IN MICHIGAN
4TH OF JULY ART FAIR, Friday, July 4th, 9 am - 4 pm in Zorn Park, Harbor Springs, MI
LOON DAYS ART & CRAFT SHOW, Saturday & Sunday, July 5th-6th, 10 am - 5 pm in Village Green Park, Walloon Lake, MI
39TH ANNUAL PETOSKEY ART IN THE PARK, Saturday, July 19th, 10 am - 5 pm in Pennsylvania Park, Petoskey, MI
IN VIRGINIA
GROUP SHOW AT THE BARREL ROOM ART GALLERY, OLD BUSTHEAD BREWERY, Opening: August 24th, 3-8 pm
QUIRK ART GALLERY ONLINE, Richmond, VA, ongoing
FEATURED ART: The Hummingbird’s Path
The Hummingbird's Path is an abstract painting I created, inspired by the lively presence of the hummingbirds I often observe from my terrace. Measuring 36 x 42 inches, this piece captures the essence of these delicate creatures through dynamic brushstrokes and a vibrant color palette.
The composition features sweeping strokes of green and pink, representing the lush garden and blooming flowers that attract the hummingbirds. The energetic brushwork is meant to convey the rapid, fluttering movements of their wings, encapsulating their fleeting yet graceful presence. I used minerals on canvas to add a tactile quality to the piece, enhancing its connection to the natural world.
This painting reflects my deep reverence for nature, drawing on both childhood experiences and my current observations in rural Virginia. Through my abstract style, I aim to evoke the feelings of aliveness and peace that I find in nature, bringing a touch of the outdoors into your interior spaces.
SUMMER MUSINGS
This summer, I’m looking forward to camping with friends at New River Gorge, swimming in the cool waters of Lake Michigan, chatting with folks about art during art fairs, and enjoying long summer evenings outside.
We traveled north to Michigan this weekend to gather in celebration of my Grandma’s life. As we looked through family photos spanning decades and listened to hilariously beautiful stories recounted by my aunt, a realization began to take shape: in many ways, America feels like it has passed its prime. That feeling deepened as we drove from Grand Rapids north to Cadillac, Michigan. Out the car window, the scenes seemed to echo this thought—bumpy roads patched over with asphalt, weathered storefronts, and tired cars that had clearly seen better days. It all felt like quiet evidence that the golden age of American infrastructure and collective optimism has faded.
Yet inside that moment of reflection was also something vibrant: the joy of being together, of hearing tales of my sassy, rebellious grandma, surrounded by laughter at the Party Lounge bar and walking through my grandparents’ home—still filled with their belongings. It was a poignant reminder of a time when this place was full of life, innovation, and a sense of possibility. A time when small towns felt like they were growing into something new, not just holding on.
As we continued north to Petoskey, we noticed spring had just begun to arrive. Still, the trees bore scars from the March ice storm—snapped branches and stunted growth wherever you looked. The season felt like it was struggling to emerge, mirroring something in the culture around us. We visited a peaceful old farmhouse from the 1940s that we’re trying to buy, nestled beside a cornfield on the edge of the city. It was quiet and beautiful, the kind of place that invites reflection.
Experiencing the U.S. home-buying process through the eyes of my Norwegian husband has been eye-opening. Unlike in Norway, here the home inspection typically happens after an offer is made and a contract is signed. The process—what’s inspected, and how thoroughly—can sometimes feel less standardized than expected. There’s a level of uncertainty that seems widely accepted, a kind of cultural comfort with ambiguity around major decisions.
It’s not just real estate. In moments like these, I can’t help but notice how much farther along other countries—like Norway and China—are in thoughtfully integrating innovation and technology into everyday life. Public services are digitized and transparent. Infrastructure is reliable and future-oriented. Buildings are designed with sustainability in mind. Meanwhile, here, it often feels like we’re patching holes, both literally and figuratively—clinging to systems that no longer serve most people, while doubling down on consumption as a measure of identity and success.
Back home in Virginia last night, we returned to our townhouse on base and saw fresh caution tape around our neighbor’s walkway—it had just been re-cemented. Since we moved in last June, the military housing company has slowly been redoing stoops and sidewalks that already looked new. Meanwhile, other areas on base are crumbling, with sidewalks so worn down they reveal hollow gaps beneath. It makes you wonder what kind of deal the housing company has with the cement contractors. And it makes you wonder how much of our economy is built on motion without progress.
Later, I took the dog out under a humid sky and paused to admire the full moon. The air was thick and still. It was peaceful. And in that quiet, I found myself wondering: maybe it’s okay that our heyday has passed. Maybe there’s a chance to redefine what it means to thrive—not through endless buying, but through deeper care, smarter systems, and a greater sense of shared purpose. After all, that golden age didn’t include everyone anyway. Maybe the future can.
SUMMER LOVE:
The American Identity and our addiction to consuming: ONE5C
Help advocate for a stronger American electrical grid: HERE
We’re getting China dangerously wrong: LISTEN HERE
As we eagerly await the last episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale for some collective female catharsis: LISTEN HERE
Stay smart, cuties, and Happy Summer—of continuing the work to build the place we want this to be for the people! Ope.
