I just returned from my 6th trip to the Fields Project artist residency. I first participated in 2003. Eleven artists participated this year, staying with 10 host families.
Every year proves to be a unique and wondrous experience. I will split my
visit into blog posts over the next week or two. I took a gazillion photos, which means I have a handful of good ones to share with you!
My week wouldn't have been nearly as entertaining without the lovely people in this photo! My fabulous hosts: the Bockers, Gary (front seat passenger) and Judy (next to me in the back). And Cathi Schwalbe, a dear friend and fellow artist (we each had a room in the silo and pretty quickly dubbed ourselves the 'Silo Sisters'!) Lots of laughs from day one...Gary and Judy were so very gracious and acommodating, sharing their new creation "Barnacopia" with us.
It gets windy in the backseat of a convertible!

Cathi with her crazy lime green mustang! We had a weeks worth of fun in one night!
"Barnacopia" Judy and Gary imagined and built this extremely impressive museum over the last year. It houses a plethora of farming
history including Gary's collection of farm equipment and vintage cars, and much more. There will be a grand opening in a few months when it is complete. See the cupola? There is a John Deere Tractor hanging/rotating up there!

This is where I slept all week! My room was on the 2nd floor of this 4 story Silo.

Shots from 'my farm': Bocker Grain
Bocker Ruff Grain - i.d. tags for the train car shipments of corn
Bocker Farm as seen from Route 64...I refer to it a "Oz"

One of my sketching vistas on Father's Day between their giant corn bins.

The view overhead.

Close up of the drying bins...they have a very space age look!
Same drying bins, backing up a bit.