Ours was a glorious, if brief, summer’s idyll this past Sunday. Taking a route to Des Moines that threaded around or parallel to Route 80, Craig and I drove through countryside that was ridiculously, lushly fertile and green.

Ancient Forest by Deborah Butterfield at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park (photo by Rodney White / Des Moines Register)

Alternating between walks through the Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the displays of artists participating in the Des Moines Art Festival, we found favorites and friends: Deborah Butterfield’s bronze horse, “Ancient Forest”, in the sculpture garden was powerful to see in person. We were also reminded of her husband’s (John Buck) relief prints exhibited last year at CRMA.

Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum mug by Amanda Barr / No Tengo Miedo Clay (photo by Amanda Barr)

We purchased work from a delightful “emerging” artist, Amanda Barr, who explained that she was lately and happily single as well as “emerging”. Craig Lossing sent us away with new, exotic wood vases. And, George Lowe did not let us leave his booth empty-handed. We chose the most cunning small pieces from an array of his sensitively crafted ceramic vessels.

One of Craig Lossing’s beautifully delicate turned wood boxes

BTW, George’s parents, George and Alyce Lowe donated the land on the north edge of Marion for the creation of Lowe Park. It is there that my pup, Buddy, and I have most recently been doing our morning run. I am currently working on drawings of the wild flowers that bloom in the tall grass prairie tracts that surround Lowe Park’s Arts and Environmental Center. The generosity of the Lowe family and the work of dedicated volunteers have made this park an incomparable escape for our community!

Running with Buddy at Lowe Park

If you have visitors for the Fourth, I hope that you’ll stop by while Carlos Ferguson’s “Suspended Worlds” are still being exhibited. Delights await you.

Happy firecracker day!

Our resident wood-turner Craig Lossing makes intricate and spectacular miniature boxes, and also makes lovely teeny tiny tops, with which we are well stocked! Tucked into a stocking, wouldn’t it be great to find a Craig Lossing top? They’re great little spinners!