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Last year, just before Christmas, Doc and I moved to Minneapolis, as our winter residence. We live in Uptown, in a funky 2-section apartment/studio which are at opposite ends of the building. I had a successful winter making jewelry, painting and making sculpture, and even managed to get two paintings into a show in at the Hopkins Center for the Arts! From my show on the island in August 2016- August 2017, I sold over a dozen paintings, and have sold several more since then. I'm eternally grateful! This full-time art life might actually be working out! We had a fun summer on the island, despite near-constant rain. I went out only occasionally--preferring to enjoy being in my own house, which has been sadly neglected for most of the last five years while we've been elsewhere. I've become reclusive, there is no question. I love being in the studio, no matter where it happens to be. I love my work. We are back in Minneapolis now, and I have begun work on a grant project called "Wherever I am" THE THINGS I LOVE", which is like a journal of paintings featuring things I love about my two homes. The life of a nomadic artist, in Paintings. Anyone who follows my work knows that I work in a variety of styles, and this collection will highlight that. Expect anything and everything! STAY TUNED..... 
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I had a three week show at the La Pointe Center in August which was very successful! The name of the show was "Farm Americana", featuring oil and acrylic paintings in sepia, black and white, and color. The paintings were inspired by spending the last several winters on a farm in Iowa, as well as my Mother's childhood on a farm. I decided I wanted to focus on the land, the people, and what they did with their time other than tending to animals and crops. How did those ladies find the time to crochet, bake pies, and sew clothing for the whole family? The show was done in a traditional realistic style, which I have not revisited in years, but even then I had to have a plot twist. All of the paintings have a border around them, like photographs, and the "piece de resistance" was somewhat of a self portrait. I dressed in Doc's grandmother's 1930s house dress and apron, and posed hanging his mothers baby dresses on the clothesline, in the afternoon sun, my shadow stretching out on the grass. I painted it in sepia acrylic on a piece of flannel quilt backing. All of these things--the clothes and the flannel, were found in trunks in the attic of this farm. To display it, I hung it across a corner on a dowel, held up by clothespins. It was the first piece that sold at the opening.  I had a great summer on the island! I decided to return to doing trunk shows at Tom's Burned Down Cafe. It is really the best and most fun way to sell my jewelry--I love to connect with people in person, so I can answer any questions they have, and share information and stories about the elements I use in my work. I also get to hang out with my friends and make new ones, Listening to great music while working on-site, often making custom creations, on the spot! This summer, my biggest challenge was to recreate a necklace I had made so that it would hold an e-cigarette! Hmmm, might just be a market for that!? This year, as always, I have turned in a new direction, and I'm making things with repurposed Skyy Vodka and Bombay gin bottles that have been broken and tumbled in a rock polisher. I never find blue glass in the lake anymore, so I don't feel this is cheating, and as it turns out, I had trouble making them fast enough! At the end of one evening, nearly every woman in the bar was wearing a pair of my earrings! In addition to the repurposed glass, I am also using stained glass in my work, in my jewelry, and--NEW ADDITION: suncatchers! I am in Iowa again for the winter, or at least part of it. We don't have a solid plan yet whether we will stay here or move on at some point. In any case, stay tuned, as I will soon be loading my newest creations on my jewelry page and my mobile page!  I have four pieces in the Aqueous Magazine show at Stage North from June 20th-July 9th. Stop in and have a drink at the bar, see the art, and take in a show or live music! It's a great night-out!
On July 5th, 2014, I will be having a plein aire exhibit and demonstration of the "Mosaic paintings"series I have been working on, while on the road during my travels and since I have been home. I will be available to answer questions, and I will have a digital slideshow of photos of my travels on display.
Later in the summer and into fall, my work will be on exhibit at Coco Bakery and Deli in Washburn. Stay tuned for the date the show goes up! *** I will no longer be operating my streetside trunk show/studio at Tom's Burned Down Cafe. I've decided that I need to dedicate myself to creating and leave the selling to the professionals. My work is available at Adventure Vacations, La Pointe Center, and the Sugar Shack, all on Middle Road on Madeline Island. I have not kept up on this blog because in 2012, my mother passed away and I spent a year settling her estate. Since then, my "Loveband" known as "The Doctor and I have been roaming the southwest in a 1974 GMC motorhome we call "the MOHO". She is affectionately named "Idris".   On September 3rd, Labor Day weekend, a group of artists and designers and myself held a fashion show, hosted by Tom's Burned Down Cafe, on Madeline Island. We were VERY lucky to find a group of AMAZING models who showed off our creations wonderfully! The place was PACKED, and a great time was had by all. We are already planning next years show....  Jack, son of the bar owner, is CLEARLY in love. Can you blame him? Photo by Steve Martino  Kia is wearing my leather and lake Stone cuff. Photo by Steve Martino  Photo by Steve Martino  Kris "The High Seas Drifter" is wearing my "Bones" necklace. Photo by Steve Martino.  Photo by Steve Martino. |
I am an artist and jewelry designer who creates using found and salvaged objects. My work is authentic and a bit rustic, which is how I like it. I like the look of time and wear--it speaks of history, rather than manufacturing..august, 2011
December 2017
current work
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