Great taste, no calories

The Iowa State Fair is all about the food, right? Food we eat and enjoy and then regret when we remember the calories?

Well, the Fair offers huge banquets to enjoy that contain not one single calorie. One of those is on the second floor of the Varied Industries building.

That's where Iowa quilters display the fruits of their labor over the past year. And it is one huge bounty. Even folded so that only a small portion of each quilt shows, the entries still extend from ceiling to floor, covering three walls of a large room. 

Each quilt is a work of art. The colors, the patterns, the stitching all attest to the skill of so many dedicated quilters.  Each quilt, individually, is phenomenal. Grouped together, they create a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors.

A few photographs provide a taste of the variety on the plates of Iowa quilters. Here's a sample and you can enjoy them all with absolutely no calories!

All about perspective

Politics, issues, life - how we think about things depends on our perspective. Even 'truth' often depends on perspective.  As I wrote several pieces for the latest issue of The Iowan magazine, I realized they were all about changing perspective.

One item focused on two of Iowa's kaleidoscope makers who've taken what I viewed as a fun childhood toy to the level of fine art.  Both of these artists appreciate the ability of kaleidoscopes to help viewers change perspectives. Says Leonard Olson of Pomeroy who took up kaleidoscope making after he had a heart attack, "Kaleidoscopes provide a valuable metaphor for art. Just when you think you've encountered the most beautiful image possible, a slight shift changes everything."

Peggy Kittelson, who creates kaleidoscopes near Decorah with her husband Steve, adds, "Kaleidoscopes are great for relieving stress." She advises looking through one at the end of the day because you can't help but see things differently.

The kaleidoscope above called "Genesis" was created by the Kittelsons. The photo is courtesy of Terri Downing.