Hats off, or on, and that's that, at Paseo

When did women, and men, stop wearing hats? Probably the 1950s, I'd think, because they were so common up till then. Certain cultures in America carried on the custom, off and on,, and you're seeing more of them these days.

I learned recently that the real Dr. Seuss, Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel, who wrote all those great books, was a hat collector, thanks to an article in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/04/books/dr-seuss-himself-was-a-cat-in-the-hat.html?_r=0. No wonder he could write "The Cat in the Hat," and the Grinch wore a hat.

In my last post I referred to the hat show at JRB and the Elms, but the web site wasn't current at the time. It is now, and fascinating. It's not a hat show, but an actual millinery shop, installed by owner Joy Reed Belt. Lott at that web site.  The photos, and hats, are just so feminine.
What a great and original idea. Here are a couple of photos from the JRB website:

Here's the link for more information:
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=unqpaidab&v=001dTY-NYldfV08T3CJ-vGFCHGzH2cCKnYvBw03609ZSzuTnT-E9OWFYAWzmYi2rqD3KxmCHtdW96owbEWbmo_I_CCqXnWo3jAc08xls2ngk2adexYLNbknFR4RPWuzZQxo4Yl0N9u2eR4%3D

Paseo, packed and prolific

Susan took this photo of what I'd call "art art" a Paseo Friday.

We went to Paseo's First Friday last week to visit two galleries really, not wanting to spend a lot of time, but always drawn to the excitement and inspiration of that unique neighborhood. It was packed with people,  and cars. www.thepaseo.com/galleries.html

Sheridan Conrad

First was the relocation open house of our friend Sheridan Conrad's A Jeweler's Art, http://www.ajewelersart.com/ the only jewelery and metalsmith gallery in Oklahoma. She's expanded her gallery where she also teaches classes and it now includes individually dyed silk clothes, plus jewelery from several state artists.   She's been in business in Paseo for a little more than four years and is one of its true success stories.
Then we had to go to JRB at the Elms to see the latest exhibits, especially  of Rosemary Burke's fascinating and beautiful. nib fashion drawings.And owner Joy Reed Belt always serves free champagne too, which I suspect helps add to the spirit of the evening, and the sales. One exhibit I didn't get the name of featured women's hats, and it was almost a feeding frenzy of sales. I saw so many people carrying hat boxes.
Paseo makes you want to do art. It's alive with ideas and and creativity.  Go soon.

Inspiration

Grand opening of 50 Penn Place Gallery relocation was last night, next to Ful Circle bookstore. Great crowd. Been a while since I displayed there, but one of the new principals of the coop is teacher and friend Cletus Smith. Fellow student and painter Phyllis Pace is also displaying there.

Before going there we toured the photo exhibits at JRB at the Elms in Paseo. Afterwards we ate at Paseo Grill--terrific musroom soup, and then a little something in the terrific Red Piano Bar at historic Skirvin Hotel.

So much to write about, to paint, to do.