The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Art In The Alley-Lifts The Spirit

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher

18 June 2003

It was an amazing hour I spent Sunday at the Snake Alley Art Fair in nearby Burlington, Iowa. So many talented and patient people who take their time to create beauty out of average things. It really lifts your spirits to be outside on such a beautiful sunny day, listening to the music and the chatter, smelling the fresh air. I was looking at works of 109 vendors from people who live close by and some from far away drawn to this unique Art Fair on a steep, winding but nostalgic and beautifully kept famous alley.

All types of artists intriqued me from the jewelry and pens of blown glass, to photographs captured across the United States and foreign countries, to a Wisconsin artist who did excellent caricatures while you waited, to a lady who quilted many interesting art hangings.

One special artist was from Blandinsville, Ralph Irish, a special Ed. teacher at Northwest, who gave up farming to be with his kids. He grows his own gourds and then makes beautiful instruments, toys, vessels, even flowers from his work. They are of fine quality and many were attracted to his instruments and to the small hand held gourds, with a kaleidoscope inside, which were selling quickly for $35 .

Then I met artist Bonny Thayer, who lives close to Snake Alley and hasn't missed an Art Fair in its 36 years. I fell in love with her painting of Monarchs, flowers, a U.S. flag and cross in the foreground of the fallen World Trade Center in New York. We visited of how it came about, her feelings - I bought a print.