Due to Mother Nature’s uncooperative spirit for our opening reception last Thursday, February 26th, we’ve decided to schedule an “encore” reception for the Paths and Portals photographic exhibit at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. This “new” reception will be held on Thursday, March 26th, from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Hopefully this date is late enough in the season to allow people better travel conditions — at least ones without the blowing snow and bitter wind chills of February. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend! The exhibit is on both the Main Floor and the Second Floor Gallery Walls. For directions to the Hopkins Center for the Arts, please check their website www.hopkinsartscenter.com.
Photography
Current exhibit – Paths and Portals
I have a new exhibit of photographs that just opened this week at the Hopkins Center for the Arts in Hopkins, Minnesota. The exhibit includes 37 images, and is displayed in both the main and second-floor lobbies. The opening night reception was last Thursday, February 26th, which also happened to be the biggest snowstorm of the winter here in the Twin Cities. My many, many thanks to the people who braved the treacherous roads and the blowing snow to come to the exhibit. The photographs will remain on display through March 29th. For further information, please check my website (www.lindastaatsphoto.com) or the website for the Arts Center (www.hopkinsartscenter.com).
Last weekend’s photo exhibit – “Dress Rehearsal”
This past weekend I participated in an exhibit at the Minneapolis Photo Center titled “Dress Rehearsal.” I was one of six photographers displaying new work. The exhibit room was beautiful, the work being shown was diverse and interesting, and the people that attended had a grand time seeing a collection of unique photographs — a great success all around. This is one of my new images that drew a lot of attention. “Late night cafe” was photographed in Ashland, Wisconsin. The image was made at night, after the cafe had been closed and certainly cleaned. The floor, tabletops, and counter were all spotless, glowing with the reflection of the neon sign that hung behind the counter. Everything was poised and waiting quietly for the early morning staff to arrive, the breakfasts to be started, the coffee to begin brewing, and the hungry crowd to gather around the tables and counter to start their day once again.
Snow sculptures, before the thaw
The Saint Paul Winter Carnival concluded this past weekend, and just in the nick of time. We finally climbed above freezing on Saturday, January 31st with a balmy 45 degrees! It appears once again that our Vulcans have persevered over winter, and spring can’t be too far away. This is a photo of the winning snow sculpture this year, titled “Hormel McSwine & Friends” (obviously captured before our January thaw!). The sculptures were on display at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and drew crowds of people admiring the art & craft, with the kids (and adults too!) wandering through the snow maze and dreaming of the summer use of the Fairgrounds, with animals, rides, entertainment, and all types of food on a stick! Warmer weather will prevail…soon!
Winter Carnival time in St. Paul
We are now celebrating the St. Paul Winter Carnival. For 122 years we have embraced our cold winter weather, finding excuses to join 350,000 other carnival visitors reveling in outdoor activities for “the coolest celebration on earth.” We layer and bundle and venture out in temperatures that hover at zero degrees. The carnival is based on a legend of Boreas, the King of the Winds, and his enemy Vulcanus Rex, the God of Fire, battling for spring and summer to overcome the cold of winter. Lucky for us, Vulcanus Rex and his Vulcan Krewe prevail each year, giving us the promise of warmer weather to come. There are parades, ice carving and snow sculpture contests, hockey tournaments, sledding, skiing, and a sleigh and cutter rally. This year’s sleigh and cutter festival was held at the Phalen Park Golf Course and included members of the St. Croix Horse & Carriage Society. Under crisp, blue skies there were beautiful sleighs, costumed drivers, and stunning horses. It was easy to lose yourself and be transported back to the late 1800’s or early 1900’s when this was the mode of winter transportation.
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