A Trip to Virginia MOCA

  MOCA stands for Museum Of Contemporary Art!  Contemporary is defined is art that is the product and reflection of the culture in which we live.


  My daughter and I visited the Virginia Moca last weekend on a free weekend!  What a great way to introduce us to an art museum we had never been to and to a different style of art my daughter has never seen. 

My favorite thing about an art museum is not the creativity behind it although that is spectacular but, that it changes.  You can always go and see something new.

This art featured was so amazing to look at.  I had to refrain from touching it because it was so unbelievable.  Cardboard was constructed into shapes and positions.

Cardboard!!!! These were just the start.  These were made by art students in high school.  This wasn't even the main event!

Right this way!!

My daughter told me to go first.   I mean who knows what's beyond that black hole.

Magic! Art is magic!  

The Monitorium exhibit was created by artist, puppeteer and more Wayne White.  Here he focused on the history of the Battle of Hampton Roads with the Ironclad ships.  In this exhibit you see sailors, ship related objects and there is even some fun hands on experiences.  You can read more about the artist here.

Next stop we got to see all things "don't touch"!

The objects in the next room were made up of wires or glass but we're on stands or tables.  So they were very tempting. If she saw something, she got excited and immediately wanted to point it out.

I think her favorite after all that we saw was the art lab area.  This area encouraged people both young and old to leave your art.  You know after seeing everything you have become inspired! 

First stop was a picture on a piece of paper stuck on to the wall.

Next stop was cardboard!!! Behold the community board of artistic creativity!

I would say we stayed at least an hour and a half or so.  She had fun looking at all the different pieces of art and creating her own.

It was definitely a great way to spend an afternoon.  We had time together. We experienced a new place and some new art together! I'm glad she is open to visiting different places.  

First 2018 Hike

  On the 1st of January the Virginia State Parks host an annual 1st of the year hike.  This was my second year participating.  I choose a different park this year because it's nice to switch it up and with 37 parks within the state it's nice to see the variety.  This year I went to First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.

  This year despite the extremely low temperatures I made it a couple miles before I had to turn around not for a lack of trying but water flooded the trail.  Three times actually but the first one I could walk around the second  I jumped over and splashed with only one foot but, the last spot was too deep and wide.

  The hikes are offered at the parks at different times providing you the opportunity to have a guide.  The hikes offered are an hour hike or a few miles. Or of course you can choice to make your own adventure for however long you would like.

  The beauty you see when you get out in nature is immeasurable.  You get to see plants, tree, animals, bugs, and water.  My favorite is the water views.  All the parks have some sort of water source and it's always beautiful when I see it. 

  On this particular day there is not an admittance fee.  People should take advantage of this and check out the parks and trails. It's a great day for an introduction.

  Have you gotten out for a hike or stroll for leisure yet?  What do you enjoy most in nature?

Wordless Wednesday (sand sculptures)

  I have lived in VA for over 10 years and have gone to the same handful of festivals each year.  This weekend I couldn't wait to go to my favorite event of the year. The Neptune Festival! This festival takes place in Virginia Beach and that's the perfect place for some sand sculpture making!

  There doesn't seem to be a theme or an obvious theme.  I however don't care because they are all such beautiful works of art. The variety of each one makes it better.

  This year I went at a different time then I usually do and uggg all those people were in my way.  Plus my phone was picking up the sun for all angles.

  My favorite this year accompanied the bear in the first picture.  Here's the front and back!

  

  What's your favorite annual festival that you refuse to miss out on?  Have you been to a sand sculpture contest?

Fun in the Sand

  I don't feel the need to attend every local festival but there are some that I am determined to get to.  I do enjoy the vendors with their various homemade items, the delicious food only offered at the fairs, carnivals and festivals and even the brands and companies giving away their promo cups, bags and Frisbees.  However one event I make every effort to attend every year is the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival.  Not only does this festival have the food vendors offering me fried dough, turkey legs, kettle corn and drinks in those cute bronze cups but also paintings, pictures, lawn decorations made of recycled items and jewelry made of everything.  This year I only bought a bag of slush mix to add to a bottle of wine.

  I will worry about the DIY mix later because I am sure there is one out there but, when I tasted this peach blend it was delicious.  The only sad thing about the mix is the lady lives in Alabama so I will need to make my own or find a closer supplier.

  The freebies that I picked up include more bags that I will get an additional $.05 off at Krogers for bringing in, coupons to include 2 free pizza's, a couple of fans and a wooden spoon!

  All this was just fluff on the cake as the real star of the show was the sand sculptures!

  Each year artists come from all over the world for this competition and it's never a disappointment.

  Some sculptures are just as spectacular on the backside as they are on the front!

We ate a couple sample slices of pizza from @urbanpie! Delicious doesn't describe these enough.  The coupons we picked up will be used soon.  We even scored free salted caramel ice cream cups from @turkeyhill for dessert!

If you haven't been to this festival you really should.  It's known as taking back the beach after the tourist season is over.  It's very family friendly and with a modest $5 entry fee to see the sand sculptures it's money well spent!

Goodbye 2016 Neptune Festival see you next year!