Chicago Irish Festival

Memorial Day week end here in greater Chicagoland included a wonderful three day Irish/Gaelic Fesitval on the Southside. Held at Gaelic Park, it was a great opportunity to enjoy good food, Irish music, shopping from the Emerald Isle, and good things to drink including Guinness and Smithwick's.

Saturday evening was a beautiful night to attend and I was lucky to have timed my visit with a performance from the Irish band, The Saw Doctors. Upon recommendation from a friend I made sure to be there in plenty of time for an opportunity not to be missed. The Saw Doctors, heretofore unknown to me, are an experience that you just have to be there for. People who know were there. For me, one of the uninitiated, it was amazing to see the band perform and the crowd so get into their music. There was a Gaelic Mosh Pit up on front of the stage and nobody minded the wall to wall crowds dancing, singing, and just have a great time. Young and old. We all had a blast.

Andy Worhol Was Here

Not long ago, as a part of my photography class, the group of students compiled our work and developed a photo exhibit that is currently on display at McHenry County College. We worked hard all semester throughout the class and the exhibit was a way for each of us to select some of our best work and show it to the world. Or at least that part of the world that walks the hallways near the art department at MCC. Last week we held an opening reception attended by at least 100 famiy, friends, and others. It was a really great night for us all and very uplifting. We called it FirstLight.

During the evening our instructor grabbed my new digital camera and made me pose for a few pictures since I'm always behind the lens and never in front of it. After some coaxing and instruction I offered an Andy Worhol--esque pose for the camera. Through the magic of PhotoShop and a touch of my own creativity I created the image you see with this post. While we all know that Andy Worhol is no longer among the living the flavor of his work and his spirit lives on in us. See what you think.