artsy forager

Tag: travel

  • This Artsy Life: Weekend 9 [ Artsy & Mr. Forager Slow Down ]

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 9 [ Artsy & Mr. Forager Slow Down ]

    Mr. Forager and I are in the midst of taking a bit of a sabbatical from wandering hither and yon on our weekends.  This was our second weekend in a row in which we just stayed put here in Joshua Tree.  These quiet, slower weekends bring opportunities for slowing down and really engaging with each other and just enjoying the normality of routine that we really miss when we’re exploring and adventuring.  These weekends are helping us enjoy our last two months here in Southern California.  The Northwest has our heart, but when the light hits the mountains here, just before the sun begins to set, we are content with where we are in that fleeting moment.  I hope you’ll forgive these more mundane installations of This Artsy Life.  But sometimes, the slow down brings the rush around into focus, you know?

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    [ new mural in “downtown” Joshua Tree ]**

     

    [ first bloom spotted on our Joshua Tree ]

    [ subliminal messages from beer? ]

    [ warm SoCal weather was perfect for grilling ]

    [ Sunday bottling ]

    I hope perhaps you enjoyed a “slowed down” weekend, too!  I wish I could say some painting was done this weekend.. more on that in a new Finding My Own Artsy later this week.

    **Mural by Larger Than Life Murals, including an enlargement of a painting by Marcia Geiger.

    All images by Artsy Forager.

  • This Artsy Life: Weekend 5 [ Friends, Playgrounds, Farmers Markets ]

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 5 [ Friends, Playgrounds, Farmers Markets ]

    A very large part of the reason Mr. Forager took a work assignment in Joshua Tree, CA was to be close to his best friend, Mike and his family. Mike, Mr. Forager & I have all known each other since our swingin’ single days back in Florida. He was the best man at our wedding and his wife, Veronica was unable to travel at the time being very pregnant with twin boys. We drive over to San Diego about once a month to spend the weekend with Mike, Vero & the boys. M & V had barely adopted their oldest, Caleb when they found out they were pregnant with twins, Alex & Noah. Needless to say, weekends with them are filled with craziness and laughter, but can be exhausting for those of us who aren’t used to the insanity that comes with a household full of toddlers!

    Part of living an artsy life is to embrace each day as it comes, finding the joy even in the simple moments. This weekend was filled with the pleasure of being allowed to just be. Aren’t those the times and people we love best?

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    [ view from terra nova park, chula vista, ca ]

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    [ this is what sheer joy looks like ]

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    [ restful moment ]

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    [ balanced rocks, seaport village ]

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    [ farmers market band jam ]

    Want to see more from the This Artsy Life series?  Check ’em out here.  You can also follow me on Instagram for all kinds of Artsy Life goodness.  Lots of simple moments in the life of this particular Artsy.

  • This Artsy Life: Weekend 2 [ Artsy & Mr. Forager go to Vegas ]

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 2 [ Artsy & Mr. Forager go to Vegas ]

    As part of my longing to share a little more of myself and our life with you, Artsies, hope you enjoy this second installment of This Artsy Life, a new series of posts in which you get to see a bit of how Mr. Forager & I live. Last weekend, we made my first & our first together ( and probably last ) trip to Las Vegas. While it was nice to get away and stay in a luxurious hotel ( thanks, Hotwire! ) and we can now cross Vegas off our list of must-sees while we’re in SoCal, we didn’t enjoy it as much as we thought we might. Not to sound snobbish, but I think we just hated the artificiality of it all. I know, I know, that’s kind of the point.. yet we found it very wearing. There were a few highlights though, including a trip downtown to the up & coming 18b Arts District. Truly if you go and need a break from all the spectacle, hop in a cab or take a bus downtown and visit the galleries & artist studios there. Your soul & spirit will thank you!

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    [ drinks at Gordon Ramsay’s Pub & Grill.. Hell’s Kitchen is a guilty pleasure of ours ]

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     [ sculpture imitating art ]

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    [ socio-political art at 18b ]

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    [ art square studios ]

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    [ art is a weapon ]

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    [ our contribution to the letter to the president art project ]

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    [ ok, so Vegas isn’t all bad ]

    How about you, Artsies?  Love Vegas or hate it?  Want to see more of This Artsy Life?  Artsy Forager is now on Instagram!  Come follow and see what Mr. Forager & I find inspiring, comical, or just plain wacky!

  • This Artsy Life: Weekend 1 [ Artsy & Mr. Forager Go to San Diego, We Meet The Sweater ]

    This Artsy Life: Weekend 1 [ Artsy & Mr. Forager Go to San Diego, We Meet The Sweater ]

    One thing I’ve been thinking about lately is how to inject more of myself into the blog.  Don’t get me wrong, this is definitely not going to turn into the Artsy & Mr. Forager show.. but the way we live is so unique and our opportunities for adventure and exploration so rich that I thought you guys might enjoy the occasional glimpse into the way we live.   So beginning this week, I’ll post a little recap of how we spent our weekend, part of a This Artsy Life series.  Mind you, not every weekend will be filled with new sights and discoveries.. sometimes we’re really boring. 😉  But I hope these posts will help you get to know me a little better, and in turn, we’ll get to know each other a little better!

    Last weekend was spent with dear friends in San Diego.  Our times with the Jameses and their three sweet boys are filled with the sharing of food, drink, and laughter.  And sometimes a tickle fight.

    [ beer tasting at Ballast Point Brewing ]

    [ Ruud van Empel at MOPA* ]

    [ the sweater likes coffee** ]

    [ artsy eating ]

    [ tickle fight ]

    [ turkish coffee at Hillcrest Farmer’s Market ]

    *Look for a post on this amazing artist & exhibition soon!

    **There’s a story behind the sweater.  And many to come.

  • Artsy On the Road: Greetings from California!

    Artsy On the Road: Greetings from California!

    As you may have noticed, I’ve been a bit absent from Artsy Forager for the past two weeks as Mr. Forager and I made our way from Coeur d’Alene, ID to our new temporary home in Joshua Tree, CA.  We spent nearly two weeks on the road, seeing sights and visiting with friends.  I’m trying to get my bloggin’ groove back today and will be back in full Forager mode on Tuesday!  Until then, I thought you might enjoy a few postcards our trip!

    Bryce Canyon, Utah
    South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona
    San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
    Sunny Jim Cave, LaJolla, CA
    Art on the back fence of our little house in Joshua Tree, CA

    See ya tomorrow!

  • Artsy on Escape Into Life: Karen Knorr

    I find there is such a mystical, magical quality to the culture of India.  Such a juxtaposition of riches and poverty, exuberance and isolation.  The India Song series of photographer Karen Knorr explores the roles of power in Indian society and I find them both visually stunning and intellectually striking.  See more of Karen’s work on my Artist Watch over on Escape Into Life today!

    The Sound of Rain, Junagarh Fort, Bikaner

    Karen Knorr on Escape Into Life

  • Friday Finds: Stairmasters

    Friday Finds: Stairmasters

    There is nothing I love more than being out & about and coming across a fabulous piece of street art or public sculpture.  Something I’ve noticed lately is a wonderful propensity for decorating public staircases.  Here are a few of my favorite examples from around the world!

    Beirut, Lebanon steps by Strictly Dih-zayhners
    Piano Steps, Valparaiso, Chile
    Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
    Painted steps, Valparaiso, Chile
    Yarn bombed steps oustide Helsinki Cathedral, Finland ( photo by Peter Norris )

    Strictly Dih-zayhners on Street Art Utopia | Valparaiso Steps via We Heart It  | Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago | Painted steps on Street Art Utopia | Yarn Bombed Steps via The Daily Telegraph 

    Who knew Valparaiso, Chile was so full of street art goodness?  Definitely on my list of places to visit now!  Have a favorite pair of artsy stairs?  Share ’em over on the Artsy Forager Facebook page!

    All image sources are linked above.

  • Friday Finds: Natural Abstractions

    Friday Finds: Natural Abstractions

    As you may recall, Mr. Forager and I recently returned from a long camping trip in Glacier National Park and Yellowstone ( and we threw in the Lewis & Clark Caverns on the way home ‘cuz we weren’t nearly exhausted enough already ).  We both love the outdoors and as I told Christina Baker in our Artist Takeover interview, I find the natural world to be incredibly inspiring in its artistry.  I thought you might enjoy a few of examples of nature’s artsiness I found while traversing through two of the US’s most beautiful places!

    Glacier National Park
    Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
    Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park
    Thermophiles in hot spring, Yellowstone National Park
    Hot spring flow, Yellowstone National Park
    Treeline on the drive to the East Entrance, Yellowstone National Park
    Inside the Lewis & Clark Caverns, Whitehall, MT

    Isn’t nature the most incredible abstract artist?  What are some of your favorite natural abstractions?

    All images by Artsy Forager.

  • Artsy On the Road: Falling Down the Rabbit Hole

    Artsy On the Road: Falling Down the Rabbit Hole

    Thanks to our currently transient-like lifestyle ( we move every 3-6 months due to my husband’s job ) our opportunities for visiting amazing places are much higher than most people can boast.    We took advantage of hubby’s three day holiday weekend to visit Glacier National Park in Montana and camp at one of my hubby’s favorite places in the world, the tiny hamlet of Polebridge, MT.  So in the spirit of the F/Stop Artsy event here at Artsy Forager, I thought I would share some photos and thoughts from our trip!

    Being among amazing natural beauty is a huge source of inspiration for me.  Getting out and hiking and camping refreshes and rejuvenates not just the body, but the mind and the soul.  It is in places like these that we unplug, give ourselves over to each moment and feel how very small we are in this vast landscape.

    While the call of the wild is definitely a draw for us, sometimes what makes these trips so inspirational is how much we connect with each other when we’re unplugged and off-the-grid, as well as how we may find ourselves in the midst of an other worldly atmosphere.

    For the past few years, my husband has regaled me with stories from his “Summer of Love”, almost an entire summer spent traveling from one amazing place to another.  He’s always described his time in Polebridge, MT, a tiny town less than a mile from the West entrance to Glacier, as his “falling down the rabbit hole”.  Like Wonderland, Polebridge is filled with quirky characters and when you are there, you become immediately immersed in its magic.

    It is a place where happy and friendly dogs run free, a French ex-patriot and retired Santa Claus mingles with a former pharmacist turned saloon owner and an entire evening can be spent singing Bob Dylan songs around a bonfire with complete strangers who feel like old friends.

    A place where the grass is cool and fragrant and the view from every direction inspires.  It’s a spot where winters are long and hard but summer is its own reward.  A landscape built for dreaming and creating.

    Not every artsy place is full of galleries and museums.  Some are artsy by way of how they inspire and the community of people drawn to them.

    Where is your artsy destination this summer?  Where will the road take you?  No matter where you are, look for the artsy.  It’s always there and it’s waiting for you.

    PS– The folks at Polebridge like their little community small.  So keep it on the down low. 😉

    All images are the property of Artsy Forager.  Please do not use without permission.

  • LoveThisLandia: This Is Oregon

    LoveThisLandia: This Is Oregon

    My husband and I love Oregon.  George lived for a while on the Northern Coast of Oregon and last year, we lived in Southern Oregon while he worked in Grants Pass.  The beauty and natural diversity there is just absolutely incredible.  So when Joe Stevens of Shwood Eyewear emailed me about This is Oregon, a photo project “to inspire others to get up, go out and start exploring”, I told him I was more than happy to share it with you!

    This Is Oregon, photo by Julian Bialowas

    Shwoood Eyewear teamed up with photographer Julian Bialowas to photograph 10 magificient locations, all within a 90 minute drive from downtown Portland, Oregon.  The project’s aim is to “showcase the awe-inspiring landscapes waiting to be explored.”

    Columbia River Gorge by Julian Bialowas

    There will be a This Is Oregon photo show and party at The Ace Hotel in Portland on May 3rd, admission is free and so is the beer! ( If only we were closer, we would be there for sure! )  Super cool prints of Julian’s This Is Oregon work can be purchased here.  I can’t decide which one I love best.  Each one is more beautiful than the next, just like the landscape in Oregon. ( I’m leaning toward the Columbia River Gorge piece above– it’s one of our favorite OR places! )

    I hope you’ll check out the This Is Oregon website and see for yourself.  If you haven’t been to Oregon– plan a trip.  NOW.  You’ll never regret it.

    And make sure you watch this video.  It’s almost like being there.  But you need to see it for yourself!