Equinox

Equinox  ©Kesler Woodward  2012  Acylic on canvas  18" x 24"

I haven't been good about posting to my website this summer, but I've been hard at work, as usual. New paintings, including a couple of commissions completed. A lot of time in the wilds, finding inspiration for new images. And painting in a tiny, temporary workspace in our basement in response to that inspiration, while a wonderful new studio I designed has been under construction in the woods out back.  

I'm excited about Equinox for several reasons.  It's an especially complex, richly detailed, and I hope evocative image of the boreal forest in one of its most beautiful seasons. The Interior Alaska fall is as brief as it is dramatic. The leaves start rapidly turning golden in late August, and by late September they are gone.  At the autumnal equinox, the color in both the canopy and the understory is near its height. It's a time when I wander the woods daily in delight, and like the lengthening late winter days of March, is one of the times of the year that I most focus on in my work. 

Equinox is important to me for other reasons, too. It was done in response to a request from Race Director John Estle and the steering committee of the Fairbanks Equinox Marathon for an image to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the running of that remarkable race--widely considered the second hardest marathon in North America (after Pike's Peak). A Fairbanks institution, the 26.2 mile race begins and ends at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, climbing 2000 feet up Ester Dome to a long, undulating out-and-back at the top, followed by a 1/3-mile precipitous descent of a rocky "chute" as it begins its winding way back down.

I am a longtime runner, and an occasional [bad combination of competitive and slow] racer, but unlike thousands of Fairbanksans and runners from throughout Alaska and far beyond, I've never run the Equinox Marathon, so I was deeply honored to be asked to provide a commemorative image for the half-century anniversary of the race.

Many Fairbanks runners will recognize the small, simplified figure on the trail as my companion Dorli McWayne, one of our community's premier runners, who has run the course over almost four decades and is still usually one of the top women finishers.

The Equinox Marathon Committee has produced a very high quality, archival inkjet (giclee) print of the painting in commemoration of the 50th Equinox Marathon. The 16" x 20" image is printed on heavyweight Somerset Velvet paper in a signed and numbered edition of 250. Our friend Margo Klass generously contributed the typography, layout, and design of the print. and all proceeds from its sale will go to the Fairbanks Equinox Marathon. 

Those who have long followed my work know that I don't make prints of my paintings, so this is a unique opportunity to obtain a beautifully printed image of one of them, as well as to support this important Fairbanks event. The Committee is selling the prints for $125 each. Locals can reserve one now at Goldstream Sports in Fairbanks, or purchase and pick one up at bib pickup for the race on September 13 or 14 at the Pumphouse Restaurant. They will also be available at the Equinox Awards Banquet following the race on September 15. Others interested can send an email message to John Estle, Equinox Marathon Race Director, at sportalaska@gci.net, with "Equinox Art Print" in the subject heading.

A number of people have asked already about the original painting. I almost never keep my own paintings, as I'm always more interested in the next one than the last one, but I'm keeping this one for myself. 

Comments

[Wanda]

At the White House Red Room there were some birch logs in the fire place that brought to mind of you, the many birch portraits, and memories of life surrounded by the boreal forest. A Swedish couple commented, "You (citizens of the US) should be proud of this achievement to make the natural landscape public and available to people. Yes, this is really special." Fitting, to see Dorli running ahead and forward in your creation of light--all the grace we have to share.