Blue Ridge Parkway Judaculla Rock and I Love it!

My Artwork

Golden Farm Scene    Original Oil Painting has Been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

King on a Leaf   Original colored pencil drawing has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

I found another Blue Ridge Parkway Creature Tale!  This one is a giant in Jackson County, North Carolina.

Judaculla

There is a rock near Cullowhee North Carolina that has strange inscriptions on it. According to Cherokee legend these markings were the work of a giant named Judaculla.  Supposedly he lived in the region long ago.

The name literally means, "He has them slanting", which refers to the giant's eyes.  He was awful to look at with seven fingers on each hand and seven toes on each foot.  He was seven feet tall and very ugly.

Judaculla had control of the elements and all of the game.

There are many explanations for the markings on the rock.  One involves a fall that left impressions, in particular, a foot impression with seven toes.  Another is that Judaculla left hunting instructions on the rock as he was the master of all game and allowed the Cherokees to hunt.

The rock was an important focal point for the Cherokees and was the site of religious rituals until their forced expulsion in the 19th century.  It is now an historic site that people can visit.

I found this legend on Stories from The Mountains online publication.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I love to laugh! I especially enjoy word play!  There was a great one today on Facebook.  

A small child says she has Grandma on Speed Dial!  She calls it INSTAGRAM!

A Beautiful Moment   Original  20"x16" Oil Painting    $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Life with The Bird and Word Man

The next Blue Ridge Discovery Center Even is Almost Here!

BRDC at Independence Farmers Market

Fri, June 27, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Where	Independence, VA map
Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	scott@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description	More kids oriented educational activities.

Blue Ridge Healing Waters near The Blue Ridge Parkway and Anticipation!

My Artwork

Lion Explosion   Original 20"x16" Oil Painting    $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Eagle Fire  Original 16"x20"  Oil Painting    $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieN28aLojSA

I am real excited about my next series of paintings!  I am going to do a number of large paintings of Pawleys Island including some sunset over the ocean scenes!  It has been a while since I did a shore scene so I am looking forward to these new works.

I am going to do one more Kendall Expression painting and then get started.  I have had a great time working on my own brand of Expressionism but I am anxious to get back to my own personal Impressionistic style. I really do live to paint and I love to find homes for my creations!  I just mailed Small Flowers to a great Texas patron!

Here are two of my favorite Kendall Expressions paintings and the Youtube video I did on a number of them.  I need to get back to making videos!  I will soon!

 

Blue Ridge Healing Waters

The Cherokees have a tradition about healing waters in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  According to legend there is a mysterious lake high up in the Smoky Blue Ridge mountains that all animals are aware of and trust to cure their wounds.

It is said that whenever a black bear is wounded by hunters it will go this lake and swim from one shore to the other and then be healed as soon as it reaches the other side.

Healing waters are a part of legends and myths of many cultures.  Perhaps that is where we get the myth for the Fountain of Youth.

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

I wanted to again mention the newest Blue Ridge Discovery Center happening that starts tomorrow!

BRDC Day at Independence Farmers Market

Fri, May 30, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Where	Intersection of 21 and 58, Independence, VA map
Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	scott@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description	Kids programs will be provided on site.

More on The Staunton Theater Ghost Story near The Blue Ridge Parkway and Farm Days!

My Artwork

Wildflower Current    Original 30"x40" Oil Painting     $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Very proud of the color contrast and flowing motion in this one!

Kraft Avenue Blacksburg Virginia   Original  16"x20" Oil Painting     $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Beautiful section of Blacksburg wildflowers!

Bisset Park Sunrise     Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

This favorite sunrise painting is owned be a great patron in Germany!

Staunton Theater Ghost Story

Yesterday I wrote about the little girl that haunts a Staunton Virginia theater.  There is a little more to the story and another story about a male ghost on the premises!

Sometimes rolls of coins would disappear and then show up in stacks and patterns in the projectionist room. It looked as though the ghost was playing with them. The girl seemed to be most active in the upper story and the projectionist room.
A tall man dressed in a Victorian suit has been seen in what was the orchestra pit.  The suit did not fit.  It was too tight across the shoulders. As I mentioned yesterday, the theater was originally an opera house.
I found this story online at Ghosts of America.

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

As always, The 40th Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally was a great success!  Now Blue Ridge Mountain lovers can look forward to next week's Farm Days!   Clyde spent his early years on a farm and his father still has an extensive garden that we have enjoyed over the years!  No one grows corn like Herman Kessler!

The Blue Ridge Discovery Center is hosting Farm Days at Matthews Living History Farm in Independence VA!  Here is the address and a map can be found on the Blue Ridge Discovery Center website. The tour will include educational demonstrations and programs for kids at the farm museum!  Come on out for a great time!

Matthews Living History Farm

107 W Main St

Independence, VA 24348

More Star City Beauty near The Blue Ridge Parkway and Chasing Tigers...

My Art work

Foggy View from Mill Mountain   Original painting  Professionally Framed  30"x40"x2"     $2625.00

Prints on paper or canvas available at     KENDALL KESSLER ART

Here is another great morning vista from Mill Mountain in Roanoke city which is in the Blue Ridge Mountains and near The beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.  In this painting I emphasized my brushwork to enhance the visual energy of the scene.  

One of my favorite compliments on my work is that it reminds people of the work of Vincent Van Gogh who is one of my favorite artists.  I think both of the paintings in this blog are good examples of his influence.

My favorite compliment is that many people say they want to touch my paintings.  I consider my surfaces to be unique, intense expressions of my feeling for nature so I am not surprised when I hear that response to them.

Ridge Light    Original painting has been sold

Prints available on paper or canvas available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Life with the Bird and Word Man  - Clyde Kessler

As I have mentioned before,  my husband is involved with the Blue Ridge Discovery Center which is a wonderful organization that seeks to get people outdoors and enjoy and learn more about the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains.

Today I thought I would share a program called  CHASING TIGERS IN THE BLUE RIDGE

The Blue Ridge harbors so many treasures. In the Central Virginia Blue Ridge exists a phenomenal ecosystem, one that was probably shaped by raging braided mountain streams during the last ice age. It contains many disjunct species. In fact, over 90 species that are well outside their typical range have been documented here. It’s an odd mix of coastal plain, Appalachian and northern plants and animals. While several rare and endangered species exist here, today we focused on a well known Blue Ridge phenomenon: Salamanders.

The Rivanna Chapter of Master Naturalists hosted its annual salamander hike to this part of the Blue Ridge. With a strong group of nearly 30 people, we headed to the George Washington National Forest and into the heart of the 30,000 acre wildlife management area known as Big Levels. While we expected to see several species, the one that had our hearts was the State Endangered Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum). It has been documented at this site but rarely has it been seen.

Here is the link to the whole announcement!                CHASING TIGERS IN THE BLUE RIDGE

Purgatory Mountain on The Blue Ridge Parkway and The Blue Ridge Discovery Center

My Artwork

Another gorgeous spot off the Blue Ridge Parkway is Purgatory.   My husband took me there for inspiration and I was fascinated by the view and the name!

Near Purgatory 

Original painting has been sold

Prints on paper or canvas available at Kendall Kessler Art

Purgatory Mountain rises above the Great Valley. The  road passed through the town of Buchanan, at the base of the mountain.  The strenuous trip down the path and around sharp bends of a creek had stagecoach and wagon drivers referring to the trip as "going through purgatory." 

The creek became Purgatory Creek, and later the mountain took the same name.

I got the above information from Blue Ridge Parkway Guide by Virtual Blue Ridge.

Here are some more of my Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas!

Cloud Dance

Oil painting 30"x40"  $2425.00

Prints on paper or canvas available at Kendall Kessler Art

Over the Edge 

Original painting has been sold

Prints on paper or canvas available at Kendall Kessler Art

Life with the Bird and Word Man

My husband works closely with The Blue Ridge Discovery Center which is a wonderful organization that aims to get children and adults out into this beautiful mountain region.

My husband will be assisting photographer Nancy Kent on April 12th in Wildwood Park in Radford, Virginia with a program called Shutter Bugs.  

They will teach children and adults about the flowers and insects in the park and how to get great pictures of them!

I will add more about their programs in future blogs!

Mission

Blue Ridge Discovery Center inspires creativity, discovery, and critical thinking through interest-driven and hands-on activities focused on the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Our Vision

We believe that there is no better way to ensure the well-being of future generations than to provide creative and fun opportunities for people to engage their surroundings, look closer, question, and share their findings with others.

A Naturalist's Legacy and If you need Chocolate...

There is only a little over a month left on the show, "A Naturalists Legacy", at Zeppolis in Blacksburg, VA so I wanted to plug it again.  If you didn't read the promo before, here it is.  I am very proud of this tribute to my husband's conservation efforts.

A Naturalist's Legacy is a new show by award winning artist Kendall Kessler.  This show is centered around the achievements of Kendall's husband, Clyde Kessler, a well known naturalist in Virginia and North Carolina who has been studying the bird and butterfly populations and migration since 1975.  He has participated  in Christmas bird counts for the National Audobon Society since 1973.  His discovery in Virginia of the endangered Mitchell's Satyr in 1998 led to efforts to protect the species in the state.  It was unknown in Virginia at the time. It is considered to be one of the most important wildlife finds in the second half of the 20th century. Clyde has also led hawk watches since the mid 70's at Rocky Knob and other locations, and has surveyed Wildwood Park for plants and animal species for the city of Radford.

Clyde is also a poet who publishes twenty to thirty poems every year in print and online magazines.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Blue Ridge Discovery Center. This organization offers innovative education programs in southwestern Virginia that include studies of the natural world, art and writing. These programs are for children and adults of all ages.  Clyde is hopeful that the efforts and programs of BRDC will encourage future generations to enjoy and protect the environment. For more info about Blue Ridge Discovery Center:

http://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/

Clyde is a regional editor of Virginia Birds, and also leads bird watching tours for Radbird, a local tour company started by Catherine Van Noy.

A Naturalist's Legacy will have a new, symbolic painting taken from an old photograph of Clyde and his son Alan who is one of the many young people Clyde has taught over the years about this beautiful mountain region.

Now, for fun, a commentary on commercials. Last night we saw a commercial about a cereal with pieces of chocolate added to it.  My husband quipped that if you have to have chocolate at breakfast, then you will probably be scarfing it for lunch and main lining it at supper time.  I think he may have something there.  I love chocolate but I think I can eat cereal without it.