Rub-a-dub-dub-dub, three men in a tub...

...and how do you think they got there?

Dec 17, 2022

Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 891
"Voice of the Lower Mississippi River" 
Memphis, TN ~ Helena, AR ~  Clarksdale, MS ~ Vicksburg, MS

*Sturgeon 24x18 watercolor 2022 John Ruskey*

Please Note: Community Canoe Dec 17th has been moved to next Saturday, Christmas Eve, for a Community Canoe Caroling event! I hope you can join us.

*If not, we will “Wish you a Merry Christmas” from “I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In!”

~~~Here are details~~~

Christmas Eve Community Canoe Caroling, Sat Dec 24, 6-9pm, Sunflower River. Meet at 6pm at bonfire behind Quapaw Canoe Company, Clarksdale, Mississippi, to load the big canoe and set off paddling into the magic night, filling downtown Clarksdale with the music of the season! No previous experience necessary. But must be willing to paddle and sing a song or two! Dress warmly, and wear a headlamp. Pack hot beverage in thermos. Christmas Songbooks provided. This is our final community canoe trip of 2022. Free for all ~ No charge for this one. PS: We’ll keep you posted for monthly community canoe trips coming up in 2023.

Horn Island Artist’s Retreat, Nov-Dec 2022

Rub-a-dub-dub-dub, three men in a tub, and how do you think they got there? Horn Island, 29 foot cypress strip Voyageur Canoe, Nov-Dec 2022 ~~~Thanks to Hank (for shuttling!!!)~~~

Rub-a-dub-dub-dub, three men in a tub, how do you think they got there?

*Gulf fritillary 9x11 watercolor 2022 John Ruskey*

*Artist’s Base Camp, Horn Island, Nov-Dec 2022*

The writer, the painter, the video-maker…

*Garter Snake 11x9 watercolor 2022 John Ruskey*

*The writer in storms on the wild East End of Horn Island, Nov 2022*

*Dolphin herding school of fish into shore, Mississippi Sound, Horn Island*

*Dolphin Herding Fish, 9x11 watercolor 2022 John Ruskey*

*The videographer cutting through the mysetrious layers of the island, Horn Island Nov-Dec 2022*

*Brown Pelican Diving for Fish, 11x9 watercolor, 2022 John Ruskey*

*The painter and his severe thunderstorm-inspired sketch*

*Close-up of Storm Sketch, Pencil in Notebook, 2022 Gavin Ruskey*

*Artists emerging from their vessel — the 29’ cypress-strip “Grasshopper” Voyageur Canoe, Horn Island* , 2022

They all jumped out of a finely carved potato…

*American Alligator, 9x11 watercolor pencils, 2022 John Ruskey*

…twas enough to make a man stare!

Thank you for reading River Time: Lower Mississippi River Dispatch! Photos and artwork from Horn Island Artist’s Retreat, Nov 2022. Stay tuned for upcoming week-long artist’s retreats, and yoga retreats, in 2023!