Journey To The Black Hills

Wow...it's been a long time.  Johntimothy and I left mid-week for our trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Our destination was Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota for the closing reception of our exhibition Awakening Breath, and a mini-workshop on drypoint and mezzotint that Johntimothy conducted with the students there.  Of course, we spent the weekend in the splendor of autumn in the mountains.  Does it come as a surprise to anyone that we have mountains here in South Dakota?! The Black Hills are a gorgeous part of the country, with spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife.  In Custer State Park we were just a few feet from a buffalo as he sauntered across the road right in front of the car and later in the day the wild burros provided quite a delight as they poked their curious heads right in the car window just checking things out.  Photos coming soon, when I get them downloaded. Also had a lovely drive over to Devil's Tower in Wyoming, which is another specatcular site in this part of the country, just over the border of South Dakota.  A brisk morning hike to one of the falls in Spearfish Canyon was a real highlight and I was struck especially by the color and pattern of the bark peeling on the aspen and birch trees...inspired a whole new body of work that I can't wait to get started on!  Actually, Johntimothy and I were both inspired and have concocted ideas for more collaborative works based on these trees. But first, we have to download and sort through the thousand or more pictures Johntimothy must have taken!

Of course, I'm feeling very behind in the studio and all sorts of other things after being away, but it was a much needed break and we are both rejuvenated and refreshed!  I've posted a portrait of the first three sugar pumpkins we just harvested this morning from the garden.  We're very excited by our success and by the yummy dishes that await us when we cut into them!  Sugar pumpkins make wonderful soups and pies and I'm sure, all kinds of other things that we'll soon discover.

I'm working on the Walk Through The Universe post for later today and I'm very excited to share with you my palimpsest discoveries!  So, stay tuned, I'll be back later this afternoon...