Honestly, it’s more good news than bad news. But you know how sometimes accomplishing one task leads to the creation of several more tasks?

The barn has water. It’s a major milestone. But the tradeoff is that we were left with our property looking like a construction site.

I will refrain from telling that story. And I’m not sharing photos, as I hope everything will look at least a bit tidier by the time the first workshop happens on May 17. But if it doesn’t, I hope our first participants understand how difficult it somehow is in these parts to find a company that will move a bit of earth around.

In better news, the darkroom and classroom are enclosed. It is still messy, but starting to feel much more real!

The view starts in the darkroom and then moves into the classroom. We’ve been on a little construction hiatus as our friend Dave has needed to work on another project, and Ken took a business trip to California. Here I am looking like I might be doing something to help, but I’m honestly worthless until the rest of the drywall and ceiling goes in.

Instead I’ve been planning and teaching some external workshops in Nashville and Columbus, as well as getting ready for my online Chemigram workshop with Penumbra Foundation. I’ve also been getting the first round of workshops here at The Kitchen on the website. I’m excited to have 4 signups so far for Lumen Printing in the Woods, making it a go. I think it is going to be a wonderful way to kick off the whole project here, since my goal is to create a destination where people collaborate with our geography alongside learning experimental photography.

I’ve also been making a lot of artwork as I prepare for an exhibition this August at the 411 Gallery in Columbus. Spring has left me with no lack of subject matter.

But back to the mess. I love leaving most of our land untouched, and apparently so do the 16 turkeys who roamed it last fall. But if anyone in South Central Indiana is interested in a giant pile of dirt, please get in touch ASAP. Or come see what will hopefully be its remnants in mid May, as we explore these woods for plant life and collaborate with the sun to make art.