I am working on a new series on the animals of the Kalevala. I got inspired by the work of an artist from Finland who is showing here and who makes reference to that old Finnish epic poem in her photos. I went back and started reading it and realized the imagery is like what I have already been painting...and for some reason, it hit a chord somewhere deep inside. Like the swan of Tuonela, a beautiful white bird on the river of death...
The book I illustrated this summer called "Naked in the Stream: the Isle Royale Stories" by Vic Foerster has been published by Arbutus Press and is available at bookstores and through Amazon.
There was an exhibition of my work from this book at the Reflection Gallery, Finlandia University in April.
There is also an exhibition of the drawings this summer along with the "North of the Bridge" show at the Crooked Tree Art Center in Petoskey. The director has chosen 30 Upper Peninsula artists for this wonderful exhibition, which opened May 22. It will all be there until September 3.
