You might remember that we commissioned a lovely painting from wood artist Joan White in Wisconsin for our 40th anniversary. Well she finished the piece this weekend and I just had to share. Here is a reminder of what she had to work with. It is 8 inches by 22 inches.
It’s a slice of a cherry wood burl lovingly prepared by her husband. This is the photo taken by Rusty Cohn I asked her to work with,
And here’s the finished piece. That is our canoe in in the margins and a lovely collection of hidden animals in the wings.Click on the image to see it close up.
You see why I say she is a national treasure? Joan not only sees the wood as it is and creates around it, she turns its scars and imperfections into a thing of beauty.
I met Joan by accident years ago when I happened to ask her to consider donating to the festival. Years later she asked me for a recommendation for the fellowship someone had promoted her for at the Smithsonian. For stupid reasons that didn’t work out but I’m relieved she’s still in the woods doing what she does best and you can see how she earned the nickname.
Thank you Joan, for a beautiful anniversary tribute.
