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During
our free time we went to many points of interest and shopped around
the Madison area.
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| OLBRICH
BOTANICAL GARDENS
When
my guests, master quilter, Hisako Harasawa, and her assistant,
Toshiko Kawasaki, arrived on Sunday, October 2, at the Dane County
Regional Airport, I informed them in my broken Japanese that there
were two quilt exhibits at the Olbrich
Botanical Gardens. However these shows would be closing that
very afternoon and so, jet-lagged as they were, I wisked them
off for a tour of quilts and gardens.
The displays
were of beautiful and varied quilt designs created by many different
artists. Some were made with traditional blocks and patterns.
Others were almost painterly in their use of fabric and thread.
Photo courtesy of Hisako
Harasawa |
While
viewing the quilt exhibits we were surprised to run into Audrey
and Fred Paesel who had brought their guest, Manabu Takagishi.
Fred offered to guide us through the paths to the recently created
sunken gardens, reflecting pools, and the spectacular gilded Thai
Pavilion. Above from left to right: Manabu, Audrey, Tamlyn, Chuck,
Fred, and Toshiko.
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| TALIESIN
Frank
Lloyd Wright is a much revered architect in Japan. My guests and
the Zaluchas' guest were eager to see his home and studio at Taliesin
in Spring Green. It was a first time tour for me as well.
Photo
courtesy of Kathy Armstrong |
A
view of the remaining vineyard from the gardens.
Photo
courtesy of Kathy Armstrong |
Here
are the central courtyard gardens.
Photo
courtesy of Kathy Armstrong |
A
lovely architectural spot.
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Photo courtesy of the Cave of the Mounds
website |
CAVE
OF THE MOUNDS
Another
first for me and my guests was a tour of the Cave
of the Mounds located just a few minutes drive from
my country home. The
image to the right gives a sense of the spectacular formations.
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PENDARVIS
Pendarvis
is an old Cornish settlement located in Mineral Point, Wisconsin
originating during the lead rush. They had a small but interesting
exhibit of hand stiched contemporary and antique quilts which
my guests were especially interested in seeing. The friendship
quilt was fun to see because Hisako had done a friendship quilt
in Japan which was hung as part of the Madison "Two Cultures/One
Spirit" exhibit at the Porter Butts Gallery. Click
here to view Hisako's quilt. Pendarvis had an example of a
friendship quilt on display but unfortunately no photography was
allowed and the Wisconsin Historical Society would not give me
permission to use their image of it on this web site.
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| SCHOOL
OF HUMAN ECOLOGY DESIGN GALLERY
At the University of
Wisconsin in Madison there is a little known Design
Gallery at the School of Human Ecology that is
rich in textile history. My guest and I were fascinated by the
exhibit we saw there called "Weavings of War" which
had examples of textile artworks depicting personal stories about
the horrors of war from around the world.
Photo courtesy of City Lore, Michigan
State University Museum, and The Vermont Folklife Center
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| CHAZEN
MUSEUM OF ART
Previously known as
the Elvehjem the Chazen Museum of Art is a part of the University
of Wisconsin. We went to the revamped museum and perused both
the visiting exhibitions and permanent collections while we were
serenaded by live music from a string quartet. We were delighted
to run into Peggy and Tony Zalucha with their guests Shuichi Yamada
and his daughter, Tomoko. Before we left our guests made several
purchases at the Museum Gift Shop.
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SHOPPING
Shopping
was a large part of my guests' experience here. They especially
said they wanted to go shopping for fabrics. So I took them
to several shops in Madison, Fitchburg, and Waunakee.
During the week Hisako
and Toshiko enjoyed sampling some Wisconsin cheese and light
honey at my home. So I promised to take them to where they could
get some of both.
Photo courtesy of the Dane County Farmers'
Market website. |
Early
on a chilly October Saturday, Hisako, Toshiko, Yumi, and I arrived
at the Dane County Farmer's
Market on the Capital square to see what we could find.
Photo courtesy of the Dane County Farmers'
Market website. |
We came
away laden with more than twenty small jars of honey, maple,
candies, maple butter, pumpkin bread, raspberries, jelly, and
eggplant.
Photo courtesy of the Dane County Farmers'
Market website. |
Later
that day we stopped at the grocery store where Hisako and Toshiko
also purchased four bricks of Bucky Badger sharp cheddar cheese.
Their suitcases were much heavier on their trip home.
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