Impressionism from the Journeyman: August 2015

Monday, August 3, 2015

St. Louis: The Old State Courthouse

We made the time to visit the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. I had never been but my wife had spent some of her childhood in the state of Missouri and had some memories of past visits.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Starting the St. Louis Arch Tour Day

Itsy-Bit was anxious to begin the day tour of the St. Louis Arch.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Itsy Bits Photogenic Pose

The Old State Courthouse was well-maintained and reflected well against the modern glass buildings. Getting tickets for a paddle-boat ride or a tour of the Arch is accomplished currently in the Old State Courthouse while the waterfront National Park area is under renewal construction.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 The Old State Courthouse

The interior of the Courthouse is majestic with cool, limestone floor blocks and soaring columns to the capital dome. There were lots of opportunities to view historical displays in different wings of the building.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Old State Courthouse Interior

A view of the old staircases in the Courthouse wing.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Old State Courthouse Staircase

A mural in the Courthouse depicts the Intercontinental railroad and buffalo, two factors influential in the westward expansion of the United States through St. Louis, the gateway to the West.

Original Photo: Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Old State Courthouse Mural

And mural detail of train and buffalo.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Courthouse Mural Detail 01

And mural detail of buffalo.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Courthouse Mural Detail 02

The Courthouse had a buffalo skull on display.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Buffalo Skull Display

My youngest child, Itsy Bit, was surprised to see a full-size Conestoga wagon, an old-fashioned version of our Honda Odyssey, that brought families ad their belongings westward from the big cities.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Conestoga Wagon Display

A mural reproduction depicts the Golden Land of milk and honey with a view to riches untold in the Western mining fields.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Immigrants Guide to the Golden Land

And miner detail.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Golden Land Mural Detail 01

Some more detail of the gold miners.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Golden Land Mural Detail 02

And more detail of the gold miners.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Golden Land Mural Detail 03

And a final view of the gold miners in detail.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Golden Land Mural Detail 04

Today's blog entry reminds me of the previous blurb I did on Precious Dust: The True Saga of the Western Gold Rushes by Paula Mitchell Marks(1994).

Sunday, August 2, 2015

What Cheer Flea Market: Fun in Iowa

While visiting the in-laws in Missouri, we took a long weekend to experience the What Cheer Flea Market in What Cheer, Iowa (Thu, Jul 31 - Sun, Aug 2). Dad had been saying for a few years that I should make the effort to get out and see the show! This was a main event in our family visit. We even had to drive through Ottumwa, Iowa where Radar O'Reilly on MASH 4077 had the family farm.

We set up on Thursday complete with camp tents for sleeping over and had two sites with tables to sell. We were glad the family had some items they could place on our table to sell! This was a first for us! I have to admit I was interested more in the buy-side on this trip and being with family for a few days while we shopped. Also, we didn't have much room left in the van to haul stuff across the United States to sell at the fair or then haul back.

The Flea Market is held in the middle of a cornfield at a country fairground. We had excellent weather. The hospitality and organization was good. The rest rooms and showers were fairly clean and were a welcome respite considering the humidity. I personally found the best time for a shower was 3 a.m. since it was quiet, no lines, with plenty of hot water!

Each morning broke clear and sunny with a plentiful array of vendors ready for business with antique and vintage finds.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 What Cheer Flea Market

The fairgrounds are surrounded by cornfields, soybeans, and farm roads.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 What Cheer Borders

One of the vendors displayed a marvelous camper remodeled in bold, mid-century colors and an attractive sales display tent alongside. I have to award them Best-of-Show with a level of class to which we should all aspire. Just lovely!

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 What Cheer Best of Show Display

After getting over my camper lust, I found enough vintage smalls to fill three boxes which we could fit into the van on the return home. Some 1950-60's Yankee and Red Sox baseball cards, some vintage postcards, antique lithograph Santas, some gorgeous Bavarian china items suitable for artistic still life paintings, and three sets of Kissing Cousin curios. I also got some A&W root beer steins of different sizes, four English woodworking planes, some old books, an old miniature piccolo banjo needing some slight repair and refinish, and a vintage children's hand cymbal set. My Mom used to collect those when we were younger.

I was able to find three framed items that I thought were distinctive. The first was a curiously signed and labeled painting in the style of Vincent Van Gogh. It is signed "M. Madden 1986". It is hand-inscribed on the reverse:

V. Van Gogh "Arlie (sic: Arles) Old Mill".

Painted by M.M. van Gogh-GGS-CA (1986)

To Jack and Mary Ann Rezabek

Further, it is stamped three times with address labels for:

Martin Madden Construction Consultant

Lord International Inc.

Delta Lord University

Cairo, Egypt

Ismalia, A.R.E

Pasadena, California

The second oil painting was signed "Hulbert after Ziegler". A lovely, wistful image of two individuals gazing off into the distance while enjoying a sunny, breezy day on a hilltop. This rendition is characteristic of the color and style of Eustace Paul Ziegler (1881 -1969) depicting rugged Alaskan individuals in frontier scenery. At this early stage of my research into the painting, this original painting does not yet appear to be an explicit copy of any Zeigler painting or portion thereof. Its compelling image may be original. I wish I knew more about Hulbert.

The third item was a turn-of-the-century lithograph suitable for a dining room that I will label "Still Life of Farm Fruit". My wife found this item and called me back to ask my opinion. It was affordably priced, we have bought others similar to it, and I especially liked it at this time because it informs the graphic depiction of a cantalope with longitudinal rinds which could inspire my potential revisiting of Baskets of Summer Peaches and Cantalope.

We had impending threats of thunderstorms as Sunday approached. For the most part, the storms went by us on both sides from Northeast to Southwest. But we were able to finish Sunday business and break camp before it started raining in mid-afternoon. A great weekend with lots of fun, some memorable finds, and visiting with family!