Porcupine Mountains Residency

I was Artist-in-Residence at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in August 2017. Located on the shore of Lake Superior in the rugged terrain of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Porcupine Mountains is treasured for its stands of old-growth Hemlock. A large percentage of the Park is covered by primary forest which escaped the logging industry. As a result, the Park is rich in biodiversity.

The ground layer of Porcupine Mountain’s old growth forests held an endless fascination for me. In late summer, the ghost pipes push through the leaf litter. The thimbleberries are ripe for picking along the trail. Mushrooms of all shapes, sizes and colors appear. Overwhelmed by the size of the mighty hemlocks, I focused my artistic direction to the abundance of life protected within their shade.

The Cabin

Named and built in memory of the late photographer Dan Urbanski, this cabin is the ideal retreat. It is nestled beneath a thick forest canopy that makes for very dark nights, but cheerful propane lamps kept me painting past sunset. The cabin is cozy, well-built, and mouse-proof.

Inside the Cabin

I loved working at this big wooden table. Not much light gets through the canopy, so I also loved these big windows that keep the cabin as light as possible during the day.