Back in the studio

On my return trip from Ohio, I had planned on taking a side trip up into Michigan and visiting the Petter Gallery in Douglas/Saugatuck, along the shore of Lake Michigan. It is a tourist area. I decided, however, to continue traveling on the Indiana Turnpike. While I like to visit most of my galleries at least once a year, I decided that I needed to get back to Wisconsin and could ship my work to the Petter Gallery instead. I was home before midnight.

The trip to Ohio was successful. Denis Conley took great care of me in Akron. I arrived Thursday evening and delivered three new etchings to him. We went to Rousseau's a restaurant on the outskirts of Akron. On Thursday morning, I drove to Youngstown and picked up the work from my exhibit. I spent a few hours going through the museum. It was relaxed and wonderful. The day was beautiful too. I look at the beauty created by other's hands, but I also look for information for myself. Etchings that I have in progress (there are about 25 of them) sometimes feel at an impass. Looking at other works, not always having any subject similarity whatsoever, can make the answers seem obvious. I left the museum feeling enriched and eager to dive back into things in Blue Mounds.

I transported the framed work to Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. They will have a show of my work at the Crandall Gallery in November and December. I will return to Ohio in December for a closing reception and to deliver a gallery talk on December 10th. I returned to Akron, having my afternoon coffee and taking notes on what had transpired that day. In my journal, I recreated (with words) the galleries in the Butler. They will be referred to and the works will be remembered and the inspirations will return. Denis closed his gallery, we hit the wine bar across the street, and finished the day eating Larry burgers at Larry's, an eatery next to the gallery.

Friday was the Cain Park Arts Festival. I arrived at the festival in the morning, setting up my booth. The show began at 3pm and the crowds came. The people of Cleveland were intelligent and receptive to my work. Sales, however, were sparse, an obvious result of our lackluster economy.

Saturday brought heavy rains until early afternoon. The public simply did not show up on Saturday. Sunday was gorgeous. The crowds came, but still the sales were infrequent. I was fortunate. At the awards brunch before the show began, I was awarded first prize. A check for $750 accompanied the ribbon. I am grateful to the judges and for the award. With few sales, there were quite a few long faces among the artists.

I met people at the show. Mystery writer, Richard Montanari, purchased an etching on Friday and introduced himself to me. Being a fan of film noir, I have read Hammett, Chandler, and among contemporary authors, Lehane and Ellroy. Soon I will have read Montanari's "Badlands". Can't wait. I will visit Booked for Murder, a mystery bookstore in Madison tomorrow. Past collectors came as well as Kate Martinson who teaches art at my alma matter, Luther College. Kate was accompanied by her daughter, Robin, who lives in Cleveland. Margo Miller, from Mount Union College stopped by with her mom. Linnea Nereim came by and told me that I had to visit Squaw Rock and the South Chagrin Reservation. She plays bass clarinet for the Cleveland Symphony. We talked about music and performing it. I am fascinated by the concept of creating art that takes place in time. If I am working on an etching, I can stop any time and resume later. I try to imagine what it would be like to play in something as large and potentially powerful as a symphony. It is difficult to grasp, but I could feel my pulse quicken as I listened to her tell me about things like playing the solo in the last movement of Shostokovich's seventh, and creating her performance based on her own conception as well as that of the conductor. Packing up my booth at the end of the day, I returned to Akron and a wonderful dinner prepared by Denis at his home.

I departed on Monday morning, visiting the Conley Gallery one additional time and leaving a few more works with Denis. I went to Squaw Rock. Linnea was right. It was beautiful. It was like walking around in a Bierstadt painting. I did not have more than a couple of hours, but I made four sketches. Sketches are better than photos. They plant a time and a place in your mind. Try it. I will remember that visit forever. I needed to be in Toledo later that afternoon. The American Gallery is in Sylvania. I delivered my new work. Toni, the owner, came to see what I was delivering. We had a good visit and I left my newest and best work. It was late afternoon when I departed from Toledo. It was at least another 300 miles back to my home. I took a different route through Chicago at dusk. I am curious about things and enjoy having a tourist's point of view.

This is long. Please let me know if it is too much so. Talk to you later!