thought repository

Good thing the past is behind us.

2011-08-03T20:01:00.004-05:00

I often feel the immense weight of history pressing down on me when I think of my ancestors (and even the ancestors of others). This is one reason why I absolutely love Google Books. Doing research into one's own history can be pretty enlightening. Here are a few of my recent finds that pertain to my own history:

Rural Social Study of Clay County, Iowa

This link contains a pretty detailed snapshot of survey results of what it was like living in Everly, Iowa (my hometown) in 1916. It is especially cool to read the demographic info with the knowledge that some of the people that were discussed were my direct ancestors.

The Creation of Templar Park in Spirit Lake, Iowa

This link was a little more disturbing for me. A little back story is needed to understand why. Long before I was born, my family was somehow was able to acquire land for a cottage in Templar Park, along the shore of Big Spirit Lake. I'm afraid I don't know the details behind it, but I believe it has something to do with my grandfather or great-grandfather being a member of the Masonic order. This modest little cottage was a favorite vacation spot of ours when I was growing up, especially for me, a little girl with a summer birthday and a love of swimming.

So here I am, trying to learn a bit about the origins of Templar Park, when I come across this line:

Grand Commander Guest, in the opening remarks of his address, says: "We are assembled here to-day for the second time 'under our own vine and fig tree,' under the shadow of 'God's first temples,' on the banks of this beautiful lake (Spirit Lake), where a few years since roamed the untutored savage."

Eek. I suppose I should not be suprised at the callousness, but it still weighs heavy on my heart. Reading through the book about Freemasonry, I was struck at how ridiculous their proceedings are, and I have to wonder how seriously they took themselves or whether this was just some fun social club where they dressed up and felt important.

So of course, all this just makes me even more curious and dying to find more info about how the region was settled, how my ancestors played a part, and what that says about me as a person (if anything). Which just digs me further and further into the rabbit hole that is Google Books. So to Google Books, I say....thanks?

Works in public

2008-12-19T10:39:00.008-06:00

A special thanks to Dane and Amy at the Pizza Shoppe in Benson! They were gracious enough to let me come in on Monday and hang up eight pieces of art above the booths. Unfortunately, no new pieces were created for this because of the extremely short notice, but its still worth a look-see! Not to mention the pizza there is fantastic AND they have New Belgium beers on tap... All of the prints that were hung are signed, framed, and listed for sale (prices range from $40-120).

I'm mentally plotting out a show for sometime in 2009, so keep an eye out for some new works in the near future!

Omaha Craft Mafia Trunk Sale! (8/22)

2008-08-21T12:28:00.007-05:00

Its been a long lazy summer, full of vacation time and slacking off...

But finally, I am honored to be participating in the Omaha Craft Mafia's upcoming trunk sale! I'll have a few tshirts, a few small paintings, and with any luck, some nice giclee prints of the art I have previously shown. Come down to Secret Penguin headquarters this Friday the 22nd between 6-11pm and check it out! Secret Penguin is located in the NoDo district at 1330 Webster St. in Omaha.

The Omaha Craft Mafia makes some super neat items, and I'm always loving what Dave at Secret Penguin has to offer, so I'm excited to see what all will be available. See you there!

Concert poster created for Prismatic

2008-03-07T15:13:00.004-06:00

Awhile back, I did some graphics work for a band in Oregon, The Mood Doculators. My association with these guys led me to another band from Oregon, Prismatic. I liked their music a lot, so I decided to make them something, anything, just for fun. Created in Macromedia Freehand. Yes, I have Illustrator. I'm just stubborn.

Click for a larger version!

Ode to an Ex - group art show & new Zazzle items for sale

2008-02-10T18:24:00.001-06:00

Thursday evening was the opening of a group art show I am participating in, put on by a friend of mine. We had a great turn out, and there are some new pictures up in my MySpace profile of the two pieces I created for the show, as well as photographs of the show itself. Take a look!

I have also created a Zazzle account to sell Posters and Postcards of my art. I may end up moving my t-shirts here as well, we'll see!

make custom gifts at Zazzle

Latest work - Mandala #10, "Moon Phases"

2007-10-14T17:37:00.002-05:00

I think I've been eating too much mexican food lately.

This is what came out of me most recently (so to speak). This image is a vector illustration, created in Macromedia Freehand. Yes yes, I know, Illustrator blah blah blah... I prefer Freehand.

Note the phases of the moon around the outside edge. The moon has been a recurring subject in my life, and I doubt this will be the last time I use it.

Its temping to create some false meaning behind this image, but its really just random "shapiness" coming from the deep recesses of my brain. *shrug*