FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN: Birth of the "Mountain Strong" fund raising campaign...

Whether you've spent a little time on THE MOUNTAIN in Canton, TX., or you have spent the night in one of the B&B's, roamed the lanes and shopped for something unusual, sang a little karaoke, or maybe sat on one of the many porches to listen to a singer-songwriter do his or her thing, you've tasted the magic of The Mountain, and took it with you...

You may, or may not yet know, that a fire

broke out in the wee hours of Saturday

morning 11/09/13, and the old boardwalk area, just above Buffalo Girls, was destroyed.

Old Mill Marketplace/The Mountain has established a fund raising campaign--Go Mountain Strong--to help those that lost everything, the general push to clean up and restore our wonderful MOUNTAIN, as well as a donation to the

first-responders whose gallant efforts saved the rest of the shops and B&Bs from the flames by containing them; a feat of supreme effort on their parts kept the fire from spreading and limited the potential damage

Please dig deep and help us rebuild THE MOUNTAIN and come along with us as we GO MOUNTAIN STRONG!

December market starts Thursday, November 28th, and runs through Sunday December 1st.

Come join us for a strong Christmas market!

See more from The Mountain and Old Mill Market Place here!

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Art Blog: To freely go after your ART, if you dare...

The free pursuit of ART is a demanding task.  Everyone of us who has ever exhibited talent in one artistic form or another understands this, pretty much instinctively.  The comforts of Suburban life add stress to these demands; comfort levels offered to us by the "American Way of Life" pose both logistical, as well as character issues that must be dealt with before we can set out in our pursuit.   


But, once you have cleared the way for you to finally get your ART on, there are a few things to remember...

We should all do well to remember that MOST artists live in obscurity.   Those accepting that fact move on with their WORK, stepping into, perhaps, their true roles in life.  


Today's artists must work their ART, regardless of circumstances (typically among the poorest, financially); it is a magnificant obession that will often collide with life in the 'real world', such as it is...


Artists are attracted to each other, since misery loves company; we find joy simply pushing our elbows together over a bottle of cheap wine; hours pass speaking of perspective, or subject, composition or point of view.  Philosophy is wrapped around our discussions, having understood that most of the great philosophers were also, practically speaking, without great means.


Artists are very familiar with pawn shops and flea markets; possessions are merely funds we carry around and use as long as we can, then sell when survival is at stake.  In the America we find ourselves surrounded by today, ART is, for the most part, too soft a subject to think about buying into.  Lay offs, industrial closings, mortgages that can not be paid and how our childred all seem to have developed A.D.D. are far more important subjects, they are the snarl that kills the ART in most of us.  Few of us ever, move beyond those limitations.


Taking one of Walt Whitman's walk alongside nature with notebook under arm and no care about shaving, apperiantly, is merely a romantic notion, until you try it.  To step out into the raw world without the protection of "The Herd" strikes terror in the hearts of most suburbanites.  The folks one might encounter 'off the grid' are not, generally speaking, the sort you want to find sitting beside you, or sharing a bottle of cheap wine at that cozy bistro table on that favorite sidewalk you know so well... But they are the salt that flavors the world, the subjects of our expert eyes.  


It's ours to record, or illustrate or sing about in one way or another.  We are leaving the details behind that someone, one day, will find and study.

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a feathermaye photoblog: This is Canton, This is The Mountain Pt.1

By now, you've become a fan of feathermaye's eye, just like yours truly.  Here in pictures, my fabulous, Artist wife begins to show you what this place is all about...

- This is Canton -
Lots such as these are all over and surrounding the city

- This is The Mountain -
During 1st Monday weekends, no autos on The Mountain

- This is Canton -
A tribute to the General Stores of old, in the heart of the city

- This is The Mountain -
Simply stated: Just cussin good junk!

- This is Canton -
A fine, historically rich Texas town with strong traditions

- This is The Mountain -
A special place, where art happens everywhere

- This is Canton -
A special place, with special shopping, artists flourish here
amid the strong influences of Texas' past...

- This is The Mountain -
Many successful artists came here to enjoy the special energy, The Mountain just
makes an artist WANT to go the extra mile with their work...

Much more to come in the next issues from The fabulous feathermaye!  Art happens here every 1st Monday Trade days.  Shop Canton.... Experience The Mountain

Once again we would like to thank you all for following this blog.  Your support is our motivation.  Look for us on facebook, and you can find me stumblingupon every week looking for things to Digg.  Please be sweet and give this one an extra Tweet!  

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