Medieval Faire 2

 

A young woman blew bubbles and captivated a boy.

She was part of four woman, two man dance troupe.  She had a ball. 

I thought she was pretty.  She posed happily.

Medieval Faire 1

 On two January weekends, a Medieval Faire is held in a big open field in Bonita Springs.

It seems like an odd event in the 21st century, but many people participate and many people attend.

My camera and I were there, so I am not the right person to question it.

Mercato Art Show

 I went to Mercato to buy a belt and was pleasantly surprised to discover an art show.

In addition to the tents of artists, some nonprofits also had tents.  Valerie's House is a wonderful place that provides help for children and families to work through the loss of a loved one together and go on to live fulfilling lives.

I have visited with Glory at several art shows.  She paints large shoreline scenes; her waves are especially lifelike.  Glory told me that, after buying one "wave" scene, her customers don't need a second one, so she has begun to paint birds and other shoreline wildlife.  Now she has repeat buyers.

Morning Light

 I missed the brilliant red sunrise by the one minute it took to throw on clothes to go outside.

But, the softer early morning light that followed was pretty good, too.

Glass Panels

 

A structure with iridescent glass panels stands outside a Naples parking garage.

"Where's the Fish?"

 

"You're coming back without a fish?  Or at least a stick to mend the nest?  Get back out there!"

Cautious

Playing golf with a mask and an umbrella.  Not the way I do it, but . . .  OK.

 

White and Square

In my twelve years living in Naples in the winter, this lot has cycled through three lives.   When I arrived in 2012, it was an old church with a declining attendance.  After a few years it was renovated into a popular restaurant and bar, which stubbed its toe when the pandemic blew through.

.  Last two years the church/restaurant was demolished and this modern structure was built, with an upscale women's shoe store on one side of the first floor, a men's clothing store on the other side, and unknown occupants above..

Swing!

A mother energetically pushed her kids in a swing.   I pointed to my camera and she smiled, "OK." 

Art Fest

 Once we get into January, outdoor art fairs abound.  Cold and rainy weather kept me away until Sunday. 

This was a juried art show at Fleischman Park in Naples.  

It was well attended.

Most artists stand in or near their tents and chat up the visitors.  Sidney Carter, a painter from Georgia, set up an easel and continued painting.  I wonder which approach works best.

Empty Bowls

Empty Bowls is a hugely popular fundraiser to support organizations fighting hunger.

Local potters and artists decorate bowls, which attendees buy for $25 each.

Restaurants make soup that attendees can sample.

A disc jockey plays energizing music.

Some volunteers wear hats decorated in the bowl theme.

Some potters make special bowls, plates and pottery that are available for purchase.  These are by Ginnie Mueller, who offered at least half a dozen that I saw.

Boo

 I like doing portraits, but I have got out of the habit.

This is Boo, an energetic and strong young golden retriever.  Last year I watched Boo pulling his owner all over the place.  She finally signed Boo up for obedience classes.  It seems to be working, but it is nowhere as entertaining as it was last year.

Look Out!

 They were further apart than it seemed.  Phew!

Art Bonita

 

I visited an exhibition at the Centers for the Arts in Bonita Springs.  Curved Lines by Brian Edington caught my eye.  It is a 48' x 48" work composed from smaller squares of a photograph of a man's back.

Four Riders

 

All in black.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

 Yesterday I went to Olde Naples to watch and photograph the MLK parade.  It was surprising in many ways.  It was briefer than in past years and there were fewer observers than usual.  Most of the parade participants -- about 90 percent -- were white.  I couldn't decide if that was progress or something else.

I struggled to find MLK imagery.

A Black sorority was well represented.

Off to the side in Cambier Park, a woman led about a dozen teenagers in song.

This young man was soloist.

She had a wonderful smile.  I wish I knew her.

Miss South Naples shyly let me photograph her.

Down the street, a woman was anything but shy.

A Red Parrot

While I was in Hartford two weeks ago, I rode around and looked at some new murals.

There is a wonderfully colorful mural of a red parrot on the side of a dress shop on Park Street, in the largely Hispanic neighborhood of Parkville.  Prolific mural artist Michael Rice painted it in 2022.

Linked to Monday Mural.  

More Hartford murals will be shown on subsequent Mondays, even while I am in Florida.

Caloosahatchee

 Yesterday I took a ride on the Caloosahatchee River on a cold, rainy, overcast day.

We went past a lot of mangroves.

And a lot of Spanish moss.

A boat sped past, pulling a wave rider.

We went through the Franklin locks, then reversed direction.

There was a tree full of black vultures.