Two recent drawings of local landmarks from my sketchbook. The Historic Winslow House up top was built circa 1699. it is a beautiful and graceful structure, with a long and fascinating history of occupancy by Massachusetts governors, judges, lawyers, doctors. The house has been owned and maintained since the 1920's by the Winslow House Association. My husband and I enjoyed our wedding reception there twenty years ago. It has a summer season, open for tours, and is worth a visit.
The next drawing is the annual Festival of the Arts Gala at North River Arts Society in Marshfield Hills. Each Memorial Day weekend for the past 37 years. The Festival opens on Friday night of the long weekend with a grand party on Old Main Street. The Festival photography exhibit is now held in the newly renovated Firehouse, pictured here.
Exciting news! These two drawings are going to be included in a time capsule coordinated by the Marshfield Historical Commission to celebrate their 100th anniversary. The capsule will be buried on October 5 and retrieved in 25 years!
As always, thank you for looking, comments always appreciated.
This month's Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge was "ritual". Usually, when I hear the challenge, a thought jumps into my head... not this time. I mulled over daily rituals, the difference between "ritual" and "routine". Then I thought about annual rituals, seasonal, occasional. We read "Night Before Christmas" every Christmas Eve and each open one gift, a ritual my family has carried over from my home as a child. Yes, we use the Arthur Rackham illustrated version of the poem. His illustrations are beautifully eerie and convey the magic of that night.
Back to ritual... My conclusion is that there is something spiritual, or centering, grounding, about ritual vs routine. One dictionary definition is "a ceremonial act or a series of such acts". I love to rise earlier than my family on weekends, sit with coffee and my book on the porch - that's a ritual. I feed the kittens, and provide fresh water each day - more of a routine. The idea of spirituality and centering brought to mind my annual summer sojourn to the rocky coast of Monhegan, where I sit on the rocks, surrounded by sea, salt, and the sun, painting what I hear, taste, smell, and see and even touch. It is a ceremony, a ritual, in which I joyfully participate.
Here are the other GJWP challenge entries. Check out these interesting and varied takes on "ritual".
As always, thanks for looking. Love to read your comments.
