SPIRITUAL VISIONS EXHIBITION: 3rd and Final Pilgrimage to VA for SV.

I recently made my final trek up to Hermitage Museum & Gardens, in Norfolk, to retrieve my 3 'pilgrims' from the Spiritual Visions Exhibition.

I had planned to wait a bit, and plan a meeting with the staff a month or so down the line.
But with Leviathan called to duty, it looked like I had to hasten my plans for my journey.
So on a Friday afternoon, I set sail, whipped my way up and across to Norfolk, with only dwindling light at my heals.

My plan B camp site which eventually became my plan A

Night drawing down its shade

"Go quick and seek a place to lay your head, for when your neck will soon be weary of carrying it."

So, I scouted out a plan B camping spot, and then set out for downtown, hoping I might find myself a plan A, a risky venture.

So I docked myself in front of what (besides Hermitage to a certain extent) has become the closest I have to home base in Norfolk. Also, the closest I have found to 'Funky' in Norfolk, no doubt, it serves this same function to other kindered souls here. 

My favorite building block in Norfolk, shown here in the light of day

A lovely passage, where art meets life

Home of Yorgo's Bagelry

and this wooden furniture refinishing shop with kniving marketing approach.

Here found I myself upstairs at the Belmont, seated at a bar with 3 young lasses, who said:

"Hold on a second,  let me get this straight. You're an artist, and you're here in Norfolk alone, and you're here drinking at the Belmont for the first time, and next you're about to go salsa dancing at the Mambo Room?"

To which the best I could reply was:

"yup"

"cheers"

and

"ya'll comin'?"

For off I had to boogie, to The Boogie, at the

where there I proceeded to dance the night off, and my ass away (making nefarious passes at various lasses, of all manner of shapes and sizes).

Sleep that night was seldom. I am remiss to report that I wound up camping in the plan B of my plan B, not at all where I had hoped to B. But, in the morning, I was able to open my eyes and C, as you can here C.

And glad was I, for I soon found myself back up and at 'em, eating breakfast at a dear Diner named Doumar's.

The Rapture: The Ecstatic Tilework Of The Men's Bathroom Floor
 of Doumar's BarBQ, in Norfolk, VA

Arabesque

There, while drinking coffee and chewing an egg sandwich, I was blessed to witness the owner, Mr. Doumar himself, come in, put down his coat, and pick up his tools, setting up the WORLD'S FIRST ICECREAM CONE MAKER.

Yes, that's right, Mr. Doumar's Uncle Doumar, I believe, was the INVENTOR OF THE ICE CREAM CONE!!!

What a privalage to watch a pioneer craftsman laying out his station in the morning light, 

for a Cameo of the Cone!

I promised Mr. Doumar a painting, hold me to it, will ya?

Then, I was off to my twin appointments at Hermitage Museum & Gardens, to
A) Pick up our trio of Pilgrams, from the Spiritual Visions Exhibition

Leviathan, waiting on his stoop, to be returned home to NC,
and delivered the 2011 NC Artists Exhibition

2) To meet with Hermitage Museums's Public Programs Director Melissa Ball, and Photographer Ed Pollard, to discuss our plans the the upcoming Reclamation Exhibition!!!......

I had a really good time hanging out with these two, and hashing out ideas, and spent a very both relaxing and energizing day afterwards at Hermitage, sketching a few choice artworks from their permanent collection.

Also was able to track down Truly, whom I am hoping to collaborate on a limited edition product line for Hermitage. Its funny, I thought that I had missed her that weekend, she was off, so had pretty well given up. But I was able to convince the staff to let me go in and sketch the permanent collection (though I think that area was closed.
   As I crept down the darkened hall, to visit one quite powerful, very old piece...
who did I find but Truly, with pale skin, and eyes all lit up. My god, she scared the CRAP out of me. It was the first time in my life, I truly thought for a second I might be attacked by a vampire ; no joke!
 So anyways, Truly didn't drain my arteries and tuck me behind an old sofa, and we got to discuss business alittle, in those darkened halls.

Darkness was drawing down again, and so I had to split, hit the road, in hopes of getting back for my buddy, Joey Howell's awesome Galactic Art Opening (well worth it!).

Before I hit the road, I revisited a spot I had found the night before.

I stumbled upon this bizarre scene of a metal scrap yard, across the tracks, behind a fence behind a parking lot.

You can find alot of things when you are looking for a good place to sleep (besides, that is, a good place to sleep).