Halloween at the Midland.....

It is now after 10PM and I am just coming home...yes I realize I am supposed to be taking it easy but dog gone it today was just too much FUN!!!! I had a visitor today who is a veteran from Iraq drop by and we discussed my next project...to send prints of winter over to the soldiers who are serving in the desert in Afghanistan for the holidays 2011. He is now working in Chicago and has met up with a puppeteer and they are collaborating with performances for audiences of all ages. Well done Michael...I look forward to our next visit when you return to Newark.

This afternoon I headed down to the Midland Theater for our celebration of Trick or Treat on the courthouse square. My photos will tell the story but I do have to admit the adult volunteers in costume had a wonderful time also. Yes it was cold and the rain had stopped so I will not make a complaint about the weather. I laughed as I greeted each child with their adoring parents with a "Happy Halloween!" The courthouse was filled with families enjoying and celebrating the present moment...I can not decide who had the most FUN! Enjoy the little ones. My grandchildren arrived at the Midland after the official hours of 5 to 6:30PM...but the cheerleader Miss Maya Rose... and the Cleopatra my little Sabrina.... with the small pirate Hannah are my pride and joys. Happy Happy Happy Halloween!

I met Steve Forbert .... The Midland performer from Nashville visiting Newark for an on stage cabaret performance. He is a delightful wry man with a gracious story teller with his powerful guitar and harmonica renditions...his audience participation was a fun event for all attending. Thank You Steve for your gentle ways!

Now I have a lot of photos to sift through but I do not want to leave anyone out in this Halloween Parade! I am so grateful for the Joys in my life today. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Scarecrows dance in the studio....

Halloween is just around the corner and Harvest Scarecrows were our theme tonight. I think everyone enjoyed cutting, tearing, pasting, and using foam stamps to create their very own harvest Festival scarecrow. I so enjoy the giggles and laughter that seem to erupt for little of no reason. I have "Psych" on as I am working on my special hat to wear tomorrow when I volunteer to pass out treats for Halloween at the Midland. I am praying the weather forecasters are wrong...they are predicting cold rain all evening. I hope they are wrong...I might have to wear my long johns just to keep warm. Very spooky night ahead of us all.

I spent the day working but I cannot share just yet but the visitors seemed to enjoy seeing my workspace table. Yes to others it may appear to be a messy space but artists gravitate to the small minute pieces of collectibles and odds and ends. I end picked up a fragment from a repair job on one of the lights in the central gallery...I am not sure what I will incorporate it in ...but I know I am drawn to the shapes and textures.

Maya Rose wants to wait until tomorrow before I get to photograph her in her Halloween cheer leader outfit. She tried in on in the bathroom but would not let anyone see it until tomorrow's trick or treat adventure's. I am trying to be patient myself because i wanted to see how the final fit was... tomorrow is soon enough. Have a great night and Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Tea for Tuesdays...and a spooky Halloween Rush job....

Today was absolutely beautiful...a cool, crisp morning with glorious skies warming into a warm Fall day. I came home at 4 PM to work on a Halloween Cheerleader costume in black flannel and Peace sign kick pleats. Now I have never made a cheerleader skirt before and this time it involved some Math and ..well tonight I have a cute skirt for my dear Maya Rose. The tee shirt is black with a pink/black zebra capital "M" with the cutest little ghost with a pink tutu skirt. On the back It say Trick or Treat...an iron on that was difficult to work with ...so I added some silver stars for the glitz value that my 12 year old grand daughter just loves. It is now after 11 PM and the finishing touches can be added tomorrow. I hope she loves this as much as I love making it just for her! We found great skeleton pantyhose to wear with her white tennis shoes. I found purple and white pom-poms at the Walmart so we are almost there. I want to make her a special pony tail holder with a multitude of Halloween ribbons and some additional pumpkin punches glued to the tips. She asked me to look for purple eye shadow...so that is to be determined if that will pass her mother's approval. This is Maya Rose's first year in middle school and we all know how challenging this transition can be ...but she has made the grade in the first grading period. We are so proud of her!!! Her little sisters wanted a bought in the store costume...Sabrina will be Cleopatra and little Hannah is going to be a pirate. Do you remember when our costumes were all hand made and usually a "Hobo" theme with a twig handkerchief ruck sack tied to the end ...life was never better than on Halloween night and the treasures were lots of candy candy candy!!!

I made templates for the Family night activities ...the Harvest theme continues with cue paper scare crows to delight the hearts of all who want to play. On Thursday I am handing out candies for the Midland Trick or Treat night from 5 to 7 on the courthouse square. It is a safe walkabout because all of the businesses participate to make the treating enjoyable for all involved. I made a special collage in a box for Ken's class so when they start their spooky creative writing exercises on Thursday. Ken is a fantastic reader and will start with Edgar Allen Poe's "A Tale Tell Heart"...I am tired so I will have to check the spelling on this title. But I know from past year's how wonderful Ken's voice carries the dark, dark secrets from Poe's classic tale.

Have a great day in your studio tomorrow... I will try to post a few photos tomorrow of the finished projects. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Huey Lewis and The News...

Tonight Ken and I had dinner at the Chop House before we attended the Huey Lewis concert at the Midland Theater. The theater was rocking with some good old fashioned soul and Memphis blues sounds. His latest CD is "Soulville" and is on it way to our home. The room was singing, clapping and dancing in their seats for two solid hours with no intermission at all. The vitality of this man...and his fabulous band roared into the audience and at 60 something??? Huey loves what he is doing and it absolutely shows when he performs. The back up group were talented and gave their hearts to perform right along with this American icon...he has been performing for over three decades. Now I am tired and tomorrow I will be sore for sure...25 years ago I could dance into the wee hours of the morning. The youthful reunion with a memory walk down the lane with the music and the people I love the most. I have a lot to do this week so I am hoping you have a great week in your studio. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Thursday and a celebration for a dear friend of all children...

Today was the first day when the damp cold slapped me in the face. The rain continued and the wind seemed to go through my skin to my bones. I had a lady from a church come to visit because she was searching for an afternoon or early evening art activity for her three age groups of her congregation. I advised her to seek out Lynn Logan Grimes at The Works and her programs she offers to the local school and church communities. I also explained the Craft Night at The Grill where the two younger groups could enjoy a Family night out with a $2.00 dinner for children, a craft, a movie and a special small treat in the middle of the week, a Wednesday night special for the upcoming weeks of winter. Desiree seemed pleased and we will have to see how this develops in the near future.

After work I went down to my beloved YES club and today's dedication of the new wing for the high school students complete with a tutoring room, game room , computer room, an Art room and did I say color color color everywhere. My dear friend who has been a champion of children at risk for all of Newark. Working for 18 years TODAY with the children at risk from every walk of life here in Licking county. Two brothers...the Murphy men took an old car wash with an architect and donations from every walk of life here to create this amazing space for after school activities and a lot more. We all want to remember the power of one....Vee Hottle came from the probation systems of our courts to making a home of safety and a wealth of educational and fun programs to create new citizens for Newark. Youth Engaged in Service....thank you Vee for your loving vision and dedication. Herb Murphy and his loving wife Patricia began the funds drive for the new, expanded space for the growing numbers of students in need of a place to unite and finish their high school programs and graduate. I took many photos but my assistant is not here right now so I will post a few later. Thank you to everyone involved with the Licking County Foundation who saw the future in their hands and arranged to make the necessary funds to complete this special mission...Art Saves Lives!!! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Pray... for the grieving community of Zanesville and the loss of wild creatures...18 endangered Bengal Tigers ...almost 50 of God's creatures. I am hoping this will be the last lesson the legislature of Ohio needs to change the laws preventing this from ever happening again. The man's suicide is still a mystery...but he never should have been entrusted with the care of these beautiful wild exotic animals.

two words.....Aminah Robinson

I am on fire. Today Aminah Robinson visited The Works and I had a chance to hug, photo, talk, laugh, share our years and yes....I cried just being with her once again. Aminah and I met over 25 years ago when she comforted me when our dear friend Libby Gregory and her assistant Shelly died in an airline landing accident in California. I had attended the memorial service ...and literally fell apart in my grief. Aminah was sitting beside me and reached over to hold my trembling hand and said quietly that I should know Libby will be with me forever...in my heart. I want you to Google Aminah Robinson..instead of me humbly bumbling her amazing history in the ART world. She has blessed us all!!!! Her work is and has been an inspiration to me my whole life as an artist...the vivid colors, the quilts, the buttons, the music boxes, the murals and of course her books. I will fill you in later when more news develops. I have been blessed!

I did order the Van Gogh:The Life by Steven Naifeh and his co-author...I am sorry I am delirious so I will report when my new loving acquisition and my adoration of this incredible artist. Have a wonderful evening. Peace be with you all! I am so Happy!!!! Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart


p.s. I VOTED today!!!