by EdKoehler | Nov 8, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
The Neighborhood The majority of families in my neighborhood had German last names. We first, second, third, or further back generation Germans were called “Southside Dutch”. Dutch, is this case, is an Anglo variant of Deutsch, the German word for German....
by EdKoehler | Oct 26, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
Happy Birthday, Gateway Arch! This week marks the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO. It’s official name is The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, a U. S. National Park, which includes the Old Courthouse (1839), site of...
by EdKoehler | Oct 11, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
The St. Louis Public Library We have seventeen library branches throughout our city. There are twenty more in the St. Louis County Library system, which is separate from the city, but part of the metro area. Pictured above is the Central Library, a Cass Gilbert Beaux...
by EdKoehler | Oct 5, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
Color “There is no color in this world”, wrote pastor/theologian John Calvin, “that is not intended to make us rejoice”. I doubt very many have gazed into a sunset, stained glass, or the glittering band of our Milky Way, without a sense of awe....
by EdKoehler | Oct 2, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
Country Water This week’s edition of Art & Whimsy is a few days late, due to our conference/work/vacation time in Nashville. Judy attended the American Association of Christian Counselors conference at Opryland and I went around town leaving portfolios with...
by EdKoehler | Sep 22, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
Strange Visitor “Look, up in the sky!” “It’s a bird!” “It’s a plane!” “It’s . . . ” The anxious and confused cries of the earthbound are calmed by an offscreen narrator who explains that a strange...
by EdKoehler | Sep 13, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
Anita O’Day The film Jazz on a Summer’s Day showcases Anita O’Day singing Sweet Georgia Brown at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. I captured this scene for my Movie Still Sketchbook. The film is in color, but I chose black and white because I...
by EdKoehler | Sep 6, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
I’m a dog person. I acknowledge cats as remarkable creatures, but I’m a dog person. I’ve had three dogs: Barney, the family dog of my youth, Waffle, our Golden Retriever/Cocker mix from early marriage, and Laddie the Schauchshund. A Schauchshund is...
by EdKoehler | Aug 31, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
Heads and Hats I’m not a confident hat wearer. I wear baseball caps, and from time to time a brimmed safari hat. I wear a boonie hat while cutting grass. I always feel a bit self-conscious, as if I’m drawing undue attention to my head. I don’t...
by EdKoehler | Aug 23, 2015 | Art and Whimsy
I Can Do That. (Really?) Considering what is art is a challenging endeavor. Some people who proclaim themselves non-artistic have strong opinions about what is art and what is not. It is reasoned that it’s not art, if they (the non-artist) can do it. Their logic...