Author: Barbara Stroud

I started the ArtFoodHome.com daily (now 4 times/week) blog 1/1/11 (easy to remember, right?) and have kept it going since then. Come back each day - I share with you: ART: featured artists, art events, workshops, etc. FOOD: recipes, restaurants, and good finds along the way HOME: house plans, home design, places here in Charleston... On year 14 of artfoodhome.com - share this site with anyone who you think might enjoy it!

Plein Air Easton (MD) – 7/18/11 – 7/24/11 – CHECK IT OUT!

On By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment
Image: PleinAirEaston.com

Well folks, if you’re in the area of Easton, Maryland, have I got news for you! Plein Air Easton will be happening from 7/18/11-7/24/11. If you get a chance DO NOT MISS THIS! There are so many talented artists it will boggle your mind… Personally I’m looking out for my buddy Tim Bell as well as his friend (and ours) Ken DeWaard… both accomplished painters, they will be in Easton working their magic in front of crowds of people! I am a big fan! WOOHOO!

 Here’s more information on the Quick Draw event, which I would LOVE to be at! (Info from www.pleinaireaston.com):
Quick Draw For All AgesDowntown Easton, S. Harrison St. between Glenwood Avenue (aka Church Alley) and South StreetSat., July 23, 10am-12pm – registered artists paint
12pm-2pm – exhibit and sale (paintings will remain on display until 2pm; rain location Christ Church Parish Hall)
1:30pm – awards announcedEverything about the Quick Draw is quick. More than 160 artists, competition painters, professionals, amateurs and the simply adventurous compete and have fun. These artists have only six blocks and two hours to complete their works. During this short time, all registered Quick Draw participants will set up their supplies and paint, draw, or sculpt en plein air in downtown Easton.
See the map of the area in which artisits may paint here.
This is one of the most compelling experiences of the week. Together, artists and spectators are immersed in the creative process. See the scenes and how the artists interpret them. Smell the wet paint and get caught up in the excitement of watching a painting come to life before your eyes.

The exhibit is held en plein air on Harrison St. and paintings are exhibited on the easels on which they were created. The paintings will be judged by Plein Air-Easton! Competition Judge, M.Stephen Doherty , and awards will be presented at 1:30pm. The exhibit and all of its paintings will be removed at 2:00pm. This is your only opportunity to view and purchase these works.

This event is open to anyone.

How exciting! If you’re lucky enough to attend, let me know how it went! Click HERE to see this years list of featured artists!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Something quick and easy to toss on the grill!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, RecipeLeave a comment

We had been out all day and were starving! What’s quick and easy to throw on the grill and call a meal?? Kabobs! We picked up some chicken Italian sausage, whew! It was out of this world, along with some potatoes, onions and peppers we had a meal! It’s important to use cooked Italian sausage unless you’re really going to monitor to be sure it’s completely cooked… this meal was QUICK… To keep this moving along quickly, we did put the potatoes in the microwave until barely able to pierce with a fork, then finished on the grill. We quickly soaked the skewers while we cut up the veggies and sausage… anything else that sounds good, go ahead and add it!  Corn on the cob broken into 2-3″ sections would have been good. Prior to adding to the grill we brushed with olive oil and lightly sprinkled with salt and pepper… had some nice sweet watermelon afterwards. Yum!

It would have been really nice if I would have taken more than a “before” photo… Trust me… the “after” photo would make your mouth water… I guess I was too hungry to snap a quick picture, heavy sigh…

Catch you back here tomorrow!!

Andrew Wyeth, Christina’s World and the Olson House at the Farnsworth Museum!

On By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment
A Wyeth study for Christina's World - FarnsworthMuseum.org

Something I wouldn’t miss for the world if I were in the area! (Info from FarnsworthMuseum.org):

June 11, 2011 – October 30, 2011
The Wyeth Center

Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Farnsworth’s acquisition of the Olson House, scheduled in 2011 to be named a National Historic Landmark, this exhibition features approximately fifty watercolors and drawings depicting Alvaro and Christina Olson and the Cushing, Maine house in which they lived. The focus is on Alvaro’s and Christina’s lives at what has become known as the Olson House, seen through the eyes of Andrew Wyeth. The works wil not only include interior and exterior views of the house and the surrounding land, memorialized in Wyeth’s iconic painting Christina’s World (which hangs at the Museum of Modern Art and will not be a part of this exhibition,) but also twelve preparatory drawings and drafts of the famed work. All the works, with the exception of a select group from the Farnsworth, are from the collection of the Marunuma Art Park in Asaka, Japan. These works have rarely been seen in the United States.
Andrew Wyeth, Christina’s World and the Olson House is organized by Farnsworth Chief Curator Michael K. Komanecky with a fully illustrated catalogue published by the Farnsworth Art Museum.

This exhibition has been made possible in part through the generous support of the following lead sponsors: Tina and Joe Pyne; Arete Foundation/Betsy and Ed Cohen. Additional exhibition support was provided by Mr. Richard Gilder and Ms. Lois Chiles; Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon; Mr. and Mrs. George Twigg III.

Catch you back here tomorrow!!

Olson House depicted in Christina’s World now a national landmark…

On By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment
Image: Maps.Google.com

News from the art world… if you’ve missed the paper the past few weeks, here’s an update… as reported by AP.

 An old weather beaten farmhouse that sits in Cushing, Maine, the scene of one of Andrew Wyeth’s most famous paintings, and one of the most famous paintings of the 20th century is now officially a national landmark.
 
The Olson House is where Andrew painted CHRISTINA’S WORLD (among others) back in 1948.  He painted Christina Olson (who lived in this house), who suffered from some sort of muscular disease thought to be polio, she was unable to walk and had resorted to crawling at times. There are so many interesting stories that go along with Christina’s World, I will save for another post… You can visit the Olson house via the Farnsworth Museum. The house is open June – October.
 
Catch you back here tomorrow! If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

Ocean House Gallery open today (7/15/11) in Port Clyde, ME…

On By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment
Image: OceanHouseHotel.com

Today marks the opening of the Ocean House Gallery (at the Ocean House Hotel, overlooking the harbor in Port Clyde, ME). They start the season off with a reception from 5-7PM featuring watercolors by artist Brad Hendershot.  If you’re in the area pop in and say hello and check out the work! This “Allure of the Sea” exhibit will be shown through July 27. If you can’t make it, check out his website!

Upcoming shows at the Ocean House Gallery are: July 29 through Aug. 10, Alice Boynton; Aug. 12 through 24, Susan Gilbert Lord; Aug. 26 through Aug. 31, Angela Anderson Pomerleau; Sept. 2 through 14, Sylvia Murdock; and Sept. 16 through 29, Jan Lipson. If you’re in the area, check them out! “The gallery is open whenever the door is open”, I love that about Maine…

Catch you back here tomorrow! If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

Die Cancer Die… Fatty fish is here to save the day!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HEALTH, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Image: Prevention.com

Onward ho with the cancer prevention tips!! Today’s cancer tip is from a great magazine article “Edible Healing: Food Cures for Cancer” by Prevention Magazine!  Another goal to work on… along with my fish oil, going to try to start eating more fish…

Now… on to the tip…

Fatty Fish

The risk of several cancers is significantly lower in people who eat fish at least twice a week. Several studies discovered that the anti-inflammatory long-chain omega-3s found in fatty fish (or in high-quality purified fish-oil supplements) can help slow cancer cell growth in a large number of tumors (lung, breast, colon, prostate, kidney, etc.).

How to Eat It: Have a seafood-based meal two or three times a week. Choose small fish, such as anchovies, small mackerel, and sardines (including canned sardines, provided they are preserved in olive oil and not in sunflower oil, which is too rich in pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats). Small fish contain fewer environmental toxins such as PCBs and mercury. Wild salmon is also a good source of omega-3 fats, and the level of contamination is still acceptable. Choose fresh over frozen whenever possible, because omega-3 content degrades over time.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Fabulous food at Marine City Fish Company… (Michigan)!

On By Barbara StroudIn TRAVELLeave a comment
Image: MarineCityFishCompany.com

While visiting in Michigan recently we popped in our favorite local restaurant, Marine City Fish Company located in… guess… Marine City, MI! It’s an eclectic restaurant, not too small and not too big, it’s just right. The service was spectacular, the food was delicous and we had a great time! There is much to look at while in this restaurant (other than the river which offers gorgeous views), they have lots of neat old vintage type posters, all have to do with fishing… very fun place to have a nice lunch or dinner. If you find yourself in the area, pop in… they’re also on Facebook, check them out. I had the Panko Shrimp (ohmy!), Fred had the perch sandwich… I had homemade potato chips with mine, Fred had the long skinny french fries that are to die for (probably literally, ha ha)… it’s not health food, but it’s GOOD food! Click HERE to see their menu! OH! Did I mention the dessert???? Baked Bing Cherries with Puff Pastry Ala Mode… Heaven help me! This is big enough for a family of four, but we ate (almost) the entire thing…

 Catch you back here tomorrow…!

Artist to watch… George Pate!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment
Image: WellsGallery.com

George Pate has the most unique style. His paintings have caught my eye for a number of years now… love the little beach birds that he paints. I like how he paints Charleston scenes… not typical, it’s a style all his own. After reading about George, I see that he’s originally from Detroit, (Yay, George! Me too!) although now resides in Santa Fe… a place that is on our list to visit one day! The Wells Gallery in town carries his work, as does the Wells Gallery on Kiawah at the Sanctuary. If you get a chance stop in, if you’re out of town visit their website!

 Catch you back here tomorrow! If you get a chance visit my photo blog… http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

Super Simple Salad… Tomatoes, basil and olive oil…

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe2 Comments

I saw some pretty little grape tomatoes in the fridge and a pot of basil that was begging to be used. I whipped my mom up a small super simple tomato salad… It took no time and it was delicious to boot!

Tomatoes are so good for you because they contain lycopene, an antioxidant. To get the most nutrition when you eat a tomato pair it with a little olive oil. The good lycopene found in tomatoes is fat soluble, so if you add a little good fat, like olive oil it helps your body absorb lycopene more easily. Here’s the recipe… no need to even write it down… cut up the tomato into bite sized pieces (whatever kind of tomato you like, the darker the tomato the more antioxidants), drizzle with a little olive oil, sprinkle a little salt and pepper then top with fresh basil. If you happen to have a little fresh mozarella (MUST be FRESH, that’s my opinion) chop up a bit and toss it in, that’s delightful! Quick and easy!Added tip… cooked tomatoes are more concentrated, therefore have more lycopene…  Enjoy!