California Redwoods

Growing up in Pittsfield the Berkshire Museum was my refuge. This was before the days of MASS MoCA and other Berkshire treasures and long before art integration was valued. In fact there was no art teacher in my elementary school but we did have a parent volunteer come in once a week to show us art or do a craft with the class. And once a year we would go on a field trip to the Berkshire Museum. I looked forward to this day all year long. It was my home. My inspiration. A place where I belonged. One of my favorite escapes was the Giant Redwood Trees of California by Albert Bierstadt, a magnificent oil on canvas painted in 1874. The giants towering above the tiny figures always made me gasp. I couldn't imagine such an incredible place on this earth, yet there they were. The luminous light dancing through the trees with a little trickle of water flow in the distance. I played there as a young girl, running, dancing, hiding, and climbing in my dreams. I still do. Recently, at 50 years old, I made a trip to California. I saw the magestic beauties in person. And when I returned to the Berkshires it didn't take long for me to begin painting them. Sadly the painting was sold at auction in the controversial deaccession but it is still very much alive and present in my dreams.