One year ago...

Most exhibits of my work are in galleries that represent me. Sometimes, however, it is good to have an exhibit someplace where it is just for fun. Venues such as this often do not lead to sales of artwork, but have a certain allure simply because they are different.

Looking at my calendar, I realize that it was one year ago that I had an exhibit in the office of Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton. In case you are wondering, I don't have a special connection to the governor's office (even though I want to mention that we are on the same page politically). It was January 2008 when I got a call from Mikel Kelley who is an artist friend. He had finished having an exhibit of his ceramic work in Lawton's office. The artist who was scheduled to follow him with a photography exhibit canceled at the last minute. "Was I available or interested?" asked Mikel's voicemail. "If so, contact them now!"

A week or two later, there I was hanging the show with John Ribble, another artist friend. John is an art educator who has a wonderful aesthetic and sensibility with regards to not only creating his own artwork, but also to hanging the artwork of others. He also made me feel as though I was making the decisions. I saw through that, however. We hung the work in the staff and public room leading to and also in Lawton's office. It was after hours, and we went to have fish (a Wisconsin, Friday night phenomenon) at the Laurel Tavern in Madison.

The opening was on February 21, 2008. It was at the end of the work day...5:30 to 6:30 and was catered. Ms. Lawton was a kind host for the exhibit and said flattering things about my work to the assembled guests. I learned that we have some things in common. She is from a family of Norwegian immigrants as well. Her brother(s) also studied at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She described herself, however, as being the black sheep in her family, deciding to attended Gustavus Adolphus College ( and finally graduating from Lawrence University).

My trip to Iowa

Bluff Country Artists Gallery from Spring Grove, Minnesota sent me an email a couple of weeks ago. They are interested in representing my etchings in their gallery. It is a stone's throw from northeastern Iowa. This part of Iowa is a special place for me. I went to college there and it is where I got my start as an artist. Living and having my studio in southern Wisconsin, it is not a major trip to travel to this area. I had been thinking about traveling to Decorah (the town in northeastern Iowa) and working on an etching idea that had been on my mind. I had arranged to be at the gallery in Spring Grove at 4PM. Arriving in Decorah shortly before noon, I went to the place where I would begin my new etching. It was cold...temperatures in the single digits. Making the appointment with the gallery, I did not realize that it would be like this. I had dressed in layers in an attempt to stay warm..longies and the whole nine yards...even three layers on my hands. I took my copper plate to the bridge that I had first seen as a wide eyed eighteen year old. It is still beautiful. I found a place to perch and taking out my black markers, began laying out the preliminary composition directly onto the plate. I love working like this. There seems to be an honesty to drawing directly from nature and directly onto the plate. This is not a typical way to start an etching. Usually the ground goes on first followed by drawing with an etching needle. Sometimes, however, it is good to be able to see exactly how the shapes will lay out on the plate. Black markers are no nonsense. When you make a mark, it is really there. I will look analytically at what I drew in Iowa yesterday...maybe over the course of a month or two. The place had been sitting in my minds eye for quite some time. Now it is important to keep it there and not forget about it. If I decide that I like what I drew in black, I will begin to scratch away at the plate with traditional (and some not so traditional) tools and techniques. I delivered work to the gallery in Spring Grove as scheduled. It is nice to be greeted by people who are eager to see you. I drove back to Wisconsin taking an alternate route...a scenic one. I drove along the Mississippi River on the Iowa side. Large Iowa bluffs were on my right, the mostly frozen river was on my left, with the Wisconsin bluffs looming in the distance. I crossed the river at a bridge in Lansing, Iowa. It was an old, narrow bridge (I love bridges in case you couldn't tell) made of steel girders. Trucks were instructed to maintain a 300 foot interval. Looking out my van window, I could see the lights of Lansing and the bluffs reflected in the sometimes open water. It was almost dark and it was beautiful. The trip was an adventure if only to me. I hope to share future (and maybe some past) adventures with you.