"Pigeon Falls—October," a 24 by 36-inch oil painting from 1991, captures a serene moment by the water's edge in Pigeon Falls, Wisconsin. Inspired by the area's natural beauty, the painting balances light and shadow, inviting viewers to reflect on the relationship between nature and human presence.
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The artwork's understated palette and deliberate composition emphasize stillness, encouraging contemplation of both place and the passage of time. It depicts the water's calm surface at sunset, with warm light touching autumn trees and the silhouette of the Pigeon Creek Lutheran Church steeple, built in 1866, standing against a soft, layered sky.
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This landscape holds a deeper story of resilience and remembrance. On August 1, 2011, lightning struck the historic Pigeon Creek Lutheran Church, nearly destroying it. Today, the site has transformed into a memorial park. This painting embodies the interplay between memory, loss, and renewal, offering a quiet tribute amid the village's landscape.
"Pigeon Falls—October" presents a landscape grounded in quiet strength and thoughtful observation. It is an invitation to witness a scene shaped by history but lived in the present moment—an expression of how light, color, and place come together to hold stories that are both deeply personal and universally accessible.
This work allows viewers to pause and consider spaces where memory gently lingers, where changes have been made, but the essence remains. It honors the natural world around Pigeon Falls and the enduring spirit found in communities that rebuild and remember. This painting stands as much for reflection as it does for hope—an acknowledgment that even through loss, there is still a steady light to carry forward.
Fine art prints of "Pigeon Falls—October" are available.