wingspan.
When choosing a focal point for his piece, the vulture idea hit a lot of themes for Christopher. He especially liked using discarded parts and appreciated the balance of nature and renewal. He also wanted to show the ominous and foreboding specter of the future.
Gints Grinbergs of Dedham, MA created “Queen Anne’s Lace” with stainless steel tubing found metal rods, bent landscape spikes and cast off stainless steel washers. It strives to depict forms and structures found in nature as it reaches for the sky, turning it’s head towards the sun. The backdrop of foliage and pumpkins made the installation look prettier.
“Three Small Flames” by Antoinette Schultze of Eliot, ME, is the next art installation. The work of art, which was made of granite and glass, was a work of nostalgia. It represented her nostalgia for place, specifically home, with the candles burning. The three small flames can be found at the bottom of the granite installation.
Antoinette began her art career in 1961 when she auditioned for an Impressionist class at Columbia College in New York. Antoinette learned that an artist can express their feelings, not just copy nature. The materials and process of creating her sculptures are a manifestation of herself. Antoinette can carve stone and wood, coupled with glass into a marriage seeking light. Although the work is dirty, time consuming and laborious, Antoinette finds it to be meaningful and rewarding. The work brings order and insight into what she calls a chaotic world. Calling herself the “singing sculptor”, Antoinette said she often sings and speaks to herself as she works.
The next sculpture “River Siren” by Joshua Ruder of Greenfield, MA, is a little unusual. It is interactive. The sculpture made of stone, metal and concrete has a stone attached by a string to the other side of the sculpture. And yes, it does make a “siren song sound.
Joshua found the perfect curved contour in the stone while he was wading in a river. He felt compelled to carve the stone and continue the process of carving that nature had begun.
“Rebirth” by Gregory Didyoung of Wilmington, VT, is a sculptural interpretation of the phoenix myth. Reborn from its own ashes, the phoenix symbolizes renewal, resurrection and immortality. The sculpture was made of found metal and reused and reborn into something new. Cracking the nested egg into two halves the phoenix rises and flaps his wings for the first time.
While the meaning of “Erebus” by Trisha Moody may seem straightforward, it has a deeper meaning. The sculpture which is made of steel, iron and recycled tools is actually a commentary of human beings. The sleepy dragon which looks beautiful and dangerous, is similar to how we are often asleep and how we all react differently when woken. The dragon is playfully being tapped by the fairy to join her in the woods. It shows how two very different creatures can play together. It also shows how we have the ability to act together in a community and how we can choose to be the gentle giant or the fire thrower.
Brendan Stechini of Belchertown, MA, described his sculpture as being like a scientific instrument. He described it as being like a lighthouse with a round mirror that projects and reflects light, turning 360 degrees, oscillating like a weathervane. The mirrors on the outside legs capture the sky and the tops of the trees. The mirrors on the inside reflect the ground and our footprints. At the top of the sculpture, the steel rod points to the heavens. Brendan suggests looking at the sculpture with “new eyes” and “holding a mirror up to it” This sculpture represents how we can look at the same facts from an alternative perspective.
Malcolm White of Leeds. MA made some impressive sculptures all out of grape vine. Perhaps you heard about them through the…well you know.
Malcolm’s installations consisted of Pegasus the hippo, Long Tall Sally the giraffe and Atlas the elephant.
Malcolm has two objectives for his work: making a connection and bringing some joy to those who view his work. Malcolm uses material found in the landscape where he lives and which will decay into the same landscape without harm to the environment. He feels joy and a connection to the environment when he is making his works of art. If viewers feel the same connection and joy, Malcolm feels he has succeeded in his goals.
Malcolm was inspired by Greek mythology when making these sculptures. For instance, Pegasus was a flying horse from Greek mythology and hippos, or as the Greeks proclaimed them “river horses”, fly about in the watery world. So, the hippo is worthy of the name Pegasus. If you have seen a hippo gracefully swimming underwater you can see why he named it Pegasus.
Location: Olde Mystick Village, 27 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT (1 hour southeast of Hartford, CT)
Cost: Free
Summary: The main attraction of the “Hearts On Fire” event were, of course, the ice sculptures. But, there were a few other surprises that made the event very special!
What goes better with Valentine’s Day than ice, dogs and a marriage bliss? I’ll get to the dogs and marriage later. But, first things first.
This year’s Frozen Art In The Village event consisted of 19 ice sculptures. At least I found 19 ice sculptures. The theme of this year’s festival was “Hearts On Fire.” The ice sculptures included everything from patriotic symbols (a tribute to America’s 250th anniversary) to cinema legends (Olaf from Frozen).
There was also a sculpture of a submarine, no doubt a tribute to the Mystic Waterfront and the role the maritime history of the Mystic waterfront.
Many of the ice sculptures were based on animals or were related to the businesses they were located at. For instance, this sculpture of a chocolate bar was located outside of Munson’s Chocolates.
And this shamrock was located near the Irish shop, Irish Eyes.
These are a few more ice sculptures based on the businesses they were located at.
The remaining ice sculptures were mostly animal related.
Dogs enjoyed the ice sculptures also. Keela, a 6 year old Great Dane, let me take her photo in front one of the sculptures.
One of the biggest attractions was the ice sculpting demonstration in the gazebo.
As I was looking for ice sculptures to photograph, I noticed this nattily dressed couple being congratulated by other visitors at the event. After inquiring as to why they were dressed so elegantly, the couple told me they had just been married in the meeting house around the corner.
And sure enough, several couples were waiting to get married or renew their vows.
Dogs were also allowed to participate in the ceremony! Bruno was a great best man!
Over the years, thousands of people have been married at this location. This couple couple was married 34 years ago at this very meeting place.
Marie Wiley has been officiating weddings and renewing wedding vows at the Meeting House in Mystic Village for the past 25 years. The ceremonies are done on a first come, first serve basis. They last about 5 to 10 minutes and there is no fee for the service. This was the last year she is officiating these ceremonies. But, Marie already has a replacement picked. So the tradition will continue.
As if all that wasn’t enough. There was a train with monkeys on it driven by a dog. Yes, you read that right.
That’s right. This cute little pooch drove the train with gorillas in tow. All the while, The Monkees theme song played in the background.
Just when you think you’ve seen it all! New Englanders never seem to amaze me. I can only imagine what will be there next year!
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Location: Northampton, MA (2 hours northwest of Boston, MA and 45 minutes north of Hartford, CT)
Cost: Free
Summary: Sculptors came to Northampton MA to show off their carving and sculpting skills. There were 16 sculptures with a variety of different themes.
The one good thing about winter in New England is ice! And there were many displays of ice in creative designs at the 15th annual Ice Art Festival in Northampton, MA.
The sculptors were given 300-pound blocks of ice to work with. The sculptures ranged from a wolf to a free form design. Since the event was nearby, I went to the event on both Saturday and Sunday. So I was able to take photos of the sculptures being made and the finished sculptures on Sunday. There were 17 sculptures listed. But, I could only find 16 of them.
It was interesting watching the sculptors sculpt the ice sculptures with some primitive instruments such as hammers and chisels. Or watching them use more advanced tools like chainsaws.
There wasn’t any risk of the sculptures melting as the temperatures were frigid. In fact, instead of walking to all of the sculptures on Sunday, I drove to the sculptures because of the frigid temperatures and wind. The sculptures were located in roughly a mile and a half radius. And they looked incredible. The sculptures were illuminated at night. Unfortunately, I was not able to see them lit up at night this year. But, you can see a light at the base of some of the sculptures in some of the photos.
The first sculpture I saw was “Dashing Through The Snow” by Katrina Dressler
Michael Rondeau sculpted Bon Appetite.
Soaring High With The Lucky Cat: 2026 by Marin Murakoshi was one of the more interesting sculptures. I think you can see the cat near the wings of the sculpture.
Eagle: Standing Tall by David Barclay had some very intricate details.
Siesta by Wayne Miller and Meg Kupiec was one of my favorites.
Time For A Nap by Marie Agresta featured a cat doing what else but taking a nap!
Winter Whimsy by Nathan Peterson had a more abstract feel to it.
Who knew there were giraffes in Northampton!? Well, at least they are in ice! David Barclay made this sculpture called Giraffe Mother And Baby. This was David’s second sculpture of the event.
Man’s Best Friend by Peter Vacchina and Maeven Broderick was one of the more popular sculptures. The Edwards in the heart is a reference to Edwards Church, the church where this sculpture was located.
How many fish do you see in the sculpture The Fish by Billy Poe?
I’ve never heard of their music. But, I hear the music of the person in this sculpture called RUMI from K-Pop Demon Hunters by John Collins is pretty cool.
Frozen Past by Chip Koser was a blast from the past.
Free Form by Andrew Campbell is another abstract sculpture.
Mighty Wings by Mark Bosworth reminded me of Game Of Thrones, a show I’ve actually never watched. But, I hear good things about it.
This owl sculpture by Brian McQuillan called Whoosie was very impressive.
I wanted to pat Lone Wolf by Michael Legassey.
All of the ice sculptures were so creative and amazing. Hopefully, next year I can photograph them while they’re lit. If you have a favorite sculpture let me know in the comments!
Location: Springfield Armory. 1 Springfield Armory, Springfield, MA (1 Armory St for GPS location) (2 hours southwest of Boston, MA)
Admission cost: Free admission
Parking: Free parking was available at the event
Summary: The Park Ranger Services at the Springfield Armory hosted a ceremony to commemorate Henry Knox’s journey across Massachusetts.
The Knox Trail, also known as the Henry Knox Trail or the Knox Cannon Trail, is a network of roads and paths which traces the route of Colonel Henry Knox’s “noble train of artillery” from Crown Point, NY, to the Continental Army camp just outside of Boston, MA. Knox and his team moved 59 or 60 tons of artillery. The trail, which was called a “Noble Train of Artillery”, was completed using primarily ox-drawn sleds (or sledges) and horses. It was completed in an impressive 56 days and spans approximately 300 miles. While the exact dates aren’t clear, it is believed to have taken place during the winter of 1775 to 1776. The map below shows the path they took. The blue line shows the exact path. It extends from the Lake George area to Boston.
For better or worse, it has been snowing or it recently snowed during many of my trips lately. This day was no different. And wow did it provide for a pretty backdrop!
This was my first photo shoot using my Canon R5 mirrorless camera. I think the photos might look a little more crisp and clearer. One thing I did notice is the camera and lens I used (Canon 35 mm) was better at focusing on the people and their faces despite the snow. My older camera (Canon 5D) would tend to focus on the snow and not the people.
The ceremony began with a march on the grounds of the Springfield Armory which included reenactors and animals.
These horses were used to move some of the artillery, emulating the original Knox Trail.
The Springfield Armory didn’t just have military weapons and historical information Knox Trail. There were a variety of old firearms and gear from different eras and wars.
These weapons showed below were involved in different mishaps during battle.
The first musket was struck by lightning. Because of the intense hear caused by the lightning, a regulation Civil War paper cartridge (which can be found to the right in the photo) was found intact in the breech (the rear end of the barrel where the gunpowder is ignited and the projectile is loaded) when the weapon was disassembled for cataloging and preservation in 1981. While the identity of the sentry whose weapon this was is unknown, it is believed it was a Confederate soldier because the bayonet was from a Confederate manufacturer (although Union soldiers often took weapons, ammunition, clothing and other gear from fallen Confederate soldiers and vice versa).
The barrel of the second weapon, which was found on a Civil War battlefield, was struck by a projectile.
During the Civil War, the stock (the main structural component in this case made of wood) of the third rifle, a British Enfield rifle, became impregnated with salt from perspiration. After the war ended, the soldier took the gun home and stored it in his barn. While it was stored, a porcupine gnawed at the stock in an attempt to chew out the salt from the stock of the rifle.
The other guns in the display were struck by projectiles.
There were many other weapons on display like these personalized weapons.
This Organ of Muskets is partially filled with 645 Springfield U.S. Model 1861 rifle muskets.
This quilt was made by various high school students in all of the cities and towns in Hampden county in Massachusetts to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Knox Trail. Another quilt from a different county in Massachusetts hangs in the Massachusetts State House. As an aside, 50 years ago, also to commemorate the 200th anniversary, reenactors hiked the original Knox Trail. Given our current weather conditions as we are expected 18-24 inches of snow and freezing wind chill temperatures today and tonight.
These are just a few of the weapons and military and gear with a historical background at the armory. It’s certainly worth another visit since I couldn’t spend too much time looking at all the exhibits in the armory.
There was also an activity learning area where people could make their own paper cartridges. Paper cartridges were a type of small arms ammunition used before the advent of metallic cartridges. To be clear, these were not dangerous on their own and no one was injured while making these cartridges. That I know of.
The main event, of course, were the cannon firing and rifle and musket firings.
The reenactors prepared for the cannon by priming the cannon before the firing.
A ranger gave some background info about the Knox Trail and what it was like to be in battle.
The reenactors did fire a canon. But, because of safety precautions, they had us stand far away and everyone was bunched up together. So I was out of position for the cannon firing. This was the aftermath of the canon firing.
But, I was able to get a photo of the firing of the rifles and muskets.
The reenactors were active and approachable at the event. I was able to take a few photos of them during the event.
There are bound to be many more 250th commemorations and celebrations this year. So, I’m sure I’ll be photographing more of these type of events throughout the year!
Summary: The Melha Shriners hosted their annual Feztival Of Trees to raise funds for the Shriners. People could bid on special trees with bonus gifts on or near them, purchase products from vendors, get their faces painted or just enjoy the festive at atmosphere.
It’s that time of the year again in New England. The time between the holidays and spring can be a little quiet, cold, dark and did I mention cold? It’s a pretty long timeframe. 60 days, 8 hours and 50 minutes. Not that any of us are counting.
But, fear not! I have lots of content from the holidays, and all of last year, to post until the weather turns for the better! Hopefully, posts like this will help bring back some cheery holiday memories!
Upside down Trees, Halloween trees and ladder trees were just a few of the Christmas trees on display at the annual Feztival of Trees at the “Big E” in West Springfield, MA.
The event, which is held to raise funds for the Chicopee (MA) based Melha Shriners organization. Their main mission is to help raise awareness and funds for the Shriner’s Children New England in Springfield, MA.
The biggest attraction of the event was the wide variety of Christmas trees. People could purchase tickets for any of the 86 trees and use the tickets to enter a raffle for the trees. The trees had everything from games to scratch cards on or under them. Any trees not claimed were donated to the Department of Children and Families.
This tree, and “upside down Christmas Tree” had toy trucks and games under (or above?) it.
There were dozens of trees at the event. Some of the trees like this snowman tree, had lights that blinked!
This tropical tree was popular with the visitors. I’m sure it helped people think of a warmer time and climate!
This ladder tree had everything for the handyman!
As you can see, the trees were very impressive and festive!
I especially liked this “Pizza Tree”! I mean, who doesn’t like pizza!?
And what would a Christmas tree feztival be without Santa and Mrs. Claus!?
Or, for that matter, Tinsel!?
Some people got into the spirit of the event. This Melha Shriner put a little color in his beard to show his Christmas spirit!
Others put on their festive clothing!
But, if people didn’t feel comfortable putting decorative sprinkles or color on their face, there was a face painter at the event.
As is the case with every event I document, it is the people and the happiness they feel that make these events special. This visitor’s smile is proof of the joy people felt!
New England Nomad 