dadenko

It's rare for such large scale, tragic events such as the recent fire in, and (partial) demise of, the Cathedral of Notre Dame to evoke anything in my heart or mind but disappointment and stark sadness.
For some reason, this event seems alarmingly apropos and somehow fortuitously symbolic.

Let's face it... A good deal of the western world's capacity to appreciate things cultural, spirited, historic or simply of intrinsic value to humankind has been burning and collapsing for some while now.

It is my hope, that during the ensuing evaluation and reconstruction of this storied, sacred place, people might muster a renewed vigor around recognizing and rebuilding that which is most civil and important within us each, as well.
      

This holiday season found me doing some store decorations for the local grocery chain(s) of Byerly's & Lunds as well as delivering packages for UPS here in my (new) rural neighborhood. The latter being to stay busy and make a little money while waiting for my new position at Triton Printing to commence, a position for which I interviewed, and accepted prior to Christmas.

For those who are unaware, I recently moved to a small town just west of the Twin Cities, about where silos begin to outnumber cell towers and train whistles narrowly trump jet noise in the prevailing soundscape. It's a mix of small towns, a few of which were in my territory, and miles and miles of rural routes, farmsteads, horse ranches and just people living a quiet life in the country.

As it turns out, delivering parcels is an unrivalled means of familiarizing one's self with an area, the people who reside there and their lifestyles. The days were very long and very cold but punctuated with interesting sights and events. I regret not having the time to stop and photograph the many beautiful and unexpected things I encountered on my route but many linger on my mind, inspiring thoughts and perhaps ideas for future artwork. 

Foremost amongst those being the candid and often repeated daily peeks at the local wildlife. From a flock of wild turkey meandering a majestic stand of ancient Black Walnut trees to cresting a hill on a farm drive at dusk to behold a dozen whitetail deer gathering on the road to benefit the remaining heat from the sun's shortened winter arc. Late one afternoon I saw a string of four coyotes trotting the tree line, noses down, between a dense forest and a horse pasture. So surprised was I by them that my first thought was to wonder how so many dogs could look so absolutely identical to one another. They vanished immediately, magically, into the woods that shared their exact hues.

Dogs were an interesting condition of the job, and one I hadn't fully considered upon accepting it. Most farm dogs were enthused by my quick visits. Happy to take a break from lazily watching horses or dairy cattle to greet an infrequent visitor to their realm. In an environment and job wrought with cold, few things warmed my heart like the wagging tails and friendly gestures of a friendly farm dog. My favorite was a rather rotund Black Lab mix at an isolated Orchard Road home near Waconia. At first glance, with scale aside, he looked like a Black Bear in a rocking gallop heading down the long drive to greet me. By far the friendliest dog I met. I was disappointed that I did not have another delivery to his house other than the one the day I met him. At another country home, the dog was so mean spirited, I was advised by our dispatch to stay on the package car, open the door slightly and simply throw the delivery towards the garage. I was amused to learn later that it was dog food I was delivering there. I learned to carry an extra package with me up to the doors of some places, something of significant size and length to hold between myself and any unruly dogs rather than returning to the vehicle empty handed. The need for this was rare but prudent and comforting when it did arise.

All in all it was quite worthwhile, taking on this rather obscure temporary work. The people I met and the things I learned made the experience one I am the better for.

I recently began my work at Triton Printing in nearby Eden Prairie. It is unfolding into everything I'd hoped it would be, and then some. The owners are great guys, as are my co-workers and the working relationship is one of complete equity and balance. I bring a ton of artistic ability to them as well as welcome creative problem solving and mechanical (maintenance) ability and they're offering me a golden opportunity to learn some equipment and processes I've always wanted to undertake and master. I should also be able to do accomplish some very high quality printing of my artwork. Down the road their plan includes expansion into conceiving and producing some three dimensional works, animatronics and props for trade shows, film, television and theatre. Some very fun stuff for us artsy types.

Well, there's a long overdue update. More soon if I'm so moved and can find the time. My internal clock is beginning to notice the gradually lengthening daylight and I'm feeling more energetic than I have in weeks. I hope my artist friends around the world are all well and happy and having fun continuing with business of the creation of our world.

Well as I mentioned, I 'm no longer working at the hangar and after a couple short ventures into other types of work have decided to somehow do artwork again full-time.

With another Minnesota winter bearing down shortly I'm also contemplating a move. Somewhere warmer and kinder. 

My little sister has just settled near the Space Coast of Florida and there are a few other vicinities of the country I'm considering. Las Vegas & Nashville (or southern Kentucky) are also in the mix.

 

In the meanwhile I'm doing a little more painting, a little tattooing for family & close friends and am helping a writer pal with a horror/sci-fi film project. I'm going to store most of my things (save for my art tools, some clothing and a few essentials) find a place to be temporarily and save the money needed for a move, hopefully before the weather turns too ugly.

If anyone's awfully fond of where they're residing and wants to contribute to my decision as to where I might live and do art, I'm entirely open and would welcome and appreciate the input.

My only requirements are that it be somewhere no colder or darker in duration than here in the southern half of Minnesota and someplace one can readily find decent employment (anything really). Water of some sort would be nice to have nearby too. Lakes, a river, the ocean, anything.

 

 

As usual, it's been a while since I've posted here on my dA cache.

 

This summer's been a mixed bag so far. Work at the hangar has been plodding along. Much less flying than last summer. If I'm to be honest, work on, and around those old warplanes is beginning to become mundane and uninteresting. Never imagined that would actually happen. Maybe it's the fickle Gemini inside or the fact that a good part of my youth was spent around such aircraft. At any rate, the novelty and excitement has waned decidedly. To go from rebuilding engines and fabricating parts with a fair amount of flying in the mix to being a glorified janitor has been disappointing.

 

I also simply miss being creative, doing my art and tattooing. It is my desire and intention to return to doing those things which make me most happy and content in a focused manner over the next month or so.

 

For anyone interested, my Dad is doing much better these days. He'll never be quite the person he was before being taken ill but it's great to both have him back in Minnesota and to see his body in generally good health these days, for nearing nine decades of wear and tear anyway. Through my experiences with him over the past couple years I've concluded that if you live long enough, you'll get just about every ailment or condition imaginable. His tenacity to survive is truly amazing. I'll admit, I'm not so certain I'll have the same will to grind on when my demise is on deck.

 

Okay, hope all my friends and acquaintances in the northern hemisphere are enjoying a great summer and the rest of you are making due and sitting tight for summer's turn where you are. These few short months of civil weather unwind entirely too quickly. I already sense too clearly many ambitions I'd hatched for the season falling away. Fishing, ghost hunting, travel, all sucking hind teat, replaced by the day to day challenge to be everything and everywhere expected of me. Indeed what is needed is a step back or shifting of gears. Time for some random acts of kindness, directed inward.

 

Going to post some recent tattoo work shortly and hopefully some new paintings and other projects in the near future.    

  

 

 

Quite a while since I've posted anything here on DeviantArt, images or words. Working lots on all three airplanes over the past several months. Now that winter's eminent there'll be decidedly less flying of, and work on, our Grumman (HU-16) Albatross. Not so fun flying north to play on lakes when they're frozen solid. We're going to begin annuals on all the aircraft to get them to a winter maintenance and rework schedule. This should mean steady work at the hangar through the winter and I look forward to that.

I've done a little tattoo work in the past few weeks and will post things as I get them downloaded. Meanwhile am beginning a couple of Halloween themed pieces as well as a painting I owe someone for a bet I lost almost a year ago. Anyway, I'm looking forward to just working on the planes and doing some plain 'ol painting over the next several months.

My Dad's doing entirely better, both mentally and physically. Looks like the hard work and time spent back and forth to Florida was worth it. He's now here in the Twin Cities and enjoying the relative closeness of his loved ones. Even took him up flying a few weeks ago and it's amazing how it all came back to him. He flew backseat in an SNJ (see photo in my dA scrapbook) and as soon as he was strapped in began recalling details about the plane, even though it'd been 63 years since he'd flown one, he was right at home. Asked for the plane as soon as it was off the ground and headed straight up to 3,000 feet, trimmed up the plane and headed west to buzz Lake Minnetonka.

On the horizon...Shrek and I are going to New York City in a couple of weeks. I'm very much anticipating this and it sems like forever since I've been there. Kinda pissed that our Sauvages our locked out and can'r wait until the battle of the millionaires ends so we can watch some hockey. Lots to say about the upcomoimg election but will save that for a seperate posting. Like a good Gemini, I could go on and on but have some fun things to get to this afternoon and evening. Hope everyone is well.

More soon.