Art with a Heart

I despise pantyhose and wear them about as often as athletes compete in the Winter Olympics. (For the record and the curious, Pyeongchang, South Korea will host the 2018 Winter Olympics beginning on my son’s birthday, February 9th.) Pulling on nylons without creating a run is such a formidable task that I think the International Olympic Committee should consider adding it to their list of new sporting events.
I loathe hose.

But today was different. It was special. I got gussied up complete with my nude colored stockings for The Rack Pack’s 2nd Annual Brushstrokes for Breast Cancer Exhibit and Online Auction reception.

Pictured are some of The Rack Pack members. I'm on the far right. I hope you can tell I'm wearing hose because I worked hard to get them on.

Wearing this necklace that I found at a local consignment shop somehow made me feel extra artsy…as well as the funky pattern in my dress. (A beret would have been a nice finishing touch, but I established in the Pink Ribbon Plunge post why I don’t wear hats.) It didn’t dawn on me until I arrived that the pineapple is pink. Kinda fitting, I’d say.

Now that I'm seeing this up close I'm not sure that it matches. I still like it.

There are more than fifty stunning pieces on display at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur, AL that people who attended this afternoon’s reception got to see up close and in person.

Carnegie Visual Arts Center built in 1904 in downtown Decatur, AL.

And you almost need to see the paintings in person to truly appreciate the textures, fine details, and just how vivid some of the colors are.

Top painting: Poppy House by Janet Parker; Bottom painting: Golden by Hollen Seay

The sweetest Katherine Moody pondering, "Which piece should I bid on?"

Here’s one of the youngest artists, Olivia Groves, age 9, standing next to her painting entitled Miss Stylish.

This painting had been purchased by our mayor, Tab Bowling, and donated to the auction. Thank you, Mayor!

In addition to paintings like these…

There are also pieces of jewelry...

and pottery...

Then there’s this incredible piece, a copper tree called Stout created by artist William Bates. His work is featured in galleries all over the world. The Rack Pack was grateful for his donation and that he drove several hundred miles from near Mobile, AL to be with us for today’s reception.

Yes, I realize he has a woman's elbow growing out of his ear. But that makes it a little more artistic, no?

A couple more pieces...

Through it All by Chelsea Plaisance

Artist Joy Martin stands next to her watercolor, Sugar Magnolia

Me again in nylons. I really should stand with my legs together.

Here’s one of the pieces I bid on called The Journey by Carey Key, painted with acrylics and gold leaf. It would look perfect in my dining room once I get new wallpaper…and new furniture…and maybe some new flooring.

One of our local news stations recognized just how special of an event this was and sent out a reporter (I didn’t notice if she was wearing hose or not) to interview the Rack Pack’s founder and Vice President, Cindy Meadows.

Cindy is pictured here with other founding members Suzanne Horsley (middle) and Courtney McCollum (through the power of deductive reasoning - right). I’ll let you in on a little secret: all three of these women are featured in Joy is Contagious…Cancer Isn’t!

The exhibit runs through October 27th and everyone is welcome to bid online, you just can’t bid on the one called The Journey (I’m kidding, sort of.) To view the pieces and/or bid, click on Brushstrokes for Breast Cancer.

Well, I’ve rolled my pantyhose off and I’m going to bed.
Ahn Nyeong Hee Ju Mu Se Yo. (That’s Korean for good night.)