Friday, February 22, 2008

AN ARTFUL ADVENTURE#2

"The unexplainable thing in nature that makes me feel the world is big far beyond my understanding-to understand maybe by trying to put it into form. To find the feeling of infinity on the horizon line or just over the next hill." Georgia O'Keeffe

SEDONA THE BEAUTIFUL! This land is called RED ROCK COUNTRY and widly wonderful. Located in Arizona's high dessert with an elevation of 4,300 feet with towering monoliths, rims and canyons. Many of the massive RED-rocks were shaped and formed from water and ancient deposits of limestone, mudstone and sandstone when this area was the west coast of a still emerging continent. It was also chiseled by wind. Sedona is a unique place to see and visit. WELCOME TO SEDONA The city of Sedona was founded in 1902. It was incorporated in 1988. Historically, it was a rural ranching community located far off the beaten path, but it's natural beauty became nationally known through the motion picture industry. Today Sedona is Arizona's premier tourism, recreation, resort, retirement and art centers. Sedona is well known as an arts community. It is also home to 40-plus art galleries. Western and native American art lend a regional flavor but one can find examples of nearly every style and form of artwork.
TROLLEY RIDE The best and most relaxing way to tour and see Sedona is via the trolley. The tour was three hours long and the driver took us everywhere in Sedona. No time wasted getting lost in this town. Our driver knows the way. This photo was taken from old files in 2004.This was our third trip to Sedona, so we didn't take too many photos during our recent trip.
RED-ROCK SPLENDOR Indeed this picturesque town is surrounded by beloved RED-rock monoliths named Bell, Coffee Pot, Court House, and Cathedral, even Snoppy - because their massive shapes resemble these distinctive objects. Sedona is singing with RED color in every corner. The collection of Sedona's impressive RED-rocks and many natural endowments are worth visiting and meditating. For me the best time to view these rocks are late in the afternoon when the shadows cast their spell. The best images are taken as the sun goes down. The western face of the mountains collects that light. The RED-rocks look like magnificent paintings.
THE BEAUTIFUL BELL ROCK AND ME As an artist, I see in each RED rock or each speck of RED stone the hand of One whose pallete is infinite and whose vision is beyond imagining. From the heights of the Bell rock, God offers us daily a glorious show to His creativeness and majesty.
CLOSE UP VIEW OF THE BELL ROCK This majestic peak is ringing with REDDISH color in every angle.
COFFEE POT ROCK This rock resembles a charming coffee pot. Forget Starbucks or Coffee Bean! Here, there's no need to spend a dime. Just look at this rock and you'll be A...W...A...K...E........and........ A...L..I...V...E...!!!
SNOOPY ROCK Is an easily recognizable RED rock formation. With a little imagination you can see Snoopy lying on his dog house with his head on the left and his feet on the right.
THE COURT HOUSE ROCK Another RED rock with courtly beauty.
CATHEDRAL ROCK Is one of Sedona's most photographed, painted and recognizable landmarks. This is a challenging rock to climb but there were many people who made it up to the top.
BENEATH THE CATHEDRAL ROCK At such wonders, all I can do is bow down in awe. In our very midst, the Cathedral Rock paints a portrait of the beauty and goodness of God. All these magnificent, massive, and natural RED rocks are God's sculptures and statues. I am sure this will be humbling experience for Michaelangelo (the great Italian artist and sculptor), when he encounters this Cathedral Rock. For me, I felt what Georgia O'Keeffe experienced when she was surrounded with so many RED hills in her homeland (New Mexico). She was inspired by the beauty of the hills. As a result, she painted one of her beautiful masterpieces "Pedernal and Red Hills" (oil on canvas-20' x 30"). BEAUTIFUL VIEWS FROM THE CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS The Chapel of the Holy Cross is 47 years old, which features a reinforced cross that juts from 1,000-foot-high rock wall and soars 90 feet into the air, plus 360-degree panoramic views. The RED rock scenery wrapped around us is breathtaking in all directions. Surely even the most jaded would find Sedona uplifting emotionally, artistically and spiritually. Come and visit soon. Surely, this will be an artful adventure you'll never forget.

21 comments:

SandyCarlson said...

This is a beautiful narrative! Wow.I have heard of this place but never imagined such a magnificent place. The O'Keeffe quote complements your words so well. Thanks for this.

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

YESYERDAY STAYED IN ALL DAY WORKEF ON ART GESSO IT OUT BACK TO ZERO
RESKETCHED AND TRY AGAIN BODY GIVING ME FITSM NO ENERGY ARMS HANGING AT SIDE PAIN IN THEM
but then i must paint Riverside wemon org wants painting.
must update blog

Beware ...
Wal-Mart is selling lounge chairs made in China and the plastic is very cheap and thin.
Purchase at your own risk.
LOOKING forward to spring

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

You are always having fun which makes me SICK!
Nick rocks though.!
Love the Idian pottery desighn of that area

Ebb Tide said...

Lloyd- My friend don't get SICK. I am not an artist who paints non-stop. From time to time I had to get out the rut to get back painting. Change of surrounding is very good for my creativity.

Ebb Tide said...

Lloyd- Glad to know you have been working on art gesso yesterday despite of bad weather. I have been sketching many paintings too. We are expcting lots of rain this week-end. Will reume working on my easel on Monday.That warning about Wal-Mart lounge chair is very scary.

Ebb Tide said...

Sandy- Thanks for your beautiful comment. I never get tired reading your comment. It's always uplifting. Hopefully, someday you get to visit Sedona.

Ebb Tide said...

Enjoyed looking at those magnificent red rocks of Sedona. Thanks for posting them. Your photos and stories made the blog alive and interesting.

Ebb Tide said...

Hi Angel! I made a typo, and your comment came out in my name. Sorry about that.

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

I have gotten a book on Georgeo a week before youir new posts I am doing some research om Modern and contemporary artists so to my surprise you are talking about her but her childhood home was a Dairy farm in Wisconson she also stayed many years in New York desplaying her SW art,

Ebb Tide said...

Lloyd- How nice that we are thinking and reading about Georgia O'Keeffe. Yes, she lived many years in NY prior to moving to New Mexico. She launched her art career in NY w/ the help of his husband (a famous photographer). Georgia claimed Abiqui, NM her real home. Her heart is in the southwest really.

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for stopping by today. I see in your "about me" that you make books. I dabble in this area, too. What kind do you make?

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

home is where the art is(heart) is!
I hope you dont mind i posted your quote

Ebb Tide said...

Lloyd- I am honored that you like my quote by Georgia O'Keeffe and posted it in your blog.

Ebb Tide said...

Sandy-thanks for a second visit. I had written four books about my personal experience and struggle w/ my hearing loss and cochlear implant. Yes, I love to make handcrafted books. It's a labor of love. After printing the books at Kinko's, I do the binding myself. I wrapped the cover w/ fabric and embellished it w/ colored shells. My books are given as gifts to my family, friends w/ hearing loss and doctors/audiologists who treated me. If you like to recieve one of my book, e-mail me your address. I will send you a copy soon. You'll have an idea how my handmade-book looks like and you could read it too.

Anonymous said...

What an interesting blog! You keep me coming back and not get bored.

Ebb Tide said...

Ligaya- I am glad my blog makes you come back. I try to post topics that are not boring. There are lots of topics out there but honestly not all are interesting. Like art, the beauty of the blog is the eyes of the beholder or reader.

Ebb Tide said...

Hi Sandy! Thanks for dropping by. I publish your third comment but it disappeared. I don't know what happen. Sorry about that. Sorry to hear about your cold weather. Here in So. Ca. we have a very warm and nice temperature today, about 80 degrees. I painted all day. Just love the brightness of the sun.

Lloyd Irving Bradbury said...

sun is bright but cold snow still around
monday tv to interview me and my art
went to lecture on homer last night 300water colors to be shown at chicago Art Institute. only here and then valted for another 20 vyears
will go to exibit and have someone describe them for me

Ebb Tide said...

Lloyd- Best wishes on your TV interview w/ your art. I haven't been to Chicago Art Institute. Would like to do that someday.

Ebb Tide said...

Hi Sr. E! Thanks for your comment. I am sorry, I hit publish button but it did not appear. This happened thrice w/ my viewers. Have to check w/ my blogger help.
Any suggestion? I lost three comments in the past. I don't know what happened to them.

Anonymous said...

This is a great tribute for Sedona and for its natural beauty