Constance Baltuck

A year ago, when I heard that my art would be featured at the Alaska State Museum in November 2011, I expected to spend the entire next year, nose to the drawing board, diligently preparing.  I did spend the year getting ready, but it takes more than painting to create a show.  It takes being out in the world, open to all its peaks and valleys, harvesting life's scattered treasures, and wrestling them into something that sits handsomely on canvas.  In other words, I had to paint like I always have; at my usual pace, exploring interesting side paths and intriguing byways, always moving forward, but rarely in a straight line.

I began the New Year by moving into a real artist's studio and keeping regular painting hours.  An inspirational workshop with Kes Woodward in June gave me a surge of energy that was sustained by painting outdoors all summer with Barbara Craver.  An incredible Artist-in-Residence experience at Kobuk Valley National Park in the fall rounded off the year.  A visit to Banff and a week of Tango in Portland added spice to the brew! Now, I am pleased to share a busy year's worth of art, travel, and life experiences distilled into one show.  

Please come and join me for the opening reception on Friday, November 4th, from 4:00 to 7:00pm.  Three other shows open at the Museum that night and Tom Locher will lend an air of elegance to the gala event, playing piano in the gallery.  I hope you'll be there, too.  If you can't make it, please check out my November show in the Preview album on this page.