Works in progress, where I share what I'm working on and what I'm thinking about, and also show my Instagram feed.
In the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, 7”x30” oils and wax on birch panel
It's such a good feeling to have my artwork in another U.S. Embassy, this time in Bangladesh. The image here is "In the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve" and shows a portion of the 12x30" painting. Check out all the artwork selected for the embassy in Dhaka by following the link above.
a letter from the State Department
exhibit post card with an image of my collage painting “Sandhills Almanac #2”
Metropolitan Community College is hosting its third nature exhibit with "Verdant," showing at the college's Mule Barn Gallery during August. The gallery, located in Building 21 on the Fort Omaha campus at 5300 N. 30th St., is open Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. The show will close with a reception 5-7pm Friday, Aug. 28. I hope you can check it out. I was delighted the curators chose "Sandhills Almanac #2" to feature on the exhibit post card.
“Sandhills Almanac #9" an 8x8” collage painting
The annual invitational show by Cathedral Arts Project brings many great artists from the region together to feature new work in the Sunderland Gallery, 3900 Webster St. The artist reception coincides with the arts district art walk 5-8pm Aug. 20 along 40th Street with activities at Joslyn Castle and Cali Commons. I'm showing two brand-new collage paintings and hope you'll join us for a fun summer's evening celebrating arts and culture. The Sunderland Gallery is open noon - 4pm Tuesday through Friday and 11:30am to 2:30pm Saturday and Sunday. The show runs through Oct. 4.
Bison herd at Niobrara Valley Preserve, Nebraska
Spending a week at the Niobrara Valley Preserve learning about conservation efforts in Nebraska was pretty amazing, and I’m now a certified “master naturalist” who you might see volunteering at regional parks and preserves.
The vast quantities of information came at us quickly. We learned about the geology that formed the land, the rivers that run through it, and all the life around us: plants, insects, birds, reptiles and mammals. We caught, observed and released insects, tadpoles, mice and a shrew. We photographed and uploaded photos to iNaturalist as part of a mini bio-blitz project where we collectively logged more than 200 species, thanks primarily to master gardener and herbalist Kendra. We discussed conservation and environmental education.
Fellow participants came from a variety of professional backgrounds and geographic areas of the state. Each one of them was interesting and compassionate and fun to chat with. I made new friends and feel connected to another fascinating community. Volunteers supported us with good humor and good food. The days of hot temperatures were manageable with cool mornings, an air-conditioned classroom and bunkhouse. And program director Jamie Bachmann orchestrated everything with dedication and patience alongside her delightful dog, Finn. She shared insightful and intriguing quotes to spark conversation, and many of those quotations led me to make a couple of bulky orders with Bookshop.org. I expect a delivery later today!
A highlight of the week was watching a bison herd on a prairie pasture during the golden hour. We sat in the beds of two pickups and rode over the sandy, grass-covered hills to watch the herd of about 300 bison. It’s mating season, so bulls challenged one another with head-butts. Many cows had calves, including one that been born just a day or two before our visit. The sun set as we drove back toward the preserve headquarters.
I’m still processing, looking forward to my first book club meeting to discuss Birding while Indian: A Mixed-Blood Memoir by Thomas Gannon with the group, and expecting to start choosing volunteer engagements as I continue learning.
sketching while listening to Jon Garbisch describe geological formations. Photo by Paige Elting.
a nature journaling spread in my sketchbook focused on the sunflowers in my front yard
During a week in mid-July, I'll take a deep dive into the natural systems of our state, learning more about what makes up Nebraska, from its rocks and rivers to the wide variety of plants and animals it hosts. I'm training to become a 'master naturalist' and hope to volunteer at state parks and refuges. After I get my bearings, I hope to offer some nature journaling sessions. Stay tuned!