Neighborhood Christmas

Today I've created a tag for Tag Tuesday where this fortnight's theme is Christmas Memories.

The focal image is actually a copy of a lithograph I purchased for my friend Sally's Christmas present.  This is a delightful representation of the Minisa Bridge, which, along with the high school in the background on the left, is about nine blocks from my house.  The bridge sits over the Little Arkansas River.  I cut the tag by hand, painted and distressed it, then added the beautiful painting to the top.

I encourage you to enlarge the scan and you will see it was designed and painted by Hugh Greer.  You can also see Jack's Drive In, the red triangle in the far back right of the painting.  The next time I'm headed that way, I'll take a photo of the bridge as it appears in the painting.  Of course, it will be without snow, since we've had no moisture for so long, it's pathetic.

 As a bit of history is in order, in 1928, the Wichita Indians (yes, they are a real tribe) built a ceremonial lodge on an island that sits in the middle of the Little Arkansas River.  The lodge was fashioned after Father Juan Padilla's church, the first church in America.  When the city of Wichita decided to build a new bridge across the river, it was suggested that the city planners incorporate a design similar to that of North High School.

The 40 foot wide bridge over the Little Arkansas River at 13th Street was built in 1932.  Students at North High chose the name of the bridge which is a translation from the Zuni, "Red Water at Sunrise" and chose the Indian/Native American motif bridge design.  The bridge incorporates Indian and buffalo ornamentation made of colored concrete and crushed glass.

This has special meaning to my foodie friend Sally, who was the school psychologist at North High until she retired a few years ago.  I have already given this lithograph to her, because we have a tendency to give gifts at times other than on "special" days like Christmas.  That makes "ordinary" days special to us.

But I didn't stop there.  I wanted to join Sheila at Orange Esmeralda, our wonderful host this month at Art Journal Journey with her theme Let's Celebrate.  But in order to use the tag, I had to turn it into a journal page.  And because this is definitely Christmas themed, I'm also joining Moo-Mania & More.     

Using a paintbrush, I mixed gray and white acrylic craft paints directly on the page in my new art journal.  Then I doodled around the page using a blue metallic Gelly Roll pen and a stencil.  Since I don't really like to doodle, this took forever.  I had to stop several times to rest my hand.  Next, I added the title "The Christmas Bridge."  The actual name of the painting is "Minisa Bridge at Christmas."

As you read, I'm linking these entries to Tag Tuesday, Art Journal Journey, and Moo-Mania & More.    And possibly even more important, I want to wish each of you, my friends, readers, and followers a very Merry Christmas if you celebrate it.  You are the reason I keep making art, keep sharing photos, and keep going day in and day out.  After all, you and my two cats are my family, the only family I have.  Have a joyous day.