Lincoln Hats in Springfield

The Lincoln Hat project was completed in May. The Springfield Rotary Club (Brian Barstead) was the driving force in accomplishing this. There are 11 huge hats dotting the streets of Springfield and (I believe) 11 large hats to be found inside businesses. After turning in my huge and large matching hats, I said that I could use another of my designs and do a second large hat. So I have a total of 3 hats.
My first huge and large hats are located at The Widow at Windsor antique store at the corner of 5th and Cook in Springfield. These hats are painted black with a gold hatband which says "In Mr. Lincoln's Words". The stars are edged with mini gold stars which create a gold band and each had a Lincoln quotation on it. The quotations on the large hat had to be entirely different than the huge hat because they could not be reduced and still be legible. So the large hat has short quotes.

The second large hat is from my 2nd winning design and is brown with a copper band. It says, "If I had a different face, would I wear this one?" It has four Lincoln profiles each filled with a collage of Lincoln photographs. This hat is also on 5th street--in the window of the radio station offices just south of the Old State Capitol plaza.

The Rotary and local businesses sponsered a wonderful reception for the artists and the hats at the Inn at 835 here in town. The hats went up by June 1rst. Many will come down in September, but mine will stay at the Widow at Windsor, thanks to the generosity of the owners, Tom and Marilyn Kushack. It will be a permanent display.

If you are in Springfield, you should try to see all of the wonderful hats on display around town.

Thanks to being a hat artist, I was interviewed for the Champaign magazine, At Home. The article, complete with pictures of my studio, art work, and (probably) inane comments by me will be published in the Sept/Oct issue.

Arts News

My life has changed yet again. I have been babysitting two grandchildren (at my daughter's house) for the past 3 1/2 weeks. Tomorrow the 3 year old begins preschool and I will have the care of my only granddaughter, Cecilia, 3 months. Because she can come to my house, I will be able to go to my studio and (hopefully) get some work accomplished. I have so many projects underway. While 2 children kept me tied to the house, I hope to be able to go places with CeCi.

This past week, Macy's held a reception for the artists who have work on display (for sale) in the furniture department. It was a lovely reception with food and drink. I have two pieces on the wall and was able to take in several others to show that evening. Thank you, Macy's!