Notes from the River Road – Spring 2024
Spring is finally here! The winter, with its frigid, January temperatures followed by a morass of mud on the river road, left me with extended time to spend at home contemplating inspirational sources for my art. Sometimes it can be welcoming to learn where the art flow is leading so that it can best facilitate the creative process.
You might say I continue to be led up to the canopy and down to the roots of trees through my collage series, “The Secret Lives of Trees.” As I mentioned in my previous blog, my initial interest in trees was sparked by Finding the Mother Tree (Suzanne Simard), The Hidden Lives of Trees (Peter Wohlleben) and Overstory (Richard Powers). Among the secrets of trees is their ability to communicate with one another through chemical signals delivered by fungi through root systems. Mary Oliver’s beautiful poem, ““When I am Among the Trees” is expressive of another contemplative perspective: a mystical quality derived from an evocative, spiritual encounter with trees while walking through an ancient forest.
My husband, Tom Schmiedeler, and I are preparing for a joint exhibition this summer at Gallery 4621, Landmark National Bank, 4621 W 6th Street in Lawrence, Kansas. Our show, “Common Ground,” opens July 12, 5-7 p.m., and runs through September 30. My work consists of mixed-media landscapes with special emphasis on “The Secret Lives of Trees.” Tom’s photography exhibit is titled “A Geographer’s Interpretations of Space and Place,” which includes images of people and landscapes, particularly the spectacular physical geography of Scotland. Tom’s recommended readings are Fiona MacDonald’s Scotland: A Very Peculiar History, Volume I and II, illustrated with pen and ink drawings by Mark Bergin; and Alistair Moffat’s Scotland’s Forgotten Past: A History of the Mislaid, Misplaced & Misunderstood, with woodcut illustrations by Joe McLaren.
We are excited to have this opportunity to exhibit our work at Gallery 4621 as the space is designed well for optimal display of art. Mark your calendar and we hope to see you there!