2 Fave Things

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Dragonflies and cypress trees! I did not know either until I moved to Louisiana some 20+ years ago. I’m sure we had dragonflies in Iowa, but I paid them no attention. Cypress trees? Nope. Of course not. Learning to appreciate the beauty of a swamp was one big adjustment for this yankee, and cypress trees sure helped. This exquisitely beautiful spot is at Black Bayou Lake NWR on the north side of Monroe, La. Slide your kayak (or canoe) between the cypress trees, get to this open area in the middle, lean back (carefully), and drink in the peace and…

Something Old, Something New

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Well, not that old! But Red Flags over Atlanta has been around since 2018 and has been in quite a few shows. If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you know I love construction sites, and this is one of my first successful #HardHatArt #PerformanceArt images. I call them that out of great regard for the hard hats who stare at blueprints and wiring and plumbing diagrams and miraculously produce beautiful, functional buildings. It is an amazing feat. Visually, I am fascinated by the highly transitory patterns, textures and colors that change daily as the hard hats work. That…

“Dune Jazz” on a Roll

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It’s one of my favorite pieces. Why? Well, in part because it reminds me of my life journey. Growing up in Iowa, this kind of fence was a common site.., but it was holding snow instead of white sand! It lined the highways for miles, so that when wind hit the fence, it slowed down and dropped its burden of snow at the fence instead of on the highway. Imagine my delight upon moving to the south, visiting the Gulf Coast, and discovering that “drift fence” also makes perfectly good “dune fence”! Those connections that span decades and tie different…

Local: Happiness!

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Another local event I enjoy participating in is the Mayor of West Monroe’s art show. Her name is Staci Albritton Mitchell and the lobby outside her office in city hall makes a great art gallery. Every year since elected she has hosted a year-long show in that space. This year’s theme is “Happiness,” and I am delighted to have been selected to participate. I didn’t have any trouble finding images to submit! What says happiness better than butterflies and wildflowers, my fave subjects? Dance of the Butterfly won first place in the “Artistic” category of Louisiana Master Naturalist Association’s 2022…

“Blend” is almost here!

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Local friends, here’s your opportunity to get your “Bette Kauffman original” and help out a good cause in the process! Now, who can resist that? “Blend on the Bayou” is the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council’s annual fundraiser. This year I have put four pieces on the silent auction. Scouts Clean Up Black Bayou Lake is one of them. The scene is a scout troupe paddling out onto the lake to participate in one of Ouachita Green’s “water clean-up” days by picking trash out of our lakes, bayous and river. Thanks, scouts! This pigment print, framed 20×16 in a black wood…