Editor’s Note: Addie asks how we are to get through another dark Minnesota winter? Her January paintings and fiber art exhibit “Light in Darkness” at 125 Live in Rochester provides the light to brighten and open our awareness.
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What I create is a menu
Of Visual meals
Drawn from my hunger
And the fruits of my neighborhood.
—Addie Seabarkrob
I love Minnesota. I’ve lived in six states, in Denmark, and traveled.
Each artwork has stories. I create them from my own need, but there is a great bonus when other people relate to them. My hope is that the personal also touches others.
Different styles appeal to me, so I veer from realistic/impressionistic to abstract. Look for color relationships. Imagine the mood. Do the images spark memories?
Some of my early memories were traveling on the Kansas turnpike through the Flint Hills at night. In those days the radiator on our car would overheat during the daytime. For that reason, and maybe others as well, we often traveled the turnpike through the Flint Hills from our house to my grandparents’ house at night during hot summer weather. I have vivid memories looking out the back window of the White Knight (our station wagon). In the almost total darkness of a vast rolling prairie, a dim glow far off on the horizon. As we patiently watched, the aura grew brighter. Anticipation built and eventually the sun would rise. Though it wasn’t the sun, of course, it was car headlights cresting the far hills. The glow would dip down, dim at first, growing in intensity and reappear. To my childish eyes, this was an amazing and magical illusion.
I’ve been drawn to night paintings: Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth, Mark Rothko and Helen Frankenthaler all fascinate me. I’ve tried night paintings over the years and only recently felt success.
Two years ago, I saw the Northern Lights for the first time on the shores of Lake Superior near the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. That sparked a new obsession with night time mystery, spirituality and a connection to the universe.
Trying to capture the wonder of the natural world is a challenge. The feelings are so big and cannot be expressed with language or even music. I try multiple ways of expressing this wonder.
“I love the silent hour of night,
For blissful dreams may then arise,
Revealing to my charmed sight
What may not bless my waking eyes.”
— Anne Brontë, sister of Charlotte Brontë
Copyright © 2024 by Addie Seabarkrob
Your art and writings are an inspiration! Wonderful reflection written so well! Thank you!!
Thank you Debi! The art is on display at 125 Live until March 22nd. It’s better in person, like most art. Your praise brings me encouragement.
I love your painting, especially the one with the stripes of color. Your word picture of darkness is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Jean! The first image is a detail of a larger painting and the last is a fiber art. Thanks for the observation about stripes! I hope you will have a chance to visit the whole exhibit. I’ll set it up January 6, reception February 10 from 5:30-6:30 pm. Last day to visit is March 22. 125Live is open to the public to visit.
Addie, lovely artwork and thoughts.
“Even a little light
can dispel a lot of darkness.”
The Baal Shem Tov
Love the way you talk abut capturing the visual around one – the color relationships, contrast of light and darkness, and more. I am most excited to see more of the 3-D images you have created, come January.
Thank you Margo! Your enthusiasm swells my heart! ❤️
I am in awe of (and a little envious of) your ability to excel in so many artistic forms all at the same time-painting, quilting, prose and poetry, plus who knows what else! Amazing!
I was especially drawn to the picture of the prairie highway at night. It reminds me of my many years in North Dakota.
I look forward to examining your art work at 125 LIVE.
Thank you Linda! Connecting with your own memories strengthens me. Thank you!
Oh Addie! Once again your paintings and carefully chosen words make a splendid whole. I love the image of the car headlights seen through the back window. Thanks for sharing all this with us!
Thank you Ann! Your praise warms my heart.
Beautiful! Can’t wait to see more at your show!
Thank you Elizabeth! Hope to see you at the Craft Show on December 12th if possible too!
Addie, your lyrical memories conjure up those of my childhood. You capture the artist’s passion to embrace the enormity of our unfathomable world.
thank you,
genie
Thank you! To share and be acknowledged is a hearty connection. Thank you!