I love art. It makes me happy. This weekend I made my annual trip down to the Utica Square shopping center for a birthday brunch with my dear friend and to peruse the local artists’ treasures. Stonehorse Cafe is our usual haunt for these outings. Their quiche is absolutely amazing and the ambiance is perfect for a lazy Saturday morning brunch, including mimosas, with your best girl friends. I always love the outdoor shopping at Utica Square even when the weather is less than perfect, but luckily for us, Saturday’s rain and cold temperatures burned away and it turned into a perfect day to wander the shops and booths.
Last year was incredibly cold and rainy, so it wasn’t nearly as fun to shop around. However, I bundled up and “managed” just fine. Okay, fine, so I kept saying I was finished looking because I was cold and wet, but then there would be another booth with some beautiful paintings and I’d get sucked back in again. My perseverance paid off last year and I picked up a gorgeous piece that sits on my mantle now…okay, I picked up a few (five) smaller pieces too, and a couple of gifts for friends. Did I mention I like art?
This year I picked up a few (three) pieces. A photograph of Cain’s Ballroom. Which as you may have guessed by my posts about the Alabama Shakes and Seether concerts is probably my favorite venue for live music in Tulsa. A watercolor titled “Autumn’s Dance”. I really love this artist’s work. Last year, my budget was completely shot, but I did pick up a handful of note card sized pieces that I’ve framed to hang as a group. It was so exciting to see her back again this year, and so hard to choose between “Autumn’s Dance” and “Grotto”. Something about the colors just spoke to me in “Autumn’s Dance” though, and I couldn’t resist. The final piece I purchased was not the one I went back to the booth to buy. I went back for a painting of a man standing in the pouring rain with a red umbrella covering his face that I really loved. When I went back, the breeze blew over this one, and when I picked it back up…done. I had to have it. Do you see all the self control I exercised? Choosing between “Autumn’s Dance” and “Grotto” and again between red umbrella and the funky musician…I hated to leave the others behind, but…budget…fine, and another art festival in a couple of weeks.
Along the way we ran into some very friendly alpacas that were there with a booth that was selling yarn. We became good friends…well, until he tried to eat my phone. All good things must come to an end, I guess. Phone intact, I moved on to the next artist…and the Halloween store, which is actually called Margo’s, and the sell so much more than Halloween stuff. That was just what grabbed my eye after I rescued my phone from the alpaca. Oh my gosh, they have the cutest things! I could have spent an hour just trying on the different hats. (Yes, I am totally that person.)
Jenks, Oklahoma also does something similar with Art on Main, and I love walking through downtown Jenks with the artists set up in the street between all the antique shops. It is a wonderful day that I usually try to spend with my Mom, but a budget nightmare…I usually forget I have a budget. That’s all well and fine until the bill arrives. Then the cursing of my lack of self-control begins. I still smile every time I see the art hanging on my wall, though.
Art on Main is in two weeks…how do you think I’ll do?
‘Til next time,
Jessica
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