Blog

The last few weeks have been a long series of very pleasant surprises to say the least. They have not helped me concentrate on my preparations to show at the bioblitz this weekend..  The bioblitz  is a scientific event sponsored by National Geographic and being held at Wind Cave National Park and many National Parks on May 21. These events are open to and for the public.  I was asked by the Wind Cave staff to show my art because of my efforts to bring attention to endangered birds and birds of concern through sculpture.  This event and it's goals are exactly the direction that I want my career and artwork to go.  So, saying that, you know that these other surprises have to be good :)

First was the news from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Side by Side, which was being shown at the Animals in Art Exhibition had been chosen for an honorable mention and also for the prestigious Dean's Choice Award!  WHOO HOO!!  more ribbons and a really cool note in my resume.

Next is the installation of Arctic Huntress in Sioux Falls, SD for the SculptureWalk 2016.  It was a borderline really-crummy-weekend, but the installation crews did a fantastic job, everything looks great, and best of all none of the weldors were electrocuted while welding the sculptures to their pedestals in the rain.  After the installation the judges for the best of show made a walking tour of all 54  sculptures in this years exhibition.  The panel of judges this year was comprised of about 12 of the artists in the exhibition.  Somehow this panel of my contemporaries  and in several cases  my idols, chose my sculpture "Arctic Huntress" for BEST OF SHOW !!!  Wow, talk about cloud nine.

And for the final coup de grace, the next week I was notified by the National Sculpture Society that "Side by Side", my sculpture of the Avocets has been chosen to show as one of 45 artists from a field of 255 entrants and over 900 other artworks!  Work that  I   created is to be included in the 83rd annual National Sculpture Society Exhibition in Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. OMG

My sense of humility is struggling.  On the one hand I am stunned to think that my sculptures have drawn this kind of attention. And on another hand I just want to kick the dirt with an insincere 'Awe Shucks' because I really do try to produce work to the best of my abilities.  And on the third hand I want to shout to the heavens "YAH BABY!!!! THATS WHAT I'M TALKIN' BOUT!!!!!"  but that good old common sense of midwestern humility kicks in.  LOL I guess it is a good problem to have.