Roger Ballen… Raw and surreal. Love his work.
“Ambient Light” Opening Reception Sept. 13th, 6:30-9:30pm
OPENING RECEPTION
Friday, September 13th, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Please Join Me for the Opening Reception of Ambient Light: A Natural Luminosity,
Friday, September 13th, 6:30-9:30pm. This is an interesting exhibit of over
70 images by photographers across the nation. The evening will be filled with good art, tasty food,
stimulating conversation and great music provided by Frank Enanzoa and Jamie Carter. This exhibit
is free and open to the public so bring your friends and relatives. I look forward to seeing you there!
On Exhibit September 13th through October 13, 2013
“Ice Castle” at the Mall of America, 2013
The Quintessence of Self, Artist-in-Residency, 2013.
I have begun a journey, several months ago, in which I have chosen to reflect about the meaning of life, and the essence of the soul during a time a great life transition. So far this journey has proven personal strength, resilience and a higher level of personal enlightenment.
The artist residency was offered at an important time in my life. I was able to utilize this gift by exploring this theme deeper, gaining momentum and inspiration through the energy produced during the time at Trade River Retreat Center.
The definition of Quintessence is; the pure, highly concentrated essence of something; the purest or most typical instance: the quintessence of evil; and finally, in ancient and medieval philosophy, the fifth and highest essence after the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, thought to be the substance of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things.
“Finding Harmony and Strength”
“Exposed Inner Heart”
“Finding Balance”
“What Once Was”
“Loved Her Hair”
“The Evidence of Self”
“Painfully Empty Handed”
“Attempting to Find Oneself Under a Pile”
“Disembodied Legs”
“Nesting Owls”
“Me”
“Come Rain on Me”
“Reflection of the Soul”
“Shadow on the River”
Intimate Observations, Artist-in-Residency, 2013.
The following are intimate observations I made during my Artist-in-Residency, August 2013. I warmed up and stretched my photographic and creative muscles with exercises in observing light and content.
“Bird House”
“Eagle’s Nest”
“Fish Lake Road”
“Grass”
“Grass Nest”
“The Head and The Heart”
“Heart in Nest”
“Lilly Pad”
“Pine”
“Post Office”
“Drive Way”
“Rock Path”
“Sandy Bottom”
“Twig Trellis”
“Tree Wearing Mask”
“Turtle and Leach”
“Two Masks”
“Spider Web and Antlers”
“Twisted Wood”
Mythical and Spiritual Tales
I began to blend the two dominant cultures I identify with in a new world of story telling and spiritualism. Traditional Ojibway and Norse (viking) stories, legends are the influence for these images and marks the new direction for my paintings.
Completed during my Artist-in-Residence in August of 2013.
“Shaman,” watercolor on auqabord. 2013. Original size 6×6.
“Tree Guardian,” watercolor on aquabord. 2013. Original size 6×6.
Owls
Owls have been a symbol for me for many years. I find a great sense spiritual symbolism in their presence. When I hear them call, sing and chatter, I always smile with great joy.
Completed during my Artist-in-Residence in August of 2013.
“Barn Owl,” watercolor on aquabord. 2013 original size 6×6
“Short-eared Owl,” watercolor on aquabord. 2013 original size 6×6
Day 6
I can hardly believe it! I have one day of this beautiful place left. I am ready to go home that is for sure however there are so many more images to make. So far this artist residency experience has been good. I have been given the time to create without the noise of my daily life, which I am grateful for. This has marked the beginning of a huge release of pent up energy for sometime to come. The creative embers will not die easily.
This day will pass me by before I know it so off to create I go. I will have a wrap up blog posting in a few days after given sometime to think and love all I have missed.
Here is a snapshot of a white swan family I saw the other day… Enjoy.
5 days in – Longing
The creative flow has been like white water rapids for days… now I feel myself slowing down to a trickle. I have been feeling the phantom touches of my family. Isolation can be good for a time, however human contact would sure be nice right now. I think I am starting to get a little home sick. Wait did I just say that! Well I am human I can miss home…
Today, I did however find a new direction for my painting! Because I am obsessed with cultural history, storytelling and lore, that makes up my heritage. I finally found a way to combine Norse (Viking) and Native American tribal stories to create my own mythical creatures and stories.
I took it upon myself to stand in the pouring rain for a long time this afternoon. The rain felt so warm, cleansing, soothing, and lovely.
This evening the woods transformed from the eerie quite-before-the-storm with dark skies and swirly tornado like clouds, to a thunderstorm and down pour. Pretty active night, however I would like to chill and relax.
Challenges and Risks of Freedom
When you are solo, portrait work is challenging. Especially when you forget the cord for your remote trigger! Well there is more then one way to release the shutter. My first attempt at this task was a swim in the river. The river is only knee deep in the deepest spots so no big deal. The first challenge for me was going into the water in my birthday suite. At first I was worried the trees would point out my post baby body (my youngest is 7!) and the birds would cackle at my blemishes, then I realized that… No one cares but me! Giving myself that permission was so freeing.
In the wake of this freedom I burned up the shutter with my creative fire. I spent the next two days executing image after image that was trapped in my head. Inspiring new images in the wake of each semi planned image. The energy I gained from this was so much that sleep was hard to find. Although, I longed for sleep after exploring the woods and each time I returned to the cabin I had new scratches, bug bites and itches.
I heard a barred owl the other night. Such a lovely lullaby she sang.
Snap Shots – Observations – Flexing the Photo Muscules
Greetings to another day here at Trade River. I have been working hard at taking risks and discovering new things about myself and my expressions. So hard in fact that both Saturday and Sunday nights I have had little sleep due to racing thoughts about images I would like to make or words I would like to say. After some work an afternoon nap might be necessary.
It is raining this morning, so I thought I would process some snap shots of the area. My finished art work will go up on my site in the coming weeks.
Trade River
Parker
The Cabin
Trade River post office sign down the road.
Abandoned house down the road
Fish Lake
Fish Lake
Fish Lake
Fish Lake
