A Personal Amateur Photography Blog
The Delaware County Fairgrounds in Ohio was the host for the annual Gourd Show. Apparently a lot of people like making art out of gourds. With the results it is obvious there are some skilled gourd-artist around.
There was also entertainment. While we were there a band called the ‘Rum River Blend’ played a mix of acoustic rock, bluegrass and folk. Their fiddle player, Carl, was 95 years old (he was the 1948 Ohio Fiddle Champion)!
Let’s give it up for Carl!
Easton is a very large ‘lifestyle center’ in Northeast Columbus. A lifestyle center is a shopping area built to resemble an actual town, with streets going through the shops, apartments and other less traditional mall features.
On Saturday they had a chalk art contest. We arrived early on Sunday morning before the stores (and therefore the people) arrived, giving plenty of opportunity for unobstructed views of the final work. The early morning shadows, however, proved to be tricky.
The art itself was excellent, with a variety of subjects and approaches to style.
The new downtown Cleveland Convention Center was the site of a Lego fan convention called BrickUniverse. This show featured a number of Lego artists, as well as vendors with a large collection of specialty pieces.
As we entered the hall we were greeted by Jonathan Lopes, who had a number of very large pieces. Jonathan, a San Diego resident who used to live in Brooklyn, which was featured extensively in his grouping.
Nearby was Lia Chan who specialized in Air & Space.
There were a number of ‘paintings’ made of Lego throughout the exhibit. The detail was amazing.
A 12′ long model of the USS Missouri had thousands of small sailors, as well as the table and dignitaries that signed the surrender terms ending World War II.
Displayed nearby was a large collection of famed military leaders.
Eventually I pulled out the zoom to get close ups.
The tallest building in Cleveland is the nearly 1000′ high Key Tower. For this show King Kong was on top.
The Eiffel Tower.
Another of Lia’s pieces up close showing the details.
The Moulin Rouge complete with Can Can Dancers.
Finally a close up of Jonathan’s Woolworth Building, showing the amazing detail on the cornices.
The University of British Columbia in Vancouver is the home of the Museum of Anthropology. This museum is known for it’s extensive collection of world arts and cultures, but mostly for it’s First Nation (Native Canadian) collection.
Words don’t do justice to how impressive they are.
The Ohio State Fairgrounds has been at the same location since 1886, when the land was north of town. Now it is in the middle of the city, between Ohio State University and some inner city neighborhoods, along the flight path for the airport.
It is in this setting that each year thousands of Ohio youth (and adults) bring their prized animals for show. Nothing like a morning in Columbus with about 1000 rooster cackling, airplanes blasting over, and the smell of 1000 fried food stands. Still it seems to have become an annual event for photography.
In addition to the animals there is the always fascinating ‘butter sculpture’. Imagine the cholesterol.
Also featured are crafts.
Prize winning cake.
Throughout the midway are rides, and other attractions including the ‘Wild Monkeys’ show.
The Ohio Theater is a grand old theater downtown that was built in 1928 in an exceptionally ornate style to ‘separate the patrons from their everyday life’; it was originally built as a movie theater. It currently has seating for over 2700 people in the main level and the balcony, and features a massive ‘Robert-Morton’ organ.
While the theater hosts the symphony, opera and ballet we were there for a screening of the movie classic ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. The screen is massive, and the sound quality was superb.
The impressive ceiling has a more impressive chandelier.
The lobbies are equally ornate.
We chose a seat in the balcony.
The loges are no longer used for seating, rather they serve as lighting structures.
The maestro served as the organist, performing for 30 minutes prior to the movie, during intermission, and during the exit period after the movie. A visit to the Ohio Theater is worth it just to see the building; to see a classic old movie is even better.
Buried way back a small one lane road in the Hocking Hills is Lilyfest. It is a celebration of one couple’s gardens, adorned with art. What started as a small gathering now has over 70 vendors with artistic wares, two stages for music, as well as the gardens, now known as the Bishop Education Gardens.
Most of the vendors were happy to allow photography of their art. One of the first we visited makes all natural doll, with a clay face, moss, grasses and other natural products make up the rest.
Not really sure, but it is cool
The gardens were in bloom providing a bucolic setting, despite the throng of people and vendors.
Art from old instruments.
Hanging decorations.
Air feed plants from South America
There was a large collection of iron art.
How they managed to jam all of the cars parked on every available open space of the hills and trees is amazing. Fortunately we were there early enough that we had a good place to park, and enjoyed festival before it was too crowded.
