May/June Updates

In late May, I spent a couple of weeks away from my home studio and brought my painting supplies to my home away from home. In the mix, I was taking care of my sister’s cat, Jackson “Jim” Pollock, who apparently thought oil painting would be fun to try. Just as I sat down to paint, he leapt up, and while I was fortunate enough to be able to snatch that fur-footed critter mid-air, he managed to plant his front paws into the Indigo Blue and Burnt Umber colors! A tussle ensued and I won avoiding a trail of oil paw prints! FYI, baby wipes followed with a damp rag with Dawn dish soap are safe options for kitty cleaning. That second one worked wonders on cat paws.

Jackson Jim should go back to knitting. Cats like yarn. 

Jackson “Jim” Pollock, oil painter

While there I took in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts where“Giants,” a collection of artworks by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) is showing. An impressive exhibit to say the least. I was able to see Kehinde Wiley’s work firsthand (think Obama portrait), and the smoothness of his paintings is crazy good. Not only are the paintings stunning, but the technique is mind-blowing.  I would love to know how those who paint so smoothly on those massive canvases mix their paint.

After I returned home, gallery business, local events, and finishing up my grant project became part of the daily activities. I am happy to say the artwork for the grant project is finished, and now it’s down to writing some exhibit statements, a bio, and creating labels. Some places use them, some don’t.

I have two shows lined up and plan to propose for a larger venue that will be either in 2026 or 2027, even. That’s the rough part about exhibits…it takes a long time to secure a venue.  But if you’re in the west central part of Minnesota during Septemeber/October the show will be up at the Armory Arts and Event Center gallery. The following spring you can see the work at Kaddatz Gallery in Fergus Falls, MN.

A few of the Apparition/Memory paintings. Oil on canvas 20 x 20.”


*Dawn Rossbach is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.