Today was a day of set-up and work. I cleaned and prepped my pallette, stretched some paper, and got ready to start a painting. Did some thinking about the exhibit I have planned for next year and evaluating what I want it to look like. Spent a lot of time with my sketchbook, working out design/composition for some potential subjects.

The weather here was lovely from inside. Chilly and crisp wind outside. Coming from winter in the pacific northwest, the glorious sunshine and rich blue sky is most welcome regardless of the temperature. Around lunchtime I looked out my window and saw a group of deer milling about. I do love it here.

Internet is proving to be even more difficult than before. My apartment is a revolving black hole for signal. So far I don't seem to be able to receive or make phone calls, but sometimes I get texts and email on my cell. Tethering up the pc for internet works occasionally, when I hold the phone to the window at just the right angle. Signal still randomly comes and goes, but sometimes will last long enough that I can send something. This is my third and final attempt of the night to successfully upload a blog. Fingers crossed!

I arrived back at Badlands National Park yesterday after two days in the car with enough art supplies and clothes to last eight weeks. It's time for my Badlands Residency, take three. I am so excited to be back here, though of course it's tough to leave my family, band, Sorensen, and my many other commitments behind for so long.

So what's on the agenda this time around? More expeditions into the south unit lands of the park which lie within Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I have an exhibition scheduled at the Dahl Art Center in Rapid City for a year from now, and am looking for material to build a show around. I have some strong ideas in my head of what I want this to be, but of course it will be an evolving process, the outcome depending on particular experiences. I do know that the majority of the work included will focus on the Stronghold and Palmer Creek Units (together referred to as the south unit) which are intended to be split off from the north unit, creating the first Tribal National Park. These areas are largely remote and unfrequented. They have important history and stories. I was fortunate enough to spend a handful of days in these areas a year ago when I first came to Badlands as an artist-in-residence, and have already painted several experiences from that time. I'm not done yet though; these are places that draw me in and I need to go back.

While I'm here I will also be helping out with the second Badlands Youth Camp which takes place next week. More on that when the time comes. For now, here are a few photographs. Can't believe how much space my apartment has. They gave me a one bedroom, which is like a palatial spread after the last two efficiency studio apartments I happily stayed in here. I'm almost not sure what to do with all the space!