Tom Fiorini Sculpture Artist

Lenox, MA - Tom Fiorini is a self described Hillbilly Hippie, has been sculpting in junk metal for 30 years. He also works in wood sculpting the wood with only a chainsaw. Being the hippie type, he does not own a computer but luckily his daughter is very computer literate and created his website http://www.tomfiorini.com/. Go to his website and see what new items he has created. If you want to contact him, it is best to give him a call before 8pm @ 413.637.5606. His sculptures have been shipped all over the world to collectors and fans of his work.



Milk can pigs.


New that mosquito will give you such a bite or is it bit?


Some of his chainsaw work, colorful fish.


This dog is one of my wife's favorites. I think his name is Singer.


Spring dogs.

Once my Grange House is finished, we would love to have one of his sculptures displayed in or in front of our house.

Riverton Christmas Ice Carver

Riverton, CT - This Ice Carver was working at the Christmas In Riverton event. Unfortunately, I did not see his name on the program.

Gyotaku - Fish Prints

Gyotaku is the art of fish printing, originally done to record the size of their catch. You don't have all the way to Japan to get print of a fish; now you can get a print of a native Vermont fish on a shirt for all to see at Emile A. Gruppe Gallery at Jericho Settlers Farm,



The shirts are made by Brian Swisher and Gretchen Alexander with fish caught in Vermont. Most of the prints are made with Bluegill, Pumpkinseed,Perch, or Crappie. The fish are washed, eyes plucked out, and fins pinned out. The fish are then coated with a thin layer of heat set fabric paint.



The shirt is laid on the fish and rubbed to transfer the paint. The fish is re-inked between printings. Then the "chop" (traditional Japanese signature) is stamped that reads "water", "art", and "life". Then the paint is set with an iron.



Information: Pamphlet on table

HILLARY M CARL - ARTIST/PILOT

Granville, MA - Granville Harvest Fair - Hillary is displaying her artwork in the Meeting House at the Harvest Fair. Her Bio says she gets her, "inspiration from the beauty of the wilderness and the exhilaration of flight". So stop by the Meeting House when you are at the Granville Harvest Fair and see Hillary's work. Her specialty is birds.





Hillary lives in Tolland MA and can be contacted at 413-258-4230.

NORMAN ROCKWELL'S STUDIO

Stockbridge, MA - This is Norman Rockwell's studio which was first located behind his house in the center of Stockbridge. This building was originally a carriage barn, conversion was completed in 1957 and in 1962 a wing was added for storage. In 1976 Norman place the studio and contents in trust to the Norman Rockwell Museum, which was originally located in the center of Stockbridge. In 1986 the building was moved to this location on the grounds of the Norman Rockwell Museum.

It was closed to visitors when I was there, I think it is only open during the warmer weather.

For more images and information about Norman Rockwell click link to Artsy.

Info: Plaque outside the studio

NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM

Stockbridge, MA - This is the Norman Rockwell Museum which houses most of his paintings. The paintings are displayed on a rotating basis so you can go more than once and see different paintings. What struck me was the quality of his oil paintings. You have to see them in person to really appreciate how good they are. I found out that the early covers of the Saturday Evening Posts, where he made his mark were limited on how many colors could be reproduced; I think they could only print black, white, and red. This influenced his choice of colors in his illustrations. More about Norman Rockwell and the Museum




Trivia Alert: Norman has famous children, these statues are created by his son Peter who resides in Rome and works as a sculptor. His other son Thomas is the author of the book, "How to Eat Fried Worms" which was made into the movie of the same name. In the background is the Linwood House which is the administrative building (more about that house at another time).

OLD FACTORIES RUSTY WATER TOWER

Housatonic, MA - I passes through Housatonic last weekend on a road trip and stopped to take a photo of these old factories. I am still predicting that Housatonic is going to become a spot where people will go to visit the galleries and shops; just how long it will take is the question. I believe some of the old factories are being turned into galleries and studios. So you people visiting Stockbridge, get away from the crowds and take a short ride to Housatonic.