Wish this picture had turned out better of Mother swinging a child in great delight with hair blowing in the wind. Art can be fun, can be series, can be controversial; but who doesn't enjoy looking at a statue? Don't we all love to pose by statues. See Flat Stanley is no different. This statue, titled "First Flight" in Worthington, Ohio on High Street in the NW quadrant of The Village Green is in front of The Senior Center. It's the only publicly owned piece of art in Worthington. It was purchased in 1998.
The sculpture is Alfred Tibor, a man with a fascinating story. He was born in Feb of 1920 in Hungary with the name Alfred Goldstein. Being Jewish was beyond difficult in those days. He was a very talented gymnast. He was self taught because of being Jewish he wasn't allowed training. But through hard work and dedication, on his part he qualified for The Hungarian Olympic Team. Though he qualified, he was not permitted to attend and compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics,
simply because he was Jewish. They wouldn't let him register.
In 1940 he was a slave laborer for The Hungarian Army, and was captured by The Soviets and held prisoner for 6 long years in a Siberian Prison Camp. There were 273 men at this camp. Alfred Tibor was one of only 2 men to live through that ordeal, all others, all 271 died. He survived The Holocaust, though most his family didn't. Of the 82 members in his family, only he and his brother Andre lived.
Once freed he changed his name to Tibor after his older brother who'd been executed. He lived in Budapest for 9 years where he worked as the exhibition designer for the Government. He fled the country with his family 2 years after The Hungarian Revolution and made his way to Miami, Florida here in The United States. Sixteen years later he moved to Ohio and has produced many meaningful and beautiful pieces of art. His art can be seen in many outdoor locations around Ohio and The World.
In 2005, he was in the news, but not because of his art. He was injured and hospitalized when a Deer burst through his living room window and attacked him. He's truly a fascinating man and has been honored repeatedly for his wondrous works of art.
Here you can see his signature at the foot of the Statue (on the right), as well as The Statues Title.
Take the kids, walk, ride bikes, stop the car and explore what's around you. Take pictures of the kids individually in front of statues, even the young ones will enjoy it. This topic- in it's detail may not be age appropriate for all; but certainly parts of it are. A wonderful opportunity to discuss religious freedoms. What activity do the kids enjoy, ask them how fair it would be for them not to be able to do it; because they're Catholic, or because they have blue eyes, or red hair?
Have an art activity after you've been to a statue. Does your computer photo software have an option to make coloring book pages? Many do, you take your photo's and with a click can turn them into pages for the kids to color. How cool would that be, with them in the picture? Grab clay or play dough and have the kids make their own statue. As in all previous posts, there's always the math that can be done with dates and ages, places to find on the map, calculate distances, find pictures of flags to color. Make a word puzzle, or look up words in the dictionary.
Active learning is fun and so much more rewarding then too many hours in front of the TV.
Until next time, Friday May 21st Flat Stanley out.
Flat Stanley's Previous Adventures:
First adventure,
books and libraries
Second Adventure,
Hero or Traitor
I don't know if this is Toad or Frog? I don't know if one is a more correct term. I do know. I love this little dude with his Dirty Martini! Hubby and I saw him last year while touring our local Labor Neighbor Day and for some reason didn't buy him. All year we thought about it, and were glad to find him again this year. This is rather large Art Festival held annually at Northram Park. There's something for everyone. Sculptures for indoors and out, glasswares, hand blown glass, lots of jewelry, paintings, photo's and more. The favorite item every year are the handmade brooms. Though, I'm clueless why they're so popular. They're made by the same Amish Man, and every year he runs out of them earlier in the day then the year before. I don't know anyone who uses a broom vs a swifter and or vaccum...so I'm afraid it's popularity is lost on me.
Got a shovel, a rusted rake and screw drivers you don't know what to do with? Fred Jacobs of Lima Ohio (41-222-3659) uses his creative mojo to make something fun, interesting and useable. This is re-purposed, re-cycled, clever and a favorite item I recently saw at Upper Arlington Labor Neighbor Day and Arts Festival. I got his business card and had his permission to photograph his work. Assumed his business card would have his webpage url, sorry to say it doesn't. The Card reads Visions and Memories Fred Jacobs. I wasn't able to find him listed when I googled his name or Visions and Memories. There were lots of metal sculptures present at The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival. We traveled...lol, walking distance from the house for this event; but I do highly recommend it, and all arts festivals in your travels. We've been luck in our travels to hit one in Park City a few months ago, one in Breckenridge last summer and others. Check with your hotel desk staff to see what's in your area while you vacation. Support local artists. 99% of you will purchase souvenirs of your trips, why not make it art from a local artist while you're at it.
I considered buying this little guy (not the same artist). I didn't see business cards for this artist to share with you. Many of the metal scuptures were large and would be awesome in a beautiful garden, this one I thought might be cute sitting on my deck....and I love a good martini. Perhaps we'll come across this little frog another time in another arts festival. Cat lower right right is pretty cute too.
Hey Gator fans......think you need this one for your front yard. lol This is the same artist as the frog.
Pinon Designs. This Red Creek Agate looks great around my neck. I like interesting, and unique jewelry pieces. This is the 2nd necklace I've purchased this summer at art festivals. Leslie Heath and Christian Wig are the artists listed. Though no website is listed there is an email ccwig@bright.net.
This year the festival was held on September 5th from 10 am to 5 pm. It is always a free event with something for everyone. Often it's hot and dusty, this year it was cool and overcast; but that didn't stop the festival goers. It threaten rain all day; but luckily we all stayed dry.
Plenty of space to move around, to enjoy the art, to sit down and enjoy a snack or just rest your feet a bit. There were children's activities scattered about. Hands on art activities for the kids, face painting, bike races in the morning, a pet show and a family Wiffle Ball Tournament.
Neighbors catch up and celebrate the end of summer, the beginning of fall.
You can tell I was into the metal art this year, look at this Bumble Bee...........how cute he'd look in a nice large garden area. This years event had 350 applicants with 200 fine art, fine craft artists being selected to participate in this one day blind juried event. Mark your calendars for next and add this to your Labor Day list of things to do.
Wish this picture had turned out better of Mother swinging a child in great delight with hair blowing in the wind. Art can be fun, can be series, can be controversial; but who doesn't enjoy looking at a statue? Don't we all love to pose by statues. See Flat Stanley is no different. This statue, titled "First Flight" in Worthington, Ohio on High Street in the NW quadrant of The Village Green is in front of The Senior Center. It's the only publicly owned piece of art in Worthington. It was purchased in 1998.
Here you can see his signature at the foot of the Statue (on the right), as well as The Statues Title.