DRIVE.....persistence, inspiration, risk taking through 5 cities making sales calls and hanging out at tiki bars. RhondaK shows DRIVE and considers the true nature of MEMORIAL.

1. DRIVE October 24, 2008 RhondaK Sales Calls, Inspiration Hunting, Tiki Bars and New Roads RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

2. DRIVE October 24, 2008 Sales Call to Boca Grande, Leave 8:30am, Raining RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

3. DRIVE October 24, 2008 Packed up some new work, old work and a lot of hopes to do well. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

4. DRIVE Boca Grande’s Really chic, very fascinating Aqua Boutique. Emily is now selling some of my work…and apparently has been! Nice surprise. Boca Grande is FASCINATING. Very quaint and even an affordable daytrip despite being known as a playground for the really well to do. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

5. DRIVE Aqua Boutique is selling one of my favorite one of a kind mermaids…a dreadhead mermaid with turtle on a really aged piece of wood. And a rare pastel pink “Live with egrets – not regrets.” RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

6. This is some of my new work. They used to be bar doodles. They didn’t make it into Aqua Boutique… but they will be in a Brandon, Florida art show November and December. Sometimes new work doesn’t find an audience right off and you have to remain persistent and have faith. The reason people don’t buy them or pass over them for their store--- you can’t take it personal. Every sign…every bar doodle..finds its person. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

7. DRIVE Emily picked up some signs to sell in her ecletic, super cool boutique. I was there too early to enjoy the neighborhood which included the Boca Grille Tiki Bar. Looks like my kind of place. Beer prices were also very friendly. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

8. DRIVE A Livejournal.com friend is a native of Boca Grande and told me about this memorial to a friend of hers that was down 7 th and a small walk down the sea wall near a beautiful and isolated beach. At the seawall, magnolias had washed down the street to the wall. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

9. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

10. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

11. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

12. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

13. DRIVE This is a Boca Grande Memorial for Lorn who passed in 1993. It faces the sea. While I was there about 20 – seriously – 20 dolphins were playing out in front. I sat there for a while. I left a flower for the girl who told me this was her friend’s memorial. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

14. DRIVE Sitting there I realized I needed to do something for TiKiMan. As far as I know his family left him the morgue so that he’s either been a science experiment or in a pauper’s grave. He deserves better. I need something to visit and not carry around with me. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

15. DRIVE A beautiful magnolia draped wall in Boca Grande near the 7 th Ave public beach. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

16. From Boca Grande I turned right on Placida to go TO Placida’s Fishery Road. There are a lot of galleries there and a great restaurant. This is Margaret Albritton’s gallery. Whimsical fun. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

17. Margaret Albritton’s gallery has candles, crabs, fantastic fish paintings and more. I didn’t ask her to sell my work because her place wasn’t shabby chic, but full of light and smoothness. More Here: http://www.margaretalbrittongallery.com/ Placida’s Fishery Road has many places of interest and some festivals too. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

18. This is the lively charter boat area on Placida’s Fishery Road. Lot’s of fun, live crabs, mullet…and Old Florida. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

19. DRIVE This is Fishery Restaurant in Placida. It has a fantastic view of charter boats, and old dock and Lemon Bay. Maybe even Cape Haze. The sauces are FANTASTIC. The Key Lime mustard—amazing. Also, the interior is fun. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

20. DRIVE For a mere $4.95..the Fishery Restaurant’s Conch Fritters with Key Lime Mustard is Delicious. Affordable. With the view…FANTASTIC. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

21. DRIVE This is the interior of Placida’s Fishery Restaurant. For More Info: http://www.sunstate.com/fishery/ RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

22. Placida’s Cindy’s Fish House. Retail fresh Florida seafood. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

23. DRIVE The Master….Hatch’s gallery in Placida. He, his father and brother do handcrafted wood art. Amazing nautical collectibles and more. I asked him to let me know if I could rent a spot there one Sunday. Nice guy. He said Stump Pass Grille might be interested in consignment..so I went there next. http://www.themkt.com/hatch.html RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

24. Stump Pass Grille has huge tiki setups by the bay. NICE. The people who work there are friendly. The grouper is actually fresh and recommended. The chicken wings—super. They sell the work on a tiki guy in Englewood who calls himself Tiki Ron. http://www.stumppassgrille.com/ RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

25. DRIVE Tiki Ron isn’t TikiMan’s style. He does sports tikis and also painted tikis with a minimum of carving. His work is well regarded in Englewood and Stump’s is good about supporting a local artist. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

26. Stump’s Pass Grille. I left some signs there just in case, I might get a chance to sell there. Nothing ventured…nothing gained. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

27. I used my time at Stump’s to go over some new work I’m trying out this year. I’m not sure where it is taking me. But my bar doodles have come to life in many places. Not just bars. But in people’s lives. On days like today, I am thankful. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

28. Captain Eddie’s in Nokomis The restaurants interior features some prints by Sanibel ( I think ) artist Nora Butler. She has an amazing style. Pictures inside of pictures. Better examples here: http://www.norabutler.com/ RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

29. I also did some “free” signs for the Siesta Key Market. They are fun and not the sort of thing I sell. But I want a chance to get into the Siesta Fiesta. I’ve been turned down because I don’t have a “display.” As in, I don’t use a white tent. However, this year I might know the right people. Sometimes persistence has a distinct curve and detour to it. In short… DRIVE. You have to have it to get anywhere at all. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

30. Siesta Key Farmer’s Market is every Sunday. I love the bread and the soap. It is super dog friendly. As my sign sez: “Flip Flop Shop til you drop…have a sunSational time..” RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com

31. Friday October 24, I picked up a new store in super chic, super beautiful Boca Grande. I walked to another person’s friend’s memorial by the sea and had some thoughts about memorials. The absence of those we love and their remains far away. What gives us peace when we fear they don’t have peace? I think the 20 dolphins answered that question. I met some great artists, found some new ones, hung out in the rain inside some great tiki bars, found the best key lime mustard EVER…and found a great road trip I hope becomes another home away from home. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist http://www.rhondakwrites.com www.Floridafolkartist.com