ARTservancy
AND GALLERY 224, PORT WASHINGTON, WI
ARTservancy 2020-2021 was a yearlong residency program/collaboration between Gallery 224 in Port Washington, WI, and the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust. 17 artists were chosen and each selected a land trust preserve to engage with to create a body of artwork. The objective of ARTservancy is to promote the visionary work of both the artists and the land conservation, culminating in an exhibition at Gallery 224.
I was honored and excited to have been selected as one of the artists participating in this year long Residency.
The property that I visited for the ARTservancy project was Spirit Lake Preserve in Mequon. This beautiful slice of Earth appealed to me for its variety of natural features, including forest, lake, marsh, and river habitats. My project intention was both planned and spontaneous. Planned in the sense that I intended to make at least 12, 12x12 inch plein air paintings (I ended up with 8). Spontaneous because I had no idea what I would paint! Each time I visited with the intention of painting, I hoped to discover something new-to be inspired by some aspect of the Preserve that called out to me. I was so lucky to have this special piece of land which I explored, and I hope I captured, at the very least, some of its wondrous beauty.
This is my first finished work. All the paintings will be 12x12 on canvas panels. This was on a cold November afternoon just next to the house that is on the property. I liked the curve of the path contrasting with the vertical of the trees.
My second piece was done on a very cold afternoon! I didn’t want to hike too far in the snow, so this is a backward facing view of the road into the preserve.
A lovely March day at Spirit Lake. The sun was shining so brightly on the snow covered field behind the trees, and it made beautiful shadows under the canopy of the trees.
A Dance of Spring. Some new growth coming along while some still lays dormant.
Here is the final collection of 8 paintings!
December: The Calm SOLD January: The Trek SOLD
March: The Fingers SOLD April: The Dance
June: The Light July: The Peace SOLD
August: The Flow SOLD September: The Breeze SOLD