By Joann M. Ringelstetter
Last Thursday, Ruth and I left home early in the morning to photograph in Richland County, Wisconsin. On the way there, we stopped at our favorite blackboard to see what the roadside philosopher had to say. We’ve had several blog posts in the past about this wonderful blackboard. Here’s one of the messages we haven’t yet shared: “An apple a day will keep anyone away if thrown hard enough.”
That day, however, the message, which appeared to have been Christmas-related, was so worn off that we couldn’t read it. So there was no point in photographing it and I was disappointed. As I looked away from the blackboard, something caught my eye. It was Bigfoot, walking across the open field. Ruth and I started laughing and, of course, I had to get out and take a few pictures.
And then we immediately posted one to Facebook for our almost 10-year-old nephew, Toby, who is a faithful watcher of the show “Finding Bigfoot.” A couple years ago, we gave him a Bigfoot Research Kit for Christmas. The kit description said that it contained items that would “easily double (maybe triple!) your chances of finding Bigfoot.” The kit contained stickers, a membership card, evidence flags, a field journal, a magnifier, and scat bags. And when Toby had a choice between going with his parents up to Eagle River or going with his grandparents to the Pacific Northwest, he chose to go with his grandparents because he had hopes of searching for Bigfoot there.
As we travel the backroads in search of a good photograph, we always appreciate any roadside humor that we find. In this case, our disappointment with the faded blackboard message turned into the reward of finding Bigfoot.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
Shunpiking To Heaven Backroads Blog
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Friday, October 9, 2015
2015 Farm/Art DTour
By Joann M. Ringelstetter
On Monday, Ruth and I drove the 50-mile self-guided Farm/Art DTour in Sauk County, Wisconsin. We had such an enjoyable day, so I thought I would share some of our photos right away.
We left home very early so that we would be at the first stop, just outside Reedsburg, at first light. This first artwork is called “Lucky 13: Elephant in the Room” and it was created by Erika Nelson of Lucas, Kansas. It celebrates Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s announcement that they are retiring the last 13 performing elephants by 2018.
Our next stop was an amazing piece of art called “Monday is Wash Day” and it was created by Brenda Baker of Madison, Wisconsin.
When we first pulled up to the beginning of the clothesline, I thought it was just a short display of clothes hanging on the line. But as I walked down the road, I realized that the clothesline went on and on. Later, a local farmer told me he had heard that it was three-quarters of a mile long.
One of the fun things along the route is discovering farm art that isn’t on the tour map, like these Minions whose message is: “There’s nothing wrong with growing up country.”
And if you pay attention, you will stumble on what’s known as “rogue installations.” Early in the morning, we saw this sign urging us to take a little “detour from the DTour.”
Well, we couldn’t pass up the chance to see this rogue spider, especially since it was only “1 mile…ish” off the main route.
We also saw eight installations of some intriguing artwork called “A Mutual Curiosity” by artist Thomas Ferrella of Madison, Wisconsin. None of these were marked on the map, so it was fun to discover them along the route. All of them were eyes of people or animals. One of our favorites was this dog peering out from an old corn crib.
And, speaking of dogs, we also saw this unexpected sculpture of a person walking their dog.
And we were entertained by the sight of an antique red upright piano sitting on a tiny stage at the edge of the woods. It was called the “Red Piano Project.” Upright pianos used to be an important part of family entertainment. We had one in our farmhouse when we were kids and we used to play it all the time. It made for some great duets and some hysterical sessions of musical chairs.
There was also a very large alfalfa field that had been turned into “Field Billiards” by the Wilkinson and Ramsey Families.
This billiards scene included a monstrous pool cue made from a utility pole.
There were also some cute calves at the edge of the “pool table” that were getting their share of petting and pictures that day.
In addition to being an entertaining day, it was also very educational. There are signs along the route called “Field Notes” and they teach you about the land, the soil, wetlands, the dairy industry, etc. Here’s one about corn.
And I also learned quite a bit about antique tractors and other farm equipment.
One of my most favorite creations from the day was at the entrance to a FarmForm called Farmhenge, which was created by Harlan Ferstl and the McCluskey Brothers. It was a parody of the famous Grant Wood painting called “American Gothic.” But this artwork was made of gourds and it was called “American Gourdthic.” The farm couple was named Gourdon and Gourdenia and they made me smile.
The 2015 Farm/Art DTour runs through Sunday, October 11, so if you’re in the area and don’t already have your weekend booked, give the Farm/Art DTour a try. You’re guaranteed to have a good time and learn something in the process.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
Photos in this blog post can be purchased as wall art, paper prints, downloads, phone cases, and keepsakes by clicking on the photo. You will be taken to the gallery website where you will see a big blue "BUY" button. Or to see all photos available, click on the "Browse Galleries" button on the menu at the top of this page. Thank you for your interest!
On Monday, Ruth and I drove the 50-mile self-guided Farm/Art DTour in Sauk County, Wisconsin. We had such an enjoyable day, so I thought I would share some of our photos right away.
We left home very early so that we would be at the first stop, just outside Reedsburg, at first light. This first artwork is called “Lucky 13: Elephant in the Room” and it was created by Erika Nelson of Lucas, Kansas. It celebrates Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s announcement that they are retiring the last 13 performing elephants by 2018.
Our next stop was an amazing piece of art called “Monday is Wash Day” and it was created by Brenda Baker of Madison, Wisconsin.
When we first pulled up to the beginning of the clothesline, I thought it was just a short display of clothes hanging on the line. But as I walked down the road, I realized that the clothesline went on and on. Later, a local farmer told me he had heard that it was three-quarters of a mile long.
One of the fun things along the route is discovering farm art that isn’t on the tour map, like these Minions whose message is: “There’s nothing wrong with growing up country.”
And if you pay attention, you will stumble on what’s known as “rogue installations.” Early in the morning, we saw this sign urging us to take a little “detour from the DTour.”
Well, we couldn’t pass up the chance to see this rogue spider, especially since it was only “1 mile…ish” off the main route.
We also saw eight installations of some intriguing artwork called “A Mutual Curiosity” by artist Thomas Ferrella of Madison, Wisconsin. None of these were marked on the map, so it was fun to discover them along the route. All of them were eyes of people or animals. One of our favorites was this dog peering out from an old corn crib.
And, speaking of dogs, we also saw this unexpected sculpture of a person walking their dog.
And we were entertained by the sight of an antique red upright piano sitting on a tiny stage at the edge of the woods. It was called the “Red Piano Project.” Upright pianos used to be an important part of family entertainment. We had one in our farmhouse when we were kids and we used to play it all the time. It made for some great duets and some hysterical sessions of musical chairs.
There was also a very large alfalfa field that had been turned into “Field Billiards” by the Wilkinson and Ramsey Families.
This billiards scene included a monstrous pool cue made from a utility pole.
There were also some cute calves at the edge of the “pool table” that were getting their share of petting and pictures that day.
In addition to being an entertaining day, it was also very educational. There are signs along the route called “Field Notes” and they teach you about the land, the soil, wetlands, the dairy industry, etc. Here’s one about corn.
And I also learned quite a bit about antique tractors and other farm equipment.
One of my most favorite creations from the day was at the entrance to a FarmForm called Farmhenge, which was created by Harlan Ferstl and the McCluskey Brothers. It was a parody of the famous Grant Wood painting called “American Gothic.” But this artwork was made of gourds and it was called “American Gourdthic.” The farm couple was named Gourdon and Gourdenia and they made me smile.
The 2015 Farm/Art DTour runs through Sunday, October 11, so if you’re in the area and don’t already have your weekend booked, give the Farm/Art DTour a try. You’re guaranteed to have a good time and learn something in the process.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
Photos in this blog post can be purchased as wall art, paper prints, downloads, phone cases, and keepsakes by clicking on the photo. You will be taken to the gallery website where you will see a big blue "BUY" button. Or to see all photos available, click on the "Browse Galleries" button on the menu at the top of this page. Thank you for your interest!
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster
By Joann M. Ringelstetter
On October 3, 2009, Ruth and I took a photography trip to Minnesota. We always pick a subject to photograph at first light and on this trip, we decided that we wanted to be at the Pickwick Mill near Winona, Minnesota. The mill is located across the Mighty Mississippi River from the small town of Trempealeau, Wisconsin. It is about three hours from my house, so that meant that we had to leave home around 3:00 am in order to allow a couple of stretch breaks on the way and still be at the mill at the crack of dawn.
We took I-90 to the Mississippi, then crossed over into Minnesota. It was still quite dark as we made our way along the river toward Pickwick Mill. Ruth was looking out her window at the river when all of a sudden she said, “I think I just saw the Loch Ness Monster.” We began to giggle, which turned into hysterical laughing that was unstoppable (probably due to how tired we both were for having gotten up in the middle of the night).
As the tears rolled down our cheeks from laughing so hard, I almost had to pull the car over until I could get control of myself. Luckily, there were few other cars on the road at that hour. Since that “sighting,” we’ve been on the lookout for sea monsters. We’ve found them in some unlikely places, such as on the side of this barn in Vernon County, Wisconsin.
On July 17 of this year, there were news reports about Steve Feltham, a man who has been looking for the legendary Loch Ness monster for the past 24 years and who holds a Guinness World Record for the longest monster hunting vigil. According to the news, Mr. Feltham has concluded that, rather than some form of prehistoric monster, the Loch Ness monster is likely a Wels catfish. According to Wikipedia, these fish can grow up to 13 feet in length and weigh over 800 pounds.
Mr. Feltham left his home, his job, and his girlfriend in 1991 to live on the shores of Loch Ness and to scan the waters for the legendary monster. Although he has suggested that the “monster” is most likely a catfish, he isn’t claiming to have solved the mystery that has baffled people for the past 70 years. In fact, he has said that he plans to continue his search.
Ruth and I will also continue our search for these mythical creatures of the water (and land). Our latest sighting occurred in Burlington, Iowa, during our spring photography trip this year. As I returned to the car after doing some early morning photography, I noticed a whimsical sea monster painted on a park bench near the car.
If you enjoy mythical creatures such as Nessie, the Loch Ness monster, keep an eye out for them. You never know when they will appear before your very eyes.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
On October 3, 2009, Ruth and I took a photography trip to Minnesota. We always pick a subject to photograph at first light and on this trip, we decided that we wanted to be at the Pickwick Mill near Winona, Minnesota. The mill is located across the Mighty Mississippi River from the small town of Trempealeau, Wisconsin. It is about three hours from my house, so that meant that we had to leave home around 3:00 am in order to allow a couple of stretch breaks on the way and still be at the mill at the crack of dawn.
We took I-90 to the Mississippi, then crossed over into Minnesota. It was still quite dark as we made our way along the river toward Pickwick Mill. Ruth was looking out her window at the river when all of a sudden she said, “I think I just saw the Loch Ness Monster.” We began to giggle, which turned into hysterical laughing that was unstoppable (probably due to how tired we both were for having gotten up in the middle of the night).
As the tears rolled down our cheeks from laughing so hard, I almost had to pull the car over until I could get control of myself. Luckily, there were few other cars on the road at that hour. Since that “sighting,” we’ve been on the lookout for sea monsters. We’ve found them in some unlikely places, such as on the side of this barn in Vernon County, Wisconsin.
On July 17 of this year, there were news reports about Steve Feltham, a man who has been looking for the legendary Loch Ness monster for the past 24 years and who holds a Guinness World Record for the longest monster hunting vigil. According to the news, Mr. Feltham has concluded that, rather than some form of prehistoric monster, the Loch Ness monster is likely a Wels catfish. According to Wikipedia, these fish can grow up to 13 feet in length and weigh over 800 pounds.
Mr. Feltham left his home, his job, and his girlfriend in 1991 to live on the shores of Loch Ness and to scan the waters for the legendary monster. Although he has suggested that the “monster” is most likely a catfish, he isn’t claiming to have solved the mystery that has baffled people for the past 70 years. In fact, he has said that he plans to continue his search.
Ruth and I will also continue our search for these mythical creatures of the water (and land). Our latest sighting occurred in Burlington, Iowa, during our spring photography trip this year. As I returned to the car after doing some early morning photography, I noticed a whimsical sea monster painted on a park bench near the car.
If you enjoy mythical creatures such as Nessie, the Loch Ness monster, keep an eye out for them. You never know when they will appear before your very eyes.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
Sunday, June 17, 2012
I Eats Me Spinach!
By Joann M. Ringelstetter
On the last day of our 10-day trip to Ohio a few weeks ago, we had our biggest day as far as the number of photos taken. As usual, we had been out before first light and we were pushing hard to capture as much as we could while making our way across Indiana.
The thing is, Ruth had planned so much stuff for us to see in Indiana that I had shot roughly 475 photos before noon and we were still only about 35 miles from the eastern edge of Indiana. So we decided we’d better start covering some serious ground in order to reach home that night.
One thing, though, that Ruth and I can’t resist is an old schoolhouse. So, in spite of the fact that we had decided that we needed to get moving, we stopped to photograph an old brick school that might not be there the next time we visit Indiana.
We pulled up in front of the school and it was looking pretty rundown. I said to Ruth, “This should only take a few minutes because I don’t think there are too many angles I can get here.” I took a couple of shots of the entire school, then the bell tower, and then the front of the school.
In spite of the poor condition of the two doors on the front of the school, I found the arches above them interesting, so I pulled in close for another shot. Then, as usual, I couldn’t resist at least looking inside. I often peer in through the doors of old buildings to see what’s inside and there’s usually nothing but deterioration.
In this case, however, I was surprised to find a wall full of graffiti. And even more surprising was that Popeye the Sailorman was staring back at me. I laughed, and then took quite a bit longer to capture Popeye since it was poor lighting and a bad angle. I’m sure Ruth was thinking, “Sure, only a few minutes…that’s what she always says!”
If you’ve ever watched the old Popeye cartoons, you know that, at the end, he sang, “I’m strong to the finish ‘cause I eats me spinach! I’m Popeye the Sailorman!” Toot! Toot!
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
On the last day of our 10-day trip to Ohio a few weeks ago, we had our biggest day as far as the number of photos taken. As usual, we had been out before first light and we were pushing hard to capture as much as we could while making our way across Indiana.
The thing is, Ruth had planned so much stuff for us to see in Indiana that I had shot roughly 475 photos before noon and we were still only about 35 miles from the eastern edge of Indiana. So we decided we’d better start covering some serious ground in order to reach home that night.
One thing, though, that Ruth and I can’t resist is an old schoolhouse. So, in spite of the fact that we had decided that we needed to get moving, we stopped to photograph an old brick school that might not be there the next time we visit Indiana.
We pulled up in front of the school and it was looking pretty rundown. I said to Ruth, “This should only take a few minutes because I don’t think there are too many angles I can get here.” I took a couple of shots of the entire school, then the bell tower, and then the front of the school.
In spite of the poor condition of the two doors on the front of the school, I found the arches above them interesting, so I pulled in close for another shot. Then, as usual, I couldn’t resist at least looking inside. I often peer in through the doors of old buildings to see what’s inside and there’s usually nothing but deterioration.
In this case, however, I was surprised to find a wall full of graffiti. And even more surprising was that Popeye the Sailorman was staring back at me. I laughed, and then took quite a bit longer to capture Popeye since it was poor lighting and a bad angle. I’m sure Ruth was thinking, “Sure, only a few minutes…that’s what she always says!”
If you’ve ever watched the old Popeye cartoons, you know that, at the end, he sang, “I’m strong to the finish ‘cause I eats me spinach! I’m Popeye the Sailorman!” Toot! Toot!
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
Sunday, July 17, 2011
American Gothic
By Ruth A. Ringelstetter
Grant Wood was born four miles east of Anamosa, Iowa. One of his best-known paintings is American Gothic, which depicts a man and woman standing in front of a small white house. The man is holding a pitch fork. They look like a typical Midwest couple of the early 20th century when life was hard.
In the summer of 2008, as Joann and I headed to Cedar Rapids to stay the night, we passed a barn with scaffolding set up along the front of it. We both looked to see what the painting was and were surprised to see that it was a replica of the American Gothic Painting.
We stopped and took a few pictures with the scaffolding, fearing that we would not get back to see the barn before something happened to it. I made a note of the approximate location of the barn and we continued on our trip.
In June of this year, we had the opportunity to return to Iowa to hunt up some barns and Joann asked if we might be able to find the American Gothic barn again on the trip. We planned for our circle to take us down to Davenport, then up past Cedar Rapids to Anamosa and then east to Dubuque. We decided that we could definitely make this barn a stop on our trip.
On Saturday night, we checked into our motel at Mount Vernon and then decided to go out in the evening light and check out the barn. The lighting was good, so Joann pulled over on the highway, and then crossed over to the other side to take her photos. The barn now has murals painted on three of its sides.
The following morning, we headed out bright and early as usual. Our first stop was Stone City and as Joann photographed an old stone church from various angles, I read a visitor board about Grant Wood. He had helped to found the Stone City Art Colony near his hometown to help artists get through the Depression. Sitting next to the visitor board was a building that was a replica of the house from the American Gothic painting.
The real Carpenter Gothic style house that Grant Wood used for the background of his painting sits in Eldon, Iowa. The house has a visitor center with vintage clothing and pitchforks available for photos.
As we headed east from Anamosa, we came to the Antioch School, which Grant Wood attended from 1897 until 1901. The school is restored and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Behind the school was the restored outhouse, and Joann can never resist adding another outhouse to our collection.
Grant Wood is one of the Midwest’s most prized artists. He was born February 13, 1891, and died on February 12, 1942. From 1920 to 1928, he made multiple trips to Europe, where he studied different styles of painting. On his return to Iowa, he was widely quoted as saying, “All the really good ideas I’d ever had came to me while I was milking a cow. So I went back to Iowa.”
You never know what you’ll find along the unassuming backroads, so keep your eyes open.
Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
Grant Wood was born four miles east of Anamosa, Iowa. One of his best-known paintings is American Gothic, which depicts a man and woman standing in front of a small white house. The man is holding a pitch fork. They look like a typical Midwest couple of the early 20th century when life was hard.
In the summer of 2008, as Joann and I headed to Cedar Rapids to stay the night, we passed a barn with scaffolding set up along the front of it. We both looked to see what the painting was and were surprised to see that it was a replica of the American Gothic Painting.
We stopped and took a few pictures with the scaffolding, fearing that we would not get back to see the barn before something happened to it. I made a note of the approximate location of the barn and we continued on our trip.
In June of this year, we had the opportunity to return to Iowa to hunt up some barns and Joann asked if we might be able to find the American Gothic barn again on the trip. We planned for our circle to take us down to Davenport, then up past Cedar Rapids to Anamosa and then east to Dubuque. We decided that we could definitely make this barn a stop on our trip.
On Saturday night, we checked into our motel at Mount Vernon and then decided to go out in the evening light and check out the barn. The lighting was good, so Joann pulled over on the highway, and then crossed over to the other side to take her photos. The barn now has murals painted on three of its sides.
The following morning, we headed out bright and early as usual. Our first stop was Stone City and as Joann photographed an old stone church from various angles, I read a visitor board about Grant Wood. He had helped to found the Stone City Art Colony near his hometown to help artists get through the Depression. Sitting next to the visitor board was a building that was a replica of the house from the American Gothic painting.
The real Carpenter Gothic style house that Grant Wood used for the background of his painting sits in Eldon, Iowa. The house has a visitor center with vintage clothing and pitchforks available for photos.
As we headed east from Anamosa, we came to the Antioch School, which Grant Wood attended from 1897 until 1901. The school is restored and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Behind the school was the restored outhouse, and Joann can never resist adding another outhouse to our collection.
Grant Wood is one of the Midwest’s most prized artists. He was born February 13, 1891, and died on February 12, 1942. From 1920 to 1928, he made multiple trips to Europe, where he studied different styles of painting. On his return to Iowa, he was widely quoted as saying, “All the really good ideas I’d ever had came to me while I was milking a cow. So I went back to Iowa.”
You never know what you’ll find along the unassuming backroads, so keep your eyes open.
Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
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