Maple

Maple

charcoal on paper

20 x 26

This drawing and three others of mine, as well as wonderful work by other PAN artists, are on view at the current PAN show at the Phipps Center, in Hudson Wisconsin:

Project Art for Nature, led by River Falls based artist Vera Ming Wong, consists of approximately 27 artists and illustrators from many areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin. To highlight nearby gems of prairie, forest, river and wetland, PAN artists create artworks focused on individually chosen natural areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Visiting the sites regularly throughout a two-to-three-year cycle, observations of seasonal and cumulative changes in native plant and animal communities spark curiosity, reflection and creative responses. The participating artists share their sites and insights into both nature and art with one another and, through exhibitions and related educational programs, with the general public.

Places Between, Species Within: Project Art for Nature's fourth cycle unfurls with a show of new works, by both new and renewing artists, at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wisconsin. Exhibit Dates: 19 Aug – 25 Sep 2011; Opening Reception, 26 Aug, 6:30-8:30 pm. Round Table Discussion with Exhibiting Artists, 25 Sep 2011, 2:00-4:00 pm. Check the Phipps website for gallery hours, www.ThePhipps.org. For more information about Project Art for Nature and participating artists, please visit www.projectartfornature.org.

Swan Family

I just went out to try and find the swans; I wanted to get some more photos before they leave. The babies take 3-4 months before they are ready to fly, and are protected by both parents until that time. It can be surprisingly hard to find them through the thick-mosquito-ridden cattails. Amazingly, all four are still around! I love their quiet presence, so different from Canada Geese. An interesting note - the 1975 edition of Minnesota Birds by Jan Green and Bob Janssen lists Trumpeter Swans as extirpated from Minnesota - what a happy success story!

Show at the Phipps

I am part of the group PAN - projectartfornature.org - and we are having a show at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson WI. (Double click on the above card to see the fine print. ) The show is based on ecologically important sites around Wisconsin and Minnesota region. My site is Lake Pepin and the Maiden Rock Bluffs SNA area, I will include some of my charcoal pieces. It should be a great show and I hope to see some of you there, the opening is August 26th, from 6:30 - 8:30.