Laura Foster Nicholson

In 2006, I moved from Chicago to a very small town in southern Indiana, in an effort to simplify my life and get back in touch with my artwork.  I find myself utterly thrilled with the landscape here, and this body of work is my first response to my new life.

Driving daily past the fields I have observed the subtle changes in endless plains of corn and soybeans-and the shift of light from late summer through to very early spring.  The sky at this time of year has often been leaden grey, which throws into relief the subtle colors of the corn stubble and the motley colors of the old faded barns and new steel structures.

I find the iconic presence of these structures riveting.  Some seem so symbolic: an arrow pointing upward!  A Tree of Life blooming inside a shaky old barn!  The silver of a corncrib protecting its precious cache of golden corn!  The dualities of life-old & new; bright & dull; dark & light; all of these are present in this landscape and lit by the even Midwestern light.  I love this place.