Jo Myers-Walker's Blog

Saturday night we went to the “Cathedral of Light” (Cathédrale de Lumière) outdoor sound and light show, with video projected onto the front of Rouen Cathedral. It was spectacular standing with Rouen families, looking 100 ft. in the air and experiencing going through time, starting with the story Joan of Arc who was martyred in Rouen. The cathedral was all in flames with the sounds of wood burning, and the wars were depicted with the clanking of swords and and cries. Later a show of Impressionist art turned the cathedral into a Monet painting.

Scenes from the “Cathedral of Light” sound and light show
(Many thanks to Bonnie Dix for these photos!)

• Slide show on the Rouen Tourism site
• A short YouTube video

The website Projection Mapping Central has more information about this type of show.

Me, Leslie, and Jan at Salt Fork Kitchen

Leslie, Jan, and I went to Solon, Iowa last week to hang our work for a combined show (update: this exhibit has now ended) at the Salt Fork Kitchen restaurant (usually open only for breakfast and lunch). The food is super there, “with ingredients grown as close-by as possible to your plate, in order to ensure freshness and quality.” Their muffin-like bread is amazing. The restaurant is an outgrowth of nearby Salt Fork Farms which produces many of the Kitchen’s ingredients, along with other local sources.

I won 2nd best of show!

We had beautiful weather to go with good food and bands at the Linn Creek Arts Festival (update: now called the Marshalltown Arts Festival) in Marshalltown on July 19. I hadn’t done an away-from-home outdoor show since I had to give up my big red van that would fit anything into it. Now I’m back on the road again in my red Honda. I had a much simpler white door display that fit into the car, all from recycled parts from my storage unit. I guess it is really all about the artwork and not so much the display.

From my booth you could see the beautiful Christian Petersen sculpture that is part of the Central Iowa Art Association’s collections at the Fisher Community Center (update: the center closed after derecho damage; link is to an article about its renovation). Their amazing Impressionist Collection in the Fisher Art Gallery really got me excited about painting in France.

My booth under the shade trees
(on the grounds of the Fisher Community Center)

Christian Petersen’s final sculpture, “A Dedication to the Future,” is showcased in a pond on the grounds

Leslie, Jan and I went road tripping to Maquoketa and Stone City, in search of the perfect hillside, taking lots of photos of the landscape to paint from. We were on the Grant Wood Scenic Byway and a few dirt roads dodging tractors, cars and semis which gave an edge to our work.

Herky sees us off on our journey
(Leslie, Jo, and Jan)

Rolling hills in Grant Wood Country
   

We were kindred spirits on an Inward and Outward Journey, composing with the same eye. The patterns and interlocking shapes of the rolling hills excited us the most, with lush greens and lighting that changed as the clouds moved across the fields. We saw folks riding bikes and walking on the dirt roads, enjoying the day with us. We chatted about how fulfilling our lives have been painting and I sure was given some new insights. This type of journey is what I did in Assisi and would like to do with my trip to Rouen this fall.