Happy Memorial Day

The Memorial Day posting is further down below, but I didn't want to override it because of its tribute to our soldiers, which I believe needs to linger a little longer.

Since the name of this blog is "Art By Burgarella," I feel obliged to add some of my art (trying to sound humble).  FYI, this is Panel #1 of 6 Panels, which is a collaborative effort I am embroiled in with two other really good artists--Dawn Mill (friend and Artists Guild Gallery partner), and Christine Thomas (friend and former Artists Guild Gallery partner).  See http://www.verobeachmural.blogspot.com/ for pics of the other four panels by them.  These two are mine, and I had a ball all year creating this on behalf of the Vero Beach Art Club for the City of VB.  We're almost done.  We work Mondays and Fridays, so we'll be at it tomorrow all day, then shoot over to the Artists Guild for the Opening Reception and Gallery Stroll on 14th Avenue.  These small pics don't do the mural justice, you have to see the real thing.

Panel #1 is of Downtown Vero Beach, abbreviated and edited of course.

Panel #2 is western Vero, pine scrub, hardwood forest, cypress swamp, with all the flora and fauna that resides there.  We will have a legend in a binder for all to identify and learn about the habitats of this fabulous area.



Below is my older posting regarding Memorial Day, so read on if you haven't already.


Remembering those who served, and being grateful for what they gave for people they don't even know, some of whom even object to their service.  We thank them for the freedom purchased for us with their sacrifice and devotion to duty.

So today Bob and I will do our meager little part and go to the beautiful ceremony the City of Sebastian always puts on for Memorial Day down by our beloved Indian River Lagoon.  Waking up this morning, this is what we saw out back  in our little piece of paradise.  We thought the flag waving would keep the birds away, but evidently not--at least not the ibis.  Enjoy your day, but remember what this day is about.

Well, it's 3:00 pm and we've come back from the ceremony and what a ceremony it was.  Since Bob's a WWII buff he was especially excited over the new memorial about the 4 chaplains that sacrificed their lives so that others may be saved.  There are only 3 survivors of that ship that went down that day, and one of them was right there to light the "eternal flame" by the memorial!  Bob was thrilled to meet this grand old soldier.  Many were wiping their eyes, including me.  What a country, what a town.  Thousands turned out for this day, we were so proud to be Americans, and Sebastian residents.  Below are pics.  Enjoy.

Crowds showed up to pay tribute to our troups

One of the three remaining soldiers who were survivors of the "Chaplains' Ship"



Chaplains' Memorial - beautifully conceived and completed



Piper who played "Amazing Grace"

Since I am Scottish, I'm nuts about the pipes, so included this pic of a very Scottish-looking piper.

Check back in a few days to see some great pics of things around our piece of paradise.

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

May 19th - more photos and a painting

Yesterday I worked on the mural from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, and had a great time playing with the acrylics.  I'm really beginning to see the attributes of this medium. Below is the cute little doggie I painted smack dab on the bottom of Panel #1.  Soon this panel and Panel #2 will be installed in the Community Center for all to see.  Launch will be in the fall, and it will surely be a shindig!


"Scooter" painted into the Vero Beach Mural May 18th

 Most of May 18th I was busy with the mural, came home and crashed.  May 19th, Saturday, did a little garage saling and finally found an old cookie press--only $3!  Mine broke years ago and I've missed it ever since.  Other "treasures" found their way into my van also, including my favorite style potato peeler which mysteriously disappeared when our girls came to "take care of us" when Bob had his triple bypass.  As I was driving my camera was making me constantaly stop, make u-turns, park askew, and drive slow.  Too many interesting and/or beautiful images for me to just drive by.  Below are a few of them.  The turtle is one of three I saw at different times today--amazing. 


Pretty little Florda house across from Archie Smith's Fish House in Sebastian, Florida



Blue Heron on the Indian River





Blue heron flying away when I came too close with the camera





Cow with cattle egret at Kashi Yoga compound on Roseland Road

 


Historic Archie Smith's Fishhouse on the Indian River




Gopher Turtle inbetween hissing at me.  This fella was at least 12" long 

When I got home I knocked myself out for a while weeding and moving plants around, I finished off the day with a little kareoke at Sandy's with friends from the Sebastian River Art Club, where I sung a duo badly with Kathleen Richter. 

Any of you artists out there feel free to use any of my blog photos as painting subjects.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

May 17th, just another pretty day ... with rain

Taking a quick minute to post a few pics from paradise.  Life seems to be getting a bit more pleasant and less medically-oriented six weeks after Bob's triple bypass.  Getting back to my art-life.  In that vein (no pun intended), here are a few pics I took today and yesterday, such  a wondrous place we live in.


Egret & Heron daughter Tracy and I found fishing along the Indian River in Malabar on Sunday




A handsome, stately Mr. Woodstork showing his stuff on Schumann Drive near our home yesterday




A very wary crab I happened upon today down by the Indian River Lagoon in Sebastian




Beautiful Magnolia found on a nearby tree when I was pumping gas at would you believe Walmart?




Snapped this sentry blue heron while crusing along the Indian River today

 Wish I could find the time to post a picture every day, because I happen upon sights like the above and capture it with my camer every single day, even if just out our back door on the canal.  It's fabulous down here if you love nature and creepy-crawly things which I do (except spiders).

Time to organize my pics for working on the mural tomorrow-- ( http://www.verobeachmural.blogspot.com/ ) , and then turn in.  So many blogs ... so little time.
g'nite!
Judy Burgarella