New this time to our show at the farm is the addition of Michael Imes' work to the gallery. We are both excited, and especially me, as Michael was part of the faculty that took me under their collective wings when I was a student at Carroll College in Waukesha. Michael will have his beautiful pinch and coil method work open to the public from Sept 4-7th.
I was never a student of Michael's, never had a class with him, he just was a cool male role model that was supportive and nice to me. He played guitar, made cool stuff, was calming, gentile and someone you wanted to be around. One time I remember he called in the local radio station from the studio phone to request Neil Young's Down By The River during the noon hour and they played the song! I responded to Michael also on the level of being a working artist. Constantly creating and selling his work, something I hadn't yet been exposed to, was eye opening. Not knowing quite how or what I wanted to do with my art life, I was drawn to a person that was just doing it. Michael was and is a beloved teacher. Michael and some of the other faculty were so generous to me in giving of their time, patience and positivity. As you would guess, I was at times awkward, abrasive, stunted and just different from the general student body, but I worked hard and was talented. I grew up in a town and environment that looking back on it didn't make me feel comfortable with who I am or was. But in the Art building at Carroll I had a home, perhaps the first time I had ever had that. Michael is one of those people that exposed me to a broader world of culture and community that I am forever grateful for. It is an honor that he allowed us to showcase his work at our gallery.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our upcoming show. Katie and I will also be showing, in fact I have about 16 large framed paintings, probably more than I have ever shown. I'll be in KC and Louisville after this, so this is my final push before taking time off next year.
