Squash Blossom Blog

July's First Friday ArtWalk5:00 pm to 8:00 pm       July's First Friday ArtWalk is almost here! Come visit us at the Squash Blossom from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm this Friday, July 5th! Our featured artists of the night will be J.R. Monks and Ray Hirman.     J.R. Monks Even though he primarily works with oils, he has a love affair with watercolors. Monks works on location, en plein air, as well as in the studio. Often, his studio work is created from memories, quick and spontaneous statements without the restriction of working from reference. Occasionally, he...

June Blog Post Join us for June's First Friday ArtWalk! Published by Squash Blossom Come visit us at the Squash Blossom from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on June 7th for OCC ArtWalk! We will have live demonstrations by our two featured artists, Phil Lear and Mike Dwyer.                             About our Featured Artists: Phil Lear   Phil Lear's painting strives to present a certain poetic insight into the world around. His style and brushwork harmonize with the character of his subject, to reveal the inborn charm of...

 A symbol of purity, clarity and loyalty, Pearl has been a valued gem among cultures for centuries. No other stone compares to the vibrancy of Pearl. In fact, it was said that Cleopatra once owned the most expensive, large and lustrous pearls. She wore them as earrings, and legend has it that she dissolved one of the pearl earrings in vinegar to dissolve the pearl--then drank it. Thus, when she did drink the substance at the feast, it truly was the most expensive feast to ever be hosted in Egyptian times.  There are 4 kinds of Pearl: Freshwater, Japanese Akoya,...

      Emerald has captured the human eye for much of history. The Egyptians saw it as a symbol of fertility and rebirth, Queen Cleopatra favored it over her lavish collection of jewelry and it is Columbia's most valued gem.  With the oldest emerald dating 2.97 million years old, it has been fought over in the trade industry. For over 60 years there has been conflict between Columbian drug cartels and the government in light of the demand and value of Emerald. "Columbian emeralds are said to be the purest emeralds in the world because emerald deposits are the only...