Art for a Good Cause

Beaches of Cuba, 2017

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)

201709095

© copyright Michael Kraus

For more information, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/186507940/custom-commission-original-art-by-mike

Join the Board of Directors at Baden Street Settlement to enjoy a night of fun, games, auction, music and dancing to raise money for the Mature Adult Resource Center.

In 1997, Baden Street Settlement adopted an agenda that focuses on four areas: Family, Education, Health and Crime and Violence. With empathy and effectiveness, Baden Street Settlement is responding to community needs through the efforts of their nine departments and numerous programs including, Emergency and Family Assistance, Child Development, Education and Development, Activities and Recreation, Chemical Dependency & Case Management Services, Jobs for Youth and Workforce Development. In addition, Baden Street Settlement is the host agency for the Metro Council for Teen Potential.

Baden Street Settlement, of Rochester, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization serving people living in northeast Rochester, NY working to improve families, education and health and reducing crime and violence.

For more info and tickets to the Havana Nights gala, please visit: http://badenstreet.org/2017-annual-gala/

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

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See my work in person at these locations:

Coffee Art Project (http://www.coffeeartproject.com)at the New York Coffee Festival, Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W 18th St, NYC - October 13-15, 2017 - http://www.newyorkcoffeefestival.com

Whitman Works Co. 1826 Penfield Rd, Penfield, NY 14526 (585) 747-9999 https://www.whitmanworks.com/

Art Cats Gallery 1845 Lakeshore Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441 (231) 755-7606 http://artcatsgallery.com/

Lavender Farm In Italy For Greentopia

Lavender Farm In Italy, 2017

acrylic on canvas 

24" x 48" (60.9 cm x 121.9 cm)

201707072

© copyright Mike Kraus

For more information, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/186507940/custom-commission-original-art-by-mike

Last night, I was honored to participate in Greentopia's Dinner On the Bridge fundraising gala by donating my Lavender Farm In Italy painting (above) to the silent auction.  Over 275 friends, supporters, and leaders converge on the 100-foot high Pont-de-Rennes bridge in Rochester’s High Falls to participate in this truly unique event.  Greentopia is Rochester's premiere organization moving the city, its citizens and the region towards a more sustainable, resilient future. Greentopia's three primary projects include: The GardenAerial at High Falls – a capital project to build greenway infrastructure, trails and amenities around the rim of the gorge at High Falls; Green Visions: Growing Healthy Futures – a workforce development/phytoremediation flower-growing business in the JOSANA neighborhood of Rochester; and the High Falls EcoDistrict; the creation of New York State's FIRST EcoDistrict – a planning and organizational framework to achieve ambitious environmental goals in the neighborhoods surrounding the High Falls Gorge. 

The High Falls are one of three voluminous waterfalls on the Genesee River, that flow through the city of Rochester in New York. The High Falls are located about 2 miles upstream from the lower falls and act as their source. The High Falls area was the site of much of Rochester's early industrial development, where industry was powered by falling water. Browns race diverts water from above the falls and was used to feed various flour mills and industries, today the water is used to produce hydroelectric power.

The High Falls may be viewed from the Pont De Rennes bridge, a pedestrian bridge that spans the Genesee River a few hundred feet from the base of the falls.

The High Falls was the site of the final jump of "The Yankee Leaper" Sam Patch who died after jumping off of the High Falls in 1829 (from Wikipedia)

Tommy Brunett is a singer/songwriter and showman based out of Upstate NY. He's a craftsman and songsmith mixing old-school country, great story telling and rock and roll. He glides and stomps through his now legendary live performances with true sideshow-carny expertise and is known for his good ol' honest approach to everything he touches.

Tommy's television credits include: The Today Show and Conan O'Brien and he's warmed up the ol' floor boards for such acts as ZZ Top, Kellie Pickler, Charlie Daniels, The Lumineers, Marshall Tucker Band, Shooter Jennings, Courtyard Hounds, Old 97's, Ted Nugent, Cracker and more. Little known fact... he was also the touring guitar player for 80's hit slingers Modern English from the U.K. back in his hired gun days.

Oh yeah and he's got his own brand o' booze with some other fine folks called, Iron Smoke Whiskey. It's apple wood smoked and tasty as all get out!

If you like Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Social Distortion or Evil Knievel, you'll be eating Brunett up with two giant spoons and his live shows with the Tommy Brunett Band are guaranteed to make your socks roll up and down.

http://www.tommybrunett.com/

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

Google+: http://plus.google.com/111168390406803022323/posts

I Love the Smell of Chlorine in the Morning

Last weekend, Megan and I were lucky enough to see Rachel in a swim meet at Penfield High School as a part of the Sea Dragons (http://www.seadragons.org)

Mmmm...  Swimming is a difficult sport to capture with still photography... 

But, look at Rachel go! 

She's a way better swimmer than I am.  I would have been doing the doggy paddle... 

And, here's the future Olympian showing off all her prizes.  GREAT JOB RACHEL!

And, here's Scout torturing us.  Specifically, trying to use Megan's hair as a pillow...

A good place to hide from the cold.

And passing out after three hours of losing her mind...

And, other dogs are now mailing Scout treats.  Apparently really good treats that are able to hold her complete attention for the entire night.  Thanks Vern!

Finally, went to Wilson Commencement Park's (http://www.wilsoncommencementpark.com/) gala on Saturday.  Unfortunately, wasn't able to take any pics.  It was a good time with great people.

That's about it for now.  Just waiting for Meg to get back from Chicago and playing with the dog.

I Got Apples!

It doesn't get more Upstate New York than this: apple picking.  Headed over to the Apple Farm (https://www.thevictorapplefarm.com/) in Victor for a bag of apples, apple donuts, and other products in what is becoming a Columbus Day tradition.  

 How 'bout dem apples?

 The rain earlier in the day made all the apples look idyllic.  It also made my sneakers into a portable swamp.  You win some; you lose some...

Ground apples... 

 An old barn on the property.

Megan finding the perfect Golden Delicious apples 

"I can make baked apples, apple pie, apple cake, apple sauce, apple butter, apple muffins, apple juice, apple glazed chicken, apple pork chops, candy apples, apple crisp, apple strudel, apple cobbler, apple fritters..."

The foliage is getting to be near peak.  Just another week or so. 

More apples!

Also a Columbus Day tradition: Bernardo's (http://www.bernardospizza.com/) for a post-apple picking lunch.  

May I suggest the Chicken Pesto Pizza Special?  By far the best slices of pizza ever.  I probably could of had a whole pie to myself.  

MOMBUS2

That's all I got for this week.  See you on the flippy-flip (miss no-look basketball shot over my shoulder).

"There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be."

Welcome to the Purr Imagination benefiting Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester!

Round the world and home again
That's the sailor's way
Faster faster, faster faster
There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining, is it snowing
Is a hurricane a-blowing
Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of Hell a-glowing
Is the grisly reaper mowing
Yes, the danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing


I think Susie stole Johnny Depp's costume...


Susie and I showing off our outfits


Pam and I.  


Good people watching.  

 
The Skycoasters (http://skycoasters.com/) put on a great show as always  


Look at all that candy!


Violet Beauregarde as played by Audrey.  As you can tell, a good night was had by all!!!


Speaking of Lollypop Farm, time to paint the exterior




Megan hiking in Linear Park with Irondequoit Creek behind her.


A River Runs Through It.  What?  Penfield of course...



Legion Eyer Park.  As you can tell, there are a lot of parks near our house.  I discovered this one on Google Maps trying to find something else.  It appears there's a bike trail around here too.  Something else I have to research.


A panorama of Eyer Park


An old railroad bridge running over Irondequoit Creek


David the Gnome's house.  Possible something more vicious...


Another bridge over Irondequoit Creek


Tried out Crust Pizza Kitchen at 115 West Commercial St in East Rochester.

Good Italian sausage pizza in Edmund Lyon Park.  


Checking out the rest of town...


Busy week last week and still catching up.  More of the same this week.  Stay tuned for my next adventure: "Mike Uses His New Lawnmower."  It promises to be a dangerous experiment...