I saw the first Bat of spring emerge from our house (outside) last night. Perhaps this should be my marker of if the weather is truly warming or not instead of the first sighting of a Robin, or the Tamaracks greening. I am only kind of kidding.

Regardless of what the bat spotting may or may not mean for the coming of spring around here, the days are noticeably longer and the light is shifting into more blue than grey skies.

Grateful!

A few weeks ago I received news from a PBS producer that a segment was finally going to air from interviews and footage that were collected in late 2023 and early 2024.

That feels like forever ago!

After settling back in to the home routine and recharging from my trip, I screened it twice — once by myself, and once with Vaimo.

Of course, I wanted to make sure I offered you the opportunity to see it yourself!

It was really fun spotting all my friends in the video! That’s Michele! Ahhhh look! Jess and Erika! And Tori!

The Lakeland PBS outfit put together a series of episodes about rural arts/artists. And it was fun to think back to this time of working on the goat painting and how famous our three-goat herd has become.

Our segment about the Guaranteed Income pilot for rural artists was really nicely done! And if you’re interested you can see even more great Minnesota rural arts’ impact in another episode “A Place for All: MN Community Art Centers” which features even more of my friends! Hi Sonja and John in the background of an event at the Macrostie! Hi Laura! Oh it’s Betsy and the New York Mills Cultural Center! Look, more of my friends! It’s not my fault that Minnesota rural arts thrive because of the amazing Legacy Amendment funding opportunities. (Insert hair flip emoji here.)

And on the topic of funding opportunities - I’m here to share that being an artist currently receiving guaranteed income is amazing.

Most recently, guaranteed income has enabled me to take care of my health and step away from other paid gigs that were pushing me into panic so I could focus more on my art! So, keep holding me to painting because that is what I am called to do in these times!

Ok, without any further ado - the vid (click it or the link under the image). It’s 27 minutes long but, worth it if you want to see the ChicFinn, yours truly, and the goats we tend!

Keep buying art AND funding artists and public television!