Sprucing up for Mini Marathon!

Rich made two more benches for the front. They are 8' long and very sturdy. Perfect for spectators and festival goers to cop a squat. The picture shows the benches in their raw state. We will sand, prime and paint them later.

We painting deck restore and non-slip coating on the front steps and ramp on the boardwalk. Since these are not covered, they tended to get slimy and slippery when wet. Now they should be much safer to walk on and not a hazard to pedestrians.

The pile of limbs is from some tree trimming we did to minimize debris falling on the roof.

We also removed the wood rack on the side porch and painted the  wall a with a fresh coat of light yellow. It really brightened up the building. Our aim is to make the side entrance the main focal point and draw customers to that door.

Mini Marathon is only two weeks away. Rich has been training to run it this year! We hope to have a big crowd and lots of interest. Can't wait to see how it goes!!!

After School Classes at The Boardwalk

On the Walls

These are two pieces by OL Samuels, a Tallahassee-based folk artist. He is recognized nationally in the National Folk Art Museum and numerous collections of major institutions. We were introduced to his work when Rich bid on two sculptures by him at an estate auction. After bringing them home, we did a bit of research. The following week we met with OL at his home to authenticate the pieces. While we were there, we bought these birds!

This is a series of eight photographs that Rich made during a workshop on prescribed burning at Pebble Hill. The practice of clearing undergrowth by intentionally setting fire is a practice somewhat unique to this area. The workshop was interesting and the participants got to tramp through the plantation backcountry. These haunting images are an attempt to capture to mood, and the summer heat.

This is a large, four-panel collage made up of dozens of drawings that Rich cut up and arranged. The imagery is evocative of both cosmic and atomic forces that explode and recycle endlessly.

This is a painting Rich made some years ago. It is entitled Puberty. The background is made of linocut images printed in paint directly on to the wood panel. The image of the boy in the foreground was appropriated from a study by Michelangelo for the Sistine Chapel. The painting overall, and the title, are a reference to that awkward transitional time between childhood and adulthood. By extension, the painting is a meditation on the transition from apprentice to professional artist.

A Look at the Walls

This a view of the wall to the left as you enter through the front door. A rack of hand printed cards, a table with guest book, an assortment of vintage paintings and prints on the wall, and the chair and "stool table" Rich worked on this summer are all there to greet you.

 As you  turn left into the smaller gallery, the Boston Morning mural is on the right wall. It is  flanked by drawings on the left and a series of photos taken as Rich witnessed a prescribed burn at Pebble Hill Plantation. There is also the green table Rich made.

The rest of the smaller gallery space shows the benches we made, a large painting/collage screen, and a quad-trych (four panel image) on the wall. There are other paintings, drawings, prints and a table as well.

Other views of the rest of the space will be forthcoming. We are in the process of re-organizing the space.

Another Bench

This is the fourth bench we have made in the this style. There are several other smaller ones, including the "picket bench". This is a heavy, durable bench that is built to last. The painted design is made with outdoor latex-based paint. These benches are perfect for a funky garden or patio space. Come by the gallery and take a look!

Calling All Local Artists and Craftspersons!

Light My Fire… just not within 50 ft of the building

In addition to wooden boxes, wooden nickels and wooden furniture, Rich designed hand-drawn covers for matchbooks and matchboxes. He started with blank white matchbooks and boxes. At first, he treated them like tiny canvases to create abstract marker paintings. His technique evolved to composing more representational images, similar to his nickels. Like his nickels, he is selling the packs of matches for $2 each.