"But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; We are all the work of your hand. Do not be terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people." (ESV) (Isaiah 64: 8,9)
VIEWS OF A FARM BOY
GOING GREEN for 100 YEARS
AUGUST--2018
June is a special month for tractor lovers--like me. Yes, it is a special month for farm boys--like me. June-2018 is the century mark for the John Deere tractor. To mark this very special 100 year anniversary, I want to invite you to join me as we walk through the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum in Waterloo, Iowa.
RETURN TO HOMEPAGE>>>>>>
ART WALK
Walking is one of my favorite summertime activities. I am aways looking for new adventures so when I read about the Des Moines Art Walk, I knew that was a perfect fit for me. I would just love to have you join me and you don't even have to leave your home. Just put on your most comfortable walking shoes--and scroll down.
The adventure begins. There is a choice of starting places. We will join the thermoplastic walkers who appear on six busy intersections in downtown Des Moines and East Village (left and right). Then we will just follow the green dots (above) painted on the sidewalk that lead us to the general direction of many great works of art. There are almost 100 art creations along the six mile route. Here are some of the things I saw today. If you decide to go, just follow the green dots--they are in no particular order.
My View for the month: "A MONUMENTAL JOURNEY" This magnificent sculpture is the newest arrival to the Des Moines art scene--July, 2018. It is also my very favorite. It is located along the Principal Riverwalk at the corner of 2nd and Grand Ave. There is also history here. The artist, Kerry James Marshall, pays tribute to the National Bar Association. The NBA was founded right here in Des Moines in 1925 when black lawyers were denied entrance to the American Bar Association. Look at this sculpture. The artist designed this as a symbolic replica of the West African "talking drum." These drums were used by specific tribes to communicate to their own people using complex tones that would mimic patterns of speech that "outsiders" would not understand. Now take another look at this sculpture that represents a split talking drum. Note how one-half balances precariously on the edge. This represents a balance of justice and equilibrium--with tension. Some of that tension still exists today. Isn't that silly? If God wanted us to all look alike--he would have made us all alike. I'm thinking ahead when drums like this fit together--as a single identity. Then the talking drums will all communicate with each other in perfect harmony. Yes it is: "A MONUMENTAL JOURNEY".
