Donna Rosser

Domesticated Partners

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:02:00 +0000

To benefit the Friends of Fayette County Animal Shelter, I am managing a call for entries for Domesticated Partners, an exhibit to celebrate the pets in our lives.

Friends of Fayette County Animal Shelter is a nonprofit set up to take donations to help with the County shelter. There are many volunteers from this group and the Fayette Humane Society spending many hours with the shelter animals.

To submit work for this exhibit, click HERE. Your entry fee is a donation to the nonprofit.

As many know, I have two dogs from shelters. One came from Henry County and the other is from Fayette County. My Sadie had been in the shelter for over 30 days.

Sadie (Henry County)

Iris (Fayette County)

When we moved to Georgia from California, we brought along our rescue cat. She was found in a box with her siblings in a parking lot in Garden Grove, CA. We adopted her at a PetSmart event.

Pearl (AKA Kitty)

Everyone loves to take pictures of their pets. The submissions for this event do not have to feature only rescue animals. We would love to see your photos of your dear pets and share some in an exhibit to help everyone remember how dear our animals are and what an addition to the family they can be.

The call is open to everyone, kids too! Click the link above, make your donation, and send photos in for this wonderful exhibition.

Eclipse Jet

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 17:38:00 +0000

The morning of the eclipse we watched large clouds form and flow by our hotel in Cayce, South Carolina and hoped our view would remain clear. Just about the start time -- the skies became almost cloudless. Other guests at the hotel were setting up in the grassy areas around the parking lot and so was I. License plates in the parking lot were from South Carolina to Maryland to Mississippi. The winner of the distance award was a lady from Vancouver.

Most of my photos were fairly typical to all of those seen. Starting at the beginning and going through totality, I shot over 100 images. One of these was very different.

I was taking photos every few minutes -- at this instant -- a jet shot out of the shadow and across the Sun. The photo was taken at 2:12pm, about thirty minutes before totality. As soon as I shot this, I turned to show the camera screen review to my husband and son. On the way back to Georgia, I posted a cell shot of the back of the camera to Instagram. Later Monday evening I loaded images from the day to my computer and put this one and a couple others on my Facebook page.

One of my Facebook friends is a reporter with 11Alive. She spotted it and asked if she could share it to the station's Facebook page. I said sure. Many of my other Facebook friends shared it. I received a message from a reporter with a news station (WLTX) in Columbia, SC asking if he could share it.

Sure.

The next morning 11Alive wanted to do a Facebook Live interview about the photo. There were a few comments questioning the authenticity of it. So I did.

It has been fun to have a lot of feedback on my photo. Some of the feedback has been a little.....well......you see what you think.

The following comments are from both news stations' Facebook pages.

"Come on 11Alive, you know this is photoshopped."

" That's fake because the plane couldn't have been flying in front of the eclipse sideway (sic)"

"Fake news. Planes can't fly high enough to get in the eclipse like that."

"It's fake no planes were allowed to fly during the eclipse."

"fake fake fake"

"Whay (sic) kind of plane has a big square on its back. Fake, I think."

"It fake cuz it can't get that close it would burn up."

"fake picture"

"Fake flying sideways, think again."

"Yes this is an old photo, not taken yesterday. This was F, Yahoo, TV News a long time ago."

"I saw this same picture on an eclipse photo search 2 weeks ago. It's actually saved in my phone."

I can (sort of) see how someone thinks the plane is sideways. But remember the time of day, we are in daylight savings time (so subtract one hour). At 1:12pm the Sun is pretty high in the sky. I shot this looking up (through a solar filter) at the belly of the plane flying overhead.

The square on the back....um, engines.....

There were way more positive comments. That was nice!

It does bother me -- just a little -- that someone would accuse me of passing off an old photo as my own or photoshopping it. I know that happens, but I don't do that. It's insulting to have that said about one of my images.

Here is a link to the Facebook Live interview if you are interested.

Morning Walk at Lamar Arts Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 18:43:00 +0000

My friend, Dale Niles, and I have a joint exhibition opening this Friday in Barnesville, Georgia at Lamar Arts Gallery. Not sure if the HBO crew is still filming there....but when I dropped off the photos the town was covered in signs saying, 'Welcome to Wind Gap'.

The following is my statement for my images....

I didn’t need a Stanford study to tell me that walking boosts creativity. Morning walks part the clouds of my mind. Ideas come easily. Alone is best, no conversation to maintain and steer my thoughts to any specific target. A recent photo series came from morning walks with friends.

“We’re going for a run! The Diva Half Marathon is coming to Peachtree City. Who’s in?” popped up on my Facebook feed.

I was in. I was always in. I love a challenge.

The publisher of a local magazine, a friend, gathered other friends to begin training for the event. Early morning walks around a lake and along wooded cart paths became a habit. To track our progress, a few of us brought along our phones. Since I just completed an exhibit of iPhone only images it was a natural next step to shoot an image from the walk. What began as simple documentation of scenes along the path grew as I completed two half marathons within five months and compiled a large collection of images for a new exhibit.

During this training period our local lake dam revealed structural issues when the lake water level was lowered to allow repairs and to give waterfront homeowners the opportunity to complete any dock work on their personal properties. Typical local government red tape and finger pointing left the lake low and dry around the edges for months. A sub-series presented from the usual Morning Walk images; Where The Water Used To Be. Drawn to the power of nature reclaiming what it once owned, I walked the dry places looking for what was there. I became fascinated watching a field of tall grass grow. Flowers sprouted from seeds washed by earlier rains to the lake. Deer run through the grass flipping their tails. It was hard to leave this and not be in a good mood. It was also hard to not shoot images.

Dogwood on Home Shopping Network

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 13:24:00 +0000

A long time ago parents told their children, "Those berries are only fit for the dogs, leave them alone," marking the producer of the berries as a 'dog tree'.

The branches make fine daggers. It was called a dagwood tree, later morphing into dogwood.

The leaves were used to make a decoction to wash dogs afflicted with mange.

Dogwood, April 24, 2015

We may never know the true story of how this tree (cornus florida), came to be named American Dogwood.

The Dogwood was introduced to American gardens in 1731. Thomas Jefferson included it on his list of trees planted at Monticello in 1771. Jefferson so loved the tree, he shared seeds with friends in France. The state of Virginia so loved Jefferson and the Dogwood, in 1918 it was named the state tree and state flower.

In spring, the woods are scattered with white, the bracts of the dogwood. The actual bloom is at the center...the small yellow cluster of flowers. After blooming the juicy green leaves take over the show. This photo was taken at a private garden on Lake Martin in Alabama. My friends and I stopped to have lunch on a walkway under its canopy. The almost noonday sun filtered through the leaves offering us an arcadian view and standing out from all its surroundings.

In February I answered a call sent out to artists working with VIDA. (I have a shop, click HERE.) The call asked American artists to share one piece of work that speaks of the artist's vision for the future. I immediately thought of this image. To be outdoors, to protect greenspaces, and to encourage children to get outside are all important. This photo was selected from over one thousand artwork submissions to be part of a special collection offered by VIDA on Home Shopping Network.

The collection will air on HSN July 6, 9-10pm. DVR it if you cannot watch. The stories and inspirations of the artists will be shared with the work.

Item #550-335

Solar Eclipse

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Tue, 02 May 2017 14:07:00 +0000

There is an eclipse coming to the United States August 21, 2017. Are you going? Will you take pictures?

I like to take pictures of clouds as I sit on my deck. Sometimes the Sun sneaks into the frame.

I am prepping for the eclipse. The next three photos were taken with my DSLR using a solar filter. The first one was evaluative metering mode, and the others were spot meter on the Sun.

To find out more about the eclipse -- especially the important path of totality -- check out this website...TheGreatAmericanEclipse and check out this link for more info from Canon.

Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies!

The Homemade Postcard Club

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 14:33:00 +0000

Some reading this will know Andrea from all the years she has volunteered with SlowExposures. Andrea sequences the photos and hangs the main exhibit.

Andrea in Strickland's

Those who know her, know that she is a little quirky -- no TV, no computer, no answering machine, and certainly no cell phone. Andrea collects -- just about anything. Andrea creates art installations in her home -- cross dressing Ken dolls, naked Barbies in bedpans, and a very interesting walk through her "Jurassic Park" in her yard. No, she hasn't seen the movie or read the book. I wonder how this bit of pop culture found its way to Andrea.

Not long ago she asked me to send her a homemade postcard. Yes, she is building another collection.

The postcards can be made of anything thick enough -- like a cereal box or thin cardboard -- and sized between 3.5x5 and 4.25x6. Postcards can be larger, but those would require a regular first-class letter stamp and not a postcard stamp. So far I've sent Andrea postcards made from 12-pack drink boxes, Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix box, and for Christmas I sent her a card made from a Little Debbie Christmas Cake box. Before anything goes into my recycle bin, I check it out to see if it would make a postcard. I cut the postcard out and put the remainder into recycling.

On a recent visit to Andrea's to view the bedpan exhibit, I saw some of her postcards on display.

She loves to get them. How about sending one (or more) to her? Include your address on the back and she might even send one back to you! Her address is: Andrea Noel, 114 Head St., Zebulon, GA 30295. Let's stuff Andrea's mailbox!

Hello 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 12:12:00 +0000

Into the Woods

Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, 'It will be happier.'

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Goodbye 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 18:26:00 +0000

This year I did not send Christmas cards, I sent New Year cards instead. (I'll post it tomorrow.)

In November, I resigned my seat on the Fayette County Public Arts Committee. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Buy me a beer sometime and I'll tell you the story.....Let's just say the biggest, baddest, and best lesson of the last year is when you find yourself in a place that is no longer fun and the situation is taking up all of your spare time. Do something about it.

I haven't entered into as many exhibitions this year. I am looking to write more. I think I am going back to my idea of a collection of essays based on my experiences in photography. My goodness there is a gold mine loaded with chunks of great material there!

To end 2016, here is a photo of the moon last night. Just a Cheshire Cat Smile....

Photo Tape Up Exhibit at PTC Library

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:56:00 +0000

Drop off a photo this week!

Put Your Money (or Your Time) Where Your Mouth Is....

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 12:25:00 +0000

Last night I became a member of a restructured Fayette County Public Art Committee. For those familiar with this blog -- you know last September, November, December, and January I posted my feelings of the old committee and their direction. Other county residents and I began attending meetings and voicing our concerns.

In March the Board of Commissioners voted to restructure the committee and all spots were up for consideration. Twenty-three people stepped up to interview for the eleven open positions of the new committee. Thankfully, the two commissioners conducting the interviews felt that I was qualified to be one of the new members.

I want to thank everyone offering support and encouragement through this time. I have endured many insults and accusations. Now it is time to hit the ground running and embrace this opportunity to change. Change is a powerful word. I feel that if you do criticize, you need to be prepared to make a difference if afforded the chance.

Prince

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 11:55:00 +0000

Five weeks ago, I learned Prince was coming to Atlanta.

Four weeks ago, the day after Prince tickets went on sale, I had two.

Three weeks ago, just as we were preparing to leave to head to the city, the show was postponed.

Two weeks ago, the concert was on and was awesome.

One week ago, as I sat down to a picnic lunch with friends in the most amazing private garden, a text popped up on my phone from my husband telling me the news.

Besides the memory of an amazing performance from someone, obviously in the midst of a struggle no one really knew about, I will always remember the atmosphere in the theater. The woman sitting next to me was super excited, telling me how her mother took her to see Prince in 1985 and how she has loved him ever since. The couple behind us, well, the woman, was expressing her displeasure of waiting on the sidewalk, by herself, for her friend/husband (?) to arrive. His response to that was to shift the conversation to marvel at the scene from earlier when Prince road past us outside and waved from the backseat of a black Suburban. During the performance I looked around me; down, behind, across rows of people packed into every seat, dancing in their seats, waving their arms, singing, loving Prince.

Prince performing Heroes in honor of David Bowie

Fredericksburg Trip: Belmont

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:38:00 +0000

I arrived at Belmont, home of artist Gari Melchers and now part of the University of Mary Washington, very early on a December morning.

Morning mist and the steeple from Falmouth Church seen from the view looking down toward Ingleside Drive from the house.

Sunlight hits a window a few minutes after I arrived. Standing in this spot, I heard the Rappahannock down below me. Since it was winter, I could see it through bare trees.

There were a few Christmas decorations on the house -- for the season. This wreath and pine garland on the front steps made me wonder what was inside. I did not go in -- too early and not open, nor did I peep in the windows.

Down the front lawn, a pretty steep hill, a track cut into the grasses ends just around a short bend.

Belmont, or as others call it, The Gari Melchers Home, is a national historic landmark in Falmouth, Virginia. The home sits on a hill above the Rappahannock River facing toward the Falmouth Bridge to Fredericksburg. Julius Garibaldi Melchers studied and taught in Europe and had a studio in New York City. He spent his final days at Belmont in Stafford County.

Previous posts from Fredericksburg, December, 2015:

The Rappahannock and Chatham

Peachtree City Library Photo Event

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 13:18:00 +0000

So anyone reading this blog knows of my frustrations with a certain county's public arts committee. I've heard many people complain about a situation and want someone else to do something about it.

That is not me. I feel like if you are going to complain about a problem, it is constructive to offer a solution. My solution to this problem is to do something to begin to involve the community, invite others to come to the community, and have some fun with art.

Photography is my primary medium -- so let's start there.

Partnering with the Peachtree City Library, our grass roots group planned its first event. A photo pin up (actually painter's tape up) exhibit for all! Details are above. This is for anyone -- you know we all take photographs. Let's pick one to show to anyone and everyone walking into the library.

If you would like to learn more about our group, we have a Facebook page -- Fayette County Art Collective. Come join us, participate when you can. More exciting events are in the works!

Fayette County Public Arts Committee Lays an Egg

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 19:15:00 +0000

The latest meeting of the Fayette County (Georgia) Public Arts Committee came to order at 7pm on January 25 in the public meeting room in the county complex. First update on the agenda; In God We Trust project. Commissioner Steve Brown let everyone know that the project was no longer an art committee project, the Board of Commissioners had taken it over.

Commissioner Steve Brown said, “The Board of Commissioners threw the whole thing out and started over.”

Even though the committee no longer had control, a 10 to 15 minute discussion proceeded to dissect the project for font choice, color, size, and placement.

We learned that the infamous Photographers’ Agreement was still with the county attorney.

Moving on to the Break Room project we heard all about the redecoration of a private, county employee break room; carpet choice and a photo depicting something resembling a Tiki Bar inset into the wall. (This is where that $300 Keurig coffee pot is going.) None of this was business of the art committee. Due to public comments, the Board of Commissioners switched funding for this project to a ‘contingency fund’ and away from the art budget. There is art going into the finished space. High school students painted canvases in the style of Wayne Thiebaud. Cakes and ice cream cones in a pop art style will decorate the walls in the employee breakroom. In October the committee heard the paintings were completed. Last night we were told only one was ready to hang. As far as I know there was no Artists’ Agreement written by the county attorney for this project. Total for this project is just under $3300, no compensation for the artists.

The animal shelter project was next. The shelter needs repairs to the building inside and out. The outside of the building is scheduled for a renovation later this year or early next year. That does not slow the art committee from moving forward with painting metal panels to attach to the exterior. The committee was not interested in a mural project here. Someone from the crowd added that a mural at the animal shelter, something like at the water plant, could be great. People adopting would be able to have their picture taken in front of it. They could be shared on social media and in the local paper. The mural idea for the animal shelter was shot down. The Water Treatment Plant loves their outdoor mural so much, they want something inside. If this mural is so well received, why not do something similar for the animal shelter instead of clunky metal panels? It would cost less and be seen easily from the busy road. But Commissioner Brown says there is no need to see any of the art on the animal shelter from the road. A roadway traveled by many each day on their way to three schools and a busy shopping area.

Then came the eggs – Easter Eggs. It’s too late to get anything going for Easter, 2016. Commissioner Brown thinks Fayette should become the county of eggs.

“Does anyone know who makes the cast things, and they’re painted, like Newnan does? The large figures, a lot of cities paint them, Athens did bulldogs. If we find a company that makes those, we might be the only egg out of the whole bunch.”

OK…..

Next another project opportunity for the art committee. A local elementary school has an old mural and would like a new one.

When Commissioner Brown finished selling the idea to everyone he asked, “Does this sound like something we should get involved with?”

A local artist attending her first committee meeting spoke up and said, “No.” She went on to say that the school system had a great fine art department to use and this should not be committee business but handled through the school system.

Discussion began about how most, if not all recent, projects are for student artists. There is no balance to projects the committee becomes involved in and those initiated by the committee seem more like decorating/renovation projects in county office space.

This committee spends their budget on just about anything besides art; IKEA benches, wall paint, frames, canvases, brushes; but where is the payment to an artist for their vision…their work? Some may think I am in this looking for a piece of the budget. I am not. I have made a public pledge that I would sell no work nor take a commission from this committee. I am a concerned citizen with knowledge of the art world and would like to see growing art and culture opportunities in my home county. It would be beneficial for the students and local hobbyists to be able to interact with professional exhibiting artists, curators, collectors, etc. to learn and grow.

Comments from the spectators increased asking about the direction of the committee, past and future projects. Commissioner Brown instructed committee members that they were free to leave since he knew they had families and kids and needed to get home. They did not need to stay to hear all of “this.” Other members of the community in attendance voiced their concern over the lack of depth in the projects and unwillingness of the committee to accept outside ideas.

Commissioner Brown said, “Well let’s just give the people an opportunity to leave and we’ll have the other argument, this is, we are getting way off the agenda.”

I pointed out to him that this is a meeting of the public arts committee and we were at the section of the agenda for questions and comments.

I asked Commissioner Brown how much of the budget has been spent for art.

“I thought you met with Steve Rapson (County Administrator) and he gave you those numbers already. He told me you already met with him and he gave you that,” he shot back at me.

“Yes, but do you know that,” I asked again.

Others in attendance looked to him, waiting for an answer to my question.

"I don't know the specific, it's thousands of dollars," he finally answered.

He was referring to one project, the water plant mural. The muralist was paid $3,000 in four installments. The Fayette County Public Arts Committee has spent more than twice this on incidentals and art supplies for student art.

Others spoke up about the direction of the committee – such a high number of projects involving students.

I mentioned that I had extended my hand to the committee with writing calls for entry, securing jurors with credibility, and working through the photographers’ agreement.

Commissioner Brown said, “If you want to offer some suggestions, send them to me.”

“I did,” I replied, “last September.”

At this point in the evening, Commissioner Brown stated, “It’s deteriorating, it’s deteriorating. Let’s call the meeting, let’s call the meeting. It’s falling apart.”

Nothing was falling apart. There was a discussion and attendees asking questions. Were these questions the committee did not want to answer?

At one point during the meeting Commissioner Brown stated, “Public art in our context with this committee is not really an economic engine, you don’t create the economic engine with a volunteer committee and a meager budget and having a few volunteers try to do things.”

In my opinion, this tells me the committee is made up of the wrong people. I know of plenty groups doing very well with volunteers and a low, and I mean l-o-w, budget, sometimes no budget. It also shows Commissioner Brown’s lack of awareness at what a thriving arts program can do for a community. By not supporting art and showing its value, no pay to artists, the committee is influencing county residents to see art should be free.

I suppose the only big-ish idea that came from this meeting was the eggs all over Fayette. Again, student artists were suggested. I think the committee has egg on their faces. Commissioner Brown recently called me hostile. I am merely holding him and this committee accountable.

And to be clear, yes I met with the county administrator to request the financials of this committee. A stack of invoice copies were placed on a table. Nothing was broken down by project. Some of the invoices were hard to read. Along with another concerned citizen we had to piece together what went with what project as best we could. After that request, the county digitized the invoices and put them on the website. You can view them at this LINK.

Fredericksburg Trip: The Rappahannock

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 19:12:00 +0000

I've spent many warm days on the rocks of the Rappahannock River. My friend, Denise, and I parked along Riverside Drive in Fredericksburg, walked down the dirt path, climbing over rocks to get to the water.

Occasionally I stepped in the river on the Stafford side (the side where I lived). Walking carefully over water smoothed rocks to find a good place to sit. There is still a faint scar on my shin from a slip on those rocks -- not so smooth when you land on them accidentally.

All of the photos here are from the Stafford side, taken on Ingleside Drive. These are from my trip back home last month. An unusually warm morning in December.

This last one taken looking toward the Falmouth Bridge. The long exposure shows streaks of light from the cars driving across the bridge and along Riverside Drive.

Workshops for the New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 15:59:00 +0000

So, if anyone wonders what I did over the holidays besides edit photos from my trip to Virginia and learn how to use the gadgets on my new car, I worked on my class schedule for photo classes at Turnipseed Farms!

This winter I bring back the popular Beginner Creative Photography class to help you learn how to use your camera. Explore the settings while you stretch your creativity. This class begins February 1 and ends March 21 (8 weeks, Mondays from 10am to noon) -- just in time for spring photos! Each week we cover a new topic and always work through settings and opportunities.

In addition to BCP, I added -- by request -- Intermediate Photography, (8 weeks, Mondays from 10am to noon) April 4 through May 23. This is a next step for anyone wanting more. Learn what can make a photo memorable and stand out from the crowd. In this new class you accept new challenges to develop projects, create books, critique, and think about exhibits (public or just in your home). It may sound like a lot, but think of it as a kick start to the future.

IPhone Photography is back May 21 (10am to 2pm), better than ever -- delving into apps and how-to's to make sure you are comfortable creating beautiful images all on the phone. No computer needed! If you saw my Morning Walk exhibit in Columbus last year, more than half of the photos were done with my phone. Come will a fully charged battery and be ready to play!

Students ask me how I edit and why I choose certain looks for my photos. On April 16 (10am to noon), I will present a lecture, How I Edit My Photos, two hours filled with tips and information. This lecture is open to more than my class limit of four. Come loaded with questions and be prepared to take a lot of notes.

Last year I completed my certificate through UCLA Extension's Writers' Program in Creative Writing, Nonfiction. In many of my assignments I used photographs to jar memories and create prose to set s scene or envelop the reader in the story's surroundings. On March 5 (10am to 2pm), I will help you write in response to images you have to craft words to match the scene. These writings can become stories, poems, or just a short piece of prose. If you are interested, Writing in Response to the Image is your class!

All classes, except the lecture, are very (I must stress very) limited in size. If you are interested, send an email with any questions and reserve a spot. I also take on one or two private students at a time and I have openings now. If you are shy or need a flexible schedule, let's talk privately. Classes include my handy take-home class notes. And former students can tell you, I am always available via email to help them.

Fredericksburg Trip: Chatham

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 18:56:00 +0000

Last month I visited my hometown Fredericksburg, Virginia. It isn't truly my hometown. I was born there, but grew up on the north side of the Rappahannock River in Stafford County. I always say Fredericksburg when asked since most people have heard of it. Not many know of Falmouth. It was a short trip home for my mother's birthday. I only had a couple mornings free to shoot. My primary spot was Chatham for a view of Fredericksburg at sunrise.

Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock

St. George's Church

Slate walkway

Entrance gate to Chatham

During the Civil War, Chatham was used as headquarters and hospital for the Union Army. The home was built in 1771 and became part of the National Park Service in 1975.

Christmas Car

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 14:48:00 +0000

I never figured myself as one of those to get a new car for Christmas. Realistically, I am not much of a new car person. I become too attached, keep them, become comfortable with the interiors, and not lured by shiny new bells and whistles.

December 10, I set out on another road trip in the trusty Volvo -- something I have done many, many times since it came home with me in 2005. With an exterior shielded by years of living in our garage and an interior in near pristine condition due to the dog cover for the back seat, the Volvo did not show her almost 11 years of service.

My daughter and I enjoyed a full, albeit short, visit to my hometown to celebrate my mother's birthday. I found time to venture out early to shoot at some of my favorite local spots -- just me and the Volvo. One morning I parked, ever so briefly, in a "No Parking Tow-Away Zone". (an omen of things to come.....)

On the way back to Georgia, as we were making excellent time, and near the middle of South Carolina, the old Volvo coughed and shuddered. I thought the interstate had become quite rough -- but it had not. It was the Volvo. Just moments before it passed large trucks with ease but now labored on the slightest incline. The check engine light flashed at me once, then twice, begging for help. There was no defribrillator at hand. We pulled off the freeway and found sanctuary in, what else, a Waffle House parking lot. After catching our breath -- us and the car -- it started just fine and lapped the parking lot as if to say to me, "only fooling...".

I ventured back onto Interstate 85 to try to head home, only a couple hours away. But it wasn't fooling. Thinking back on that portion of events, it must have been similar to that bit of complete clarity a dying person has just before the end.

The shuddering returned more violently than before. The light flashed again. The Volvo barely made another hill. I had to get over onto the shoulder of the road since I could not hold a decent speed. With flashers warning others I had trouble, we limped and gasped to the next exit.

While on the phone with my husband, now sitting in an Exxon lot, I looked in my rearview mirror and noticed another lot behind us filled with new Volvos. There was a dealer nearby -- this must be an overflow lot. A quick Google and I found them. The online chat person (there to facilitate shoppers) gave me the roadside assistance number and remained on chat with me while I used my daughter's phone to contact them and make arrangements for a tow. The dealer was less than a mile away.

The Volvo was toast -- at a youthful 140,000 miles.

I had not thought about a new car. The search was on. In place of the XC90, I wanted to go smaller, sportier.....I had been driving SUVs since, well, before they were cool.

After days of searching and driving different vehicles -- we settled on a new Mazda model; the CX-3. It is small, sporty, in what I like to think of as 'Rolling Stone Gray,' and fun to drive. It has bells and whistles -- and I have some learning to do...

RIP Volvo, you were loved. Long live the CX-3! Just please don't make me get a speeding ticket! Thanks to Greenville Volvo for all they did to help us out even though the XC90 was DOA. And thanks to Kyle Brooks, aka Black Cat Tips, for my new bear head sticker since my old sticker went away with the Volvo...

Merry Christmas to all!

A Frame, A Frame, My County For A Frame

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 15:52:00 +0000

After months of frustration and displeasure concerning the projects developed and completed by the Fayette County Public Arts Committee (FCPAC), I had the opportunity to attend a meeting of this committee last Monday evening. My attendance was to observe, see what projects are in the works, and witness their process.

When I entered the public meeting space, I noticed a very large (6x8 foot??) black wooden frame leaning against the half wall. I soon learned that Commissioner Steve Brown had plans for this repurposed frame. He retrieved it from the trash at a local school and had stored it at his home -- where he said it was no longer welcomed by his wife. Strapped and tied to the bed of his truck, he carted it to the county meeting room -- to leave for someone else to store while a plan is hatched. The plan is to cut the frame in half and secure it with a strong hinge -- to enable an easier way to get it from one community function to another.

"We have enough engineers around to figure it out," said Brown.

So I wonder, the county engineers are going to spend time figuring out how to properly collapse/fold the frame for transporting. Also, there were discussions of creating backdrops, attaching items around the frame to look like clouds and such, and affixing Velcro to it to secure a logo for FCPAC. The backgrounds, per the discussion, would be painted by students. This frame project is all about giving families a place at community events to make memories/photos. It is also, since the logo placement was discussed, to promote the FCPAC.

Sounds like an interesting idea. I think something like this would be a great project for a scout troop or a school art club. Is this public art? If the FCPAC is looking for something to give families a great picture perfect spot and also promote their committee, how about something like this Hense mural on Atlanta's Beltline...

I've seen a lot of photos on social media of people standing near this work of art. It promotes the artist, the Beltline project, and it is easily accessible (no need to cart around something that really is craft, not art).

I remain concerned about the direction of the art committee when I observed a lot of precious volunteer time consumed with discussion of a project that is craft and really doesn't promote public art in any way (beyond a logo). Oh but wait -- there is also talk of a puzzle project. A sheet of plywood, cut and painted, to be made available for meetings and downtown festivals -- for children to play with. And what is on this puzzle...

"Importance of public art, everyone has a creative bend, whatever," said Commissioner Brown.

Discussion continued on more interior projects in the county administrative complex -- something about decorating around an elevator and putting up something to rival a FatHead in the Human Resources Department. Does decorating county office space seem like public art? Are these projects to elevate and encourage art in our county? One committee member mentioned the annual Old Courthouse Art Show was not on the schedule for 2016; reason given, not enough good art. It seems to be true -- there is not enough good art being promoted by a committee formed under the purpose of finding ways "to use art to enhance the County's reputation, to contribute to the civic environment, and to enrich the lives of citizens and visitors through the involvement of professional artists to integrate public artwork throughout Fayette County".

....are visitors going to come to Fayette to view the newly redecorated Finance or Human Resources Departments? The elevator? Artwork in a private employee breakroom? Have their children's pictures taken in a frame that is so tall at least three or four (or more) feet of space is left above their heads? How does a children's floor puzzle promote the importance of public art when there is very little artwork to show them?

A better use of that giant frame is to mount it to the wall in a county government office and fill it with more art from the students. And I know that the committee has no interest in paying for a mural by Hense, but it could be something from another artist, in a very public place, and it could be a start. Fayette County is home to the parents of a great, and becoming more well known everyday, muralist/artist -- Black Cat Tips! (if you haven't, you need to go to that website and watch the videos about Kyle Brooks and his art)

Kyle Brooks, AKA Black Cat Tips, with his Beltline mural

The day I took this photo of Kyle in Atlanta, a woman pushing a stroller stopped by. She asked him if he painted another mural on the Beltline and he said yes. (His style is very identifiable.) She leaned down to speak to her child telling him that this is the artist who painted the pictures he loved so much. She went on to tell Kyle that her son loved his painting, that he pointed at it and talked about it when they passed by on their walk. It was wonderful to observe a connection made between such a young child and the artist he admired. Perhaps that child will carry forth his love of art and remember the day he met Kyle.

Pink Ink

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:23:00 +0000

Today I cleaned some old fountain pens. The inks were basic Waterman blue, Bahama Blue and my favorite pink.

It reminds me of something from an old Dr. Seuss book, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

This one,

I think,

is called

a Yink.

He likes to wink,

he likes to drink.

He likes to drink, and drink, and drink.

The thing he likes to drink

is ink.

The ink he likes to drink is pink.

He likes to wink and drink pink ink.

SO....

if you have a lot of ink,

then you should get a Yink,

I think.

Hey Little Brown Cow

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 19:53:00 +0000

Brown Cow, November

Driving home today I spotted this cow. Thank goodness it was a rural road -- no traffic. So had time to stop, put the passenger-side window down and take a shot of this guy (girl?). I seemed to grab his attention...or maybe it was Under My Thumb blasting from the car...

Fayette County Public Art Committee (Georgia)

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:25:00 +0000

I am frustrated by my home county's Public Arts Committee.

It started with a call produced by the committee for photographers. I wrote about that on the blog in September. You can read it HERE.

Just this week -- on a community Facebook page -- I asked my county commissioner, Steve Brown, the head of the Public Arts Committee, when the next meeting would be held.

"There she goes," was his answer.

I checked the recent meeting agenda items on the county website to see that the next meeting is scheduled for November 30.

I've asked before if our county could learn from other local counties' successes in public art.

"Donna, go live in Fulton County if you want your big art budgets. We don't have it here," replied Commissioner Brown.

The purpose statement found on the county's webpage for the Public Arts Committee reads: "Founded in 2014, the purpose of The Fayette County Public Art Committee (FCPAC) is to find ways to use art to enhance the County's reputation, to contribute to the civic environment, and to enrich the lives of citizens and visitors through the involvement of professional artists to integrate public artwork throughout Fayette County. The Fayette County Public Art Committee aims to acquire, cultivate, and perform responsible stewardship of public art to enhance the dignity of the County through the commitment to artists and their disciplines as integral elements of economic vitality and development."

When I first read this statement over a year ago, I was excited. At that time a call was out for a mural on a public building. Again, I became excited. I contacted the committee to find out details since I knew some muralists. I asked who was selecting the design and offered my assistance to introduce the committee to curators at the High Museum or gallerists to help choose the winning mural. No thanks was what I heard -- the committee would select the design. I invited Commissioner Brown to come to Pike County and see the SlowExposures photography exhibit. He did come see it but told me right away that Fayette County could not do anything like it.

Back to the purpose statement -- does the following sound like it fits? -- from the October 19, 2015 action agenda: "Complete plans for Employee Break Room/Elevator area for BOC presentation The art canvases were completed by the art students using the Wayne Thiebaud theme. Anthony updated the committee regarding the flooring. He stated that the total for the project, including the flooring, grid work for the ceiling, the paint, the television with stand and the restroom is a projected cost of $3,299. This cost does not include the price for installing a Keurig coffee machine as discussed. Commissioner Brown suggested that a presentation including photos and demos to be made to the Board of Commissioners at the November 12 meeting. The committee agreed. The elevator area will be presented at a later time as phase two."

I was unable to attend that meeting. I will attend the next one. A friend did attend and filled in a bit more detail on this project:

"They are going to cut out a section of the wall to make an inset for the Keurig -- the reason was cited so it would not take up space in the room. The guy from Public Works asked if it was necessary to cut into the wall and suggested something like a platform for the Keurig. The guy who handles renovations said it was no problem and he also suggested artwork be done for the back of the cut out space that would resemble a window (behind the Keurig). Steve Brown said they would put together a presentation to present to the Board of Commissioners; he was not worried about the $3,299, he was reminded the Keurig is not in the budget. Steve Brown told them to 'bump it up to include the Keurig'. He suggested they do a layout of the room, show where they are moving things around, that it's cheap and inexpensive to use pallet board, present artwork sample, and introduce it to the Board of Commissioners on 11/12."

Commissioner Brown has expressed to me more than once about how limited the budget is for this committee. At those times, I asked if they explored options to create funds, raise funds, secure sponsors to allow the committee to be able to pay artists -- professional artists, artists with exhibit history -- for work to live up to the purpose statement.

"You go out and get that for us, Donna, and we will appreciate it."

I would help secure funding -- I've done it before. I ran a photography exhibition/competition for five years that I worked to fund awards and a wonderfully catered reception. I sit on the advisory board for an organization that depends on grants to be able to present public, free, events in another county. This organization, SlowExposures, just received the Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities. At this point I don't feel comfortable raising funds for a public arts committee to continue private space renovations and purchase televisions (with stands) or coffee pots.

Commissioner Brown has called me a Monday morning quarterback, a backseat driver, etc. This is my county commissioner saying these things to me on my very public Facebook page.

Other counties strapped for funding get creative. Isn't that why we elect certain people; to lead? If you read Commissioner Brown's bio on the Fayette County website it says: "Mr. Brown was instrumental in securing Pinewoods Studios Atlanta film and television project for Fayette County and led an effort in conjunction with the City of Fayetteville to build the first phase in only 10-months (sic), opening the door to more than 3,000 jobs and a potential of economic impact of more than $370 million annually."

Why didn't our leader -- our elected official -- work part of this very large deal, involving a creative business, to include a small fraction of a percentage to go toward funding the arts in Fayette County? Commissioner Brown seems to be deficient in his ability to secure funding for projects, yet he feels completely comfortable relying on high school students and other amateurs in the county for free art. He calls it "civic giving". I call it taking advantage and not living up to the spirit of the purpose statement.

In my opinion, when it comes to the arts, Commissioner Brown needs a back seat driver.

That Day I Was In A Dark Room With A Ghost...

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 13:16:00 +0000

I've seen those photos of 'orbs' and I don't believe they are anything other than dust specks or water vapor briefly highlighted by a flash or natural light creating a tiny bit of bokeh. Maybe they are even the product of a dirty sensor. No one can convince me otherwise about orbs. I've never believed the stories of 'something odd' caught by a camera until I stood, alone, in a dark room in a slowly deteriorating elementary school. I had visited this place before, a couple of times. The condition of the building showed more decline than my last trip there. Once while standing in the auditorium with another photographer, we heard what sounded like footsteps.

"Did you hear that," I asked her.

"Yes."

And we both headed to the other side of the building, nearer the front door.

I've taken lots of photographs in this structure. Nothing unusual until my last time there -- almost three years ago. I haven't been back.

Two images taken a little over a minute apart. The only change from the first to the second, or so I thought, was to move my tripod back a little to show more of the ceiling and part of a second window.

1:36:15pm

My shutter speed on both images is 25 seconds, f5.6, ISO 160, and my zoom lens was at its widest at 17mm. As I normally do for a very long exposure, I had the timer on to count down 10 seconds to shoot. I pushed the button and stood back to wait for the shutter to open and then close -- 35 seconds later.

Then, reevaluating the composition, I moved the tripod back a little to reshoot. Same settings the second time, just a little further back in the room. No one else was in the room with me. There were others in the building but they were down the hall in another very dark room working on other images. I did not review my photos in camera until I returned home that evening.

When I looked at the second image something strange was there -- a streak of light. And this streak was not in a complete straight line. I have no explanation for this anomaly. I wonder what was in that dark room with me that afternoon....

1:37:28pm

Happy Halloween

How Deer is Your Morning Walk?

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:59:00 +0000

These selections from my Morning Walk series feature the deer that share our space. There are many mornings I take my dogs out for a walk and they get very excited, thrust their noses high in the air and sniff vigorously. I have seen deer strut through my yard. My hosta plants are gone, thank you very much, deer! Telltale tracks line the dirt path through my back woods.

Much of the cart path trail through Peachtree City is in heavily wooded areas. We may think we own property and live in a certain space where deer feel free to roam and eat our plants. The deer see it another way, this is their space and they feel fortunate that we provide them with such tasty alternatives to the native vegetation.

Cart paths are mainly for the golf carts in Peachtree City. As a walker of the paths, I find this photo particularly 'very PTC' with the deer in the backyard of a home, next to the cart. I was very close and the deer never looked up.

I love poison ivy -- how it trails up a tree with its hairy vines. In the fall, the leaves are such a pretty yellow.

Such a shy buck -- he would not step out of the trees to show his antlers. The female with him stood very still as he stepped under cover.

This one is in a spot where we frequently see a doe with babies. They stay far back from the path in this open area. This is one of my favorites.

Where the Water Used To Be

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 13:12:00 +0000

One morning, instead of my usual morning walk along the cart paths of Peachtree City, I ventured into the grasses that took advantage of a drained Lake Peachtree. As I walked along the makeshift cart path, disappearing more and more into the overgrowth, spider webs clung to my camera as I held it in front of me, so many webs collected that mosquitoes became entangled. Waist deep in the blades, I heard a splash and for a moment wondered if the rumors of an alligator in Lake Peachtree could be true.

There is one week left to visit the exhibition of my Morning Walk images at Columbus State University's Rankin Arts Photography Center in Columbus, Georgia. I will be onsite next Saturday morning, packing it up, and would be happy to talk to anyone wishing to drop by.

A sub-series of the exhibit is Where the Water Used To Be -- a look at Lake Peachtree, drained. It has been almost two years since the lake was drained to facilitate dock repairs only to find the dam had serious issues. The resulting quagmire of bureaucratic finger pointing created a slow resolution to any issues -- and the lake is still near the lowest, but filled with vegetation and wildlife. Just this week I arrived at what was once the boat ramp to watch as two young deer frolicked a few hundred feet away, almost hidden in the early morning mist. A blue heron stood by, ankle deep in a small rivulet, searching for any fish to be found. These animals were shielded and felt they had sufficient cover due to the tall grasses surrounding them.

Photos on the blog today are from the selection on exhibit. They show things that used to be underwater. All of these images were taken by me standing where the water used to be.

Work is ongoing to prepare the lake for refilling. In the distance backhoes and excavators can be seen dredging a channel.

A few of these images were previewed at Peachtree City Library earlier this summer.