Moore Oklahoma Two Words A MAZING!!!!!

Yes, I said two words....AAAAA MAZING!!   It is crazy to think that is the one word I would choose   to describe my experience with relief efforts in Moore Oklahoma.  Did we have ANY IDEA what we were getting ourselves into?  UMMM...NOPE.  In fact I think you could compare that statement to becoming a mother for the first time......... LOADS of unrealistic expectations LOL.


 We had made contact with the main church involved with the relief efforts  and got "solid" instructions from a gal there.  So we thought we would just pull into DODGE, unload the donations we had and START PAINTING with at least the kiddos hanging out.  WRONG!!!  We got to the church only to be told that we had to leave because  The President Of The United States was due to arrive to speak.  So basically, his whole speech shut down an ENTIRE section of the relief effort for half the day.  STRIKE 1

The folks at said church  advised us to drive down to a  high school around the corner.  As we rounded the corner we soon realized we had entered" the zone."  Debris Field like I can not even describe to you.  We pulled into the High School and no one was there. LOL.  STRIKE 2

This used to be a gas station.  I did not even know what it was until Kevin said," There is one gas pump left in the debris."

Then I noticed the sign for said gas station

You can see the hospital that was destroyed.  We actually got to talk to a gal who was in the hospital when the tornado hit.  She lost her car in the storm.

I can not believe all the metal just twisted like it was aluminum foil.



This gas station just blew my mind.  You KNOW there were people working here when the storm hit.



This was some sort of an office building.  You can see the pictures still hanging on the wall...the wall left standing anyway.

Hospital

This was a neighborhood not in the direct path, but had everyone's debris blown into their yards and on their houses.  The mud stuck to the siding was something.  

Grass on the roof was  a common thing to see.

This truck still drives..but it has seen some bad things.

 Not wanting to give up, we drove across the street to see if the make shift relief tent there needed any help. They told us they were set up for infants and very young children and that they did not need any help.  STRIKE 3  

Then we saw a Beacon of light across the parking lot... GOODWILL.  I have never been so excited to see that sign in my entire life.  We pulled in and backed the trailer right up to the front door... and WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER they were more than happy to take all of our donations.  We asked the gentleman where we could go to volunteer and he directed us to yet another High School where the Red  Cross was set up.  YIPPEE!!!  We were finally making some progress.  Sooo, we round yet another corner and drove  into complete destruction.   It was like stepping into another world except is was organized.  We passed Southgate Baptist Church on our way to the Red Cross Hub.  It occurred to me that they were in the Tornado path, debris everywhere, yet the building looked to be okay. 


They had set up this tent to have services outside the Sunday we were there.

Once getting to the Red Cross we had to go through 6 gatekeepers before they looked at my website and got super excited  about what we were proposing to do.  They told us that they would call us on Monday to have me get started.  Sooooo we decided to go back to Southgate and just not take no for an answer.   BOY DID WE GET BLESSED!!!!!  THEY SAID YES!!!  and off to work we went. My family split up into four areas.  I seriously did not know where my kids were most of the time we were there because they were working in different areas from me.  Chase can climb like a spider monkey so he took the unloading the semis and trailers job.  Caitlin set up camp organizing toys, Kev was a jack of all trades and a runner and just kept the pace up for all of us and I took the Central Headquarters for getting every donated item to the floor.   We first got the grand tour of the Gymnasium that had been turned into a relief grocery store.  All items unloaded from the trucks and trailers coming in were sent back to a 10x 16 Sunday School room and stacked to the ceiling.  When the truck was empty, it was my job and the job of three others to quickly unpack box by box and send runners out to stock the shelves with all the supplies.  We moved thousands of pounds of freight and worked until midnight the first night we were there. 

Folks who were there to serve like we were at Southgate Baptist Church

This is the gymnasium we turned into a grocery store.

this is the line we made when we had to unload a semi truck. 

Daddy, breaking down boxes

Cailtin was one of my runners and she was in charge of the toys as well.

This row had shampoo, body wash , soaps, razors, etc.

These folks lost their home

Day two...the Red Cross was going to call us and let us know what location they wanted us at...ya, that call never happened and I was thankful.  I did not want  to leave  Southgate Baptist Church.  In fact, if we lived there, I would be there everyday that I did not have to work helping in anyway I could.  It was the most amazing experience of my life and the most memorable trip I have ever taken. 

Folks camping there next to the building.

 I expected to go down there, register with the Red Cross, take a few pics of the damage, and then offer some paint therapy to those in shelters.    What I expected and what I got were two entirely different things.  What I expected was to see chaos, and what I saw was the true heart of this country.  What I expected to see was disorder and people not knowing what end was up, but what I saw was volunteers from all over our country coming together to do whatever it took to get this massive job done.  What I expected to see was crying and disbelief for the tragedy that had happened....what I saw was smiles and laughter and an eagerness to fix any problem that any of the victims had.  What I expected to see was our government all over the place down there.  What I saw was Tyson Chicken ON SITE with 6 or eight semi trucks Feeding EVERYONE HOT freshly made sandwiches all day and all night for free.

Tyson chicken STEPPED WAAAY UP to help with relief efforts.

 What I saw was Conway Trucking allowing their trucks to be used to ship freight from alllllll over the country to Moore Oklahoma.  What I saw was Mercy Chefs feeding us all from food donated by major grocery store chains across the country.
 What I saw was the New York Fire Department


Mercy Chefs cooked nearly round the clock as well and man was it good food!!!

call us and ask what we needed and then Conway Trucking brought us an entire semi full of Gatorade and supplies that we requested.  What I saw was Oil companies step up and donate a semi truck full of supplies  and FEMA  LIKE  trailers for people to bunk in complete with generators that were quiet to run the power in each unit.

These are the trailers brought in by an oil company for folks to live in while relief effort were going on

 What I saw was Port A Potties donated by a local company  on every corner so the folks in the debris fields could use the bathroom.  What I saw was stadium lights on generators donated by a local company keeping the damaged neighborhoods lit so they could work through the night. What I saw was boxes and boxes and boxes of supplies coming form all over the country with notes in them saying they were praying for Moore Oklahoma.  Individuals, Churches, Businesses, those who truly make this country what it is not hesitating one ounce to fill a need any way that they could.  People were driving in from other states just to unload supplies and then had to go back home... IT WAS CRAZY!!!!    No red tape, no bureaucracy because they aren't there yet, no political gains, just LOVE.    What I saw was the HEART of the AMERICAN PEOPLE stepping up to help a fellow American in need without asking anything in return.

Kevin and the Pastor of the church saying goodbye. 

What I expected to do was paint for the Red Cross with at least the children and then come home with a  fuzzy feeling.....what I did was volunteer at the Southgate Baptist Church moving thousands of pounds of freight and in the process made some life long friends and  met  God face to face. 


With heavy hearts we headed to the truck to leave for home.

So that sums it up in short order for you.  If you have always wanted to volunteer at a disaster site but weren't sure how to begin to do that....my advise is just go.  Just go to the scene and they will have something for you to do.  Someone will greatly appreciate your help.

 OHHHH... as for the donated art supplies.  I will fill the canvases with love and color and we will sell them to raise money to send to Southgate Baptist Church.  I would like to raise enough money to buy some cars for folks who did not have full coverage insurance on their cars. 

 One more thing....the Liberty Chamber Of Commerce is teaming up with me to put on a fundraiser for Moore Oklahoma.  Money is what they need now.  We will have details of the event shortly so stay tuned for that. 

Happy Creating!!!

Love Kathleen

SALES SALES SALES IT"S ALLLLLL GOT TO GO!!!! WHOOOHOOOO!!!

Okay, I am SOOOOO EXCITED to FINALLY get to tell you this.....WE ARE CLOSING THE GALLERY!!!!  WHOOOHOOOOO!!!!!   Runs in circles doing high kicks.  OMG.. I have been keeping the secret for a loooong time now and it was freakin killing me.    NOOOO we are NOT going out of business.  Just the opposite actually.  We have become fully mobile and no longer need the building.  It is rather exciting really. WE are also preparing a new location for smaller functions that we will let you in on as it develops.  We will still have kids classes and summer camp, just at a different location.  WE will still have monthly painting classes, just at a different location.   We will still be painting  at Pirtle Winery, Baltimore Bend Winery, Conrad's in Liberty as well as a few other wineries and restaurants  that we let you know more about later.  We will still do Birthday Parties, and Private Parties and TEAM BUILDING...We are just able to come to you instead of you trying to get everyone to come to us.  It is PERFECTION!!!  

Here is a PEEKIE of the new ART CAVE....this is just a section of it.  We are still trying to pic colors and flooring...and I think I want to paint the fireplace....teeeheee.  More stuff to move in today and more work to get done but the space is cozy and finally feels like  a perfect fit.  I am super excited to get to share this with everyone. 

That being said, we have a crap load TON of stuff to sell at the Gallery.  Furniture, Warming   Dishes, Chocolate Fountain, Roaster Pans, Chargers, Party Supplies, Large Hutches, Glasses, Decorations, displays, shelves, the bar, Christmas Decorations, Halloween Decorations, Vases, Flowers, OVER 200 HUNDRED more paintings,  mirrors, Cash Register, Cash Wrap Counter, Office Supplies,  we might even sell the wine barrel..lol  you name it, we are selling it because I only need the things for the paint parties now. 


You will have a VERY SMALL window of opportunity to come in and buy what you want.  I be OPEN FRIDAY APRIL 5th NIGHT 5-10 PM.  This will also be  the last adult class held at the current location.  We are painting the Swirly Tree

Friday April 5th 7:00-10:00

I will also be open Saturday April 6th 10 AM-3PM.  Stay tuned for more info about the new location and the new traveling gigs.    For now, I have to paint....walls and canvas... lol

 

Happy Creating!!

Love Kathleen

I got INTO A GALLERY IN SALADO TEXAS!!!

Oh my goodness.  I am so excited to share the news.  I have been invited to join Griffith Fine Art Gallery in Salado Texas.  Here is the thing.  It is not just any old gallery.....no sir.  This is the big league.  This is "The Show".  This is the hub for all of the serious collectors in Texas.  Right down the street you will see a sign that says Guy Harvey and a little further down you will see a sign that says" Thomas Kinkade. "    It is kind of a big deal.  Kay Griffith is the owner and has been invited to THE SHOW just recently.  Her abstracts have been chosen by the top art gallery in New York and she will have an event and reception there in May. Crystal Orlando is another artist in the group who the magazines are saying "Is in the top ten young artists to watch" category.   I feel very honored to be part of such an amazing group of artists.   There was an energy that was quite intoxicating  as we all sat around chatting and getting to know one another.  I believe we will achieve great things together....and somehow feel like we will have the last laugh so to speak. 

Here are three of the six paintings Kay decided to take on.   Kay has them priced at 1550.00 each.  I may have stepped up a bit this weekend...LOL. 

.
The Salado Wildflower Art Show.  What can I tell you?  hmmmmmm.  NEVER SIGH UP for this one.  On a scale of one to ten stars... I give it NEGATIVE THIRTY SEVEN STARS.  The promoter did not even stay for the second day. They only had 29 booths.   They did not advertise or something because the people did not come.  They charged me a jury fee, and the guy next to me was selling  SALSA....how in the hell do you jury salsa?  They also let the library set up two tents over.  I don't know about you, but if I think I am going to an ART SHOW... I am thinking I am going to see some art and this was a flea market at best, which may be why everyone stayed home.    I didn't sell a thing at the show.  I did however get tracked down by a gal who saw me on the first day and she had to take two paintings home with her from the parking lot of my hotel.  ... so I didn't get skunked..lol.

 

My next show is in Springfield Mo the first weekend of May.  Plenty of time to just keep painting and get the new hush hush "Art Cave"  location rolling and broke in the way I want it.  Yes...I did say new location.  teehee.  That is all the info I have for now. 

 

Happy Creating!!!

Love Kathleen

FINALLY....Finished?

Here is the thing......I am lazy.  This is why I don't blog about every last detail in my world, well that and my publicist told me to keep my mouth shut..LOL.

ANYWAY.... I hate having to spend several days on a painting.  This one kicked my butt.  Really more so because I am in transition from being basically off for the last several months to it being show time.  This year I am starting two months early and have added new states to my tour.  Can I tell you that I still get goosebumps when a show invites me?  Especially when they get over three thousand apps and are only accepting 140-250 artists of every medium.  My goal is to NEVER loose that feeling and to always be excited.  With the excitement,  comes that voice in the back of my head screaming "ARE YOU CRAZY?"  Last year I did six shows...this year I have 18 weekends slotted for shows all over the Midwest.  This year change is coming.  This year will either make me or break me...good thing that I am meaner than I look..LOL. 

So here is the painting that I have been cursing at for the last few days.  If I wasn't so spun out, It would have been done in one day...but I feel a bit rusty lately.

ALMOST DONE!!!



"Afternoon Stroll"

72" x 60"

4995.00

Okay, I have several more paintings to finish.

 

Happy Creating!!!

Love Kathleen

new paintings

My heart loves the sea.  It used to just be the coast in Texas around Port Aransas....but after being in the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean...I have decided that I just love it all.  I love the wind, and the smell of salt and the sun and the sound of the birds.  I love the motion and the taste of salt in the air.  It calms my soul like no other place.  This painting is a representation of just that.  The textures symbolise the waves coming into shore and the foaming waters that are a result of that.  The colors are calming and it just makes me want to smile. 

"The Many Waves Of My Soul"
40" x 40"
$350.00
I am off to paint more now,

Happy Creating!!
Love Kathleen
 

It's Show time....

Oh how I love to go to art shows.  This year I have applied to so many I have lost count.... Why so many you ask?  BECAUSE GETTING JURIED IS LIKE TRYING TO WIN MISS USA WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT SIZE BUTT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN,,
                        ,,,(  hmmm settles back down and smooths hair after yelling)

Seriously people, the whole jury process is nearly impossible so you have to put in for several shows per weekend and hope that when they start throwing darts, your balloon gets popped. 

So after a long period of NOT INVITED notices, ( ...five in a row...WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE...LOL) ........ I got two invites in a row...for the same weekend... ONE AT THE BEACH...the other still in Texas.  Was one of the worst decisions I have had to make..LOL. On one hand, there is my beloved beach in Corpus Christi.. on the other hand is allllll the high end galleries in Salado, one of which I have been in before.   So in three weeks we are off to Salado Texas for the first show on my season.

 

 I really feel like my art has evolved from last year.

 

Yesterday was spent putting panels up to see what parts we needed and hanging canvas to see what I have left to paint for the event.  It is not so bad really.  I am farther ahead than I usually am...LOL...

 

So I have several blank canvases to cover for this show but not as many as I usually do.  The advise I got last year that stuck with me was "go big or go home" HOPEFULLY it works..LOL. 

 

I have canvas to fill!!!!  Off to the studio to maybe pull and all nighter. 

 

Happy Creating!!!

Love Kathleen

Holy Crap...I DID IT!!!

Oh ya, I have been quiet for several months on here because I was just plain TIRED.  Last year was crazy, but I learned A LOT.  I learned that I am no longer political, no longer have any world views, and no longer moved by anything in the press... LOL.. Okay so that is a total lie, but I have learned that this blog is only for the Euphoria Land of my art experiences and not for anything else... so if you are looking for rants, you won't find any here.  What you will find is lots of adventure, and funny stories about my art travels and experiences and the people I meet along the way.  What you will find on here is that I am focused like never before, and less foul for obvious reasons.  You will also see that this year, I AM going to be on here a lot more than before and I am going to stick to the bloggy blog thingy because I have FINALLY LEARNED HOW TO DO MY OWN PAGES!!!!!  WHOOOOHOOOO... OMG I AM SOOOO HAPPY I COULD JUST CRAP MY PANTS OR SOMETHING!!!  It is still not perfect, but I am finding my way. 

Check out the new pages...everything is finally coming together.  I have had to learn to say no, and learn to stay focused, and learn to stay POSITIVE.  This year is packed with stuff to do and I want to start telling you the story now, but it is 11:46 at night and I have been sitting here so long that my butt is asleep and I can no longer feel my feet.  15 hours is PLENTY of time on the computer for me... one more day of it and I think I will finally have my act together as far as the web stuff goes.  WHOOHOOO!!!    So....for now just go take a looksie at the new pages.  There will be more events, more classes, more traveling and more artwork on here before you know it. 

Happy Creating

Love Kathleen