SPARKLING SATURDAY

CANOPY - canopyaustin.com

"Canopy is a thriving creative arts community and studio complex located in Central East Austin.  Housed in a rehabilitated former warehouse designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, the space features 89 artist studios, creative offices, galleries, and a cafe."  

This post is a show and very little telling.  Sparkling Saturday was fun, interesting and we will go back.  We only made some of the galleries so daggummit we will have to go back again.  Can you believe the bad luck :).

In no particular order other than the goodbye one, this is what we were privileged to see.   

These three caught my eye for the talent, the "hmm" factor and the imagination.  The top one led my imagination to what was living in those caves - little animals, prehistoric cave dwellers, pixies???  Who knows, maybe the artist, Caroline Walker.  The casita is done in acrylic entitled "Drying in the Sun" by Lynette Cook 18x24 and can be yours for $4,800.  The last one is the "hmm"  even knowing the title "Spirit of the Miracle Chicken (Liderc).  The medium is glazed stoneware, found mounting and acrylic paint.  15"x27"x5"  by Kate Csillagi and yours for a mere $1,333.  Said in my best Arte Johson voice "Verrrrry interesting".  IYKYK.

Probably my favorite art was this by High Low Print Co and the work of artist Annalise Gratovich.  Her website is www.annalisegratovich.com and well worth a visit.  I will own one of her prints before this is over.  One of these three will live in my home when I find a place for it...and I think I know it will fit quite well.  

and as an added bonus just in time for Halloween 

your friendly, spooky, scary bat

There was also a baseball bat that matched these two.  A gentleman leaning heavily on a cane was blocking the view so use your imagination.

And this baby, what can I say other than artist Corey Pickett fashioned it out of Fabric and Hand Embroidery on Wood and Foam in 2026 and will let you take it home for $3,500.  I would assume it is for display purposes only and not good for self defense.  Size is 17x25x11

Another collection that caught my attention.  I spent way too long looking at each one trying to decide if they were frames, mirror, or neither.  Cool anyway and especially as a grouping.  

 

💖

Iris Mosaic, 2026

by Jared Brady

Oil on Panel

14 x 11

$1,350

We wandered into a workshop of young adults.  Those kids (they are all kids to me) have some very unique and wonderful talents.  They love to talk o you and tell you about their art.  If they are shown in a photo I did get their permission to film.  

One young man, Sam Eiler, loved the Muppets when he was a youngster.  His ability to reproduce images is remarkable.  Here is his collection.  I will add they all are Jim Henson worthy as far as looks and functionality.

Back to childhood for another young man that loved all the stories about Rosie the Riveter.  As you can tell in the photo he is young, so a grandparent or someone sure filled his ears with tales of WW-II.  The in-progress picture he is holding is a main figure surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of dots (rivets).

Matthew Wright

Another young talent really impressed me with his ability to take pipe cleaners and make art out of them was Montrel Beverly.  I am in love with his tiger!

You can learn about the organization and read the bios of these and other artists in the group at:

https://www.sagestudioatx.com/

As a special needs mother it makes my heart happy to see these talented people get the showcase they deserve.

I failed to photograph the tag on this one and the one below, but I really liked the composition of both.

If you know me you know I love my dogs, well any animal as long as it doesn't slither through the grass and is "affectionally" called a legless lizard in my vocabulary.  So this piece captured a bit of my heart and the complimentary piece was just as beautiful.

Once again I failed to get the name of the artist.  

We saw so many beautiful and varied mediums throughout our walk through.  We will be back for more outstanding art, a return to see what Montrel has made from his pipe cleaners, and to grab a yummy in the tummy Argentine empanada followed by an equally yummy mini one made with Nutella and banana.  

Off to listen to the whispers along the backroads of the hill country to a small Texas town for a couple of nights.  See you when I get back.  

DOGWOOD CANYON

I have been fortunate to travel to all fifty states, many countries, and taken several cruises, car trips and train trips but the day I toured Dogwood Canyon in Lampe, MO was one of the most beautiful days I have spent "on the backroads".  From the moment you enter the park you are surrounded by nature at its finest.  Granted it was a beautiful day to begin with, if a bit warm, but even on the gloomiest day you can imagine this would still be gorgeous.  Come along on the trails, on the tram ride and in the restaurant for a day to remember.

Johnny Morris, the founder and lead outfitter for Bass Pro Shops is who to thank for this beautiful part of the world.  The park is 10,000 acres (although our tour guide said Mr. Morris had acquired another 10,000) of hiking and horseback riding trails, pastureland, waterfalls, paved trails, fishing holes, and even a church.  Don't be in too big of a hurry to get touring there is a speed limit.  Strictly enforced.

Once parked, we headed toward the mill, museum, restaurant and bike barn where you can rent bikes of all sizes and even ones with the kiddo carrier on the back.  The mill is fully functional, in case you were wondering.

Along the path were gorgeous flowers in neatly maintained beds, with guardians in the form of a multitude of flying pollinators.

If you know me, you know I have a weird aesthetic and see beauty and whimsy in weird and wonderful places, nor did I outgrow my 8 year old imagination.  

This little spider web was the protective entry to the fairy pueblo a bit further down the cliff.  The fairies were safe from any attack, it was a masterpiece of design.

Here's the pueblo at my eye level, far enough away from enemies on the ground and protected from the elements.  The overhang goes back about three inches, plenty enough room for the fairy family to be high and dry during a rain storm and from flying enemies.  I believe the architecture and interior design is quite well done as are the furnishings.

A bit further down the trail was the 80' Long Pine Crossing covered bridge over Little Indian Creek.  It was built by Amish craftsmen in 1992 using only hand tools.  The wood was salvaged from a 100 year old abandoned Chicago warehouse.  A display of those tools is on the far side of the bridge but we were on the tram so I didn't get a shot of them.  Most impressive though.

Little Indian Creek

While we are on the subject of bridges.  Throughout the park you find on bridges, and in other places, these iron medallions.  Each is unique and the workmanship is awesome.  Although on the cobblestone Turtle Rock Bridge, the "medallions", looking like turtle shells, are natural rock.  (no photo of those because of the bumpy stream crossing - bridge tracks were actually submerged)

Before long you reach a small chapel in front of a scenic waterfall.  It was modeled after historic churches from the 1800s and has a seating capacity of 120.  It is constructed of native materials such as short leaf pine, oak and red cedar.  It is available for weddings and other events and comes with a bridal suite.

After a brief stop we are back on the tram heading down to the freezer section for a quick Dino Bite snack.  Well, not really but one visitor said it looked like their kiddo's Dino Bites, and now I can't see anything else.  At first I saw an animal cracker or buffalo.  This is a natural rock formation formed by erosion

Fishing is permitted along the creeks that run through the park.  There is a section where the big boys live that is guided.  The largest fish caught in the park, a 21 pound Buffalo fish, was caught by a 16 year old girl on one of the guided fishing outings.  Reportedly, Johnny Morris had it mounted for her as a gift. 

Fishing, guided or self guided, is allowed throughout the park except one location.  The Glory Hole.  This is strictly for Johnny Morris and select guests (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Dick Chaney, George H.W. Bush among others).  I don't know about the fishing, supposedly this is where the whoppers are, but the Glory Hole itself is absolutely g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s -l-y breath taking.  

Glory Hole - This side

Glory Hole the other side

I wouldn't care if I ever caught a fish here, just let me sit on a lawn chair with a tall glass of iced tea in the quiet except for bird and insect song, and I will be happy.

Speaking of fish.

Animal Planet's Treehouse Masters built a beautiful treehouse that is as exciting for grown ups as for children.  I will have to cross the bridge (disclaimer:  I am not a dog and the bridge is not a rainbow) the next time I am there and see what's inside.  

On up the hill to the pasture lands where the buffalo roam, and the elk and longhorns.  They are used to the trams coming through and paid us no attention, but since there were babies I could feel several eyes keeping a close eye on us.

Not afraid

Obviously not afraid of us

Babies in the shade staying cool while mamas fix lunch.

Spa day for the lady elks

Spa attendant making sure the guys stay
on their side of the pasture

Obviously a Karen Elk.  Very disapproving of young ladies bathing nek-nek with gentlemen present in the same pasture.  I can just hear her twisting her pearls and gasping at the morals of the younger generation.

                                                                                                          Takoda is a white buffalo and a perfect
                                          chaperone for the bathing elk 

Just a note that may or may not be interesting, as we left the pasture lands we were welcomed back into Missouri.  The park sits on the state line with the visitors center in Missouri and the pasturelands and many of the trails in Arkansas.  There are "Welcome to Arkansas/Missouri" signs as you pass through.

Random shots that make you exhale and feel the tension leave your body.

 

Before we took the tram ride we had lunch at the restaurant at the visitors center.  My friend and I split a fried buffalo taco that was excellent.  From my daughter and son-in-law the chicken strips and salad were equally as good as our nacho.  Service was great, wait was short, and view of the entrance waterfall was a perfect backdrop.  

One of the panels leading into the restaurant

 

Elvis has not left the building.  He is standing guard over the exit door.

He has a couple of buddies down the hall.

Too soon it was time to cross the bridge and head back to the farm to pack to go home the next day.  What a marvelous time we had seeing all the sights we saw, making note to come back to the places we visited, and counted our blessings for my daughter, son-in-law and granddoggy for sharing their piece of the world with us.  Thank you, you are loved.

Head down the backroads, listen to the whispers, they tell a story.