Westside Story – Evening With Art

Story & Photos – Joseph Boyle

My title, “Evening With Art”, is a little confusing to me.  I thought to myself, “Evening With Art?”, as I read my title the day after writing it.  Then it happened.  I was overcome with a pleasant flashback.

Art was my father-in-law’s name.  I loved my father-in-law.  For one thing, Art let me marry his lovely daughter.

I remember Art asking,  “Joe, would you like to head down to the basement and help me smoke my pipe?”  We would sit in the basement on a couple of old mismatched chairs in front of a roaring fire he had built in his basement fireplace. Art used firewood cut each year from his 40 wooded acres. Art told me his wood was special wood because it warmed him twice.  Once when he cut it and a second time when he burned it.  We  would sip a glass of his homemade wine while he smoked his pipe.  This was a great time to visit and spend time with my wife’s father. Over 50 years have passed since I first helped my future father-in-law smoke his pipe.  I miss those times and I miss him.

Oops, I guess I got way off track with my flashback.

The story I am suppose to be telling is about Edra’s, “Evening with Art” program.

Edra serves as the Art Director for Lakewood Starbucks.  I am not certain Starbucks calls Edra Art Director, but I do.  Just look at her photo.  She exudes art just standing there.

Edra hosted local artist, Patricia L. Walker, who specializes in “iPhoneography” & regular photography.  “iPhoneography”  is a custom word from Patsy.  I have never seen the word before, but I like it.  Just look at how this new word is constructed.  It is a new cutting edge word.  She does some wonderful photo art with both her standard cameras and iPhone camera too.

Since meeting with Patsy, she went on to be honored as second place winner at the May Fest Art Celebration held at Lakewold this past May 3-10, 2013.

If you would like to learn more about Patsy’s work, check out her website www.AWomanWithACamera.com.

It was a unique, fun and and enjoyable evening, but most importantly it is always a great life experience to rub elbows with the artist herself.

Two of my favorite Starbucks Baristas, Mac & Danny, gave us a coffee tasting during the art program.  We tried out a new coffee and pastry.  Mac and Danny talked about the coffee and its place of origin.  This was a tasty and informative experience.

Edra told me that while this is her first Evening With Art program, there will be more Evening With Art programs including programs from other art forms.  When she says other art forms, she is including music too.

I have an idea for Edra.  As soon as I become good enough on my harmonica I could play the Blues at Starbucks during one of Edra’s Evening With Art events.

Don’t worry, there will be no doubt when I am good enough.  It will be easy for me to tell.  When people stop throwing rotten fruit at me while I am playing the Blues harmonica, I will know I am good enough.

Oh no.  I did it again.  I got off track. Sorry.

I have included a photo of Patsy and some of her art pieces in one of my attached photos.

Even if you do not have a passionate interest in art, visiting Starbucks during a free art event is a great and easy, perhaps painless way to develop a new dimension, the love of the arts.

Try it.  Your life can be enhanced if you learn to love life with art in your life.

I will ask Edra to keep us informed regarding future dates for Evening With Art events.