Art is More than a Name

Art heals.

My imagination ignites when I see a painter set up his easel, wonder how he will interpret the scene he is viewing, then pass again later in the day to admire his artistic progress.

Who can resist viewing the artistic process, an artist deeply concentrating on the space, line, tone, texture, color of his creation. Vignettes pop up all over Bath because there are so many opportunities to capture the beauty, the light, the history of this city.

Art can surprise you. I had failed to take note of a bronzed snake emerging from a nearby wall ready to strike a pose. Our apartment complex has discrete sculptural and stone art pieces dotted all around daring you to pay attention to your surroundings.

The Holburne Museum (known to Jane Austen as the Sydney Hotel and to Bridgerton fans as Lady Danbury's house) has an exhibition by Glasgow artist Mike Peter, "Old Ghosts". History as an Industry is represented by visitors to the museum, work for a sign painter who paints the marquee, a film test for a period piece pays homage to the movies filmed here and a half-buried roman road being dug up on the entry lawn. So fun to have new ideas running through these old buildings.

Love the T-shirt "My Career Lies in Ruins".

At the backside of the museum sits a bench dedicated to Ricky Gervais' series After Life. Netflix and a suicide prevention charity-CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) are placing benches all over England to bring mental health into our conversations. The bench is meant to be a place for people to sit, chat, reflect, talk about grief and connect. Providing hope for people in grief, navigating life after life, is their goal. HOPE IS EVERYTHING.

Art lies in the current exhibit (click to access) at the American Museum reflecting the strong role of women in the Indigenous communities of North America. Anishinabe Artist Celeste Pedri-Spade highlights her wearable art pieces exploring how Indigenous and European women both connect and disconnect. The materials creatively used are thought provoking especially her birchbark bodice.

Celeste's beautiful bag displays a rendering in beads of her Great Grandmother's likeness.

Lucknam Park uses Equine therapy to improve mental and physical health. These gorgeous horse bronzes are a reminder of the extraordinary comfort animals can offer.

The artistry of bread making has become the new norm for pandemic bakers. Visiting Castle Dunster we were treated to a demonstration starting with the water mill leading us inside to the age old practice of stone grinding wheat which is sold in the flour store.

For 1,000 years Dunster Castle in Exmoor has medievaled its way into history books. It's super impressive as you approach from the road, gorgeous gardens and beautiful interiors.

Dunster octangular Yarn Market was renowned for its wool markets.

Artistry in hedges? Why not. Hedge or House, new Netflix series.

Art continues in idyllic Stourhead, a powerhouse movie making location. My favorite movie filmed here: Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice.

For my neighbor Janet, it's the art of historical discovery. Janet, a retired Biochemist lecturer at University of Bath, is pretty convinced that there are some important Roman artifacts under the golf course nearby us. Taking into account that Bath was a major Spa destination for Romans, it would only make sense that this town was also an important enclave with lots more than just Roman Baths.

As part of the Bath & Counties Archaeological Society's goal of promoting archaeology she and her team are working on the hill inch by inch to see what lies beneath. Her team has a great interest in archaeology, even though their professional careers were far removed from it. Team John strapped on the Magnetometer to measure the magnetic field to see if they could find metals: coins, cooking vessels, dishes. A Resistance meter was also used to measure for masses, structures buried beneath. They cover the slope week after week to uncover all possibilities.

The Ustinov Studio is part of the Theater Royal (3 theaters nestled together) in Bath. Sir Peter Ustinov's son, Igor, designed the sculpture called Hopefully.

Favorite children's book illustrators from the Gruffalo toThe Iron Man at Victoria Art Gallery unleashed the child in me. Seeing engaged school groups, parents with children exploring the exhibit Myths and Monsters reminded me of my gratifying experience coordinating "Meet the Masters" at my children's grade school. What better gift than cracking open imagination and artistic possibilities in a young person's life.

Life is art. The mustard fields stretching out past the red phone booth caught our attention coming back from Dunster Castle. The mustard fields are in season running yellow all over the South West.

See if you can find some snake art or art in nature hiding in your world.