Visions, dreams and daydreams are the under- conscious images I work with. The artworks are concrete visual experiences that help make sense of the inner pictures. They are personal mythologies and fairy tales that can clarify the unconscious ways I may behave and think. The works are like shamanic bridges between the real and ethereal, the natural and supernatural and help give meaning to these mysterious places. They uncover what’s hidden beneath conscious reality. Then I can look at how the personal relates to the transpersonal and if they have a connection to our ancient mythological stories and how both can be used in the context of everyday life.
Most of the images are based in the natural world. This is where I thrive and glean the metaphors that come into view. I’m called to remember the wildness within and the connection to and dependence on it. The settings in nature hold places of grief, loneliness and longing and also hopeful resonance among the beautiful.
I frequently have visions of paintings while in meditation. The stillness seems to call them in. I hope the work can be a guide and authentic voice from a visionary encounter that is just as tangible as the solid ground we walk on.
Education
2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, Northern Illinois University
2003-06 Painting, printmaking, Colorado Mountain College
1992 Associate of Arts, Rock Valley College
Residencies
2007 Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass, Colorado
2005-07 Red Brick Center for the Arts, Aspen, Colorado
Exhibitions
2024 Wright Museum of Art, Beloit College. Beloit and Vicinity. Beloit Wisconsin
2024 Freeport Art Museum. 20th Regional Juried Exhibition. Freeport, Illinois
2023 Wright Museum of Art, Beloit College. Beloit and Vicinity. Beloit, Wisconsin
2023 Dubuque Museum of Art. DUMA Biennial. Dubuque, Iowa
2020 Rockford Art Museum. Midwestern Biennial. Rockford, Illinois
2019 Dubuque Museum of Art. DUMA Biennial. Dubuque, Iowa
2018 Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens. Tender the Rocks. Rockford, Illinois – Solo
2016 Zhou B Art Center. Why Are You Here? Chicago, Illinois
2014 Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Auction. Snowmass, Colorado
2013 Kortman Gallery. Big Man honoring Jim Julin. Rockford, Illinois
2009 Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Auction. Snowmass, Colorado
2008 Carbondale Council on Art and Humanities Gallery. Earthtones. Carbondale, Colorado
2008 Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Contemporary Collage. Snowmass, Colorado
2007 Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Resident Artists. Snowmass, Colorado
2006 Red Brick Center for the Arts. Resident Artists. Aspen, Colorado
2006 Gorilla Gallery. Aspen, Colorado
2005 Red Brick Center for the Arts. Resident Artists. Aspen, Colorado
2005 Red Brick Center for the Arts. Spring. Aspen, Colorado
2005 Aspen Artists Gallery. Aspen Highlands, Colorado
2004 Colorado Mountain College. Paintings. Aspen, Colorado
Publication
“Open Selections”. Aspen Times Weekly. (Ruedi study #7 by Roy Toma selected by Elisa Ahmer). March 8, 2009
“Time, nature let CCAH artists share artwork”. Valley Journal. January 31, 2008
Oksenhorn, Stewart. “Four Roaring Fork women bring original vision to Spring Renewal”. The Aspen Times, May 4, 2005