Last month I was at Jerry's Artarama in Fort Collins. Dave was hunting a bottle of Teal Golden Acrylic paint. I was just poking around when I saw a display card for 3 Square Art gallery in Fort Collins. The next call for entry was a landscape show. I had never heard of this gallery so I went online to see if it looked like a good place to display work. I was impressed with their look and professionalism. So...I entered three pieces for the Jury. Two pieces got accepted. Yeah!
I got a chance to look at the show yesterday and was impressed with the quality, variety of styles and interpretations. The owners, Kumiko and Craig McKee, are dedicated to quality shows and creating a place for regional artists to meet and grow professionally. 
The Landscape show is on display till April 7th. If you are in the area take a minute to see the exhibition. You will enjoy it and touring the building that also houses 27 artists' studios. And, oh yes, my piece, Thunderhead over Happy Jack Rd won the Gold award. Yeah again! 

 ​I am an East coaster gone West. I grew up in Buffalo NY, spent some time in the deep South, then moved to Atlanta and finally Cheyenne Wyoming. I traveled West with artistic angst. What would my voice in the West be? I’d been working with natural materials and themes unique to the South. I had no feeling or aptitude for the figure or animals so bison and cowboys were out. What was left? The landscape! Driving towards Cheyenne that first November, I struggled to describe what I was seeing. Few trees, brown hills, vast horizons and giant skies. What was this foreign country? The phrase, “Undulating hills of brown suede,” floated into my consciousness. Little did I know that textiles would become my medium and voice to interpret Wyoming’s fascinating geology and unique landscape.

 15 years later, I am still using textiles to make work about this land that has become my home. I have traveled to many interesting places in the West and met many unique Westerners. In recognition of this, I will be showing my work influenced by Wyoming's geology and featuring a few of those unique and friendly people I have met! If you are in Cheyenne during the months of March and April, I hope you will stop by Blue Door Arts located in Downtown Cheyenne and say hello!  

Billings Montana is lucky to have the Yellowstone Art Museum commonly known as the YAM. The museum brings in thought provoking exhibits, community events and arts education. This December I got to see the outstanding exhibition, Remember Me by Jane Waggoner Deschner. I've seen articles about her work so when I got to see this instillation in person, I has intrigued and haunted by it. Hundreds of old headshots stitched over with embroidered text taken from obituaries made up the bulk of her work. In addition Deschner, created instillations portraying domestic life that dotted the galleries.

I believe that the presence of art and artists in a community is important. I'm happy to support my local museums and those like the YAM that are several hours away from Cheyenne. I first got connected to YAM through their annual art auction. Last year I had a piece accepted and this year I applied and got a piece accepted again. It's a large, well run auction that I'm proud to be apart of! They even have an online component so people across the country can bid. Stay tuned for that link to the auction for a chance to bid on Darkening Skies- Guiding Lights or any of the other wonderful artists represented. 

 If you live in Cheyenne and walk past my downtown studio window, over the last 4 months you've seen a large piece of artwork grow inch by inch. It was a commissioned piece for Dawn and Shannon Widdicombe of Billings Montana. The reference photo was of the majestic Crazy Mountains in Montana. When I create a commissioned piece of art one of the cool things my clients can do is send me meaningful textiles to include in the piece. Although it was worn and frayed, Shannon reluctantly contributed her lucky yellow, pinwale corduroy gambling shirt. I used it extensively in the foreground but saved a bit to give back to her. Shannon now has a lucky gambling pocket! As I used textiles they sent me, I would drape them over the easel so they could see what and where they were being used. 
After 96 hours of creative challenge, the piece was completed. I was very pleased with the final results and more importantly so where Dawn and Shannon! They were a pleasure to work with. Thank you and enjoy your piece! 

This Friday, Oct 14th from 4-5, the Laramie County Library will be hosting the final RoundUP WindUP mural making party. It's free and open to all ages. Come and wind up a circle or two and be a part of this interactive community mural.

The final four panel, RoundUP mural will hang in the future Children's Museum of Cheyenne. 

The August Artwalk saw over 100 people come through the studio doors. Adults and kids made over 61 circular motifs for the RoundUP mural. Children's Museum board members were there to join in the fun and talk about the museum's progress. If you missed the August event you can be a part of the fun this Friday from 5-8pm.. The fun is happening at Blue Door Arts located at 1608 Capitol Ave.  

,What's ARPA you ask? It is the American Rescue Plan Act funding. The Wyoming Arts Council, The National Endowment for the Arts and the Wyoming State Legislature are the entities that funded and/or handled the grant. 31 Wyoming artist received grants of various amounts to implement a variety of projects across the state.  My project, of course revolves around textiles. The RoundUP mural is interactive in its construction and play value. The first RoundUP WindUP event is tonight, Friday May 13th at Makerspace 307 in Riverton WY. If you are nearby, stop in for some Antelope Chili and a fun night of art making! Event starts at 5:30 but stop in when you can. I'll be here working late. This is such a great space to be creative in!