MOTHER AND CHILD by Willis Guthrie
on permanent display at the Congregational church
100 E Broadway, Waukesha
Wis Guthrie is known for his assembly of found objects.
Discarded things sometimes pulled out of dumpsters.
He has been a Quaker friend of our church for decades
backing up his wife Ina, SS superintendent
and since her passing Wis still attends services.
Here is an assembly by Wis of old picture frames
with the incidental but central focus being a silhouette outline cut with a
small saw, of Mary and Jesus.
Wis explained MOTHER AND CHILD thusly:
"I wanted to combine old picture frames, even a plastic one, around
representative icon Mother and Child in the way one finds sometimes in
European art museums. Where the central art object may be missing
but suggested by a silhouette as I have done with this.
The ornate framing thus becomes what people see.
I took a piece of worm-eaten wood, mitered it and it became part of the whole."
Wis has frequently bequeathed his principle of 'random' beauty, even worm-work,
to art students and those taking his Carroll (University) art history course
sometimes for the kicks. The kindly professor, 96, has been retired
for some years but still gives talks when asked.
Note: The church owns this featured artwork through the generosity of
George and Edith Love.
on permanent display at the Congregational church
100 E Broadway, Waukesha
Wis Guthrie is known for his assembly of found objects.
Discarded things sometimes pulled out of dumpsters.
He has been a Quaker friend of our church for decades
backing up his wife Ina, SS superintendent
and since her passing Wis still attends services.
Here is an assembly by Wis of old picture frames
with the incidental but central focus being a silhouette outline cut with a
small saw, of Mary and Jesus.
Wis explained MOTHER AND CHILD thusly:
"I wanted to combine old picture frames, even a plastic one, around
representative icon Mother and Child in the way one finds sometimes in
European art museums. Where the central art object may be missing
but suggested by a silhouette as I have done with this.
The ornate framing thus becomes what people see.
I took a piece of worm-eaten wood, mitered it and it became part of the whole."
Wis has frequently bequeathed his principle of 'random' beauty, even worm-work,
to art students and those taking his Carroll (University) art history course
sometimes for the kicks. The kindly professor, 96, has been retired
for some years but still gives talks when asked.
Note: The church owns this featured artwork through the generosity of
George and Edith Love.
.......
PLAY
.......
Teaching Mavis to Ride a Bike
We practiced in Baltimore's alleys with her dress
tucked in so it would
not catch in her wheels.
It was late summer and we waited until after
supper
when the sun melts. I held the seat and handlebars
and she
pedaled as fast as she could. She has
such thin legs, such balance. It did
not take
long before she left me standing in place:
hands in my
pockets, throat full of hope.
"Teaching Mavis to Ride a Bike" by Faith Shearin, from
Moving the Piano.
State University Press, 2011
.......
ALL YOU CAN EAT *
A trip last weekend to Appleton
had us visiting our daughter Erin
and her accomplice Ben in their home
in a renovated old paper mill buildng
along the Fox River within walking
distance to the Lawrence campus
where both are employed.
See: http://www.historicfoxrivermills.com/
The Fox river flows by as folks converse.
Dee arranges tulips for kitchen counter.
(Picture taken from across the vast room with zoom)
Smaller rooms fit from large industrial space.
Antique family water color from Grandma Bunker via Erin's
grandmother Ruth (Dix) Hale, fits, too.
Erin accessorizes with a birthday gourd, - 'Treasure Gourd' - I made
for her 10th bithday, Jan. 5, 1996.
Burned into the gourd are these words:
"Erin's ten, and then again,
she'll be much more
I'll not guess when..."
Ben accessorizes with his gourd elephant horn,
a Xmas gift from us since he collects elephant-ware.
He cleverly adapted his instrument with a
dryer vent-tube in the bell end.
In that way he's muffled the trumpeting blasts
for the benefit of neighbors, though the walls
at the Fox River Mills apartments are nicely thick.
Erin shows us the Lawrence reunion brochure she worked on.
One of the purposes of the Appleton excursion was to attend
the second concert of VENTO WINDS community wind band
she is playing in, a gifts-contributing volunteer start-up group
of high caliber. It was good to see Erin back at her music.
Vento Winds conductor Andrew Mast, Lawrence University Conservatory
One of the purposes of the Appleton excursion was to attend
the second concert of VENTO WINDS community wind band
she is playing in, a gifts-contributing volunteer start-up group
of high caliber. It was good to see Erin back at her music.
Vento Winds conductor Andrew Mast, Lawrence University Conservatory
Mill tower out Erin and Ben's dining room window.
A Mourning Dove nested on a window ledge.
* Asterisk notation from above:
On the computer screen, top picture, is our friend William
serving 'all you can eat' extra helpings at the previously-reported
1st Congregational UCC pancake supper.
(Wm is in the orange T shirt.)
From the windshield
our northern drive weather was ominous
both going and returning home,
rain causing bursting clouds,
making floods and catastrophes
and leading us to say that even this fits
- as this is Good Friday - when we put
finishing touches on the Sat. Raccoon.
And tomorrow:
.......
