November 06th, 2017

Guess what we did this weekend.  Go ahead, guess.  Yes!  We went to the Venice Ave art show.  Boy you are a good guesser!

It's an annual event and it's just a short walk from the house so, why not?  It's actually something we were familiar with before we moved here. I mean the concept of an outside art show.  When I lived in Connecticut, I often attended the one in Mystic which was also on the main street through town which is closed for the duration.  And in Colorado, they had one every year in O'Brien park.  Other than the state in which they are held, they are all much the same. Cute little covered tents filled chockablock with art work of various sorts to be admired and purchased.  The artists are right there and are happy to tell you all about their work which is always interested.  The art is different ever year and I suspect it is regionally themed.  In Colorado, for example, there were a lot of works depicting, in one way or another, the majesty of the Rocky Mountains.  In Mystic,  the village itself and the river bearing the same name were featured strongly.

Here in Venice Florida however, it seems that anything goes.  Of course there were photographs and paintings of the ocean and Florida wildlife,  but there was so much more!

There were so many other things that I didn't manage to get a photo of.  I was particularly impressed with some elaborate copper fountains that were already showing signs of verdegris, and then there was the young man who carved and then painted pieces of wood in a way that was both a collage of ideas and 3D, that was unique!  Also on site were sculptures made out of huge chunks of polished rock, whirlygigs that I was enchanted by and jewelry. Lots and lots of booths of jewelry. There was some beautiful hand made furniture and pottery pieces too.  There was metalwork, mixed media, oils and pastels.  We saw pen & ink drawings and things that I'm not absolutely certain what they were.

It is always inspiring to see so many people who have such singular talent, each with their own special vision.  I love seeing new ideas, new interpretations of the world around us.  It was a lot of fun and a nice way to spend part of a beautiful  Sunday, even if we did have to share the day with upwards of about 40,000 other visitors.

It's the one downside of living in a place so damned adorable.  Other people found out about it and want to visit it too.  Oh well, it's a small price to pay for the many charms that are our adopted home.

How did you spend your weekend?