Paola’s Art and Wine Stroll 2012 was a huge success! Attendance was amazing, There are no figures in yet, but I’d be surprised if there weren’t at least double the number of attendees from Stroll 2011. There were times when it was necessary to pick your spot in the gallery and hold your ground! It was a hot evening outside, and with the door being opened and closed constantly, it was a warm evening inside also. Fortunately, our friendly local vineyard and winery, Somerset Ridge, had lots of chilled whites for everyone’s enjoyment! And of course, my favorite, Flyboy Red, was there to please the drinkers of red.
On the few occasions when the crowd was not shoulder to shoulder, I remembered to get out my camera to take a few photos. It is not an easy thing to do when you are 4’ 11” tall and the room is packed with people that are anywhere from 5’ 6” to 6’5”! (I snap photos of a lot of midriff bulges) So, when I could move about, I got a few shots of the new look of the G! Gallery. David Gross, the owner, and his crew did a marvelous job!

David’s new painting(s), a triptych called Fade to Black, filled one entire wall of the gallery. David is a masterful painter of water and plants, and in this painting, he has created a lily pond that invites you to stop and enjoy. Each of the 3 paintings is absolutely an individual complete painting on its own, but the three together creates an atmosphere you cannot ignore. You can feel the cool dampness; you can hear the quiet gentle bubbling of the darkening water. As with most of David’s paintings, you become part of it. And you enjoy every minute you are there!

Along with David's paintings, the G! featured work by Claud Davis, Cher Ulrich, and me. The back 2/3s of the space is our working studio. Granted it did not look as sharp as the front end gallery, but it is home to us.



Two of Paola’s finest cooks and both dear friends, Donna Nagle, of Molly’s Table, and Jacquie Davis, the wife of painter Claud Davis, helped me with the food for the event. Donna’s Artichoke Dip is legendary, not just in Paola, but throughout the Greater Kansas City region. For a sweet treat, Jacquie made her wonderful chocolate cupcakes, filled with a sweet creamy center and covered with perfect chocolate ganache, They were absolutely delicious.

Here are a few of my photographs, hope you can join us next year!




Early in the evening,  the sun was still shining.




a place  to sit  and read the latest issue of
American Art Review




The working studio




Jacquie's cupcakes!



How did I go from painting nudes to painting abstracts?
All within 6 weeks?  It is a puzzler!


As hot as it has been, it really seems like a time for liquid refreshment. Of course, I am partial to Flyboy Red from Somerset Vineyard, but on occasion, a good lemonade hits the spot. Today is that occasion! Yesterday I heard it is going to be 107 today. I am not brave enough to check the Weather Channel….I really don’t want to know!



So, for your Sunday afternoon enjoyment….let me introduce you to.....
Herbed Lemonade!
2 Cups Fresh Lemon Juice (12-15 lemons)
2 Cups Water
2 Cups Herbed Simple Syrup (recipe follows)
Ice
Herbed Simple Syrup
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Basil, washed and stemmed (do not stuff them into the cup or it will be too strong)
1/2 Cup Mint, washed and stemmed


Place sugar, water, basil and mint in a pot and simmer for 5 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool. Strain out the herbs pressing on them to remove all simple syrup.


Pour water, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a pitcher, stir and pour over ice in glasses.


Enjoy!