A VERY BIG DEAL!!!!

50,0007 !!!!!!!

WHAHOOOO!!!!  WE DID IT!

FIFTY THOUSAND AND SEVEN

FIFTY THOUSAND AND SEVEN THOUSAND

5O,OOO7  !!!!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR 2 YEARS OF LOYAL SUPPORT!!!!  

The Most Famous American Master You Never Heard Of!

photo by Elizabeth Gordon at Community Center of Ocean Springs

WALTER INGLIS ANDERSON 
An Unknown American Master of Our Times


As it took a hundred years or so for Vincent Van Gogh to become famous and for his pictures to finally sell, many artists are not known as masters in their own time and how artists become important and collected is not always a direct path-there are many factors that come into play.

Anhinga Drying his Wings  Walter Anderson Museum of Art
photo by elizabeth gordon

The Rising of the Phoenix
Ocean Springs Community  Center

Palmettos of the Gulf Coast
Mural in Ocean Springs Community Center

Anderson's Ever On Going Parade of Nature

Mr. Pelican who filled his bill as fast as his belly can......

Blue Cat Prowling

Add caption

Ann viewing Mural at Ocean Springs Community Center

collection case

Walter Anderson was born on September 29, 1903 and died November 30,1965.  He showed great talent as a very young boy.  His parents sent him to the Philadelphia school of art where he chose to draw animals at the zoo rather that the assignments his art professors had instructed.  He won a fellowship to study art in Europe after which he returned to Ocean Springs to live.  He married and had four children, but during that time he became ever reclusive rowing out to Horn Island and staying long periods of time.  He even lashed himself to a tree to watch the force of a hurricane on the island.  

Interior of Shearwater Pottery Studio

photo by Elizabeth Gordon          Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Gallery Room over looking the Gulf

His mental condition deteriorated over the years to the point he even requested to be committed. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Even during his treatment he continued to draw.  His love of nature and animals turned into thousands of drawings and paintings, some of which was found buried under the sand on Horn Island after his death. His bond with nature was so strong that he almost became one with the rhythm of life.  His wife and children were never allowed into his studio and after his death they discovered an amazing room that was painted like the creation.  The room was saved and is now shown at the Walter Anderson Museum in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Collections room in Shearwater Pottery

Distinctive Stylized style of Walter Anderson 

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

His family is a large one with brothers, sisters, and children and grandchildren involved in the making of art.  Shearwater Pottery started by his brother Peter Anderson, is still a very active studio and business.  The original molds and print blocks are still made and sold.  People from all over, that know the work, have large collections. 

Peter Anderson, Founder with his Mother of Shearwater Pottery
photo by Elizabeth Gordon at  Shearwater Pottery 

There is also an art gallery called Realizations that is owned by his four children who sell his prints and copies of his paintings and are very creative in the marketing of his art product.

Shearwater Pottery Collection        Rooster tea Pot            photo by elizabeth gordon

ooops correction  49,877 instead.  I read the data wrong, we could still make it today or tomorrow. When it happens a big celebration here at Rabbits Moon!!!

49,939 Today will be the day we go over to 50,000. Will your Click be the one that takes us to our highest benchmark yet!?  

from google image

Wow, two years ago, I sat down at a computer and started this little blog that grew and grew and traveled and traveled.  From Tampa to Miami to New York to San Francisco to Thailand to Australia, to the Philippines, to Bali to India to Turkey to Pakistan, to Bangladesh to Iran to Spain to France to England to Denmark to Russia to Poland to Germany and back again to Tampa we have gone round the world bringing the good news about art, artists and everything art touches and changes and makes good.  Thank you for your support and readership and advocacy!

An Artsy Day of Discovery on its Way

49,746 on the way to 50,000 hits

Walter Anderson American Master Artist                           Ocean Springs Mississippi   google image

It could happen today or tomorrow, but it inching up so close. Today I will be on the road to New Orleans with a stop to check out Walter Anderson Museum, Shearwater Pottery and the George Ohr Museum.  It will be an artsy day of discovery.  
Walter Anderson is one of my favorites, as he gains in reputation he will become one of American master painters, but as art history works after someones death it doesn't happen immediately but builds with curators, museums directors and art historians.  But his place in American Art will find its way and you will get to know about him now with me and be just as amazed.

On Our Way!!!

49,554 and counting! We are on our way and it will happen soon!  50,000 our next big bench mark!

And we will be celebrating in the Big Easy, New Orleans!! And there is no place better to celebrate, no city knows how to throw a party like New Orleans!
!

BE READY WE ARE GONNA CELEBRATE BIG TIME!
and I am taking you with me every step of the way~

French Quarter Christmas            google image

The Call of The Artist

True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the artist to creative artist.
Albert Einstein

This quote speaks to the heart of my experience as an artist.  To not create is more painful that to create.  There is a constant urge to create, it never leaves me.  From the time I was a young child I had to create, something urged me to constantly draw, paint, make and there was no silencing the call other than to make art.  I have talked to many artists who experience the same thing.  There  is almost a guilt when you don't.  It is an inner drive like a drum beat that is playing in your mind...paint, draw, sculpt, ....grab anything and start creating.  When I was a child I would take soft bread and mold it into little people and animals at meals.  In teaching I met many children like me who had to draw and often were punished for it in class.  I tried to explain to the teachers that had to draw, it wasn't a choice for them-but sometimes it was like talking to the wind.  If you are an artist you know the call and your know the force that is always there calling you out.  You can ignore it, you can not create, but I guarantee you that you will be miserable if you do.  I think it is a gift, something that is like a beacon calling us to our center, our purpose here on Earth, to create.

There will be no post today in honor of those who lost their lives in the senseless killing of 20 children and 7 adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in the United States.  
As a teacher of young children for over 37 years it saddens me more deeply than I can say.  As an art teacher who helped children process tragic events in their lives and on tv I would say give your children paper and crayons...let them express their feelings...art is a healer.  

The Only Way Is Up!

49,333!!!
  
We are getting so close to that big number.  Keep on clicking and sharing and it will be here so soon.  I am excited. 

Asheville, North Carolina   The only Way is Up
photo by Elizabeth Gordon

Just to share a happenstance with you or a moment of synergy.  Yesterday filming of a commercial was taking place at the house next to mine.  Our neighborhood is a classic early 1900's that is often filmed.  Trucks and trucks, wardrobe, actors, camera's and food stands...all the like were clogging the streets.  I went out to walk Mr. DaVinci the dog, and saw one producer type walking back to his car, all else was packed up and gone.  He stopped to talk to me about my dog and then we got on to art.  He talked about how he had an art degree, and went into film making and theater design.  We then talked about how art advocacy is so important...to bond creativity and community.  It was a wonderful moment.  We can always advocate for the arts and find like minds if we are open to do so.  Find a way in your community to promote the arts in your community and schools at any chance you can.  You never know what will happen or what seeds will be planted because you did!

THE ARTISTS JOB IS TO BE A WITNESS TO HIS TIME
ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG

ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG       MIXED MEDIA                                                        FROM GOOGLE IMAGE

A World View

At this exact Moment in time, this second, these countries are checking out Rabbit's Moon Studio!  Just a little look at who is checking us out! 

     UNITED STATES


RUSSIA




                    MALAYSIA                             ITALY

CANADA                                   

                            PHILIPPINES    

GERMANY      
                    
                   FRANCE                

                                               AUSTRALIA

Own an Original Bling Bling!

Dichroic  Glass 

Unique

Elegant

Each Piece a Small Sculpture

These are examples, designs vary.  Each is an individual piece of art, by a fine
arts artist.  I approach this as fine art, sculpture, a work of art,  not as cookie cutter  mass
produced craft. These are not mass produced, but each as treated as its own individual canvas.

Glass Fusion Necklaces by Elizabeth Gordon

Own a piece of original art 
price $45 small, $50 medium, $60 large
contact me at rabbits5@aol.com to order
at present the etsy link is having problems.  
Specify size, number of necklaces you would like.
You will need to use the email address to order.
If you are listed as a member under the followers 
section you will receive 10% off.  They are rewards 
for loyal readers and supporters!

12/12/12

12/12/12
12/12/12/12
12/12/12/12/12
12/12/12/12/12/12
12/12/12/12/12/12/12

Tis a bit surreal!

Just had to do this, the numbers are so neat and we will not have a repetition like this again in over a hundred years.  
Playing and being playful are an important part of being an artist!

CELEBRATION IS ON ITS WAY!

49,066!  Wow we are getting close!  It is so exciting. Soon we will be celebrating big time!

 Soon we will be on site in New Orleans with updates on the arts, music and culture of one of our great cities in the world.  There is no place quite like it.  As Paris or New York, it has its own personality.  It marches to its own sassy bluesy beat and people can party for any reason any time!  I look forward to taking you on a virtual road trip.  I know so many of you are from other parts of the world and I am happy to let you take a peak at place you may have been and remember or a place you can only travel to on line.  We will definitely have cafe au lait and beignets at the Morning Call and roasted oysters at Drago's.  We will walk the French Quarter and post pictures for you and listen to the blues and Dixie land jazz..and maybe a little zydeco.  And we just may meet up with Sean Starwars one of our featured artists.  At any rate we intend to share a New Orleans Christmas with you!

CELEBRATION A'COMING!

We are getting closer and closer to  our bench mark.  we are at 48,936!  When we hit 50,000 there will be a  celebration!  We may here when it happens or New Orleans, the city of celebration!

Xiu            from google image

I love this image because it reminds me of how I think of this blog.  I send thoughts on art out and they drift out with good intentions until they will find the right person for whom they have meaning or to someone who just needs to hear something positive about art in their lives! Keep sharing and keep joining we are building something very nice here with your continued loyal readership!

Julia Cameron on Art

“Artists are visionaries. We routinely 

practice a form of faith, seeing clearly and 

moving toward a creative goal that shimmers in 

the distance - often visible to us, but 

invisible to those around us.” 

― Julia Cameron

GIVE US A SPIN!

From google image

48, 797!!!!!!  We are on our way.  Help me put Rabbit's Moon Studio Blog over the top for our next goal of 50,000.  Share with your friends, other artists, and go workers.  We support art and artist and what the arts do for communities around the world.  That is our mission.  So Push us Around the World and let us Spin!!!

"Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions to the world he lives in. "

 Amy Lowell


                    GUERNICA(CLICK)

Guernica by Pablo Picasso    from google image

Picasso's creation of Guernica was his attempt to show the senseless violence of the bombing of the city of Guernica where so many innocent people and animals were killed.

Our Eyes See So Much, But We Forget to Really Look!
quote by Elizabeth Gordon

Our eyes constantly scan our environment taking in far more than we comprehend.  Sometimes it is just a glance off the side of our vision, or a fleeting moment, but whether we are aware or not somewhere our minds have recorded what we saw.  Artists are trained to see a bit more, pay attention to the details and to be highly observant.  

Smokey Mountain Park   Cataloochee    photo by Elizabeth Gordon

Little Vignettes of Memory

The Fountain room decked out for Christmas at the Columbia Restaurant

I have grown up in the tropical city of Tampa. It is a city rich with history, but has now forgotten much of what made it so special. Tampa needs to embrace its past and revitalize an incredible energy that beat with Latin music and culture.  It is a port city that brings many cultures to its doors.  Long before Florida had roads built through the marshes and swamps coastal ports and rivers were the lifeline of travel and goods. 

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

Tile detail exterior of Columbia Restaurant

 When I was a child bananas came straight off the boat from Cuba. My Aunt Josephine bought them by the stalk and we carefully checked them for tarantulas!  Ybor city was still Cuban, filled with wonderful restaurants and fabric stores that carried cloth straight from Spain that my Mother cherished. The cigar factories that brought the Cuban and Italian workers to our city were still busy making the worlds cigars. We spent days walking the streets, hearing the vendors call out Deviled Crabs, Deviled Crabs here.  Wrapped in a thin crisp paper and served with tabasco sauce they were a true specialty. 

Tile Details on the outside of the Columbia Restaurant 

But our true delight was to go to the Columbia Restaurant and have a Cuban sandwich and spanish bean soup.  And even as a child I was allowed sips of Cafe Con Leche.  The restaurant takes up an entire city block and much of the exterior and interior is imported from Spain.  It was like Disney world for me when I walked through those doors.  The delight of foreign smells, the Cuban waiters with their starched red cumber buns singing as only the Spanish men can, the snap of the castinets as the flamenco was gracefully performed-I felt as if I had entered another world. 

Today I sat in the room I went with my Mother and my brother as a child and soaked in the pleasant memories.  A glance here and there, the details so etched in my memory, I felt as thought I was time traveling backwards in time.  Today I sat and sipped a cafe con leche slowly with delightful pleasure and smiled peacefully satisfaction-I am home!

This room was the cafe at the Columbia when I was a child, the cheaper room for sandwiches and soup

As an artist what I would like you to focus on is taking an odd angle or just what the glance out of the corner of your eye might be.  Our eyes see so much, but we forget to really look.

Detail of the Columbia Restaurant    photo by Elizabeth Gordon

TAMPA               YBOR CITY

Sangria pitchers drying at the bar of the Columbia Restaurant      photo by Elizabeth Gordon

CUBA                              ITALY