Commission Complete

I haven’t taken on a commission since I carved for king of Bhutan but felt compelled to create the vision my client had for her future grandchildren to enjoy. A good chunk of the summer went into carving two totem poles for a historical lodge in Lake Tahoe. Out of respect for my client’s privacy, I did not post pictures while creating the totems but here is a peek at one critter’s progression:

Blazing Saddles Ride

Yesterday kicked my ass. And my CROTCH. And the bottoms of my feet, my toes, my forearms and my neck. But mostly my crotch. Fortunately my thighs, calves and lungs held up pretty damn good for the whole 100 miles. My spirit wavered occasionally and I had the shit scared out of me twice. But it was worth it.

Fifty people donated in support of my ride. Together we raised over $3000 of the $15,000 at the Blazing Saddles event to help Montana families of children with cancer. Your support helped carry me across those miles.

When I faced a knurly headwind during the 8th hour on that tiny abusive seat on top of those impossibly skinny hard tires I swore out loud. Seriously. I also panted a mantra the last few miles, “you are healthy – you are healthy – you are healthy” which was as close as I could get to “you are strong” and “you got this” because at those moments when the wind pounded my spirit and the relentless deep cracks in the pavement punched my softest most sensitive parts, I didn’t feel like I “had this” or that I was “strong.” I felt like crying and more than anything I wanted to be DONE.

My pain was real. But I was heartily aware that my pain was temporary and a self-imposed “luxury” that comes from a choice I made while being healthy, unlike young’uns faced with cancer. Cancer has touched all of us one way or another. I witnessed my father’s last breath when pancreatic cancer took him. I saw the fear in my mother’s eyes when they wheeled her away to cut off her breast. The day before the ride a courageous dear friend who continues to fight texted (without whining) that he was “Feeling lousy today. Weak from chemo and sick.”

I do not personally know a child with cancer but I thought about three new babies recently born to 3 of the ten couples Raymond has married. I rode for those healthy babies and their future even as I road for the children currently fighting. Yesterday was the kind of day that took me places within myself that are both personal and not-at-all about “self.”

It’s not too late to donate: The Payden Foundation

When you arrive home from separate journeys and find yourselves on a summit celebrating personal new chapters because your niece asked for one more summit before the end of her Montana summer chapter.

Lakeview

I enjoyed a long evening swim in the lake with my dear friend Lee before swapping stories by the campfire. We slept outside - I lost count of shooting stars (meteor shower). He left early for work so I swam again in the lake and took advantage of long hot campground shower before the final stretch home sweet home.

Road trip...

I’d driven 3 hours through sunset into the night before I found a dirt road in the middle of nowhere and slept under the stars beneath the moon in a dry sagebrush landscape full of jackrabbits.

Being Seen - feeling connected...

A sense of calm washed over me as the raven brazenly looked at me with clear sharp eyes beneath a sky drama of change. The photo was for Raymond. A moment of connection across miles - singular journeys, courageous commitments and a shared willingness to delve into a limitless changing expanse.

Desert Night

Followed a GIANT jackrabbit a ways down a desert dirt road somewhere near Escalante until it dead ended at a rocky ravine. I rolled out the cozy o’l sleeping bag I used when I was a wilderness ranger 30 years ago, lay down and watched as clouds rushed the moon. Wind whipped. Rain fell until the storm drove me into the back seat of the truck where I curled up and dozed. The storm passed, I crawled out of my burrow and sprawled in the truck bed as the clouds crept away and the stars marched in...

Emigrant Peak (peek)

I sent this photo to Raymond from the 10,926’ summit. He posted it on Facebook and wrote -

“What did your wife do yesterday? Mine had a standard day of kicking ass and making the mountains gaze upon her with envy.”

New series...

Bones whisper stories…

The Keeping Season

Simply scent-sational opening at STAPLETON GALLERY “The Keeping Season - art of florals” show. Always a blast of inspiration to participate in the creative themed shows along with their stellar stable of artists. Note the floral arrangements by Mac's Floral to match the Joseph Henry Sharp paintings.

Sharing a good story...

The room was packed, the stories unfolded, the crowd engaged and the unexpected over-the-top-forever-long standing ovation brought me to tears.

I keep hearing positive feedback from people who attended the “slide lecture” at Museum of the Rockies sponsored by the Bozeman Art Museum. I write “slide lecture” with quotes because the time I spent behind the podium sharing intimate stories woven within the rather epic story of my project in Bhutan is just that; a story, a saga, an adventure and a fairytale (hardly a lecture).

(thank-you Mary Peterson for taking this photo and posting it on social media)

Tala photo-bomb

We haven’t a clue how the dogs found a stick on a treeless summit.

Carving for the King - inspiring slideshow

I became the first woman to carve in the country of Bhutan when the Prime Minister (his Excellency Dasho Tshering Tobgay) asked me to create an artwork in a retreat palace for their revered king.  My adventurous story unfolded during three lengthy trips to the fairytale kingdom of Bhutan nestled high in the Himalayan Mountains. 

“Bhutan is a magical country steeped in tradition, color and kindness. My experience was transformative; which means of course that along with vivid rich awe-inspiring joy there were intense challenges on top of challenges that tested my mettle.I dug deep. Art triumphed. Both myself and the country are forever changed.”

JULY 16

6:30-8:00

at the Museum of the Rockies

(hosted by the Bozeman Art Museum)

Love and difficult loss...

A moment shared with Kia to admire the “pretty” rocks she gleefully plucked from the gravel outside the community hall at the fairgrounds in Elko. Beauty can be found in unexpected places, welcome always but perhaps most especially in the tangled weeds of emotions grown wild in the aftermath of the shared grief and love expressed at the gathering to celebrate Randy’s life. I didn’t know Raymond’s cousin, his well worn laced boots and hand-tooled leather belt small tribute to a young man much admired for his exceptional talent training horses and his big love for little people like Kia. Three years ago Randy traveled the distance to Montana to celebrate our marriage, a lean handsome sun-weathered spirited soul whose stories as a horse whisperer preceded him; the love and esteem Raymond and family held for him evident.

Rest in Peace Randy

Springtime adventure with my niece

Chloe was soooooooo ready to stretch her wings when she moved to Montana last summer. We’ve spun some depth and breadth together into this post-college chapter in her life. Next week she will begin a new chapter moving to the east coast with her boyfriend - so we got ourselves out for one more dance together with Momma Nature…

Sometimes you must take the plunge...

I’ve completed two intensive workshop retreats during the last two weeks. Today Raymond and I leave to immerse in a one-day creative workshop together this weekend. The last two weekend workshops shifted, stretched, renewed and resurfaced parts of myself in a zillion positive ways. I am blessed (and excited to return to my studio…!!!)

Promise Under the Morning Star

Decades ago, I stood among mis-matched pews inside the bombed out church and sang. A bird flew in the broken window - like a prayer - or the answer to a prayer - or the embellishment of a prayer. The moment elevated my heart. I was seventeen. The church was in East German behind The Wall. Last weekend another such magical moment etched my heart with vibrant love when the parent of a Cheyenne student began our gathering at the gallery with a heartfelt prayer spoken in his native tongue. We were bonded in spirit, humbled in his sincerity and respect for all that is “made with the hand.” What an honor to participate in the meaningful collaboration between musicians from The Silk Road Ensemble, Stapleton Gallery and students from the Lame Deer Reservation.

PROMISE Under the Morning Star

STAPLETON GALLERY WRITES:

On the evening of Saturday, May 11th, we will open our doors to celebrate the PROMISE of Native American youth arts. Join us to view the work of Northern Cheyenne students alongside the work of Stapleton Gallery artists in a powerful showcase of art--the culmination of an academic year that produced beautifully printed fabrics, pottery, sculpture, linoleum block cuts, metalwork, and music. From collaborating with artist Ben Pease, sculpting with Jennifer Li, and ending with a week spent with members of the Grammy Award-winning Silk Road Ensemble (who's annual work with these Northern Cheyenne students inspired our own artists)--this will be a gathering to remember.

Join us to see various representations and interpretations of the Morning Star--the most iconic symbol of the Northern Cheyenne people. As one student put it, "The Morning Star is a sign of hope. It tells us not to give up and to keep going no mater what." Join us to be surprised and delighted by these kids' art, and to make a meaningful contribution to a student art fund. Enjoy good music and good food. This show is a cultural exchange, giving voice to these students, and relationship-building that promises to give hope for all concerned. We invite you to come see, hear, and find PROMISE.