Masks Galore

This Spring brought a tradition from the Fort Collins Museum of Arts for our first time enjoyment. In its eleventh year, this is a signature event for the Museum to raise funds to support its existence. Beyond that goal, it seems to me that the event has encompassed what a Museum of Art is all about. It brings together community artists who can express themselves in a multitude of ways. Starting with a plain white ceramic mask form, any community member can bring the blank mask canvas to life. And the many ideas of life can be seen in the hundreds of ideas that take shape in the masks. We received tickets courtesy of Carolina Westers, a local real estate agent. It was through Carolina's generosity that we entered one of our favorite worlds at the end of April 2015: into the World of expression through the many Masks that can be worn in life. And here we go - Jeff at the entrance of the Masks exhibit with title and explanation of the auction process.

The auction came in a silent auction format. With its brilliant organization, they made it easy to place bids next to the mask and track your bids on a type of scorecard. The museum also had a Gala night where one of the masks was bid on, bringing thousands of dollars in donation to the project before the community auction had even begun. This is a picture of the mask upon which bidding brought a nice chunk of change. If I remember right, I think the mask went for around $6,000.

Back at the Museum, we took our first tour of the masks the afternoon before the big auction night. Here's some examples, including a peek at the bidding forms. Where to start? There are so many interesting and fun expressions. These two masks show the art form in two different formats: one with an eye included in the mask and another with a very abstract painting not depicting eyes forthright. Jeff and I had our own criteria when we decided on bidding, with a "go" or "no go" criteria being that the mask had to have left the eyes intact in some way, or at the very least not have blocked them behind the art.

What about double points for the mask over the mask? This artist was overachieving when he or she reflected the art of the mask in double-time.

Another one, with double-meaning, had word art meet visual art. "There are possibilities in all I see". I favor the masks that bring light and hope to the world like this one. Thus, you will see less of the masks that shed darkness through artistic form.

So, are you wondering yet what Jeff and I bid on? Well, wonder a little more. I have a few more fun masks to show. What about an animal mask?

Do you ever feel like an octopus has taken over your brain and dribbled into your view of the world?

Okay, here's one we bid on, but didn't win. It's called Eternal Child, and who wouldn't want a little eternal child hanging around?

Here's one we didn't bid on, but absolutely fascinated me. In a country driven by finances, the bull and the bear obsessing one's sight and mind is a startling way to make the financial world come to life. I've attached the artist's interpretation of the mask, which I think is quite eloquently written.

Okay, I will give you a slight peek at the ones that Jeff and I may have taken home. You can see more interpretation by the artists.

The night of the silent auction was bustling with activity. They had a very fun activity for the kids, of which I was in gratitude to the museum staff member who thought to entertain the kids. Lexi and Gabi don't actually care for masks that much - but I guess as a child who lives with a wall full of masks outside their bedroom door, he or she might have certain nightmares of faces haunting him or her at night. They did enjoy the scavenger hunt; going around and finding masks that answered the questions on the activity sheet.

You could say these kids took the hunt fairly seriously. They look like they are deep in thought - really trying to come up with the best answers that work for them. And what about my silly husband? When he went back later that night to do the final bidding, he decided to wear one of our masks to the finale. Notice the color coordinated shirt and mask.

The Masks exhibit was more of a process than just an exhibit, bringing the truest form of interaction to art. Yes, we might be biased because we love masks. Nonetheless, I think you can appreciate the many fine attributes such an exhibit and fundraiser can bring to the community. Here's the two masks that we won. We had to take down many of our masks and rearrange around these two wondrous and imposing pieces.

My favorite was the dryad, which complimented our fairy theme beautifully. Jeff's favorite was "Age before Beauty". Such a great ending to a fun and meaningful event.

Farm @ Lee Martinez Park: Where Past Meets Present

This farm, run by the City of Fort Collins, is a combination of current, hands-on farm activities with farm history of the region.

We went before the pony rides started again for the year, so it was pretty quiet. Our family of twelve had the farm almost to ourselves.

The farm is very well-maintained and very picturesque. This is the kind of beauty the farm depicts to the visitor.

There is a small inside museum sponsored by the Rotary Club. It has history such as branding irons used within the area and the history of wheat in the region.

The kids found a few things to play on.

I think the family's favorite overall was the family huddle around the tractor. Does it get any funner than a family pic on farm equipment? Actually, it does. Stay tuned!

In the bigger, grassy area there were many pieces of farm equipment: hammer mill, combine, binder, corn sheller, plows and more.

Of course, the kids were most entertained by the ant hill.

And the adults? We were definitely most entertained by a fun picture in front of the demonstration garden of our jumping family. FYI...I imagine the demonstration garden is beautiful in the Summer & Fall.

Lots of animals at the farm (of course)! We couldn't believe how huge the turkeys were. My grandbaby, Eli, finally woke up for a little turkey viewing.

Everyone liked petting the horses.

And the ducks presented themselves swimming around the pond, just like good, little ducks should :-)

And what would be a farm without the cows? Did someone do some pen hopping? Not our girls...

The grain elevator was something we could walk up and through with an air walkway joining to the barn. The walkway was fun to stand on and look out on the farm.

Art's tool shed had more information about the cows and the milk they produce.

The kids were obsessed with the old water pump! Would that have been true in the old days when it was a chore? Doubtful!

Lots of time to share our family fun poses. It was a peaceful, fun, and joyous day at the farm!!

The end!

Dinosaur Ridge: this was my kids' favorite over break

Sometimes, I think that anytime it involves a bus, that will be my kids' favorite tour. When I asked what was their favorite activity over break, Dinosaur Ridge was at the top of the list. Dinosaur Ridge is located in Morrison, CO, and is home to many fossils of the earliest recorded dinosaurs found in Northern America. Dinosaur Ridge has both an Exhibit Hall and a Bus Tour that lasts approximately 90 minutes. We considered doing both, but once we got done with the bus tour, we were hungry and tired. The bus tour was stuffy and didn't have quite enough room for everyone to sit down. Nonetheless, the tour guide was very informed and provided facts that were easily digested by everyone. There were four stops along the way, and these stops included four ridges (the ridges are literally sideways walls that got pushed up after the landscape changed to a more mountainous region). Cemented footprints were pointed out within the walls. Another stop showed us brown fossil bones that have been recorded in the ridge. These bones were first discovered in the 1870's, and then rediscovered again in 1930's when a road was built next to the ridge.

The ridge had a lot of various kinds of stone to see, and points to the variety of things that happened over time in the area. The different layers tell all kinds of stories to the scientists who study them.

There were benches and other types of seating at each stop, which supported a wide variety of ages able to go on the tour. We liked standing on the benches for better visibility.

Once the tour was over, we had a picnic lunch in a very nice area set aside with picnic benches.

Back in the main area, there were still other outside dinosaur models to see, a gift store, and there was also a place for the kids to dig for fossils. They got to keep whatever they found, which the ridge must restock every day.