MHAAA - The Spring Art Tour - 2017

I had an amazing time covering the Mount Horeb Area Artists Association's Spring Art Tour. I only made it to 3 of the locations but had very meaningful experiences at each of them. I can honestly say I felt I not only photographed artists at play, but I also met new friends. I've not had so many personal conversations in one day with so many people. I also got to work with my apprentice Katherine at two of the locations. It feels so good to teach. By the time I got home I was a bit overwhelmed and wound up. I didn't fall asleep until the wee hours! I've another two days of coverage. I wonder who I'm going to meet today? This photo is of the artist Barbara Westfall.

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The Shadows of Prayer

In the fluttering darkness I found solace.

#dharma #buddhist #buddhism #learningthedharma #meditation #puja #soulsearching #training #findingmyself #monastery #stupa #meditation #holyplace #holy #peace #namaste #buddha

Gates of the Soul

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I stood before the doors of the Temple for the first time today. Up until now I have used the visitors' entrance at the bottom of the main stairs. I've been doing volunteer work there for a short while, mainly in the forest and gardens. I'd hoped to be sort of a volunteer forester of sorts. Late yesterday I was asked to come present my portfolio. Today I did so and it was one of the most intimate conversations I've had in a while. Not the nitty-gritty of the everyday you don't share with people, but the really deep aspects that have meaning to me. ​It was totally unexpected, and I honestly thought they were going to ask me to cut the grass on a regular basis when I first was asked to come talk. To be given a shot at capturing the Temple, the culture, as well as being welcomed to explore the Noble Eightfold Path has left me wondering at how quickly life can change. And so I stood at the door of the Temple.

#dharma #buddhist #buddhism #learningthedharma #meditation #puja #soulsearching #training #findingmyself #monastery #stupa #meditation #holyplace #holy #peace #namaste #buddha

Hunter III

Just when I was beginning to fret that my life was going to be nothing but training, kittens and house repair I received relief. The local area is hosting a Spring Art Tour. Basically it's a driving tour around my local region with stops at various artists' studios. Earlier this year they'd talked to me about photographing the entire tour but those plans seemingly fell through. Last night Mount Horeb Area Artists Association called and asked if I could photograph it after all. Since it begins today (!), and I've already committed to a few events this weekend, we've paired it down to focusing on 8 of the 17 locations. I'll not get those, but I'll try to fit in a couple extras as well. Looks like a fun assignment! Thankfully, I'd actually photographed one of them yesterday by coincidence. I love working with Center Ground Studios, so was already taking images of one of his new pieces. I'll take it as a sign...

#driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsin #wisconsinart #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #fineart #finaeartphotography #contemporaryart #art #modernart #ig_mood #featuredpalette #artlovers #artlover #installationart #steelsculpture #thedriftless #driftlessart #wisconsinphotographer #travelwisconsin #mounthoreb #springarttour #mounthorearts #mthoreb #mthorebarts #mthorebartists #driftlesshistorium #danecounty

John Pahlas, Steel Sculptor

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It's been a couple of weeks since I've worked with @centergroundstudios. The piece I shot for him back in February will be ​having it's big reveal at the grand opening of our town's Driftless Historium. They also needed a new portrait of him to hang on the wall as part of the display. So, technically it's been 3465 days since I left the Exhibits Department of the Carnegie Museum. That's how long it's taken me to organically get SOMETHING I've created on display in any sort of museum. While I wouldn't trade being the one who stayed home with the kid, I am starting to want to get back to doing more professional work. I guess we'll see how things unfold?

#centergroundstudios #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsin #wisconsinart #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #fineart #sculpture #finaeartphotography #contemporaryart #art #modernart #ig_mood #featuredpalette #artlovers #artlover #installationart #steelsculpture #thedriftless #driftlessart #wisconsinphotographer #travelwisconsin #mounthoreb #madisonwi #madisonwisconsin #fineart_portraits #artofvisuals #portraits_universe

Break Time

The kid did a great job helping out with the gardening today. She did as asked. Never complained and was pretty cheerful while working. Of course, she also got to set up a little picnic spot where she could take time to just relax, snack and draw pictures in her sketchbook. Honestly, having her with me was the very best part of the whole experience. It's a day I hope to never forget!

Trillium

"Ignorance, hatred and attachment, together with their branches such as conceit, jealousy, envy and so forth are very strong forces. Once they arise they quickly dominate the mind. Then we fall under the power of the inner enemy and no longer have control or freedom. These inner enemies even cause us to fight with and harm the people we love; they can even cause someone to kill their own parents, children and so forth. From where do such acts come? They come from the inner enemies, from attachment, anger and ignorance. All conflicts, from those between members of a family to international wars, arise from these negative thoughts." ~ Geshe Lhundrub Sopa