The time is closing quickly at my time here on Duck Lake. I enjoy every precious moment that I’ve been gifted with this beautiful view that offers peace and quiet bringing inner calm to anyone who needs it. Life perspectives are ever changing, and I now notice more of the little pleasures’ life has to offer and give thanks. The next chapter of life will be even more beautiful, filled with love and light as I’ve been given a sneak preview of what is to come. My wish is for the next family to appreciate what they have here and have just as many happy memories as my family and I did.
Address: 461 E. Mitchell Street, Petoskey, MI 49770
Exhibition Dates: September 16- November 1, 2025
Selected works:
Red Wood
To sit in solitude, to think in solitude with only the music of the stream and the forest to break the flow of silence, there lies the value of wilderness. -by John Muir I love how this Red barked tree stands tall with others but has its own identity- not trying to fit in with the “crowd”, if I had to pick an image that fits me this would be it!
Alone in the Fog
I found this scene peaceful and enjoyed watching the fog roll across the lake while listening to the loons call to each other. The trees slowly fading into the abyss and all they can do is just sit and patiently wait for it to pass. This quote from Mehmet Murat Ildan nailed it- “In nature, everything has a job. The job of the fog is to beautify further the existing beauties!
The Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is honored to share your work with 66 other artists based in the neighborhood. The exhibition will be open in the Concourse C Gallery in Terminal 1 from June 9 – December 1, 2025.
Exhibition dates: June 9th– December 1, 2025
Location: MSP (Minneapolis-Saint Paul) airport Concourse C gallery in Terminal 1
Concourse C is for travelers heading East! West Coast travelers- it’s a walk but well worth it!
Accepted works: Wolf n Bear & End of Day
End of Day
Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully by Kristen Butler- Go out and be one with Mother Nature; allow her to show you we are all one with the universe. So, fill your heart with beautiful images that keep your Soul’s light shining bright! End of Day is a symphony, where all participants flow in harmony and me with my camera the composers- one of the best gifts given to me from nature.
Wolf n Bear?
Some people come into our lives and quickly go, some stay for a while, leaving footprints on our hearts and we are never the same- by Flavia Weedn. Indigenous cultures believe that bear footprints and the bear itself represent strength, courage and the connection to the natural world. This image reminds me of the ones that left their footprints on my soul.
It’s a steamy Monday morning here in Cabin Country, Minnesota. At first glance, this looks dreary, but find the peace this dew-covered window gives. Mother Nature grabs my attention again and gives me something to see that I haven’t paid attention to in the past. I give thanks for simple blessings like this image. I find beauty in the storm; I find my inner peace.
This collection of images captures the spirit of exploration, inviting photographers to share the emotions, stories, and moments that have shaped their journeys. Whether venturing to far-off destinations or discovering the hidden gems within their own communities, each photograph reflects the unique perspectives that arise from immersing ourselves in new environments and cultures. As we wind down the year, we celebrate the adventures that define us and invite you to relive the essence of travel through this inspiring visual experience.
I was blessed to have two images selected for this online exhibition, Beach Life and Watercolor Tree.
Beach life IR horizontal
Beach Life- digital infrared photography
Life is like an Ocean or in this case a Great Lake; sometimes it can be calm, rough waves, gorgeous blue waters, or jet black with white caps but at the end of the day it is always beautiful. Simple views like this help me recharge my soul, releasing the creativity like endorphins after a workout so I can share my visual art to the world.
Watercolor Tree- I phone fine art photography
Steamy Monday morning here in Cabin Country Minnesota. At first glance, this looks dreary, but find the peace this dew-covered window gives. Mother Nature grabs my attention again and gives me something to see that I haven’t paid attention to in the past. I give thanks for simple blessings like this image, I find beauty in the storm; I find my inner peace.
This year’s photograph Hint of Gold is framed in my Commando Photozaic.
Hint of Gold:
Robert Frost wrote this perfectly: Nothing Gold Can Stay. Nature’s first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then the leaf subsides to leaf So Eden Sank to grief, so dawn goes down today. Nothing gold can Stay. This view recharges my soul, I love sitting on my parent’s shoreline watching the sunsets and June didn’t disappoint. There’s no better way to reflect on a beautiful day than watching the sunset, knowing tomorrow is going to be just as amazing. I enjoy my time spent with Mom especially after Dad passed away a few years back. It’s funny how life’s perspectives change after you lose a parent. I know that someday my time witnessing these beautiful sunsets on my parent’s shoreline will end but they will forever be locked inside my heart.
Orange Watercolor- Commando photozaic will grace New York’s Time Square area billboard.
When do you ask? July 19th, 2023
Time? 12:30 PM
Address: 1568 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
Tips: The screen is in Times Square at the corner of 7th Avenue and West 47th Street. For the best view of the screen, go to the red steps in Father Duffy Square.
I am blessed to be one of the many talented artists at this prestigious location.
Orange Watercolor commando photozaic- small
About Orange Watercolor:
The sunset silhouettes of the islands have been like no other I’ve seen on my travels, knowing you are in borderland country (Minnesota/Canada) when you visit the trees bouncing off the evening sky. In my eyes each sunset is unique and unlike the previous day. Colors from sunsets change just like the seasons. Late summer sunsets have the deepest orange fading into twilight blue.
This view recharges my soul, I love sitting on my parent’s shoreline watching the sunsets and June didn’t disappoint. There’s no better way to reflect on a beautiful day than watching the sunset, knowing tomorrow is going to be just as amazing.
I enjoy my time spent with Mom especially after Dad passed away a few years back. It’s funny how life’s perspectives change after you lose a parent. I know that someday my time witnessing these beautiful sunsets on my parent’s shoreline will end but they will forever be locked inside my heart.
Robert Frost wrote this perfectly: Nothing Gold Can Stay.
Nature’s first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then the leaf subsides to leaf So Eden Sank to grief, so dawn goes down today. Nothing gold can Stay.
Below are images I was blessed to capture and deciding which ones to make into my photozaics. Your comments are welcome if you have a favorite.
The Ashininaabek people used the Mother Bear as a landmark and tell the story about how she came to be there. Long ago, along the Wisconsin shoreline, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan by a raging forest fire. The bears swam for many hours, but soon the cubs tired. Mother bear reached the shore first and climbed to the top of a high bluff to watch and wait for her cubs. The cubs drowned within sight of the shore. The Great Spirit created two islands to mark the spot where the cubs disappeared and then created a solitary dune to represent the eternal vigil of mother bear.
These images reminded me of the gulf coast just minus the salty ocean air.
I watched as morning fog kissed the landscape, slowly burning off showing Lake Michigan’s beautiful teal-blue waters. While I was exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes, I had the story above playing around in my head; carefully documenting the landscape with both color and infrared cameras.
Sleeping Bear Beach
Photozaic statement:
How can I construct an image that moves beyond the surface? Photozaics, of course!
My award-winning Photozaics are inspired where Van Gogh’s textures meet Ansel Adam’s simplicity near the intersection of Bob Ross’ healing vibes. This technique is a labor-intensive multi-step process and starts out with my journey into nature; recording the landscapes that spark my eye may it be rolling hills or a babbling brook. After modifying the composition, I take the print and head to the stained-glass shop to find matching colors. I cut the glass by hand taking smaller shards, and placing them in a rock tumbler to remove sharp edges while larger pieces are sanded by hand and assembled the frame. Grouting finishes the artwork allowing the detail of each cut glass shape to add texture to my art.
Art heals the mind, body, and soul. Research has shown a correlation between participating in cultural activities, like Crafting, visiting art galleries, and attending concerts have increased rates of good health. By creating Photozaics, it is my hope to connect with you through a multi-sensory mixed media presentation that tickles sight and encourages your touch.
