Artworks in the Fern Dwellers series are inspired by forest walks in the Northwoods. By observing at various times of the day and night, nature transforms into otherworldly and fantastic landscapes. Golden hour light falling through the canopy illuminates the lush forest floor, while wind sounds create a swirling motion. Lush green ferns, tiny dew drops, and pine needles blanket the mystical woodlands. As day turns into twilight, campfires and rainbow party lights blend with fireflies and starlight colors to glow on a fresh palette of deep green. Ferns unfurl to reveal secret hammocks and remote summer cabins on different fronds and branches. The paintings capture emotions often felt while relaxing and stargazing. Time in nature heals us and fills us with wonder and calm. Our souls soar with the possibility of growth and renewal promoting well-being, health, and comfort. Ferns are indeed exciting places to dwell.

I decided to call the series Fern Dwellers to encompass a magical feeling of dwelling among the ferns. I imagine the work going beyond Mirror Lake State Park in Wisconsin to other locations including such diverse sites as the Fern Room at Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory as well as Fern Dell at Griffin Park in Los Angeles. There are many more hikes in my future, more places to dream and dwell among the ferns.

Fern Dwellers titles and compositions are based on people who summered along Fern Dell Road and called themselves Fern Dellers in the 1930s. Just off Fern Dell Road, the Fern Dellers had a daily milk service, iceboxes cooled with large blocks of ice (these were the original refrigerators), and even a dance hall. A nearby resort would bring their guests to the dance where they would boogie the night away.

Today this area is part of Mirror Lake State Park in Wisconsin. On the Pulpit Rock hike, it was nostalgic to read the resident biographies and imagine their families enjoying summers at the lake. Home base for the Ringling Brothers Circus was also in nearby Baraboo. One of the Fern Dellers was a performing wing walker. I dreamt about daredevil types descending the steep bluffs with fearless agility. Since there was no running water, the only way to bathe was to climb down the steep bluff to the lake. These personal histories all added so much to my wild imagination as I could almost hear them laughing and see them swinging and jumping from the bluffs as I surveyed the scene.

With abstract marks, I imagined the campfires and party lights that illuminated the events with flickering glowing orbs. Seeing the magic light filtered through the treetops onto the tops of ferns on the forest floor was very special, perhaps amplified by spending so many months at home during the pandemic. My mind and heart have a place to daydream amongst the underside of ferns. Painting the series was like bringing the outdoors inside the studio.