ART FOR HUMANITY’S SAKE

Dr. Beth Zinsli, formerly director of galleries and currently associate provost of Lawrence University, visited my studio in January of 2025. After an engaging discussion, Dr. Zinsli invited me to produce a new collection of work to be exhibited at the Hoffmaster Gallery. The resulting paintings are an extension of my body of work using a laser eye-tracker to plot the path of my eyes while viewing the landscape. The paintings were inspired by the summer moon over Schmeeckle Reserve, blue skies in spring seen through hardwood trees that had not yet leafed out at George W. Mead State Wildlife Area, and shadows on snowbanks seen out my apartment window at dawn in the Village of Plover, Wisconsin. Some time ago, while making abstract drawings, I became aware of my bias in favor of contours, a byproduct of teaching observational drawing for twenty years. Using the laser eye-tracker disrupts this bias, cultivates my visual awareness, and liberates my drawing.

While developing this collection, I collaborated with Susan Gingrasso: dancer, choreographer, Emeritus Professor of Dance at UW Stevens Point, and Executive Director of the Language of Dance® Center — USA. After much dialogue and several studio visits, Susan composed and Motif Notated “Winter Dawn III — From the Inside,” which was performed at the opening reception at Lawrence University by LU student dancers: Billy Greene and Madison O. Tracy and UWSP student dancers: Veronica Petrach, Graceanne Rendernick, Marcella Rose, and Maddie Wallace.