Jason Morgan

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

SMA-05265

Jason Morgan is a local painter who is know for his portraits and hyper realistic still life paintings. His work has been showing at the Art Museum in Springfield, OH since mid summer and I saw him soon after the exhibition opened (You can see his work in the background of the photo). Over the weekend, I had some spare time and decided to take an hour and see if there was anything new at the museum. I was surprised to see Jason painting in the middle of the exhibit while answering questions from the gallery visitors. I’d say that was pretty good planning (pure luck) on my part.

As a non-painter, I was really interested to hear about the process of painting as well as what inspires him.the entire experience left me better educated as well as in a position to better understand his work. My hat is off to the folks on the museum staff that arranged for Jason to paint live and answer questions.

If you are in the central Ohio area, give the museum a visit. I think you’ll agree it’s time well spent. You can find out more about the museum here.

 

American Kitsch

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

American Kitsch

Here in Springfield, Ohio, we have a little piece of crazy American oddness called the Hartman Rock Garden. I can’t explain it, except to say that decades ago, one man decided to teach his grandchildren about american history through concrete and stones. Throw in a little bit of glass and some ceramic figures and you have it. You can learn about the rock garden here: http://hartmanrockgarden.org/visit.html.

Is kitsch like this only an American phenomena, or can it be found world wide? If you a have some fascinating kitsch in your back yard, tell us about it in the comments.

Have a great day folks.

Jim and Charlie and Charlie and Jimmy

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

 

Yesterday, Jim and Charlie hitched up Charlie and Jimmy to plant corn using the old 1930s era IH seeder. Farm tractors did not become common until after the Second World War and this would have been a common sight until the late 1940s. Trivia behind us, yesterday was a perfect day to be outside in the sunshine. The sky was full of big puffy clouds and there was a cool breeze. And of course, with Charlie around (the man, not the horse), there were plenty of jokes to keep us entertained.

 

 

The Charlies and Jims were planting butcher blood corn. I included a picture of the seed so that you can see how beautiful it is.

 

 

Every so often, Charlie and Noland would check the seed to ensure the old machine was working as it should. Old machines need constant watching and adjustment.

 

 

 

I know that you are wondering about the horses’ names. Legend has it (we only have the word of Jim and Charlie), they were visiting an Amish farmer while looking for a new pair of draft horses. When the farmer mentioned the horses were named Charlie and Jimmy, they bought them on the spot. I think it is just as likely that the two jokesters named the horses on the way home. You never know with those two.

Have a great day.

living with masterpieces

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Living with Art

 

When I saw this scene in our little local art museum, I was dumb struck.

I've been fascinated with the 1,400+ pieces of art discovered in a German apartment, many of which could have been stolen by the Nazis during the war. I am obsessed with the story and have been following it for months. It's not that some old German guy might have stolen art, it's not even the huge numbers involved or the calibre of the artists that has captured my imagination. What keeps me engrossed in the story is the thought of living with so many masterpieces in your own home. 

How do you view that art? After a while do you just walk by it as though it was nothing? After all, it's been hanging on your wall for years. Do you find yourself stopping and staring at your favorite pieces? Do you even need a TV or can you just pull your couch around so that it faces some particularly wondrous masterpiece?

How do you live with all of that incredible art?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26133532 

 

registered

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Registered

 

My friend Jim Nash is a docent at the Westcott House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and located here in Springfield, Ohio. I visited the house on Sunday camera in hand. There was a heavy snow fall going on outside, so we pretty much had the house to ourselves. I love Wright designs with their clean horizontal lines and rectangular geometries.

However, every time I visit a Wright home, I think about the fact that the man had to make concessions to design elements that don't fit his style, such as these heavily ornate heating registers. The same is true of many other elements like sinks and faucets, stoves, etc. Poor man probably had nightmares about all of this victorian era objects in his revolutionary designed homes. Maybe that's why he had a reputation for being difficult.

 

 

rust and decay

Posted on by Tim McMurdo
Rust and urban decay
Rusty Door and Decay

 

I’ve written about Springfield’s urban decay a few times in the past. To be sure, there is plenty of it. However, the city is tearing the old buildings down as fast as they can. New hospitals, skating rinks, and other buildings are going up in place of the old brick factories. I will miss them when they are gone. To me, the old buildings are a photographer’s dream come true. I suppose that there really is no stopping progress.

Have a nice Friday folks. The weekend starts in just a few hours.