Brava Illustrata! Celebrating Grit, Grace, and Gratitude
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| Water Balloons |
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| Thank you for fixing my Hip |
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| Where did you find that baguette? |
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| Meet ya at Milestone |
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| Happy Pappy |
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| BuzzBin and the Frankenstein Ghosts |
By Tom Wachunas
“I would see this man, pushing a
cart down the sidewalk, with a baguette and wearing vans daily when working
@siloartsstudio . He always was smiling, and I have no idea where he was
finding this tall slender bread- or the story behind his shoes. He always
brought a smile to my face. No idea where he came from or where he was going…” - Kat Francis - commenting on her piece, “Where did you find
that baguette?”
EXHIBIT:
Dear Canton – recent work by Kat Francis / at Silo Art Studios, 431 4th
Street NW, downtown Canton, Ohio / THROUGH OCTOBER 28, 2023 - viewing hours
Monday-Friday 9a.m to 3p.m
https://www.facebook.com/makeupkat/videos/850532823145567
As bad luck would have it, I was unable to be
present at the much-heralded Friday the 13th opening of the Dear Canton exhibit
of recent work by Kat Francis. By all accounts it was quite the exciting,
well-attended event. And deservedly so. While I’m really sorry I missed it, I’m all the more happy to report that Kat’s
work remains viewable here for a few more days.
So what are we
seeing? A journal? A scrapbook? A love letter? An effusive thankyou note? Yes,
yes, yes, and yes.
It’s all largely
in the form of her playful, meticulous assemblages, many made with thin,
layered slices of wood, painted with bright, delightfully energetic illustrations
of the people, places and things of Canton’s sociocultural ethos that she has
come to love and value.
Here are some
excerpts from the displayed letter she wrote to all of us. “Hello City of
Dreamers…I am in awe of how resilient you are…You are determined. You are
unique. A city of underdogs that start successful businesses and help their
neighbors succeed any time they can…I have been inspired by you…because you’re
a unique, scrappy and a determined city, with so many talented, motivated and
beautiful people…Thank you for being part of my story. The good, the bad, and
inspiring me daily…Cheers to all you underdogs…keep creating the city that you want
to live in…”
So
on a personal note to Kat Francis, let me add… may your gratitude remain
infectious, your creativity contagious, and your joy ever increasing.
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