In December, I learned about applying for the SD Governor’s Art Exhibition. This traveling show is available to all artists residing in South Dakota. South Dakota’s curators and directors of the state’s most prestigious museums and galleries selected the work for the show. Therefore, it is an honor not only to be chosen but to be part of South Dakota’s art history. Because I competed with some of SD’s best well-known and exceptional artists, I didn’t believe that my work would be in the show. Nevertheless, I felt that I needed to be more involved with the artist community, so I submitted two woodblock prints and a screen print that I had modified with watercolor.
In February, I received a text that congratulated me and noted that the jury accepted the screen print. I guess I was, and still am, in shock. But I didn’t reach this milestone alone.
“If I have seen further,it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
I want to thank Nancy Olive for her inspiration and printmaking instruction.
Much thanks to Mary Selvig for her watercolor instruction many years ago; I am so thankful for the time she took to complete my work with her elegant framing.
Times and venues for the South Dakota Governor’s 9th Biennial Art Exhibition
It seems that the inspirations of Dr. Seuss have always been present in my life. Whether it was reading the “Cat in the Hat” books as a young girl or to my children, these illustrated stories were a source of entertainment and education. As funny as it may sound, I didn’t absorb these stories’ full meaning until I was older. I began to notice that behind the fantastical characters and silly rhymes, there were lessons about human nature. So while sharing a little about myself, today’s post is called:
The first chapter of my story would be entitled, “Do You Like My Hat?” In P.D. Eastman’s “Go Dog Go,” one of the characters periodically shows up to ask this question. Throughout the book, she is always answered with a “No. I do not like that hat.” Finally, when she wears a hat with a menagerie of objects on the hat, does she receive a positive response.
Throughout my life, I have worn many hats. Although I was sure that hat would be the only hat I will ever wear at the time, it turns out that these early “hats” have always led to bigger and better opportunities. For example, after “wearing a graduation cap” from Southeast Technical in the 1980s, I worked as a computer programmer for many years. When I became a stay-at-home mom, I worked part-time for a Sioux Falls stained glass company; working with stained glass led me to open my Etsy shop, where I sell stained glass kaleidoscopes. When I graduated from the University of Sioux Falls with a BA in Art, I learned how to handle art properly. I currently work at a local picture framing business where I work with an incredible artist and businesswoman and am privileged to see some of the most extraordinary art.
It’s not about
what it is,
It’s about
what it can become.
-Dr. Seuss
The second chapter of my story is entitled, “Are You, My Mother?” I would have to say that the single most significant part of my life hasn’t been about me, but what I was to my two sons. I think this is true in life as well: Maybe it’s not that important as to what things and titles we obtain for ourselves, but rather what we give to others and who we are to them. I assumed that because my sons had the same home, same parents, and the same schools, they would have similar personalities. But now adults, they are truly opposites. I think being a parent has taught me to appreciate the uniqueness of others. As I start my second career in Media Design, I will be focusing my designs on a target audience. Many of these audiences will be very different from me and my way of thinking, and that’s okay. Like my sons, their views and reactions will be unique.
Today you are you,
That is truer than true.
There is no one alive
Who is “youer” than you.
– Dr. Seuss
The third chapter of my story is called, “Go, Michele, go!” Life for all of us is a series of ups and downs, and throughout my successes, I have also made my fair share of mistakes and poor choices. But I can only go forward. I can’t go back and “do it over.” The best I can do is correct the situation, learn from my mistakes, and keep going. I grew up believing that any change was an unwelcome challenge. But what I discovered was that those challenges have turned out to be an opportunity for personal growth.
As I think about graduating next spring as a Media Design major at Southeast Technical College, I also remember the processes and class course, which brought me to this point. At the time, these General Education classes seemed a necessary but daunting time in my life. Mathematics and English classes were not directly related to my study line, and back then, I could not see how they would be useful in my future career choices. Because I am a nontraditional student at Southeast, I have attended other public and private universities. The classes in English Composition were the most influential and crucial to my studies in Media Design.
As a child, I was very timid. I often struggled to communicate my feelings through speaking and simple writing projects. In my twenties, even though I worked in the computer programming industry and wrote user guides, I still questioned how affective my message was. Also, during this time, I decided to obtain a bachelor’s degree in my current field. It was daunting to see the list of general education classes that I would need to complete to obtain my goal. Composition 101 was one of the first college-based classes I registered. I was not very well prepared. I needed to learn time management and study skills. I also was depending on what I had remembered from my K through 12 education. I’m sure I owe those English professors a massive apology for the many incomplete sentences and improper punctuation I used.
However, knowing how to write effectively gave me the confidence to share my ideas and interests with others. It’s given me the confidence to go back and pursue a career in Media Design. Through my studies at Southeast Technical College, I’ve also realized how important it is to not only to know one’s target audience but also how writing relevant content and structured copywriting is crucial to connect with that audience.
Just to let you know – you are now old. You never imagined that you would be the same age your dad was when he died. How could you? I thought I would give you a little advice to make the road to your future a little smoother.
First, please be more careful with your body. There has not been one ear infection, sprained ankle, or fall that will not later affect your health. At the time of the injury, healing took no time at all, but I can attest that each of these will manifest into hearing loss, arthritis, or other nuisance. Currently, there is a pandemic that has caused the deaths of millions of people worldwide. Although many of the deaths are attributed to the health of the elderly, many young people will suffer from the effects of this disease. There is still much to learn about COVID-19, and looking back on my past ailments, I am concerned about what long-term effects will be on younger populations. When I was young, I thought I was invincible and took the risk of injury without any consequences.
Secondly, do yourself a favor and stop worrying about fitting into the status quote. Everyone has their own idea of success, and you’ll find yours. It might not be your parents’ idea of success, but that’s okay. I need to admit that I have struggled most of my life trying to fit into my family’s, my country’s, my church’s, my community’s idea of success. Find out what makes your life have meaning; this may take some time. I recently went back to school for Media Design, and although I am very much a non-traditional student, it’s something that I have always wanted to do. But you already know that.
For now, that’s a couple of pieces of advice. Be kind, be safe, and remember to breathe.
It all started about twenty years ago when I took a stained glass course at Dakota Stained Glass in Sioux Falls, SD. To make a long story shorter, I later become employed as a store manager and as an instructor for lamp and kaleidoscope construction. As I became more proficient in decorative soldering, I realized that not only my kaleidoscopes were functional for viewing beautiful refractive images, but their forms were also sculptural art pieces.
In 2016, after attempting to sell them at a local Sioux Falls gallery, I realized that I needed to expand my market to online sales. An artist friend recommended that I try setting up a shop on ETSY.com. The process of setting up a shop was relatively easy but I still needed a name for my shop. I researched “How to name your business” articles and knew that I wanted a name that I could use for stained glass and for my other artistic ventures.
So why Little Raven Design Company? To make another long story shorter, …I named it after my son. As a school project, my youngest son Duncan needed to find why his parents had given him the name “Duncan” and what the name meant. As I read the multiple references to the name, “Duncan,” I came across one that read, “dark warrior.” For those of you with young sons, you probably already know that this is exactly what seven-year-old boys want to be. The “dark warrior” image is mysterious, ominous…. dangerous. As Duncan sheepishly grinned with approval, my older son, Brennan, asked what his name referred to. Brennan was not as happy when I read out loud “little raven.” And I don’t suppose it helped his fragile ego that I added a “Oh, that’s so cute!” to the end of my sentence. Maybe I was trying to make it up to him for giving him the name Brennan or maybe I think of the humor associated with the little raven reference.
As a student of STI and in order to graduate from my chosen program, I am required to take a two-credit course on Microsoft Office products which includes Excel, Word, Powerpoint, and Access. Prior to enrolling at STI and purchasing my Mac, I was a common PC user; I worked on various Windows versions throughout my career and also used Microsoft Office for many home-based projects. Although it had been many years since I had worked with MS Office, I was confident that I could “test out” of this class by using the summer break time to study for the exam.
First, I wrote out a calendar schedule, allowing a couple weeks for each MS product. Using my library access, I found many tutorials on Lynda libraries which also included exercise files I could download. I also found many free tutorials just by doing a Google search. During the last few weeks, I went through each of the “objectives” listing which was given to me by STI testing department and made notes for each objective. At lastly, I used STI’s VMware to access Excel, Powerpoint, Access, and Word to practice each objective. The night before the test, I reviewed and memorized my notes. On June 25th, I took the exam and passed with 98% proficiency.
Believe it or not, my reasoning for writing this blog entry is not to blow my own horn, but to discuss a mindset that, frankly, has frustrated me for years. A week before the exam, I confided to a family member that I had been very busy studying for the test and was a little apprehensive about not passing. Her response to me was, “You’re smart; you’ll pass it.” I absolutely understand that she truly meant this as a complement and that it was said to calm my doubts. However, it also made me wonder why the labels – “smart”, “dumb”, “beautiful” and “ugly” – that people impose on themselves or others seem more important or tangible than the “actions” or behavior of people. I didn’t pass the exam because I magically became “smart”; I passed the exam because I worked my butt off.
This situation also made me think about what people consider as “smart.” Howard Gardener was a psychologist and educator who defined nine types of intelligence: from “logical” which is what most people think of as intelligence … to “bodily-kinesthetic” which describes the brain-body connections of an athlete. A scholar needs to research his thesis, and an athlete must spend countless hours perfecting their sport. Why is it that most think of the definition of “smart” , as a some special ability that one possesses without any effort? With the exception of the rare prodigy, maybe “being smart” means doing one’s homework and being driven to achieve one’s goals.
This past week my husband, son, granddaughter, and I took a road trip to the Twin Cities. We had planned the vacation around activities which a six-year-old would enjoy. The first day, we first traveled to Mall of America.
My son and husband took turns riding with my granddaughter on a variety of activities.
Both my husband and son were wonderful “riding buddies” even though many of the rides were not designed for adults who are over six feet tall. I think the granddaughter liked most of the rides. Although, at the end of the day, whenever we asked her “what was your favorite ride?” , she would reply “Not the log ride!”
On the second day, we traveled to St. Paul’s Minnesota Science Museum. One of the exhibits, was a news anchor desk with the teleprompter; future newscaster? The featured exhibit was a large area which displayed replications of Leonardo Da Vinci’s. The designers of this exhibit created a beautiful tranquil space which displayed Da Vinci’s two dimensional drawings to 3D sculptures.
Later that day, we stayed at a hotel which had a water park where we spend the rest of the day. After a good night’s rest, we headed back to Sioux Falls.
Some of my happiest childhood memories are those of my maternal grandmother’s farm. Maybe it was that she grew up during the Depression, but my grandmother knew how to be self sufficient. She kept chickens, sheep, and cattle, but also grew her own fruits and vegetables in her massive gardens and orchards. As a child, she would teach me how to plant and harvest everything from apples to zucchini. A sea of flora containing bachelor buttons, snapdragons, and geraniums flooded through the front pasture until it was stopped by the gravel road leading to the farmhouse. I believe that these childhood memories are the reason why I enjoy gardening today.
Oh, did I mention I had a pony! Every little girl’s dream, right?
Feeding the bottle lambs at my grandmother’s farm.
This year, I wanted to create similar memories with my granddaughter who is six years old. So I purchased an few packets of flower seeds, a tomato plant, a few onion sets, and seeds for peas and carrots. It wasn’t a pony, but I got her a pink matching set of garden gloves and a hat. So one afternoon, donned in her hat, gloves and sundress, we planted “her” garden in one of the established raised beds. And although we didn’t perhaps accurately plant the seeds according to the directions , I hope that she will have obtained some great memories of the time we spent together.
This week I thought I would write something about the educational institutions that I’ve attended and the reason why I chose each at the time. When I graduated from Lincoln High School, I had no strong ideas as to what I wanted to do. As long as I can remember, I loved to draw and paint but felt that I was not proficient to pursue a career as a graphic artist. I also enjoyed the challenge of mathematics, so one of my math teachers suggested looking into computer programming. On “career night”, I spoke with a representative of Southeast Area Vocational School. I then attended and graduated two years later with a diploma in “Data Processing I & II.” I think back on that night now, and remember having to look up in our encyclopedia what computer programming all entailed.
After I graduated, I worked for Stewarts Computer Engineering and Sioux Valley Hospital as a computer programmer and systems analyst for about 15 years. During this time, my father died, and I began to realize that “life is short.” I also realized that although my parents could not afford to send me to college post high school, I innately had a desire to obtain a 4-year degree. I began taking core classes to obtain a BS in computer science from DSU through the University Center in Sioux Falls. Later, however, I changed my course of study to computer graphics again from DSU. Unfortunately, DSU decided to cancel this program in the Sioux Falls University Center location. Because I had young children at the time, I was not able to commute to Madison to complete this course of study. However, one of my design professors was also a professor at Augustana College, and he suggested that I look into their Graphic Arts degree. I then transferred to Augustanta College, but this time, I decided to register as a full-time student. Unfortunately, because of the demands of my young family, I found myself overextended and only attended there one semester. Fate, however, was smiling down on me because while attending an Art History class, I met another nontraditional student whom I had worked with at Sioux Valley Hospital. He was also working on a 4-year degree but from University of Sioux Falls. By his suggestion, I again transferred to USF and attended classes there on a part-time basis. At this time, the Art professors who taught the Adobe software were in a transitional phase and I felt that I wanted to graduate at this time. I graduated from the University of Sioux Falls, summa cum laude, with a degree in Art.
After graduating from USF, I worked for a variety of businesses which were not related to the world of art until I began to work for Mary Selvig Framing. However, I still felt that I had a desire to combine computer skills with my love of art. It wasn’t until an “artist” friend of mine who had just graduated from STI’s welding program (She owns a stained glass business and also uses her welding knowledge to create sculptures.) suggested that I check out their Media Design program.
After four attempts to obtain graphic design skills, I feel very “at home” at Southeast Technician Institute. Some days, as a nontraditional student, I feel that I stick out like a sore thumb, but at the same time, I feel that finally I am in the right place at the right time.
I began working with Mary Selvig of Mary Selvig Framing in the fall of 2014. This date, however, was not the first time I had heard or met the talented artist of this business. Our first encounter took place back in the 1980’s when I decided to take a community education class for watercolor. I was very fortunate to find out that Mary, who was already an established regional artist, would be the instructor for this course. Our paths would meet again in the 1990’s, when while I worked for Dakota Stained Glass as a retail manager, Mary was the gallery manager for DSG’s Full Circle Gallery. Throughout these years, I was privileged to witness her professional dedication to her skill.
While working as a framing assistant to her, I have come to realize her innate ability to bring design into every aspect of her life. As I have commented to others, “I have the privilege to work work with an artist who frames artwork.” Each summer, Mary designs and plants the flower boxes which are displayed on the front entrance of the historical Crane building located in the downtown area. She researches trends in container gardens and knows which plants will work best for the southern exposure. Mary brings this mindset of “form should follow function” into her framing business as well; as stated in her website, “She provides…extensive options with an emphasis on providing safe storage space for art.”
Mary Selvig Framing
Red bud tree
A man is but the product of his thoughts - what he thinks, he becomes.
Mahatma Gandhi
As a nontraditional student, Michele Meester decided to return to STI to pursue a second career in Media Design. Throughout her experiences as a computer programmer, freelance artist, and mother, she has had a life-long interest in combining her artistic aptitude with the technical aspects of this field.
