Antique Cupboard

To paraphrase the forward of a favorite book, "This cupboard took two years. It's not like I wasn't trying." The above picture is the inspiration for the cupboard below.
Truly an antique, the lumber for the shelves came from an old pine fence, the doors even older. Cut from the door of the girls bathroom of a one room Wisconsin schoolhouse, the cabinet/cupboard doors are completed with white porcelain knobs.

This piece is currently in a private collection and will not be duplicated, if the four color finish could ever be matched. For more furniture examples please go to www.sevenroadsgallery.com

Hopi Kachinas

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Hopi Kachinas by Gene Dalas ca. 20000

In the time we operated a trading post in old town Flagstaff, we had wonderful opportunities to look at and purchase handmade Hopi cottonwood root kachinas. A friendship with one carver who lived near Tuba City, AZ gave us access to a wide variety of his work. His 11 letter Hopi last name was shortened to Dalas in our meetings and conversations, however, he always signed each art work with his full name, Gene Dalasvuyouma

In the above shot, one can see the sacred clown kachina off to the left in the background. The clown smiles broadly raising both arms appearing to display the "peace" symbol with it's fingers. In the immediate foreground, Kyash (parrot) stands to the left of Tocha (hummingbird) and Tsil (chili) kachinas. Nine, eight and eight inches high respectively, each kachina is a combination of traditional colors and natural wood. Both Kyash and Tocha hold a rattle in the left hand. Tsil holds carved chili peppers in both hands.

In the late afternoon sun on a bookshelf in my office, the carvings bring me pleasant memories. My home at the time was in Sedona. Between home and Tuba City was a considerable distance. I'd get a phone call from Gene asking if I was interested in a new work. We'd agree to meet halfway at the lookout pull-off at the top of the switchback of Oak Creek Canyon. One such meeting took place after dark. I wait in the parking area for his car to pull up. When he finally arrived, we greet each other in eerie pitch black darkness. Gene comments about the nature of our meeting suggesting a better time and place. Until he mentioned it, it never occurred to me that to an onlooker, two men standing in the dark in the tall Ponderosa pines looking into the open trunk of a car suggested something other than a purchase of a hand carved Hopi kachina.

Hawk

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HAWK
18 inch diameter X 2.75 inches deep
acrylic on moose rawhide,
birch laminate drum frame

This newest work of art by artist Linda L. Miller-http:// www.lindamillerart.com-features an acrylic painting of the head of a hawk. Raptors such as these are common to the area of Wisconsin Linda Miller calls home. Painted on a moose rawhide, eighteen inch diameter drum, the work is an example of the depth and range of the artist's skill. It is work in process, since the final step toward completion will be traditional decorative elements such as trade wool, Czech, African, French and Moroccan glass beads, metal adornments and imitation hawk feathers.

The completed piece will be listed on the folk art page of www sevenroadsgallery.com

Crows in Winter

A perfect example of the depth and breath of artist Linda Miller's talent. Using a rustic cabinet door, she creates a traditional retablo ( plaster on board painting) to depict this Wisconsin winter scene. It measures 20X31 inches and is unframed, showing the primitive nature of the board on board construction of the old door.

The crows gather at this spot in the early morning sun to pick over the remains of a deer carcass at the base of the tree growing on the side of this hill.

Good Luck Gnome

According to legend, gnomes are the guardians of treasure buried in the earth. These four jolly characters are created out of unusually shaped bottle gourds and individually painted. Artist Linda Miller gives each good luck gnome a unique character and facial expression. You'll notice that the gnomes wear the same size shoes. Living at the base of a tree in a cozy space warmed by a wood fire, if there were to be a middle of the night blaze, they wouldn't have to search for their own shoes.
Newton Ulm pictured at right sports a rather glum expression. Since he's the Grand Master gnome in his area the weight of responsibility lies squarely on his shoulders.
In the group photo at left,
Wayne Snut
(Snoot) and the boys are sharing a pint o' stout with the neighbor-a bite size crow. That would account for the ample girth and large gold buckled belt, they wear to keep their breeches from falling to their knees.

Spirits of Crows, Dancing

Framed, measuring 23 1/4 X 29 inches this work is an unusual traditional rustic retablo format (plaster on wooden board). It was completed in December,2008 by artist Linda Miller. What follows is a description of the creation and inspiration for this piece. Once again it is a silent tribute to the late Gertie Sennett, Wisconsin poet and friend of the artist.

"When we moved to our present location, an old schoolhouse and the adjoining four and a half acres were vacant for five years. While the exterior showed new siding, a new roof and a fresh coat of paint, the interior and various outbuildings were in rough shape. The garage was used as a workshop and storage. In the main part of the garage, a barrel stove heated a poorly sealed room, big enough for two cars. The rear portion of the garage had a lift-up door that might have been used to store a riding mower. It had an abandoned gas heater in a rear corner. Before removing the gas heater, I looked inside and found three perfectly preserved bird skeletons. I assume the birds, looking for a warm spot in winter, found their way into the heater through a vent-pipe. As an amateur naturalist, I found the skeletons intriguing. I photographed them before disposing of their bodies. Years later they became the inspiration for this painting."

Figure Study #6

Unframed, measuring 16X20 this striking acrylic on canvas three color figure study was completed in February, 2009 by artist Linda Miller.