Photographic Saturday: For Reference or On Their Own

From the seat of my bicycle, the promise of warmer rides.

I took the day off art. I drove Honey for his post op check up and learned that eye drop duty is going to continue till the middle of May. The news didn't cheer us up. But checking in on all the blogs I admire did put me back on track--but not enough to go to the studio. Instead, I went through the photographs I took before Honey and I got involved in this medical procedure that's going on forever.


The Grand Rapids, Michigan photographs I liked well enough to show:

At The J.W. Marriott, excellent lighting design using multiple pendant fixtures
to create a big bang impression and provide the cozier feeling of a lower ceiling over diners in their restaurant.

A provocative poster at the Gerald R Ford Museum showing Ford and
Nelson Rockefeller storming a beach in the Middle East for the oil
aroused my politics. Every president since could be so pictured.
This piece of poster art could be the center of a few blog posts
from me on my dissatisfaction with the under use of our own energy resources due to
smaller picture oriented interest groups.

Betty Ford's Presidential luncheon china. I was happy to see
I would feel at ease dining at the White House. My mom often set her table like this
to teach us etiquette should we ever get invited.
I set my table this way too in case my kids ever made it to the White House.
You use the silver from the outside in towards the plate. The center piece is a too high; it blocks
cross table conversation--maybe that was the purpose?

The Streets of old Grand Rapids in The Grand Rapids People's Museum.
I love taking trips back in time when life was slower, wood mouldings were hand carved
and store clerks knew your name and you knew theirs. 

The Apothecary Shop with the Department
Store's windows reflected in the glass, a good
reference photograph for the future. I like the light blue against
the dark. I might also like a square format?

Grand Rapids, The Paris of Furniture Design.  You  can't get finished artisan carpentry like this
anymore and not pay with your first born. Note the moire fabric on the walls. I did a  pre Civil War circa
renovation and used delft blue moire on the walls. Gorgeous. Grand Rapids was a big furniture manufacturing
town at one time. Basset came out of there and Steel Case, respectable names with respectable design. My
dad was in the furniture business before Art Van cheapened  up the business (probably by out sourcing)
 and knocked a lot of folks out-of-business.

We went there to see the Robert Rauschenberg Exhibit, but couldn't photograph any of the works.
We were allowed to make our own composition on a magnetic board. Honey and I got carried away.

To lunch at Leo's. And now we're going to lunch at  the California Pizza Kitchen.