Saturday, November 5, 2011

Summer Into Autumn


Nolemanu Hu
2009 Aloha Music Camp
This past summer, Tom used his design skills to help create a safer home environment for our dear friend Nolemana Hu during the last few months of Mana's life. Sadly, Mana passed away on July 26th but his generous, kind spirit of Aloha lives on in the hearts of all of his friends and family. Tom and Margaret attended his memorial service in late August where Tom shared wonderful memories of his friend and mentor. Shonnah sang a favorite mele which she and Mana used to sing together. Margaret accompanied her on ukulele. Later that evening, Mana's brothers Julian and Larry, Shonnah, Tom and Margaret, played and sang favorite Hawaiian songs in honor of Mana, a gifted Hawaiian slack key style musician and a man of quiet grace. We miss him.

Julian Hu, Shonnah, Tom, Margaret, Larry Hu




The June show at the Columbia Art Gallery
The 'Get Centered'  theme highlighted the 25th anniversary of the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River. Twenty-seven artists participated. Tom designed and created the 'Self Centrification Unit', a 'tongue-in-cheek' homage to the theme. His steel garden chair rotates 360 degrees and rocks, too. Inside the hood is a mirror to help you get even more centered!

Tom, his 'SELF CENTRIFICATION UNIT' and me


Tom and some of the MARYHILL MUSEUM
 ART INSTITUTE TEACHERS
2011 marked Maryhill Museum's Summer Art Institute's 18th year providing participants with teaching strategies to bring art into the classroom. On July 20th, some of the teachers came to PRAIRIE STAR DESIGNS studio and gardens for a tour. We always enjoy their visits as they appreciate Tom's quirky sense of humor. Maryhill Museum is undergoing a $10 million dollar expansion right now. Check it out at http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/


CHRIS KOKESH AND LJ BOOTH
On July 31st, singer/songwriter Chris Kokesh and her friend LJ Booth came to our gardens and
performed once again to appreciative guests. She is already planning on returning in 2012 and we are looking forward to that! Chris and fellow musician Jonathan Byrd of North Carolina will be performing at the Mosier Grange on April 29th, 2012. You won't want to miss it!


FUSED GLASS AND STEEL
sculpture by Tom in the backyard gardens


TRINA HAMLIN
Minnesota-born Singer/songwriter Trina Hamlin performed in our gardens on August 24th. She played piano and guitar and knocked everyone's socks off with her fantastic harmonica work.
She was really cool! She is planning to return to our gardens again next year, too!

Honeysuckle Vines on Tom's Trellis 

 Mystery Tour
The Hood River Community Education 'Mystery Tour' participants came to visit us on August 24th. The artist-in-residence gave them a tour of the gardens and enjoyed his visit with everyone.

Tom explaining his SELF CENTRIFICATION UNIT to 'Mystery Tour' guests

Tom and Nellie
Nellie was one of the first people to purchase a 
Prairie Star Designs 
garden sculpture many years ago.
  
'Mystery Tour' guests lining up to see 
 THE ROYAL FLUSH

THE ROYAL FLUSH

THE ROYAL FLUSH

Custom Seat by Dave White in
THE ROYAL FLUSH
is made of purple heart, golden heart and bloodwood.


BBQ Table
Knowing he likes to recycle metal materials, a friend recently gave Tom a Weber grill which had a broken leg. During the summer, Margaret had moved the outdoor fire pit to a new location in the woods to allow more people to seit around the campfire. Thinking her design might accommodate multiple uses, she suggested that Tom build a steel table into which the grill would be set.  Guests would have a warm surface on which to rest snacks or food while enjoying the campfire. The table keeps the grill off the ground and the fire is easily extinguished when the lid is placed. A secondary benefit is that your toes stay nice and warm while enjoying the campfire.

Junior and the BBQ Table
Junior says that if you double-click on this picture you will be able to see him.
Silly boy.

Entry to the compost bins and BBQ Table

On Halloween,
Tom told spooky stories around the campfire

Special angels Patti, Sylvia, Doris and Barbara
sang for Tom on his birthday

Boo!

Time for my 'Junior Associate' and me to contemplate the inner workings of the sofa.

Goodnight.

BOB

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