Monday, February 23, 2009

A Town Called Peculiar



My longtime, online artist friend Kristin Smith is helping plan an event for the Downtown Peculiar Arts and Culture District (Peculiar is a town in Missouri). Kristin explains that they are a "non-profit, grass roots group working toward the revitalization of Peculiar as interactive arts and cultural center."

Their upcoming train car themed event is "The Frisco Depot" which features a dinner and an art auction. (Kristin designed the poster you see above). She explains that they have an "odd auction as the interested bidders just put money (anywhere from a quarter up to three dollars depending upon the value of the piece) into a bowl on their table, and then hold up their paddles to indicate that they in on the bid. Then numbers are drawn like a lottery...and whoever's number comes up wins the art." Most people bid on every piece.

Here is the story about how the town was named from wikipedia:
Peculiar received its name in 1868 when the first postmaster, Edgar Thomson, had his first choice rejected because it already existed. Several other choices were also rejected. The story goes that the annoyed Thomson wrote to the Postmaster General himself to complain saying, among other things, "We don't care what name you give us so long as it is sort of 'peculiar'," (with "peculiar" in quotation marks). So the town became known as Peculiar.

The town motto is "Where the 'odds' are with you". And a historical plaque in the town reads: "In 1861-1864 while bloody battles raged throughout the southern states nothing happened here." (I thought that was pretty amusing)

Here is my entry for their art auction. I have dubbed this piece "Funkytown."



14 comments:

ChezChani said...

What a funny story. I hope they don't just get $3 for that beautiful bracelet. That would sad, not Peculiar.

IzzyGumbo said...

Okay - Funkytown rocks! I love this piece and the colors are just wonderfully bold! Well done :)

Anonymous said...

Just so it's clear, most of our Piccadilly attendees will bid on everything, and the "bid" is the money they put in the bowl on their table. So, yes, we will get more than three dollars for a specific piece... it's just that no one will spend more than three dollars for anything.
(I agree! It would be a shame to only receive three dollars for Kim's beautiful work! Thanks for providing the funk, Kim!)

jeweledrabbit said...

Beautiful bracelet. Those bumpy lampwork beads are gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Very cute! Thanks for visiting my blog! Love yours!

Welcome To Wilmoth Farms said...

LOVE Funky town! Beautiful piece I'm so jealous...new studio! wwaaaaaaahhhhhh!

Pretty Things said...

I think it's lovely, and cool that it coordinates with the green poster!

Steve Morozumi said...

super sexy piece and story of awesomeness. your post is a double wow! in my book! thanks much for that!

stop by and visit fluxlife soon!

-Steve @ fluxlife

KimberlyRies said...

You are right, the bracelet does go with Kris' poster. I didn't realize that when I made it. Cool!

A Beaded Affair said...

I think I would love to visit Peculiar. Sounds like my kind of town. The bracelet is beautiful.
Good job.
Lois
http://www.abeadedaffair.com

Duni said...

Interesting post! I love reading weird and wonderful stories!
That bracelet is gorgeous..I like the luminous green beads. Great job!
btw, I'm having a giveaway on my blog. You're very welcome to enter!

Duni

Unknown said...

Pretty bracelet Kim! I hope the auction does well....sounds like a fun one!
Carmen

Femin Susan said...

Really Good one. I love this piece .

KimberlyRies said...

Thanks for the great feedback everyone. I am excited to hear from Kris to see how her event turned out this weekend.