Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time for celebrating our family and friends who have passed away.  This time of year, what better way to do that than spending time outside in nature?  Go on a picnic. Immerse your senses in the elements, take a moment to feel the grass under your toes, the sun on your face, hear the birds singing, smell the lilies blooming.

One of the Midwest’s most renowned painters and muralists, Thomas Hart Benton captures the spirit of the picnic in his painting Persephone.  In an Arcadian Kansas landscape, a farm girl has a picnic and takes off her clothes unaware that Hades, disguised as an old farmer, is peering in on her from around the river bank.  This goddess farm girl, Persephone, is so consumed in nature she gets abducted by Hades the god of the underworld and is forced to spend her life there, only to come forth in spring with the seeds of the fruits of the fields.

 

Thomas Hart Benton’s, Persephone at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. 

Our inspirations for a picnic…

This dress by ZuZu Apparel is textured linen with neutral plaids that are reminiscent of a picnic blanket.  

 Wear it with OTBT’s light leather Peirz Sandals.

To store your picnic goodies we have fabulous woven baskets from Madagascar

If it’s a rainy Memorial Day weekend cozy up in ZuZu Apparels Cloudy Sky collection.  This painterly grained linen is evocative of Thomas Hart Benton’s cloud scenes.

                        

  
Cloudy Sky Dress, Cloudy Sky Vest worn with our Palazzo Pants and Cloudy Sky Skirt.

One of my dearest memories of my Grandfather is on a picnic.  We went to Loose Park in Kansas City, which has one of the prettiest rose gardens. We laid out a blanket took our shoes off and put our feet in the freshly cut grass.  It was a beautiful day.  This Memorial Day I will celebrate with fond memories of my Grandfather.