G L O B A L V I L L A G E
Over time we have felt that who we are and how we see has been influenced by place and story. These experiences have been integral in transforming ourselves and our relationship to the larger web of life. It has restored our relationship to the gift of wonder. This evolutionary ecosystem within us has awakened the realization of our interdependence with one another, our earth home, and our ultimate wholeness and unity with all of creation.
ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY, U.S.
Our studio home in the St. Croix River Valley has drawn us toward a deeper exploration of the transformative dynamics of life. The St. Croix River (literally "holy cross" in French) is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 169 miles long, that flows between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower 125 miles of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The St. Croix River was one of the original eight rivers to have significant portions placed under protection by the National Wild and Scenic River Acts of 1968 and is under the protection of the National Park Service. The river valley and the surrounding area is the land of the Ojibwe and Dakota tribes.
Our Paintings
At the Edges of Wilderness
Soul Totems
Our Sketches
Wilderness
Rivers + Watersheds
GLACIER PEAK WILDERNESS, U.S.
Most recently, as artists and Executive Directors of Holden Village, we lived our lives on the boundary of the wilderness frontier for over five years. Holden is a remote off-the-grid educational and spiritual community deep within the forest of the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Through our experiences we have come to believe deeply in the need to re-form our relationship with the earth, with each other, and with the divine.
Our Paintings
At the Edges of Wilderness
Soul Totems
Edges + Boundaries
Our Sketches
Wilderness
Rivers + Watersheds
Our Video
At the Edges of Wilderness
NORTHERN IRELAND
When we first went to Belfast, Northern Ireland, tension in the neighborhood where we worked and stayed was high. People were constantly on edge and suspicious of those around them. The hostel where we stayed was locked and gated at dusk and the IRA and paramilitary groups were acting as vigilantes. People were divided, yet in the midst of the troubles there ran thin golden strands of hope holding everything together. We have formed deep affections for the people of Northern Ireland, both Catholic and Protestant. Both have gifted us with understanding and wisdom, we have felt their needs and hopes through conversation, shared meals and art making.
Our Paintings
Skainos Chapel
Belfast Murals
New Jerusalem Series
Our Video
Belfast Mural Project
IRELAND + SCOTLAND
There is such great mystery in the landscape in this part of the world. Our journal pages remind us that we were walking in the sun with rain clouds on the beautiful Isle of Iona landscape. It’s peaceful and quiet and it had a truly spiritual essence permeating from the sea, the land and the air. There has been a steady caravan of pilgrimage to this place for hundreds of years and you can feel it like the mist that touches your face.
Our Paintings
Ireland + Scotland
PALESTINE + ISRAEL
While we have tried to draw deep inspiration from our first journey into the ancient world of Palestine and Israel, we can in no way represent the realities that we encountered. The Holy Lands offered us personal glimpses into it contrasts, vibrancy and yearnings for the elusive dream of peace. We experienced the complexity of daily life, that in many ways defines our world, whether we like it or not. We encountered unprecedented hospitality, warmth and generosity from Palestinian, Arab and Israeli, from Muslim, Christian and Jew.
Our Paintings
Beneath the Surface: Exploring the Layers
CHINA
Our journey through ancient and modern China was an exotic excursion of the heart. We experienced a culture on the rise, from the Great Wall of China to its contemporary architecture found along the Bund or Waitan in central Shanghai. Eastern and western cultures mixed as we learned more deeply about our family connections in the union of our son and his wife. The deep note of love was sounded. Our art continues to be influenced by this shared experience.
Our Video
China Reflections
FRANCE
Our pilgrimage to southeastern France and bordering Italy was a feast of the senses. The diversity of the landscape, from the Mediterranean Sea, the Southern Alps, the Camargue plains to rolling vineyards, olive groves, pine forests and lavender fields found their way into our sketchbooks and our hearts. We made our way to the Côte d'Azur to the elegant city of Nice, Saint-Tropez and Cannes exposed us to the delicacies of French life and culture. We weren’t the first to experience this region.
The Romans were here in force along with artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne, and author Peter Mayle all found inspiration during their years in Provence.
INDIA
We arrived at the Gateway to South India on the southeastern coast of India on the Bay of Bengal in the northeastern part of Tamil Nadu. We fell in love with India, its people and a spiritual connection that we can’t really explain. All these many years later it remains at the forefront of thought and affection. Perhaps it’s the friends we made in Tamil Nadu, or my travel companions or the creative passion and talent expressed by our young artist friend named Priyanka, who has a raw talent that is both expressive and insightful beyond her years that made this adventure so memorable.
Our Sketches
India Community Prayer Canvas
CUBA
Our first impression of Cuba is of a country rich in culture but left behind from the evolution of the world. Cuba is a country pushed and pulled by superpowers from Spain, the former Soviet Union, and the US and the ongoing tug of revolution. The people are friendly and curious about Americans, but highly controlled and reserved. We saw what our guides wanted us to see. The churches were most interesting and more open to connect with us. The Cuban people expressed their creativity with a lot of lively dancing, music that made you move and visual art that reflected their island life.