Review of Painting World War II: The California Style Watercolor Artists
The art show we went to recently, in which one of my dad’s World War II paintings was exhibited, got a wonderful reivew.
Check it out here.
Weedpatch Camp
I posted not too long ago about the Sunset Labor Camp, or Weedpatch Camp. Here’s one of the wonderful things about the internet. I received a comment from Judy Anderson, a woman who lived in that camp as a child. We’ve exchanged a few emails since and she has helped bring history alive. For example, here is one of her emails.
“In reminiscing about the past I remembered a few things you might find interesting about the history of the camp. There used to be tents instead of houses. At least the front part was tent and the back part which was the bathroom and one bedroom was build very crudely with scrap wood. It rented for $10.00 a month. The one room wood shelters were $12.00 a month and the better built wood structures were from $15.00 to $20.00 a month. There was a general store strictly for the residents which had the absolutely cheapest prices anywhere. You were issued a card when you moved in and had to show that card to prove you lived there. You could buy a loaf of bread for 5 cents. It was not the best grade of food but it did keep people from going hungry. It was upgraded as time went on and lost some of the stigma of being poortown. Hope you find this interesting.”
Without the internet, blogging, and so on, we could never make these kind of connections. And I was able to put our local Dust Bowl historian Doris Weddell in touch with Judy. Wonderful.
Alice Walker and the Fannie Lou Hamer Statue Fund
You know that cause that I keep begging people to donate to? Even $10? We got a big boost the other day when Alice Walker (The Color Purple) made a $10,000 donation. Gloria Steinem is on board as an honorary board member and she will make a like contribution. It’s so easy – just click on this link for fannielouhamer.info; click on the NBUF button, and donate even a small amount. Then feel good that you’ve honored someone who was willing to die if need be so everyone could exercise the right to vote.
If you want to learn more, click here. Take ten minutes and watch a documentary my granddaughter made when she was in 7th grade.
Besides, as a committee member, I have to be bringing in some donations. Help!
The first party in the new house
More like a lunch than a party, but I had my parents over for lunch today so they could see the house as it’s shaping up. My husband went and picked them up. My sister and her husband came also, and we had a lovely lunch in the backyard. Beautiful day.
Stay tuned for more thoughts about moving and pictures from The Bellmore, a new underground (literally) art gallery in Bakersfield. Plus – I damage another camera.
