Shingletown is blessed to be the home of the Man of Steel, sculptor Doug Stewart.
Doug Stewart’s artistic and fanciful life-sized metal renderings of animals dot the landscape. They share space with larger-than-life busy insects made durable in steel and stone.
You can learn more about Shingletown’s Man of Steel at his artist website.
His art is a prominent feature of this gallery at he corner of Hwy 44 and Black Butte Road. This Shingletown art gallery building is for sale too, and you can read more about it at the link. It’s a building with as many creative possibilities as the art it contains.
Big fun at Redding Soroptimist Mardi Gras
The 38th Annual Redding Soroptimist Mardi Gras took place last Saturday night. It was a blast! Who is that masked woman?
Funds received from this fun event are used to provide scholarships to deserving young women as well as to fund other service projects of the club.
Here is Erin Murphy with Dylan Darling from the Record Searchlight celebrating a win. The real winners are the scholarship beneficiaries.
You can learn more about our Soroptimist Club at their website. Thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors! See you again next year!!
Best photo of the fashion show
Sunday, I ran several photos I took of last Saturday’s benefit fashion show titled “The Collage.” I got some OK shots. But ultimately the most beautiful photo I saw was this, captured by my evening companion, the lovely Karry, using a Nikon S570. This is Kim, of Kimberly Nicole Boutique. The full size shot is really nice, with poetic depth and grace, and a good balanced composition. It’s a shot I wish I could say I took! I hope you enjoy this web version. Our thanks to the model, and again to all the models and show participants.
Rainy day reflection
We real estate agents are independent contractors. That means we often work many hours for free, hoping to meet somebody buying or selling a house. This very rainy weekend I held a house open both days on Foothill Blvd, and it was looong time between few lookers. I believe this was also the weekend for NFL playoffs. No playoffs here.
I’m still remaining hopeful that someone will come along eventually; they simply have to. This house is wonderful, and it will also put me in good stead when it comes to having the responsibility of selling homes in the future. In some cases, we may decide to look at other ways to purchase real estate, like through a land contract, for example. The person looking to buy the land makes an agreement regarding the payments with the seller, and will then pay the remaining figures over a certain amount of time. This again is decided between both buyer and seller. But don’t worry, once it has been paid off, the buyer has ownership of the property. Good, right? Of course, you will need a company like Amerinote Xchange to help you along the way, especially if you are looking to sell your own land. And there are some great pieces of land around here, which is probably why so many people have decided to build real estate properties on them. If I was looking for a house, I’d definitely consider buying one in this area, maybe even the homes that I set up an open house for on Foothill Blvd because they were amazing. But just looking for someone, anyone, who is interested in this property is my first obstacle to overcome.
Well, there is time for reflection. And whining, apparently! Things could be worse…
Fashion show pix
Took a few quick photos at the Fashion Show held yesterday at the Old City Hall to benefit the Shasta County Arts Council, and support our local clothing and jewelery designers. It was a terrific show and a lot of fun. We have some really talented local people. Here’s some quick photos:
Erin with Kimberly, of Kimberly Nicole Boutique.
It’s Really Redding.
Soup Supper at Lema Ranch for LWV
We attended the League of Women Voters Soup Supper at Lema Ranch. I sat for soup with Redding Mayor, Patrick Jones. He’s a very dedicated public servant, and I came away impressed.
Above, LWV member Erin Murphy and Redding Mayor Patrick Jones. Along with great homeade food in a matchless setting, we listened to a presentation by the State Auditor’s office about the upcoming legislative redistricting. There’s more about that, and how you can be involved at this article I wrote at A News Cafe.
Seen above, Mary Stegall of the Redding City Council, getting some soup. You can learn more about the Redding LWV at their online newsletter The Voter. Also, come on over and become a friend of the League at their Facebook Group. Their mission of non-partisan voter education continues.
Gently weeps for guitar
Pilgrim Congregational Church and Frank Lloyd Wright
The Pilgrim Congregational Church in Redding is a unique and significant building. It was designed in 1958 by world famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
” If it is true that architecture reflects the people that produce it, their life, faith, hopes and fears, the following comments will be helpful for the architect’s preparation.
There followed a description of Our Faith, Our Heritage, and Our Cultural Crisis and Position in Time. Some of the significant items were these: We believe that creative architecture will make people aware of the resources of our Christian faith. Men thirst for God and are particularly desperate in our time. For many people God is transcendent and distant. Our building ought then to reflect the intimacy and eminence of God as well as his majesty. Man, if we correctly evaluate his predicament, feels incomplete, fragmentary, and anxious. Our church ought then to enhance his desire for wholeness, and develop his capacity to fulfill his divine destiny and confirm his nature as a potential child of God.”
It’s a lovely paragraph. So interesting, that phrase “particularly desperate in our time.” 1958 seems rather idyllic when compared to 2010, but such is the nature of our perception of the present. When the resulting architecture is viewed in the context of the congregation’s stated intention, it truly is inspirational. You can read more about the present day Pilgrim Congregation here.
The church building is an understated testament as to how great architecture can capture nobility and yet remain humble. The angularity, the natural stone in concrete, the low slung ship-like main structure suspended beneath bone white cantilevered ribs, all of it integrates the intention of the architect and the Redding congregation.
When I used to work in Chicago and New York, I saw many examples of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work and influence. We are graced to have this particularly spiritual example in our community. You can read more about his designs for sacred spaces here, and find a site devoted to art of Frank Lloyd Wright at the link.
The existing church is only 20% of the original intended structure. How can we complete the vision?
The newer Sundial Bridge has become the architectural symbol of Redding. It’s a bold piece of soaring bravado. I think this church captures a more representational expression of our community and setting. I could take pictures of this all day long. It’s Really Redding.
Aren't the wheels supposed to be on the bottom?
Fatboys BBQ in Redding
Fatboy’s Rotisserie in Redding is on Twin View Blvd. They have a great selection of barbeque and more, and 12 beers on tap.
The food is tasty and served in very generous portions. The pulled pork is my favorite. You can add all kinds of condiments to suit your taste.
They have a meeting room area too, as seen below, with a flat screen TV. Barbeque and beer. What’s not to like?
Fatboys Rotisserie and Sandwiches 829 Twin View Blvd Redding, CA 96003 (530) 244-7754 It’s Really Redding.