Tim Peterson

We Never Stop Learning

 I love to meet artists and hear them talk about their work.  It is always personal and understated.  Artists speak of their own work as if what they do is normal.  Most of the time I can follow and ask an intelligent question or two.  I know what a pallet knife is,  I have used a pastel (although I stand in awe of Tim Peterson's work), I can follow the bronze process but last Wednesday I was COMPLETELY lost.  Tom Covel, an accomplished Blacksmith and Bladesmith from the Black Hills, brought his knives to the gallery.  He spoke of folding layers of steel, hammering it out and folding again, he talked of patterns in the steel and the shape of the blade.  I couldn't even come up with one intelligent question to ask so I just listened.  I listened to him talk about the process, the technique, the design and the practicality of the blades.  As I listened I made mental notes Damaskus,  drop point, hand-forged - I would google them all later- I realized that all I knew about these knives was that they are truly beautiful.  I was going to need a cheat sheet to remember all of the wonderful details of these knives.  Luckily Tom was aware of this and left information on each knife as well as beautiful certificates that explain the details of his knives. So stop in and see Tom's work and maybe learn something new too:)

Beautiful!

Happy Little Flowers by Sarah Rogers

Dad

I looked around the gallery for a gift  for my dad - I know today is Father's Day but my dad understands that I tend to be fashionably late on most things-  and I just couldn't decide ... a new hat...a classic shirt...maybe a new watch...there are so many choices.   I finally decided on this silver and jewelers brass money clip by Bryan Bortnem.  I guess now that all of the kids are out of the house he may actually have something to put in it.  Happy Fathers Day!

Kids

Kids these days....

All day I watch kids try to come into the gallery and the pure panic of of moms and dads as they try to grab them before they get inside the gallery doors.  And if brave parents or grandparents do bring them into the gallery the very first words spoken in a very loud whisper are "DONT' TOUCH ANYTHING."  Inevitably kids go to the most expensive piece in the gallery and yell "MOM, LOOK AT THIS," and before I know it the child is not longer in the gallery.   I understand the fear of galleries and children but don't ~ bring kids in and teach them to appreciate art and the talent of individuals. So bring your kids into the the gallery and walk with them around the gallery and look at the pieces together.   We get a kick out of kids, they are never as quiet as their parents want them to be and they ALWAYS ask the first questions that come to their minds and we totally appreciate all of those off-the-wall loud questions we get asked.  Yesterday I had a young man in the gallery with his family trying on hats and checking out art.  After answering all sorts of great questions  I asked if his mom if I could take his picture for our website and she agreed so here is a mini Abraham Lincoln (that's what he told me he felt like in this stovepipe hat).

Randy and Ray