Some Enchanted Italian Evening

Here artist David Grath and his wife Pamela arrive at their beautiful Italian villa—no, thank heaven, it was Circa Estate Winery in Leelanau County! The wine was as good as Italy, and we did not have to speak Italian, though David is convinced that if you wave your hands around enough, the message gets through regardless of the words.


What would an evening in Italy be without music? Patrick Ivory provided that element.


Here it is, the perfect Italian marriage: art and wine, providing the gratification of discerning senses.


What do you see in this painting? I see rich, vibrant color and the mysterious depth of an old Italian masterwork.


These three small paintings form a perfect grouping above the fireplace. I kept going back to look at them again and again.


Early in the evening, before the crowd was too dense, David Grath had a chance to visit with David Bell, the man responsible for growing grapes on the Circa Estate.


The animation of the artist and his conversation partner here made a clear focus out of the question, but sometimes I find that the blur of movement seems truer to the moment, anyway.


Everywhere you look, everything at Circa is beautiful. For the reception, this definitely included the refreshment table.


The mirror! I love the mirror! Whatever it captures looks perfectly composed within that dark frame.


Leelanau cherry grower Paul Scott confers here with vintner Margaret Bell. Which wine is Paul drinking?


Colleen and Kate were clearly enjoying the atmosphere, and over Kate's shoulder I spy artists Woodruff Palmer and Bonnie Marris.


Okay, here it is. The important character in this crowd shot is the glass of wine in the foreground. Looks like Requisite, my choice of the evening, too. Delicious!


Here is David with Edible Grande Traverse editor Barb Tholin, her husband Charlie hiding behind her. We were delighted that Charlie and Barb made the trip from their peninsula, Old Mission, to ours for the evening.


Of course Charlie Wunsch wasn't really hiding; I just didn't get him in that last shot. But as he is the publisher of Edible Grande Traverse, I had to get him out front for a little well-deserved attention.

Since I always take more candid shots than posed, it wasn't until this morning that I realized I had no pictures of our dear friends and overnight houseguests from Hastings, Michigan, who came all the way up yesterday for David's show, bringing garden bounty that will feed us throughout the coming week. Could vegetables in Italy be any more beautiful than these? Could an evening in Italy be any more delightful than the one we enjoyed here in Leelanau County? Truly, I think not!



There are many more of David's paintings to be seen in the show that will be on exhibit at Circa through the month of October, and the weather is gorgeous again today, with more of the same coming tomorrow. Make the trip, the Italian Leelanau tour! You won't be sorry.