Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Jan. 21, 2004

What will Crossville's artsy animal be?

Several months ago this column focused on the popularity of public art in communities of all sizes. First a theme is chosen and then identical fiberglass models are purchased and handed over to local artists to decorate. In Brandon, VT pigs were chosen and artists worked their creative talents changing the porkers into works of art. For a full summer they were placed around town and delighted tourists and home towners alike. In the fall a $20,000 payoff came for the school arts departments after the pigs were auctioned on eBay.

In Nashville, their decorated catfish were offered at a local auction and also raised a good sum of money for good causes. This year Music City's next venture in public art will feature the Gibson guitar. In mid-May a colorfully decorated fiberglass Gibson guitar will be placed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

For the rest of 2004 artists will be working behind the scene on 49 more of these 10-foot-tall Gibson Les Paul sculptures in fiberglass to transform them into an art form that symbolizes what Nashville is famous for - music. In the summer of 2005 all of these sculptures will be displayed around Nashville.

It is rumored that the Crossville art community is considering a public art project to liven up our town's outdoor spaces.

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I saw this one-liner the other day. "The older we get, the better we were." As you think about those words you can follow many paths.

About the same time I saw that thought I read a remark from the Publisher's Weekly children's book editor concerning the continuing popularity of the Nancy Drew mysteries. She said, "Clearly, she still has a musty appeal." The article went on to explain an updated, more hip Nancy will appear in several new books to hit the book stalls this spring. Only time will tell how a 21st century Nancy Drew is accepted.

Introduced in that same era was the "I yam what I yam!" Popeye the Sailor Man. Last weekend, his 75th anniversary was celebrated. An example of the older we get the better we were.

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Onion lovers look forward to the new crop of Vidalias with anticipation. Georgia is called the peach state, but with 134 registered Vidalia sweet onion growers in the state, the peach could be toppled. Last year 12,500 acres of the tasty bulb were harvested. That amounted to a $75 million crop.

Last September onion seeds were planted in beds and by year's end they were large enough to be replanted. It was then the concern began when spots were seen on the leaves. Scientists went to work immediately to find the cause. Thus far they doubt the cause is from a typical bacterial or fungal disease. All concerned, including onion lovers, hope the cause is found and treated fast!

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.