Rose Franzen - Queen of Maquoketa, Iowa!

Rose Franzen is from Maquoketa, Iowa...not very far from where I grew up. In fact, my daughter Jenna and her daughter Caroline Louise live in Maquoketa, where Jenna has been working at the library for over ten years. A few years ago, Rose decided to paint as many people's portraits in Maquoketa as she could. The Iowa Arts Council wisely gave her a project grant. The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC is currently exhibiting Rose's "Portrait of Maquoketa", a collection of 180 paintings. The exhibition can be seen until July 2010. I know Rose Franzen and she is a talented and deserving artist. Calling national attention to her small home town of Maquoketa is making people feel very proud they are from Maquoketa. This project also is helping the town move forward - as the community has been struggling with economic and cultural problems. Rose's portraits are a reminder of the power of the people in a community.

Farnham Galleries - Simpson College

This exhibition will be shown in two galleries. One gallery will have a large body of older work entitled "The Lost Nation Photographs". The second gallery will be a monumental photo installation of new work entitled "Heaven & Earth". There will be an Opening Reception and Gallery Presentation on Monday, January 11th, 2010 in the Farnham Galleries at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. The exhibitions run from January 11th through February 5th, 2010.

More Photos

Originally uploaded by playbsides

The Mill, Iowa City - Art in the Back Room

Originally uploaded by playbsides

Pieta Brown invited three artists to show some of their work at the Mill during her three night residency "This Land is Your Music". The music each night was really special - great evenings! My installation was a mix of old and new. Thanks Pieta for inviting me.

Danny Wilcox Frazier Wins an Aftermath Grant!

Congratulations Danny! I knew you when....(we went to U of Iowa together) Danny is one amazing talented photographer. His first book of black and white photography "Driftless: Stories from Iowa" won the Honickman First Book Prize a few years ago. A few days ago, he was awarded a $20,000 grant for his newest project "Wounded Knee: Generations Endure a Massacre".

DIRTY BIRDIES VINTAGE - new Blog!

DIRTY BIRDIES UNIQUE BOUTIQUE -my daughters are flying in high profile. Check out their brand new blog!

Talia Leman - HERO in United Airlines Hemispheres

I drove to Des Moines one pretty gloomy and chilly fall day to photograph Talia Leman. Talia is a very special young woman. When she was only 10 years old, she started a project called TLC to help the people who were hit by hurricanes, Katrina & Rita. She raised ten million dollars. She then founded RandomKid.org. Talia is featured in United Airlines Inflight Magazine - Hemispheres-- in a section they call HERO.