Sculpture is the Art of Intelligence

Welcome everyone to Shafer Minnesota

and

Franconia Sculpture Park

and I'm including 

SIX WORD WEDNESDAY

First- before you begin your journey,

"You must forget all your theories, 

all your ideas before the subject.

What part of these is really your own

will be expressed in your expression

of the emotion awakened in you by the subject."

Henri Matisse

Sunbathing time.

This sculpture reminds me of a streetlamp on steroids.

"To look at something as though we have never seen it before

requires great courage."

Henri Matisse

This piece is titled Don't Live Life in the Doorway

by Kevin Vanek

My Six Words  (all 12) for Wednesday are as follows.

Stop, if your thoughts are too reasonable at best 

you'll miss a most mythical and magical,

 monster in dragon thought 

but quite possibly lurks here

as if flowered much darker by your thinking

 while these pieces your drinking

in may 

foster yet

 another kind of resemblance that 

sings wildly in your heart of hearts.

The tubing are remnants from the Korean War.

I call this area Mirror Row.

"The mirror is the worst judge of true beauty."

Sophia Nam

"Don't wait for inspiration.

 It comes while one is working."

Henri Matisse

Jenga anyone?

"Art making is not about telling the truth but making the truth felt."

Christian Boltanski

Hmm, it does seem as though I've lost my head.

"No not really here I am," said the lost head.

"Most people are like a falling leaf that drifts and turns

in the air, flutters, and falls to the ground.

But a few others are like

stars which travel one defined path:

no wind reaches them

they have within themselves their guide and path."

Hermann Hesse

How about a visit to Arizona?

Be a cactus in a world of delicate flowers.

"A discovery is said to be an accident 
meeting a prepared mind."
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

"Instinct must be thwarted just as one prunes the 
branches of a tree so that it will grow better."
Henri Matisse


Giddy up partner!

"I have been and still am a seeker,
but I have ceased to question stars and books;
I have begun to listen to the teaching
my blood whispers to me."
Hermann Hesse

After viewing just a wee fraction of the sculpture art that covers 43 acres I hope that you felt your way through.

As I was ready to drive away this pine cone sculpture was in clear view, and I had to smile as I watched a teenager rubbing it for good luck. There are still believers among us.

Thanks for stopping in and taking this sculpture tour.
Take good care of you.


"Discovery is seeing what everybody else has seen,
and thinking what nobody else has thought."
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

Wise Boy said This is How Ancient Egyptians Lived

Not kidding, he was spot on. The roads were paths, to get around people walked, rode donkeys, or traveled by wagon. (which is exactly what he was in) on a dusty, dirt road near my house. Aren't the thoughts that run through a child's mind simply amazing?

Not all classrooms have four walls. 

Go outside. Live. Learn things.

Ready for a most adorable photo of the day?

Oops! You caught me!

ARTFUL-WANDERLUST

"You'll never know until you see," -said art everywhere.

Have you ever heard of Brian Andreas?
Interesting life he's led, and still is. 
I found his Hall of Whispers project extremely vital, especially now.

"Remember to use positive affirmations.

 I am not a dork is not one of them."

Brian Andreas (author of Mostly True)

of the

StoryPeople

So why bring this up? Because the StoryPeople have a connection to Decorah, Iowa where I'm hoping to journey to once life returns to where we left off. 

Among other interesting subjects, The Porter House Museum, Phelps Park, and the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum (a few photos below) and other desirable eateries. 

"Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow. Isn't it strange how life won't flow, like a river, but moves in jumps, as if it were held back by locks that are opened now and then to let it jump forwards in a kind of flood?"

Anita Desai


Thank you Decorah, Iowa

So much to see, do and experience. Let me show you a bit of what it offers. Follow along with me.

For me there's something about arriving in a city,

 especially for the first time 

that boils within my soul as if it were soup in a pot,

 ready to burst out to be shared and eaten up!

Empty streets

"Empty streets are a blessing for you because

an empty street whips your thoughts

and makes you question your life!

He who wants to dive into his own depths,

let him wander in the empty streets!"

Mehmet Murat ildan

I was/am hoping to spend my birthday here, 

not just because by May the grass is always this rich

but for a hundred other reasons!

"When you wander in an empty silent street,

you wander within the mind of wisdom!"

Mehmet Murat ildan

"In the best conversations,

 you don't even remember what you talked about

only how it felt."

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

Ask yourself if what you're doing today

 is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.

Paulo Coelho

"Remember that wherever your heart is, 
there you find your treasure."
Paulo Coelho

and 

The simple things are the most extraordinary things
(ignore those who say they are so bored, they can't take it any longer without- this or that)
and only the wise can see them.

Your visits here mean everything to me.
Thank you.
Take good care of you.

From Critters to Mannequins to Kiosks

Welcome everyone!
First
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS 

Today I was going to finally meet Artemus.
Now it'll be October.


Critters are always true to their being.


A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day.
A string of such moments can change the course of your life.
Christopher K. Germer


Outside catching some fresh air during this Minnesota Lock Down.

The sniffer, Misty and Dash, in need of a haircut!



Here's Rainbow Mountain today
where I should be right now. 
Oh well, October is in 6 months.

Let go of Who You think 
You're supposed to be
and embrace Who You Are.
From The Gifts of Imperfection
by Brene' Brown

Every mannequin has a story.

You don't know who they will be,
the ones who open your eyes
to life's wild magic.
But when you find them
it will not be hard to tell.
from the StoryPeople

Imagine a world where mannequins actually talked back to you.

What we know matters.
But who we are matters more.
Brene' Brown

Kiosks are top on our lists lately!

Serving hot and fresh coffee and more.

Decorah, Iowa 136.7 miles from my doorstep.

Every great dream begins with a dreamer.
 Always remember,
 you have within you the strength,
the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars
 to change the world.
 Harriet Tubman

Karina's new puppy!

Somewhere in the center of us,
puppies are born.

My grandmother told me, words are holy. 

Treat them with respect.

There's power there.

Alma Hogan Snell



Since I can't get to you right now
here is a long distance hug.
Thanks for stopping in.
Take good care of you.

River Town for The Taking

Let Red Wing's River touch your life.  Shut off the media, turn off all notifications, take a deep breath and take a day-cation! This was my Sunday with the weekend off thank goodness too, because Monday arrived with what I'm still referring to as "living life in the surreal mode" honestly. Remembering also, my mother's all time motto of, everything happens for a reason. 

My first stop on my way to Red Wing, was here in New Trier, Minnesota. 

Today otherwise known today as a ghost town, not your usual Sunday.

(I took an all steeple photo shot along the way)

Red Wing, Minnesota abounds.

Red Wing Train Station

The Sheldon

A favorite theater of mine.

Oops... hope this theme quickly ends.

Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms

you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

If you're having trouble counting your blessings,

remember you are alive to count them.

Charles F. Glassman

Seek for you the blessings each day brings,

no matter their size.

The comforts from an old or new book

is just another gift to yourself.

Even the smallest changes in our daily routine 

can create the incredible ripple effects

that expand our vision of

what is possible.

Charles F. Glassman

Courage doesn't always roar. 

Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day

that says I'll try again tomorrow.

Mary Ann Radmacher

No waiting. Enjoy.

Rivers know this, there is no hurry.

 We shall get there someday.

A.A. Milne

It does not matter how slowly you go 

as long as you do not stop.

Confucius

Keep moving forward.

Folks were out with their cameras and binoculars snapping eagles!

and I found a bench to eat my lunch and take it all in.

I shall post about Red Wing's many historical buildings one day. Yes I will.

This photo below was taken about 19 miles from Red Wing, and I felt it quite fitting for today's post.

Lake City

Never stop fighting until you arrive at your 

destined place, that is, the unique you.

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

The key that unlocks everything important is this....

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself,

 and know that everything in life has purpose. 

There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings

given to us to learn from.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Thanks for stopping by

Take good care of you.

Quirky Cultural Tidbits

Get Off the Main Road
Not anymore, been there, done that.

Remember Dino?

Well, every scarf has a tale.

Dinosaurs are a touchtone that

 separates the mentality of children

from that of adults.

Dale Russell

This is where my morning began.

Next

Beautiful Misty.


Being my day off much scheduled, dog grooming, etc. yet in the back of my mind I regretted not buying more books by local authors on Sunday. Clever reason to return there, soon.

Sweet Reads.
 One quirky, creatively designed and well crafted for
 your reading pleasure bookstore. 
They have it all and more. Believe me.

Read 
what writers
 have written 
to be remembered.
Then share their stories.

Tell me, what is it you plan to do 

with your one wild and precious life?

Mary Oliver

Never make fun of someone's passion 
Because that's the thing 
that saves them from the world.

Never to be forgotten.

Downtown Austin, Minnesota

Instructions for living a life.

 Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.

Mary Oliver

Quiet people have the loudest minds.
Stephen King

Don't you just love afternoon strolls?

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

Mary Oliver



Possibly in my next post or soon after, will be an interesting true life story,
that I just happened upon.

While I was driving past a farmer's field along a back road which led to a rural highway I noticed
about a five foot rocket and historical marker, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.  But with good reason. More to follow!

Thank you for stopping in.
Take good care of you.