Wanderings

I'm going to do my best to remove myself from political blogging.  All I know of politics I read elsewhere, and very seldom can add anything significant.  It's too difficult to sit at the keyboard and screen and have to think or another way to say I am worried about the state of our politics and nation.  Where I find myself most comfortable, and therefore enjoying blogging more, is in observing and commenting on whatever is around me.  I'm sure politics will force its way into the blog entries, but I'm not willing to spoil a day by bitching about politics and politicians.

Fearrington Village has a Folk Art show every February.   Marrianna and I enjoy walking through the exhibits, but as a rule folk art doesn't appeal to us.  If you move the mouse hand over the photos at the link you can see a sample of twelve of the artists.  This type of folk art isn't our style, but it's interesting looking at the work.

There are, however, a couple of artists that we like.  We've bought a couple of prints by Maurice Cook over the past couple of years.  He and his wife live in Birmingham, AL. and his art portrays black rural life in the South.  We bought a small original this year.  We probably would have bought another print, but the show manager began a new rule this year - no prints, original work only.  Their reasoning is that most of the folk art isn't reproducible and these artists thought they were at a disadvantage.  I can understand their reasoning, but I didn't like it very much.  It seems unnecessarily rigid to me.   Marrianna protested to management, so maybe they will rethink the rule for next year.

Little BS like that gets under my skin.  Yes, I can understand, but it seems to me they chose the wrong response to the artists who were complaining that the artists with prints had an unfair advantage.  Instead of implementing a rule restricting the artists, the reply could have been "Sorry.  Their medium lends itself to reproduction and your's doesn't.  Why should we restrict their market, when essentially you and the paint artists don't really attract the same kind of customer?"

But, that's why I'm not in charge.

I was proud of Marrianna going to management and complaining.  As much as I didn't like the rule, I just gripe and don't do anything to get it changed.  That is a major difference between she and me.  In another instance;  if I get a bad piece of fruit or vegetable at the grocer, I would throw it out and not say anything.  Marrianna takes it back and let's the store managers know that they have a problem. 
she says that without complaints, retailers don't know they have a problem, and that they appreciate being told.  That may be true, but I still don't like to complain.

I took the quilt to my quilt group this morning.  They liked it very much, and I'm grateful.  I asked for their advice on how to do the drop borders, showing them the fabric and how I thought I'd arrange it.   They discussed different methods for a while, and then by a consensus suggested I do it differently.  They are right, of course, and not only is their way going to look better, it's a bit more simple and therefore easier.

The lady in whose home we met this morning had some absolutely beautiful Mideastern rugs.  I commented on them, and she said that her husband had worked in the Mideast for years "setting up Universities."  They had lived in the Mideast for years.  I didn't dig any deeper, but that seems to me to be an ideal occupation.  Obviously the qualifications would be stringent, but the work must be very rewarding.  I was quite impressed.

I've wandered around for long enough.  It's time to close up and become a member of the family again.