My Favorite Art Place

10/29/2026

❤️ BEFORE WE LEAVE OCTOBER, LET'S REMEMBER WHEN ART GAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A VOICE.

WHO KNEW? Art Changed That!

On October 11, 1987, something extraordinary unfolded across the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The first public display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt covered an area larger than a football field.

1,920 handmade panels. Each representing a life lost to AIDS.

At a time when fear, prejudice, and silence surrounded the AIDS epidemic, families, friends, and loved ones found a way to make sure those they had lost would not be forgotten.

Through fabric, photographs, embroidery, and lovingly stitched names, they created something statistics could never fully communicate.

They told the stories of PEOPLE.

Today, the Quilt has grown to nearly 50,000 panels honoring more than 110,000 individuals.**

THAT'S THE POWER OF ART.

Art can give a human face to an issue that statistics alone cannot communicate.

It can make us stop. Look. Feel. Remember.

And perhaps most importantly, it can help us see one another with greater understanding and compassion.

Sometimes art doesn't just communicate a message. It changes the conversation.

Explore the Quilt and the stories behind its panels:
https://www.aidsmemorial.org/quilt

10/28/2026

⚾ NOW THAT’S A COMEBACK!!!!!

Last night’s Rays win had everything that makes baseball great — suspense, heart, hope, and the reminder that a game is never over until it’s over.

It felt like the kind of moment that belongs in a classic American painting.

Sport tells stories. Art helps us remember them.

Go Rays!

10/27/2026

A change in material transformed a cultural tradition.

WHO KNEW? Before pumpkins, Halloween faces were carved into TURNIPS!

Long before pumpkins became Halloween's favorite canvas, people in Ireland and Scotland carved terrifying faces into turnips and other root vegetables. The tradition was rooted in the belief that these frightening creations could ward off evil spirits wandering the earth on Halloween night.

When immigrants brought the tradition to America, they discovered pumpkins—larger, easier to carve, and much more plentiful. And an old folk-art tradition took on an entirely new appearance!

And just like that, a simple change in materials helped transform a centuries-old custom into one of America's most recognizable holiday symbols.

THAT'S THE POWER OF ART AND CULTURE!

Art evolves as people, traditions, and materials come together. Sometimes a small creative adaptation becomes something that generations embrace.

One little carved vegetable. A new material. An enduring cultural tradition.

10/26/2026

⚾🎶 BASEBALL TRIVIA: DID YOU KNOW A SONG ABOUT BASEBALL HAD A CONNECTION TO WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE?

Continuing our little journey through baseball history and the surprising ways people and art have helped shape our culture…

We've all sung "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". But did you know the familiar chorus is only part of the original 1908 song?

And the real story isn't just about baseball. It's about a woman who knew what she wanted!

Meet Katie Casey.

Katie was baseball crazy! She knew the players, followed the games, challenged the umpires, and wasn't shy about cheering for her team.

When her boyfriend invited her to a show, Katie had a better idea. She wanted to go to the ballgame!

Here's where the story gets really interesting.

The song was written in 1908, when women were still fighting for the right to vote. Historians believe Katie Casey was inspired by Trixie Friganza, a popular actress and outspoken supporter of women's suffrage.

At a time when women weren't necessarily expected to participate in the traditionally male world of baseball, this little song portrayed a confident, knowledgeable woman who wasn't asking permission to be part of the crowd.

And America started singing along!

More than a century later, millions of fans still sing that chorus, most never realizing the independent woman behind the original lyrics.

🎨 THAT'S THE POWER OF ART.

A song can challenge expectations. A painting can change perspectives. A performance can start conversations. And sometimes, something as simple as a catchy tune can help introduce an idea that changes how society sees itself.

Art doesn't just decorate our world. It communicates, connects, challenges, and helps change our culture.

And sometimes, it does all that while we're singing along at a baseball game!

⚾🎶

10/25/2026

⚾ WHEN COACHING CHANGES THE GAME… LITERALLY!

After last night's tough Rays loss, there's been plenty of conversation about coaching decisions. While everyone sorts that out, here's a little baseball trivia about a time when a coach's help changed the game for the better!

Meet William "Dummy" Hoy.

Hoy was a remarkable Deaf professional baseball player in the late 1800s. Because he couldn't hear the umpire calling balls and strikes, his third-base coach began using hand signals to communicate with him.

What started as a simple accommodation to help one player became part of the evolution of baseball's visual signals—something players, coaches, umpires, and fans still benefit from today!

One player. One simple change. A lasting impact on an entire sport.

Despite his extraordinary career and contributions to baseball, Hoy has never been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Let's help change that!

⚾ SIGN THE PETITION to get Dummy Hoy into the Baseball Hall of Fame!

https://www.signforhoy.com/petition

Sometimes the greatest changes begin with simply finding a better way to help someone succeed.

William Ellsworth Hoy changed baseball forever. It's time the Hall of Fame recognized it. The Classic Era Committee votes in December 2027.

10/24/2026

The Brewers may have won the first frame… but the Rays are still painting the BIG picture! 🎨⚾

Last night's game was a nail-biter, and we can't wait for the next inning of this World Series masterpiece!

At My Favorite Art Place, we know great works of art don't happen in a single stroke.

And the World Series isn't won in a single game!

LET'S GO RAYS!💙

10/24/2026

Edible Art!!! 👅🎨

Here's a fun idea for a weekend project!!!

10/23/2026

Blending wellness and design. ✨

We loved collaborating with our interior design partner to create this serene spa experience, where nature meets sanctuary. 🌸🌿

10/22/2026

🖌🎨📝