Sign for African American Church in North Carolina

"LORD" 

I love the "make do" and improvisation of this African American church in North Carolina. The

white stones are set randomly, without concern

for order or cadence. Like jazz, blues and quilt-making by African Americans, there is a serendipitous beauty to allowing the unexpected 

to emerge. 

This sign for the church as been in this location a long time and is showing its age, but even when resources are limited, people of God still find a way to get the message out.

92 Year Old Stone Carver, Ralph Lanning

Ralph lives outside Springfield, MO. His lovely wife Gretchen, age 91, just passed away this past Friday, November 14, 2008. Ralph is one of those rare artists who carve stone, and his 6 acre art environment is a joy to walk through.

This sphinx has a wonderful mysterious appeal, something you just don't see anymore unless maybe you are perusing Pre-Columbian or ancient art at a museum.

Annie Oakley Dress, 1950s

Found at the Belleville, IL flea market, ready-made art and ready to hang.

Amazing what 50 years will do to our perception of things. Yippee Ki Yea!