28 Jun The Artistry of Summertime in Wisconsin

Sunlit strokes of green

June 27, 2019

Piece by piece, the gallery is beginning to reflect the artistry of summertime in Wisconsin. Not more than four months ago, the winter of all winters blasted upon northcentral Wisconsin.  Ice storms.  Blizzards.  Three feet of snow. And the topic of weather here always introduces polite conversation.  It becomes the formative element of gardening plans, picnic outings and outdoor gear planning.  But it is also pure paradise.  And…maybe the butt of jokes.  On the comic side, Wisconsinites reference summer not as ‘summer’ rather as ‘road construction season’.  Totally true.

But, in the height of this summer, the greenery of whole forests flow in bursts of velvety greens, shaded with strokes of a sunlit palette.  Flowers ache with growth and vibrancy.  Wisconsin lakes shine with deep diamond shimmers of bluest blue.  And bears.  (There had to be an ‘and,’ didn’t there?)  One single lost young black bear – at least in my neighborhood – roamed and intrigued onlookers.  I was reminded that there are examples of nature’s artwork best appreciated from a safe distance and the safety of either my Jeep or my windows at home.

A young black bear

The Black Bear’s Climb

The Gallery of Winds Paradox

Piece by piece I am working on the main street gallery display.  The fifty feet of eight foot tall windows provide perfect natural daylight, warmly illuminating the interior concrete and brick.  Gratefully, I am able to use this time to analyze lighting and materials along with creating thematic displays.  I am beginning the process with a continuation of the one space in homage to my mother’s, father’s, stepmother’s and friends’ art pieces.  I am expanding the photo documentation of the Matthias building history and renovations.  And, of course, I am experimenting with the delicious expanse of the next thirty feet of display area!

Part of the challenge of this development is in the translation of the experience to an online format from the physical location at the Matthias Building here in Merrill, Wisconsin.

Of Buildings ~ Esther.

“The Esther Building made me a business,” I would often say these words.  Naming her after the Biblical Esther, she has been my reminder of truths.  One such truth is that in business as in life, there is only so much a person can do and only so much to be done well.  In order to focus on the mission of Winds Paradox Gallery and Gatherings, the Esther building is being offered for sale.  I find myself not giving justice and attention to a building who is more than worthy of both.  It is a dream of a brick building at a price of $135,000, offered through First Webber Realty here in Merrill, Wisconsin.  When I first purchased the building, I pictured myself living and working there with ready spaces for storage with workshop and media spaces. Its eclectic interior reminded me of places I had visited.  As the company and I develop through these years, it is time to sell Esther as a part of another’s dream.

Of Buildings ~ Matthias.

On June 12 Winds Paradox completed the cost estimating of interior construction work; thus, answering the ‘What’s’ of a series of questions in the development of the physical building.  Now onto the ‘How’!

A recent Facebook posting on ‘Strolling Down Merrill’s Lane

I smile at the 1965 newspaper clipping which was posted five days ago on a community Facebook group page for Merrill, Wisconsin.  Nineteen young men had completed survival training at the fallout shelter located in the technical school building.

Matthias.

If Esther is my building of business lessons, then Matthias is my building of faith.  And study and planning with emphasis upon the power of work.

Recently I realized I needed a break from paperwork.  I became impatient with details and ‘nothing to show for it’.  (What an awful attitude!)  I found myself impatient.  “Tired, Steph?”  “Worried, Steph?”  “Don’t you remember years ago when you worked all day then built window enclosures throughout the night?”

The Lesson of the Stone Sledge.

“Pick up a sledgehammer.”  “See that stone sledge leaning against the wall?  Use it, Steph!”  Due to the years of renovation work, I am accustomed to power tools. I know what I can safely handle and I acknowledge when I may need instruction.  I looked at the stone sledge with skepticism and fear.  The stone sledge is a long handled hand tool with a weighted end.  Could I swing it with enough force to break apart the concrete and cinder blocked walls?  I was unsure.  But I have walls to remove.  I want to clean the upper floor in preparation for the main level finishing work.

The perfect tool for a paperwork break

My shoulders sagged when I first picked up the hammer.  It was heavy.  With the first swing – a soft practice swing – I noticed the balance of its weight.  Smiling, I tried again with more force.  I proceeded to smash the too-big-to-handle pieces of demolished walls into manageable sizes.  Sometimes, artistry proceeds through the lesson of a stone sledge!

Of Winds Paradox.

Me….Sunday afternoon in the gathering space at the Matthias Building

Thank you for the opportunity to share with you the artistry I am finding in beautiful buildings, in the soulful talents of wonderful people whom I am so honored to know, and in the glorious abundance of Wisconsin’s nature.

I am grateful to you – my guest to Winds Paradox! Thank you to those who purchased the first Winds Paradox t-shirts!  All profits from the shirts’ sales are reinvested into the Matthias Building renovations.  Please check them out in the online shopping experience!

Always…Winds Paradox welcomes you!

Thank you for your time!

Much love,

Stephanie