I have created a fun, new series of brightly colored photographs that are inspired by the "Colleen Waterford Crystal" collection and my creative and sunny Grandmother.
My Grandmother's Birthday was February 15th, so she was a Valentine's baby. I was thinking about her on Valentine's Day when I pulled one of the pieces of glassware from the hutch. She took me on my first boat ride in NYC where we drank "Cosmos"(Cosmopolitans) and had a view of the Statue of Liberty. It was many years ago, but she loved me enough to take me out on the town, to art museums, and she collected this special crystal set for me. This was such a thoughtful gift to give her only granddaughter, one piece at a time, over the years. Since my name is Colleen, she collected the "Colleen" Irish Waterford Crystal pieces.
Living in California the last 28 years, I never took glassware with me because I feared earthquakes and never wanted this to be damaged. We are in such different times now, and many couples do not collect china and crystal any more. It was very common in my Grandmother's generation, and I was hoping to honor her in some small way by photographing the pieces and possibly painting from the images. However, as I took the photos, I realized they are beautiful on their own.
I used Color Garden plant-based food coloring and water to create rainbow-colored water, and I added what fruit and veggies I had in the fridge to make these "mock-tails" appear like a rainbow of real cocktails in this vintage crystal. This was a lot of fun and I enjoyed editing the photos in Photoshop apps and uploading them to Fine Art America where you may purchase prints, gifts and cards. I think they will make a great collection of images for people that love rainbows, color, and need art for a restaurant, nightclub bar, home bar decor, or are celebrating a Birthday, Special Event, Irish Rainbows and Hope, Pride, etc...
On Valentine's Day I put organic Kombrewcha in my glass, and added a cherry for fun. That was how I celebrated my Grandmother, and I think of her often. She was an anesthesiologist and an amazing creative spirit. She loved making up knitting patterns, needlepoint, and she could sew anything. She was Swedish and she loved traveling the world and world culture. I was so lucky to have such a wonderful Grandmother. I miss her very much. She was a great friend to me.
Hi Friends and Art Lovers! 💛Happy Valentine's Day!
This is a reminder to buy art from working artists that need your support. I am currently awaiting hip surgery and can not work at this time beyond my art and writing. I would love to be your Valentine! Remember when we used to give everyone in the class a Valentine's card? I miss those days. It's always great to be able to create something meaningful, even when life is at its most difficult. "Mini victories", like a painting in the face of adversity continue to give me hope. I've been writing a book, songs and learning new tricks on guitar, but I wanted to update you on my art life too.
Valentine's Gift Ideas from my paintingsIf you are a Pinterest Fan, click here or the image below to buy "Red Art" - (If you are not a Pinterest person, scroll down and click on the gift images to go to Fine Art America, where you can order items directly.) There's a pretty red bridge painting in a tropical setting which I recently made for my folks and you too can enjoy this as a print or on gifts and apparel.
Buy these items with 1 - click now @ Fine Art America
Last July, I entered the San Francisco Beautiful MUNI Art contest. It was a fun opportunity to be inspired by poetry from poets in The Poetry Society of America. The poem I chose was by Tess Taylor, "Train through Colma". Her poem is about daydreaming from the train, and it speaks of apricot trees, orange pixels and rippling ponies (read it online here).
I wanted to create something vivid that would stand out on the train from a distance, and make passengers happy. I used a large piece of recycled board and painted as quickly and vividly as possible on the smooth surface. I later mirrored the image in Photoshop to evoke the digital world versus the natural world. This colorful and bold image works very well for tote bags, textiles and prints, so I have added it to a collection online for art gifts and green gifts that give back to the earth. I was not selected this time, but the winners were announced and may be viewed online here.
Buy these items with 1 - click now @ Fine Art America
Sunday blew my mind. I'm truly not kidding. There was a moment when I was biking down Market Street with other San Francisco Bike Coalitionstaff, volunteers, men, women, gay, lesbian, non-binary, old, young, black, white, hispanic, asian, indian, moms, dads, singles and community members…
Loud music was playing, Prince - “Raspberry Berret”, bubbles were flowing from an automatic bubble dispenser attached to the back of a hotpink, fuzzy bike and all of us were smiling, thousands of people cheered all around us and colored rectangles of confetti made the green bike path in front of us look like a Birthday Party. I felt truly free and happy in the realization that San Francisco protects all people and I really love this city (and especially riding my bike here!).
(Top Left)Brian Wiedenmeirer in Hat(Executive Director), Susan Gallentine pulling the float (Marketing Manager), (Bottom Left in Silver and White) Christoper White (Program Director), (Bottom Right) I’m on TV! That’s me in black with rainbow socks on CBS.I bought a hat from one of the vendors when we were waiting for the protest to clear.
The protected bike paths in San Francisco are green and have white posts to keep the cars out.
My teenager who works as a lifeguard attached a large rainbow flag to the back of his bike and biked from the Golden Gate Bridge to downtown for this moment… It was the 49th annual Pride Parade in San Francisco, but the 1st time I have ever experienced it. We rode our bikes down Market Street with tens of thousands of screaming, partying and wildly dressed people wrapped in rainbows… people truly happy and celebrating love in living color.
Everyone from our incredible Mayor London Breed, and all the politicians, Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi… to the people of SFGlide, Apple, Salesforce, Sutter Health, Amazon, Facebook and so many more. It was televised and there are links to see the entire parade onlineif you missed it. I took some screenshots from the videos and will share them below.
Facebook had a double-decker party bus with lots of speakers.
I have lived in the Bay Area since 1995, when Senator Scott Wienerfirst went to San Francisco’s Pride Parade, yet this was my first year ever seeing the parade. Living a sheltered life in the suburbs of San Francisco for over 20 years, I moved into the city three years ago to seek a new life, work and overcome my fear of cities. I knew nothing. I didn’t know how to ride BARTor what it was. I didn’t know how to ride my bike in the city.
Fans cheering us on from the sidelines at Pride Parade, 2019
One time in 2017 when I was taking a UX Class at General Assembly, I biked down California Street with full traffic (not a smart move… Steep, no bike lanes and very busy). I was clueless, and I needed to learn The Wiggleand the ropes. SF Bike Coalitionwas a great organization for me to join and has helped me get to know the city, bike paths, its fellow members and volunteers, and sponsoring businesses, like Sports Basementand all the local cafes and bike shops that give discounts to Bike Coalition members.
London Breed Contingent with City Hall Rainbow Float (screenshot from CBS TV video)
I think I now have to say that going to the Pride Parade is an important milestone for any San Francisco resident, and everyone in the suburbs should attend Pride to understand how important inclusion and diversity is to the city of San Francisco. I was so excited when we passed the Apple and Salesforce contingents. I saw so many of my favorite brands, it made me happy and yes, “filled with Pride”.
Apple Computer Contingent on Market Street by the Ferry Building, Pride 2019
I met an entrepreneur and fashion founder of Bikeista.comShe had this sign, “Hippie Resistance!” with lots of flowers on her bike and a dress with an original 70’s pattern of wild mushrooms. She has the most amazing clothing for women who like to ride bikes but also be fashionable.
We also met Marcelo Donari, a hairstylist in San Francisco for 14 years, who now works as a stylist and wig designer for Hamilitonand Aladdin here in SF! We were so excited to meet him and see his bike, decorated with a giant rainbow pinwheel and rainbow bandanas. He offered to take us on a backstage tour! How cool is that?
We danced to a DJ and music was also provided by cyclists pulling speakers with tunes as we waited for a protest to be moved. I had bought two pairs of rainbow socks in Fisherman’s Wharf at “Find Your Feet” a few nights before for me and Blake. The colorful lights in the city at night are worth coming into town for if you don’t normally see Pride celebrations. Rainbows are everywhere…
We biked from Market and Spear to Market and 8th by the Civic Center where the main Pride celebration was happening. My sons were too tired at this point to want to go inside the gates, but we purchased horchata and watermelon and then biked passed the SF Bike Coalition offices, down Valencia, 17th and back on Folsom to Salesforce Tower.
Fans watching the parade from Market Street near Sam’s Diner
On our way back, one of my sons got a flat front tire and I was so happy to be able to patch it and blow it up. It was my first time showing my sons that I could fix a flat! It is truly empowering to be able to take them places in the city on my own by bicycle. I have also taught them to use buses and BART. We continued on to the Ferry Building where I put one of my twins on the boat to return to his father.
We were serenaded by a guitar player on the street and sat down to enjoy a strawberry-filled Clif Bar, a new flavor of TCHO Chocolate, and my Pride flag bearing son bought an ice cream before we continued our ride.
I am so grateful to have been able to ride the Clif Bar cruiser bike I won in their Mojo Bar contest several years ago.
I later worked as a contractor for Clif Bar in Emeryville and have attended their Summer Solstice Concerts at the Clif Family Winery, which I highly recommend visiting if you are in Napa Valley. They have amazing organic food, wine, and can help you find the best bike routes for a leisurely or more advanced ride around the vineyards. It’s hot in the Summer there too, unlike San Francisco most of the time. Though, a little known insider’s secret I will share is that when it’s foggy, the fog tends to blanket the Presidio and the Sunset, while the Mission and southern parts of the city can remain sunny and hot in the Summer.
Aidan biked back to the Golden Gate Bridge with me trailing the large Pride flag that Blake and I had purchased last Friday at Cliff’s Variety& Hardware in the Castro… His awesome SF Bike hoodie is available online to purchase here. We biked through Fisherman’s Wharf, Fort Mason, the Presidio, passed the new Korean War Memorial, the Veterans Cemetary and back to the baracks that face West to the Pacific Ocean. We didn’t realize our flag was upsidedown until the end of the day… Hope no one was offended.
Aidan insisted I take a photo of him at sunset with the Pride flag. I am super proud of these kids for being a part of this event with me. I know their school teaches respect and diversity for others, but I think you don’t really fully grasp what it means until you go to a major event in a city that defends Pride with all people, creativity and love.
I am still fundraising for the SF Bike Coalition via Climate Ride and you may find my donation page here if you would like to assist us in keeping cyclists safe with protected bike lanes and advocacy in San Francisco. The link to donate is here.
