"Tributes To Creativity"

HI Divas and Dukes!!!

Rayme and I are always talking about "Creativity". So I thought I'd open it up to all of you to share your inspiration with the rest of us.

This past Thurs. Rayme invited Tom and I on a "Duke Road Trip" to see the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. It was their 75th anniversary.

I love driving up the coast so I can look at the Pacific Ocean and catch glimpses of the surfers out in the silvery blue. That reminded me of a project I'm working on for my sister . It's a tissue canvas with a mermaid motif. Note to self...... Finish the project.

Tom and I hadn't been to the POTM for many years. It was GLORIOUS!!!!!!. A double cast of over 200 men , women and children. They take famous art pieces and recreate them to life size.
We walked around The Festival of Arts first, to see all the local artists and what their up to. It's more exciting than it sounds. Some have been in this show for 26 years. We saw jewelry, sculptures, paintings, photographs, and some beautiful hand painted clothes. My favorite part was the art from children from Kindergarten to 12th grade. I wanted to take some of their art home and hang it on our walls. Note to Tom.....I need more wall space!!!

After the performance we were lucky enough to get a backstage tour. I have to tell you , because of my theatre background, I've seen many back stages and dressing rooms. This was the most well organized dressing rooms and makeup area I've ever seen. You would never have believed that they had just finished a performance with a 200 person cast just 15 min. prior to our tour. Everything was pristine and spotless. not a drop of powder on the floor.

Did I mention the cast and crew is ALL volunteer?

They had wig heads for every person for their makeup. In this show, to make the paintings come to life, every cast member has to have Very specific shading on their face. Almost airbrushed. The Disney makeup artists come in to show the volunteer makeup artists how to apply it perfectly. Then the cast member gets their costume fitted and they wait to be placed IN their painting. The cast member is then carefully placed in the painting and secured with a cable for safety. When the lights come up, the orchestra plays, and their frozen for a few minutes. Every Masterpiece, whether it was a painting, bronze sculpture ,a piece of fine porcelain or King Tuts Throne made you gasp when the lights came up.
I left there wanting to move to a town that is so committed to being Creative. If I lived their, I would be involved with this incredible tribute to Creativity.

Does your city do something to celebrate creativity? Let us know!!!!!