Kerrie Warren- Expressionism Through Paint

June 26, 2011 By 5 Comments

Expressionism is not your typical style of painting.  It allows the artist to do whatever they wish, without boundaries or limits.  There is no right or wrong to their work, just pure passion on canvas.

Some people see it as a variety of colors and nothing more, while others see something more defined and intense.  Either way, the work is awe-inspiring!

Today, the Expressionist Magazine sits down with Kerrie Warren, an Expressionist painter we found in Australia.  She’s halfway around the world, yet her work connects us all.

1. Tell us a little about yourself- where you are from, are you married, etc. (bio.)

I was born in Melbourne in 1968 and lived a ‘gypsy’ type lifestyle with my younger brother and sister, regularly moving from place to place.  My parents had grand ambitions and fresh ideas with each move so I remember it was always exciting to pack up, but emotionally torturous walking into the next ‘new school’.

To date, I’ve moved 34 times (including caravans) but like a tree I’ve grown roots here in Crossover (Victoria, Australia) with my husband Chris, two beautiful dogs, Garth and Tess, and an old horse named Billy.

I’m a country girl at heart and experienced living on a number of large properties as a child, so I’m completely at home here surrounded by green pasture, rolling hills, dairy cattle and wild birds (paradise for an artist / hermit).  I’ve been here for ten years now and my studio is an old (renovated) dairy.

2. At what age did you start painting, and what got you interested?

From a very young age I loved drawing and writing poetry.  I didn’t have access to paint and brushes, probably due to moving about so much (and pencils were quick to pack up).  My father and both grandfathers enjoyed drawing and I can remember myself and my brother Rodney spending hours upon hours drawing whenever we got a chance.  Mum would often surprise us with a new Derwent pencil and I’ll never forget how exciting it was to smell the wood and admire the fresh color!

But poetry was my pure expression of self.  If I ever felt ‘lost’ or ‘anxious’ (common feelings in those days), I would completely loose myself in the rhythmic words.  The sensation was so profound. From a very early age I was able to tap into ‘me within’, to ‘the source’, and my worries seemed insignificant and I would be at peace again for a short period.  Even reading my poetry late at night helped keep me sane (art therapy).

It wasn’t until years later I learned that poetry is ‘abstract’; it all started to fit into place like a jigsaw puzzle.

I left school to work when I was sixteen, following in my parents’ footsteps and working in a variety of fields hoping that something would ‘fit’. I wound up working in regional television and producing, which I enjoyed to some extent, but still found myself sitting in the car during my lunch breaks madly writing poetry.  I had a mid-life crisis at twenty-five, which was the best thing that ever happened.  I sold my car and enrolled to get my Diploma of Art in Ceramics (I had never touched clay before).

My whole being yearned to create and I allowed myself to be guided by instinct.  These studies also included formal drawing classes and I had taken on additional painting classes too.  The whole world seemed to open up before me and I fell in love with life itself.  I discovered in those years that the raw materials have a life of their own and instead of manipulating them, I would work with them and allow them to take me on a journey within (like poetry did).

I became more and more intrigued by the process itself and continued on to complete my Diploma of Transpersonal Art Therapy in Melbourne where my mind was opened up to ‘working in the moment’ to ‘abstract expressionism’ !

3. Tell us a little about the part of Australia where you currently reside.

I live in Crossover (West Gippsland), Victoria, Australia.  It is approximately 1.5 hours from our capital city, Melbourne.  http://www.westgippsland.com.au/

4. How would you describe Abstract Expressionism to those who may not be familiar with the art   form?

For those unfamiliar with this style of work it would be best to break it down first and look at the word, abstract, which means to not represent or imitate external reality. (Non-representational)

Expressionism represents the ability to express emotional experience rather than impressions of the external world.

‘Abstract Expressionism’ is also known as ‘Action Painting’.  My work is furiously energetic; a free and spontaneous application of paint which allows the release of pure creativity of the unconscious mind.

‘Spontaneous’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘quick’ and certainly doesn’t mean ‘out of control.’  It’s about stepping into spontaneous itself and being ‘in flow;’ to be at one with the canvas and clear of mind in order to work in that zone and be taken on a journey within.  I’m greatly influenced by my environment and what is occurring in my life at the time.  When the paint dries and I become the viewer, it’s obvious to me that my work is a visual diary of events.

This process is more akin to tuning in a musical instrument than it is to a traditional painting style and I work with rhythm, balance, vibrancy and pitch (in a visual sense) to a point of resonation.  I work with the force of gravity and the thrust of energy; the physical movement in those moments is recorded on canvas in paint.  I walk out of my studio at the end of the day feeling like I’ve been hit by a truck, though the process itself is a spiritual comfort and quite addictive.

5. Who, or what, inspires you?

‘Life’ inspires me.  I’m absolutely fascinated by the miracle of life on Earth.  I’m fascinated by the Universe and what might be on the other side of it.  I’m intrigued by life after death, by God and by the power of Mother Nature and why I might be here, in other words, ‘my purpose’.

I feel that I’m close to knowing something more, to seeing something more, to understanding something else when I’m in the process of creating.  It ‘feels like that’ to me and it is this sensation that draws me back into the studio day after day.

I feel more like a mad scientist than an artist most of the time and yet I have no answers. I don’t experience ‘creative blocks’; I simply make a start and then seem to be following a thread.  It’s excitably tormenting!

I became in-tune with this process during my studies in Transpersonal Art Therapy where I experienced working on the floor, working within the moment and often during meditation or after chanting and drumming sessions.

It was after this period when I first heard ‘the Pollock comments’ (often sarcastic) and I became curious.

I started researching and learning more about this Jackson Pollock.  I was intrigued to learn that, he too, had lived a gypsy type life as a child and had experienced Shamanism (as I did during my Transpersonal Art Therapy studies).

Over time I’ve become more and more fascinated by, energized by, and absolutely inspired and excited by his work.  Even though we are separated by lifetimes and continents, I feel a very powerful and personal connection that I honor and cherish.

6. Do you have any mentors?

I have a number of mentors including my mother (and artist) Judi Money and husband Chris Major who both offer understanding, encouragement, and belief in me and my work.

I’ve formed lifelong friendships with a number of my surrounding colleagues and time after time we have mentored each other and emotionally supported each other through the various cycles of living an artist’s life.

I do, however, experience moments in my career when I feel quite alone and I’m not sure of the next step (not inside the studio, but outside) and ‘self managing’ my career.  Each step is a new one to me.

7. What are your goals, dreams?

To be approached by a ‘Peggy Guggenheim’ who will be absolutely taken by my work, believe in my work and manage my career!

I would also love to create historically significant (and very large scale) works to be hung in and collected by state galleries and museums around the world.

To be known as Australia’s great ‘Action Painter’ on a global scale.

To discover what’s on the other side of the universe through my work (I don’t ask for much).

8. Where can we view your work currently?

I currently have work exhibiting in the Red Sea Gallery, Brisbane (Queensland), Australia and am in the process of organizing my up and coming solo show in Melbourne (details soon) where I will also launch my new design label ‘Kerrie Warren Designs’ inspired by the Guggenheim.

Until I exhibit again in New York, you can view my work on-line at www.kerriewarren.com.au

and my studio is always open by appointment if you happen to be close by.


9. Tell us about your favorite piece, if you have one.

Each piece is significant because it links to the previous and the following much like a chain of events, but I’m always most excited about the piece on the floor!

10. What does painting do for you on an emotional level?

Painting emotionally stabilizes me and provides a spiritual comfort; it allows the release of pure creativity of the unconscious mind.

11. How much time do you spend working on each piece of art?

I tend to work furiously over a 1 – 2 day period and then continue in a more subtle sense while the paint is drying (tuning it in), which is generally over the course of a week depending on the weather.

I enjoy building my own stretchers and bonding with the canvas itself before I launch into it.  It’s like ‘warming up’ first.

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Co-Ops and Art

June 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Co-ops can be wonderful outlets for artists, especially those who are looking for galleries to show their work when they are not established enough to be in a privately owned gallery or museum.  So what is a Co-op, you ask?

A Co-op is a group that comes together for a purpose.  In the art sense, it’s a group of artists that join together to provide a workable gallery or studio for artists to show or perform their work.  By joining together, many Co-ops provide opportunities many couldn’t do by themselves, like owning a gallery for instance.  Co-ops can come in and negotiate using the power of the group to provide affordable opportunities.

Some Co-ops charge those who join a monthly fee, some charge a yearly fee and require those artists to donate their time to help offset operation costs.  Some don’t charge at all, but rely on networking to expand their reach and services.

These organizations can be quite a blessing for artists, however, Co-ops are best if they are run correctly.  The main problems that Co-ops face are the ever present politics and cliques.

Since these Co-ops operate with a board of directors, you will have some politics present.  Everyone will have a say into how this should run.  Like some government politicians, they tend to make their time in office a life long career, and even after they leave office they still have a lot to say on how things are run.  If people do not listen to them, they will sometimes try to make a lot of trouble for the group.  Unfortunately the ones it hurts the most, are the ones who are simply involved to show their work and want nothing to do with the politics of it.

Politics and egos go hand in hand.  Sometimes you will see particular artists try to befriend someone at the top in order to receive perks, kind of like D.C. lobbyists. This can cause a lot of animosity among the others in the group, especially if that person gets their way more often then not.

Being apart of a Co-op I also saw cliques take shape.  These are groups of individuals in the Co-op that feel their work is far superior to the rest.  They criticize the others and are quick to judge.  When these people take over and volunteer for the day, they tend to not be neutral, and push their work and the work of their friends. In some cases they talk down about the work they feel is sub par.

This kind of behavior hurts Co-ops probably more than politics do.  The reason is, by trashing other’s work or ignoring it all together, the Co-op fails that artist.  That artist could be paying a fee to be in the group or taking time away from something that could financially benefit them to work the gallery to help offset costs.  If these people don’t sell their work, it soon could become a financial burden and they leave.

Lack of members with the inability to recruit new members hurts Co-ops because their income does not come from art commissions, in most cases, but from monthly dues and volunteering.  Without volunteers, they are forced to hire people to work the gallery, which takes away from the financial power to advertise and sponsor events.

If Co-ops keep politics to a minimum, and axe cliques before they become a problem, artists will find Co-ops to be a great way to get their work on display, grow their resumes, sell their work for extra income and learn from other artists who have the same goals.

Filed Under: Art, featured

Mel Majoros: The Cancer Warrior

June 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A lump in her breast was the last thing that Mel Majoros expected to find.  After all, she was in perfect shape, felt great, and was in the process of training for a hockey team.  Not only was the athlete physically fit, she was in her thirties, young and full of life.  Cancer was hardly something that Majoros was ready to process.

*   *   *

Mel Majoros loves hockey.   Without much motivation for the gym, Majoros was in search of an exercise regimen that would keep her going and give her something to become passionate about.  At the time she was living in California, and attending an L.A. Kings game, was a pretty exciting thing.  Majoros got tickets, and quickly became hooked.  In the year ahead, the young woman learned to skate and even spent her tax refund money on hockey gear.  Majoros found great passion for the ice sport.

It was 2007 and Majoros had moved to Michigan and began working for a radio station there.  As an affliate of the Detroit Red Wings, the station gave media credentials to the training camp held in Traverse City.  Majoros typically jumped at the opportunity to go to the camp.  That year though, it was different.  It was the last day of the camp, and the same day that Majoros got diagnosed with cancer.  Instead of heading over to see the Red Wings practice, she drove home and told her fiance.  Majoros then called her friends and told them she would not be going.  They knew something was amiss when she cancelled.  And there, at her home, Majoros sat and cried.

It wasn’t long after Majoros was diagnosed that she encountered her most profound moment; a time when she felt her once very stable world, crumbling all around her.  “It was when I started to lose my hair,” confides Majoros.  “The oncology nurse said it would fall out two weeks after I started the adriaymicin/cytoxan (the first chemo treatment), but I didn’t believe her.”  It was exactly two weeks to the day, according to Majoros, that her hair started falling out in clumps while in the shower.  “That was overwhelming.  It was then that I realized I was in for a battle.”  Majoros recalls the moment as extremely traumatic, and certainly one she will never forget.

Once a hockey player, radio station employee and someone greatly involved in the entertainment industry (she worked on the hit shows, Walker, Texas Ranger and Crossing Jordan), Majoros was now taking on a new title- “The Cancer Warrior.”

Knowing she had to keep strong and fight, Majoros used her sense of humor and athleticism as weapons against her diagnosis.    “I had friends who didn’t even know I had cancer, and they saw me lose weight.  I didn’t look sick, so they thought I had been working out.  I said no, I have cancer, and it’s the best diet I ever had,” said Majoros jokingly.  “You have to keep your spirits up regardless of the disease.  Why would you want to go through life in a bad mood?”  When Majoros wasn’t using her spiritual strength to get her through her darkest days, she was also physically trying to get stronger.  The hockey player continued to keep on the ice, and the game kept her going.  According to Majoros, having a trainer prior to getting cancer was greatly beneficial.  And while Majoros couldn’t go to the gym very often during her chemo treatments due to fatigue and low white blood counts, she continued on with the hockey and also participated in The Pink Ribbon Program.  This is a pilates program designed just for breast cancer survivors.  Majoros says that it helped with learning breathing techniques, posture and even self-esteem.  She loved the program so much, that she has still participates in pilates and goes at least once a week.

Despite Majoros’ strength and courageousness, days were still quite challenging, to say the least.  Chemo came with not-so-fun side effects.  Fatigue would hit without any warning, and there were varying degrees all depending upon the type of chemo and radiation.  “It’s true that the treatment is sometimes worse than the disease,” states Majoros.  In addition, Majoros developed osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis, possibly brought on by the chemo.

The side effects weren’t just physical.  Majoros suffers from “chemo brain,” a condition from the treatments that affects memory.  For Majoros, it is sometimes a struggle to just form a thought or recall a simple word.

As a warrior of cancer, Majoros knows how important it is to have a good army on her side.  She did not have to go through her fight alone.  Shortly after Majoros’ lumpectomy, The Vic McCarty Show contacted her.  The radio show out of Michigan features news and sports talk.  They were in need of a producer, and were hoping Majoros would want to step up to the plate.  Happy to do so, she accepted and was soon producing the popular show.  McCarty and Majoros became co-hosts and clicked almost immediately.  “Vic and I had instant chemistry, which is pretty rare,” says Majoros.  The show provided an outlet for Majoros to openly and honestly talk about her cancer. It wasn’t long after that The Cancer Warrior was born.

“The Cancer Warrior on Empoweradio came about after I was producing Empower for five months.  The owner of the station wanted to add more shows.  He read my blog that I was writing and thought that having a show which focused on positive aspects of cancer would be a great addition to the station,” adds Majoros.  Despite being a little nervous about hosting her own show at first, she soon realized that this show would be unique and unlike any others out there.  Majoros quickly took the offer.  “It’s always fun finding inspirational survivors or organizations to feature that might be overlooked by a larger show, station or network,” explains Majoros.

It wasn’t just being on the radio that helped Majoros get through her battle.  “I had a great support system.  The doctors and medical staff were amazing,” recalls the courageous cancer fighter.  She also gives much praise to her then boyfriend, now fiance.  “He took me to all my surgeries, doctors’ appointments, and chemo/radiation treatments.”  Majoros feels that caregivers often do not get the recognition they deserve.

She also thanks her mentor, Matt Zachary, for his great support and guidance.  Zachary is the head of the “I’m Too Young For This!” foundation which focuses on teenagers and adults ages 15-40 and what they must endure when they are suffering with a disease like cancer.  According to Majoros, “We are an undeserved population of the cancer community.”  Majoros found Zachary online when he was looking for guest bloggers for his website.  She had her own blog site, but eventually guest blogged on Zachary’s.  “Matt is a mentor, an inspiration, and best of all, a friend,” fondly states Majoros.  To this day, she will call Zachary if she needs advice on anything cancer related.  Majoros encourages other young adult survivors to seek out Zachary and his foundation if they need support.

Majoros has also found strength through the Internet.  “It has been a good resource,” states The Cancer Warrior. “It would have been nice though to have had Facebook or Twitter when I was going through treatment.”  Social networking was not available then like it is today.

Today, Majoros makes great use of sites such as Facebook so she can network and friend other survivors, advocates and organizations.  She also spends time blogging about her experience with cancer and attends as many charity events as possible.  In the summer particulary, her weekends are filled.  Relay for Life, Bike for Breast Cancer, and Cruising for the Cure are just a few of the events that Majoros participates in.  She is on the board of directors for Cruising for the Cure. Majoros is also passionate about speaking and sharing her story with others.

On September 18, 2011, Majoros will be four years cancer-free.  Even though each and every day for the survivor is a celebration, she still struggles.  “Survivorship is hard,” confides Majoros.  ”It is hard getting back to the everyday life.”  She describes her daily challenge as the “new normal.”  Majoros now suffers from depression, which she takes medication for.  Her hair has grown back, but is now entirely grey; something that Majoros says she is finding hard to deal with now that she is free of cancer.  However, Majoros is very thankful to be a survivor and tries to maintain a positive attitude.  She is active and exercises as much as possible.  In the winter months, Majoros goes to the gym regularly, participates in pilates and plays hockey.  While in the summer, she incorporates bike riding, tennis and other outdoor activities into her routine.

Majoros says that she feels that there is a strong analogy between hockey and cancer.  She explains how hockey is a team sport and you need the help of your teammates to get you through the game.  Cancer is much the same way.  You need a support system, including doctors, nurses, family and friends.  Without these people, you would not be able to overcome the disease.  In hockey, Majoros says that if you get knocked down on the ice, you cannot stay down; you have to be able to get up and keep skating.  With cancer, you must get up and keep on going in order to endure.  Majoros finds great significant in these similarities.  A fighter on the ice, and a fighter for her life, Majoros really is The Cancer Warrior.

As a warrior, Majoros has much to advocate to others going through her battle.  “Be proactive about your health, whether you have cancer or not,” urges Majoros. ”If you feel your doctor isn’t giving you the best treatment, seek out another doctor.”  Obviously, taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do.  And it is important to find others going through similar treatment.  Once again, a good support system is key.

Majoros began playing on a co-ed hockey league this year.  Her team ended up winning  the season and the playoffs.  “I scored the first goal in the finals,” proudly states Majoros.  ”It felt so good.”  It was her first goal after battling cancer.

Mel Majoros’ blog:  http://www.thecancerwarrior.blogspot.com

website:  www.thecancerwarrior.net

e-mail:  thecancerwarrior@gmail.com

Majoros is available for speaking engagements and for anyone who has questions about cancer.

Filed Under: featured, Music Industry

Disney World – Where Imagineers Live

June 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There really is no place on earth quite the Walt Disney theme parks. From the Magic Kingdom to the Wide World of Sports Complex, everything Disney does is magical. When I personally need inspiration as an artist the place I go to is Disney, because it shows what someone can accomplish and it all started with a pencil sketch of a mouse on a napkin. That sketch has become a multi-billion dollar industry where imagination rules.

This edition of Amazing Adventures takes us to that magical place where Fairies and Princesses live, and imagination is king. We traveled up to Orlando, Florida to visit the world famous Magic Kingdom and to seek out adventures in the “House of Mouse.”

I was super excited to return to the Magic Kingdom, because I heard they enhanced the infamous Space Mountain ride, and I wanted to try it.

Disney Experience

If you’ve never visited Disney, you are missing out on so much. The megaplex that contains Disney’s Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, Downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and the Wide World of Sports Complex is highly groomed and well-taken care of; the landscaping is immaculate.  To make it even more eye catching are all the luxurious resorts.  Staying at one of these beautiful places makes you feel like a prince or princess,  king or queen.

With so many options to choose from, it’s hard to decide which resort to stay at, and what park to enjoy. Luckily, Disney introduced a hopper pass which allows visitors the chance to experience two or more parks in one day, or over a period of days.

Take it from me, you will never be able to experience everything each park has to offer in a single day. I’ve gone to the Magic Kingdom four times in the last three years and I still find things I didn’t see before.

Magic Kingdom

If you can, try to get there before the park opens.  This was the first time I actually arrived before the park opened and what I saw was magical. They open each day with a grand parade – but would you expect anything less from Disney?

All the characters arrived on the train over the main gate of the park. They danced, they celebrated, and then the Mayor of the Magic Kingdom opened the gate in grandeur style. It gave me the chills.

Once inside, your first experience is a nostalgic one, as the shops and the original “downtown” of the park are donned in 19th century style from signage to the architecture, and looming down over the horizon of Main Street is Cinderella’s Castle.

I suggest going through all the rides first and finishing up with lunch or a snack and some shopping in Main Street before you leave.

Tomorrow Land: Here you will experience the amazing Space Mountain, one of the original rides of the park. There is also the Grand Prix, Stitch’s Big Adventure and much more.

My personal favorite ride in Tomorrow Land is Space Mountain. Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster, which makes you feel like your flying through space. In 2009, before they renovated the ride, Space Mountain was partially lit. You could see stars and the tracks ahead of you, but not easily. However, since the renovation, I personally think they made the ride even better.

Now when you ride Space Mountain, you can’t see anything. This is what my grandfather and parents said it used to be like back when the ride opened in the 1970s. You don’t know what to expect now – you can’t tell if you’re going to go blasting down a steep drop or fly around a sharp corner giving you a high G-force experience.

But don’t be scared, one of the best aspects of the park and something Walt Disney held true to his heart, is that none of the rides should scare you, just entertain. That holds true even today! Which goes to show you that you don’t need to be scared to have some fun.

Fantasy Land: Fantasy Land is home to all the fairies, the princesses, and wonders that await you in Disney. It’s home to the WORLD FAMOUS, It’s a Small World, and other fantastic adventure rides through your imagination.

You will also smile as you watch all the young girls dressed up as their favorite princess living the movies they’ve come to love.

I personally love It’s a Small World. The ride isn’t meant to be fast paced, instead it’s a moveable world of amazing animatronics, with a catchy tune and some amazing art.

You sit on a boat which floats through all the countries and continents that make up the world. You listen as the animatronic boys and girls all sing the same song, dressed up in their native clothes, enjoying life. It tells a story of morals as well as a story of art.  And that story is, we are all human, regardless of how we dress and talk. Despite our uniqueness, we are all human… making it a small world!

This is a great ride to get lost in your imagination, while experiencing a meaningful lesson we should all listen closer to.

Adventure Land: This is home to one of my all time favorite rides, the Haunted Mansion, as well as other great rides such as The Pirates of the Caribbean and The Swiss Family Robinson’s Tree House. This is the land where adventure runs wild.

The Haunted Mansion: If you like ghosts and creepy stuff like I do, this is a ride for you. You enter the ride by walking through a vintage cemetery,  just past where the former owners of the mansion lie. Then you walk into the mansion and everyone piles into a room, which seems like it is growing.

After the introduction, you are led down a hallway to your DoomBuggy, which is pulled along on a moving sidewalk of sorts. Once in your seat, you are  taken on an adventure that will simply amaze you. The brilliant artistry, along with all the unforgettable holographs, are enough to make you want to ride this ride over and over again.

The interior of the mansion has it all, from the musty old smell you would expect in an old haunted house to the cobwebs and wall paper; it is as authentic as you can imagine. The engineers and artists who made this ride are geniuses.

Throughout the ride, ghosts will interact with you, as well as dance and sing.  You will also visit a seance room, see corpses escaping from their caskets, and much more. I won’t ruin it for you, as this is a ride you have to see for yourself.

Then when you’re done, and you leave the mansion, you’ll be greeted by an authentic 19th century horse drawn hearse.

Independence Square: Libertyville is another favorite of mine. It gives you that colonial America nostalgia; something I know very well growing up in New England. It truly makes me feel like I am home.

This land has some shops with great nick-nacks that tell about our great history as a country. It’s also home to the award-winning, Hall of Presidents.

This show is housed in a building that resembles Independence Hall. When you enter, the Seal of the President is in the center of the hall, like in the White House. You’re greeted with authentic presidential portraits, inaugural ball gowns and other items from some of our U.S. Presidents.

When the show starts, you will see the work of one of the greatest wax sculptors in the world. He personally sculpted all 45 Presidents for this show, from Washington to Obama. They take you on a tale through our great history. President Lincoln even gives you the Emancipation Proclamation that he gave on the battlefield of Gettysburg.

Frontier Land: If you’re looking for the experience of the Old West with some high intensity rides, this is the town for you. Here you will find Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Tom Sawyer’s Island.

If you are looking for a daring plunge into a pool of water, you’ll love Splash Mountain. This ride takes you through the story of “The Song of the South” with Brer Rabbit. You’ll board a flume ride and drift through the story of the old American South. In the end, Brer Bear and Brer Fox will throw you into the briar patch, where Brer Rabbit lives. What you’ll experience is a 50 foot drop down through large briars as you crash into the water below- to safety!

If you like roller coasters, Big Thunder Mountain takes you down and around a mining mountain in a fast paced mining train. It is a great roller coaster experience for any age, so even the young children will enjoy it.

Once your done exploring the park, have a great time shopping through the original and authentic merchandise and art on Main Street.

Disney also is known for their extraordinary parades. You will see them happen throughout the day. So sit back and enjoy as the characters in the movies come to life and dance and sing. If you have a little one, there won’t be any more joy brought to your heart than watching their faces light up in amazement.

When the park closes, they put on a fireworks spectacle that only Disney can. If you’re not completely wiped out before then, I strongly suggest staying for the show.

Disney is always packed.  I encourage using a Fast Pass, which is located at each ride.  Just show up to the booth and insert your ticket.  It will provide you a ticket for that ride at a specific time.  You can then bypass the lines and enjoy the ride VIP style.

If you have young children, bring a stroller and hats.  Florida gets really hot in the summer, so sunscreen is a must and be sure to keep hydrated with water.  They sell water in kiosks throughout the park, but you are allowed to bring in your own.

Creativity: 5 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness: 5 out of 5 stars

Family Oriented: 5 out of 5 stars

Thrill Rides: 3 out of 5 stars

Average Ticket Prices $100.00 / Food Prices $24.00 for 2

Disney offers discounts and packages online, go there first to plan your trip. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/

** VIDEO OF MY EXPERIENCE COMING SOON **

Filed Under: featured, Places To Visit Tagged With: , ,

Experience The Dali Museum

June 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Written by Jonathon LaMella
Website: jonathonlamella.webs.com and twitter.com/jonathonlamella


The Dali Museum which opened in St. Petersburg, Florida has drawn visitors from all over the world. Even Princess Cristina of Spain. The structure is set next to the water and boast a modern design. A glass tube runs alongside the building and glass dome. There is nothing else in the world like it. The inside features a gift shop and café. I highly recommend the veggie wraps. You can also eat outside under an umbrella table overlooking the water. To get to the galleries you can take the spiral stairs which lead to the upper floor. There you can look out the glass structure. You may take the elevators as well but it will take away from the experience.

But who is Salvador Dali? Once you know who he is and discover his background you can became more familiar with his work.

Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dali I Domenech was born at 8:45 on the morning of May 11, 1904 in the small agricultural town of Figueres, Spain. Figueres is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, only sixteen miles from the French border in the principality of Catalonia. The son of a prosperous notary, Dali spent his boyhood in Figueres and at the family’s summer home in the coastal fishing village of Cadaques where his parents built his first studio. As an adult, he made his home with his wife Gala in nearby Port Lligat. Many of his paintings reflect his love of this area of Spain.

The young Dali attended the San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid. He did not graduate though. He refused to take a final exam and walked out of the class with all of the students following behind him. He passionately believed that he knew more than his professors did and didn’t have to prove his skills. But Dali’s reputations for drawing attention and causing a stir didn’t stop there. When he was a young man he went up into his room and bit his lips as hard as he could until they bled. When they were stained red he applied white powered to his face and then sauntered down the streets where the neighbors praised him for his beauty; unaware that his red lips were covered with blood. Early recognition of Dali’s talent came with his first one-man show in Barcelona in 1925. He became internationally known when three of his paintings, including The Basket of Bread (now in the Museum’s collection), were shown in the third annual Carnegie International Exhibition in Pittsburgh in 1928. Dali soon became a leader of the Surrealist Movement. His painting, The Persistance of Memory, with the soft or melting watches is still one of the best-known surrealist works.

Themes

The majority of Dali’s works swim with themes of his life, past, sexuality, religion and science. At one point in his life Dali had lost his brother. Shortly after his mother gave birth to another son. Dali resented them for having another child after the death of his brother. He hated his younger brother and this eventually melted into his artwork. In one of his paintings he shows Spanish soldiers attacking plump cherries. These cherries represented his guilt and ego because Dali found himself being torn apart by his hatred for his younger brother and his guilt for feeling such dark feelings for his family. Another aspect of his life that haunted him was his problem with masturbation which can be seen in a variety of his artwork. One for example shows a hand reaching into a jar that contains a penis. Others show his hatred for bureaucracy. But his work has not come without controversy. Some of his paintings mix together images of Jesus Christ and sexual images that many find sacrilegious and blasphemous. During the tour we learned one person had even visited another museum and slashed a picture of Jesus that they perceived as offensive. One shows Jesus on the cross but not bleeding or suffering. Dali did not do this out of malice toward Christianity but stated that he did not want to see Jesus suffer.

I was also surprised to learn that science and mathematics played a major part in his other works. A photograph of the Mediterranean Sea when looked at twenty meters away becomes Abraham Lincoln. Such works reflect his intelligence of science and mathematics. Copies of his paintings, portraits, and photographs can be bought at the gift shop.

Don’t Miss The Tour!

If you want to have a full experience and understand what the gallery has to offer and know the meanings of Dali’s artwork and his rich history, then missing the tour isn’t an option. It’s also free and can be joined at any time. The tour guides are friendly and will answer any of your questions. You can find the tour schedules on the website. www.thedali.org

Note: Admission to the museum requires payment. Only the tour is free.

 

 

 

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