A film review for “A Love Song”

The film, “A Love Song”, is quiet, poetic, patient and lovely. When a story sticks, I pay attention. One reason being that this movie is very much like a painting. The images are allowed time to be, so the viewer can connect and develop an understanding of the characters. The landscape accentuates their humanity.

The web says “A Love Song” was made during the pandemic in southwest Colorado by Max Walker-Silverman along with 8 of his film loving friends. Faye (Dale Dickey)  and Lito (Wes Studi) portray aging, competent individuals who know from long experience the impact of choices.

I don’t usually review films, but while studying my painting, Awakenings, the film “A Love Song” was brought to mind. Years ago I studied and taught filmmaking. It’s a medium that requires exceptional storytelling skills as well as the ability to collaborate . A good group of folks did a fine job telling this one.

An Artist’s Perspective – 30 years of work

Coutts Museum of Art showing 30+ years of paintings by Nancy Marshall

An exhibit of my paintings created over the last 30+ years will hang at the Coutts Museum of Art in El Dorado, KS through July 30. If you’re taking a summer drive through the Flint Hills consider this for one of your stops.

Artist in Residency in Nebraska

Well, that was fun. Home from 2 weeks as Artist in Residence at Homestead National Monument of America .  It allowed me to experience the site and see what kind of work evolved. You can view the initial work HERE. I’ll post the an oil painting in spring of 2020.

The park’s press release:

Artists Selected for Homestead National Monument of America’s

2019 Artist-in-Residence Program

Homestead National Monument of America is excited to announce the artists chosen for the 2019 Artist-in-Residence program. This is Homestead’s eleventh year offering artists the opportunity to live at the monument and create works of art inspired by the Homestead story and its environment.  Homestead is just one of many National Park Service sites that host resident artists to help connect visitors with the park’s meanings using a variety of art forms. Plan to visit the monument this spring through fall to interact with this year’s Artists-in-Residence while they work and create.

This year nine talented artists have been selected to live and work at the monument. They are:

• Theresa Hottel, writer from New York, New York, March 5-18
• Cara Calvert-Thomas, painter from Corona, California, April 26- May 9
• Jeffrey Lockwood, writer from Laramie, Wyoming, May 14- May 27
• Benjamin Justis, composer from Lawrence, Kansas, May 30- June 12
• Heather Heckel, painter from Massapequa, New York, July 16- July 29
• Vickie MacMillan, barn quilt painter from Olympia, Washington, August 15-August 28
• Nancy Marshall, painter from Lawrence, Kansas, September 12- September 25
• Marjorie Savage, writer from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, September 26- October 9
• Benjamin Bohnsack, woodblock printer from Marquette, Michigan, October 11-October 31

“The Artist-in-Residence program is extremely valuable.  It gives park visitors an opportunity to not just see Homestead and its story themselves, but see it through the eyes of the artist, which can be very moving and powerful,” stated monument’s Superintendent Mark Engler.

Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2019. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM), Facebook (HomesteadNM), and Instagram (HomesteadNPS).

Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska and 45 miles south of Lincoln. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit http://www.nps.gov/home/.

Remembering Jack and Ann

There a lovely synchronicity when two lovers leave their mortal coils nearly together. Jack Ozegovic died on a December Saturday and Ann Carlin Ozegovic died the following Monday. Both were wicked smart, active, inquisitive, funny, social, opinionated but good listeners and wonderful artists. Their home was welcoming and their frequent gatherings were salons where you met interesting folks, discussed ideas amidst gorgeous art with a spread of delicious food on the table. Jack and Ann had an amazing cadre of friends who, at the end, stepped up to help them keep the faith that health would return, and once that was no longer possible, those same friends supported Jack and Ann on their journey out.

No longer will we see Ann out exercising, registering voters, singing in the choir or Jack calling to say they’re celebrating Tito’s birthday or to announce a meeting of his Men’s Intellectual Improvement Group. Many of us will miss them dearly.

I painted this oil of Jack and Ann Carlin Ozegovic about 20 years ago.

Exhibit, Summer 2018

Designed by Laura Zimney

My work was shown in the summer of 2018 Hannibal, Missouri’s Hannibal Arts Council exhibit space. My co-exhibitors were delightful St. Louis artists, Ben Bradshaw, ceramist, and Bryan Payne, doodler and found object seeker. Their careers will be worth following.

Show announcement above designed by Laura Zimney. The Hannibal Arts Council designed the show announcement below. Thanks to the sponsors.

Remembering George Paley

George and Nancy

George Paley died this week. What joy he brought to his friendships. Encouraging, always curious, he loved sharing his ideas and projects with others. You could join him in the journey or not. While exhibiting casualness and a wry sense of humor, he brought a vital energy and creativity to his endeavors. His efforts were full throttle forward. Many will miss George terribly, but will take a deep breath to shrink the lump in our throats, and be grateful for his love and his friendship.
This is a link to Joanna Hlavacek’s lovely tribute to George and Judy in our local paper.

Printmaker, Artist, Friend, Sally Piller

Sally Piller in the Flint Hills

Yesterday a friend updated a group on Sally’s health status, so I knew she was in hospice. But upon hearing of her passing, a somber cloud settled around me. Now her delightful presence and fun company will be only a memory. Described as a force, Sally was willing to jump headlong into whatever project captured her imagination. She was a skilled artist who produced superb work; strong, beautiful prints. One of the reasons I love and will always admire Sally, is the way she made me feel about myself and my work. She lifted my spirit with her attitude. I bet she’s pissed about dying before she was ready and, frankly, I’m a little pissed too. Sally’s work can be seen here.

An Eye for Beauty; a gift from our ancestors

An Eye for Beauty; a gift from our ancestors

Dennis Dutton, an arts philosopher, presents this Ted Talk on understanding beauty. His proposition is that beauty isn’t cultural or in the eye of the beholder, but a gift from our ancestors handed down through a million years. Beauty is an evolutionary gift that aids our survival.

Kitchen Countertop

• Mixed hardwoods; mahogany, walnut and maple. Inlays are maple and walnut.
• Size 85.5″ x 13″
• NFS

This is one of four wooden counter tops that I’m building with the guidance of Jay Hindley, the ever patient and knowledgeable instructor in my woodworking class. The wood is recycled hardwood semi-truck flooring and the maple was once a gym bench. A small amount of trim work is still to be done, but I’m so pleased with the results, I’m posting. Another post shows a dining room table using the same materials. That table began as a counter top, but after deciding not to use wood around the sink, it was redesigned and now sits in the Zimney dining room.

Spring Snow

Leaving winter and entering spring in the Midwest makes for some back and forth weather while the new season settles in. We’re currently having a spring snow storm. Just as the storm was beginning I walked the river trail through the woods north of town. Riverbank Grapevine is a new plant to me. There may be one growing up one of my favorite cottonwood trees. Later this summer I’ll discover whether snuggling vine is the Riverbank Grapevine
or a very healthy poison ivy.