Travels
I spent a week in Germany at Creative Connections and met my wife Markie Scholz in London on the way back. While in England we both did two days of workshops, Markie with her puppets shows and workshops and me with my perspective and polyhedron workshops. We also had the opportunity to see Stonehenge while we were there which has been something Markie and I have dreamed about over the years. We both agreed we were not in the least disappointed. I couldn’t believe how noncommercial it was, a very large compliment to their State Park System ( English Heritage). Viewing one of the world’s largest stone circles was an inspiration that will undoubtedly grow into a future Termesphere. Back in London, we attended a play, HIS DARK MATERIALS which had a great concept behind it and included some wonderful puppets. You know who really got into that! Another fun and circular stop was the LONDON EYE. Billed as a combination of the elements of air, water, earth and time, it took 30 minutes for our one rotation. The view of London from on top of the giant Observation Wheel was extremely impressive.
Publications
I just received a beautiful new catalog from a show my work is in sponsored by the University of Paris called MATHEMATIQUES AND ARTS. It is a collection of the works of Math/Art people from around the world. This show was organized by Claude Bruter, a professor of Mathematics at the University of Paris in France. Many large photos of my spheres are part of 
this showing as well as THE SPIRIT OF GOTHIC HALL which is a 13″ diameter sphere that I did of the Gothic Hall in Bruge, Belgium.
The good news is that the second publication of the book MASTERS OF DECEPTION Escher, Dali and the Artists of Optical Illusion is now out. The first printing was in Nov 2004. By mid December it was sold out. The book was put together by Al Seckel and the forward is by Douglas R. Hofstadter, Ph.D., author of GODEL, ESCHER, BACH. It has been very exciting to be part of this book. If you can’t find it in you local book store it is available at our gallery or in our online store.
Termespheres (some new, some historic) and the thoughts behind them
OLDER PAINTING GETS ATTENTION:
PORTHOLE TO THE PAST is getting more attention because of the HBO Deadwood series. In 2002 I painted this 36 inch diameter sphere. It is a 360 degree view of the early Deadwood days (1876-77). It was commissioned by the Deadwood Visitors Center and the Preservation Commission. Recently I took some photographs of PORTHOLE TO THE PAST and produced a photo essay album of the images of people I painted. Many of the characters I painted in this piece are featured in the HBO series. I enjoyed going through old photographs and books to find the pieces and parts to make this 360 degree world realistic. I worked very hard to make this scene of Deadwood historically accurate. This Deadwood changed after the fire of 1879. If you haven’t seen this painting you should stop by the Deadwood Visitor Center (the old train depot downtown) and see it.
Recent Work
GARGOYLES IN SAINT DENIS is a 13″ diameter sphere which I just finished. How could I walk away from the strange gargoyles waiting on the outside of St. Denis and the tomes of the kings and queens of France waiting for me inside the Basilica? They literally screamed, “Termesphere”. I took three or four total photos of the interior of St. Denis in 1992 when I was in 
Paris to lecture and show slides on my spherical perspective at Ecole des Beaux Arts. It took me 13 years but finally St. Denis is a sphere. The Basilica is one of the first Gothic structures ever built. Because of the very strange feeling you have within this building I felt the Gargoyles needed to be inside to help with that feeling. It is a very strange place.
TRI EVERY ANGLE is also now finished. It was a wonderful study of 5,120 triangles as a grid over the sphere and what all could grow from it. Many tessellating patterns and a landscape with people grew from this grid. I was most pleased with this study and also with the colors. The people coming from the triangles are amazingly real.
Future Shows and Workshops
Creative Connections is just over. I had 15 wonderful visual arts High School students in Oberwesel, Germany on the Rhein for five days to see what we could achieve. A total of about 150 fine art students come to Creative Connection which is part of the DoDDS-E system. Having this event center on the Fine Arts is an important concept. With students from dance, theater, music, and the visual arts there seems to be less competition and more support, which is very nice. Look up http://www.eu.dodea.edu/cc.htm to see more on this gathering. It is the kind of idea I would like to see South Dakota do with its Fine Arts High School Students.
Markie and I also did two days of workshops in Alconbury Elementary and High School in England. Markie did shows with her puppets and workshops and I did slide lectures and workshops on polyhedra and perspective.
- April 6th I will spend a day in the Pierre Middle School doing workshops with 7th grade students. On the 7th, 8th and 9th at the Discovery Center in Pierre, I worked with students to create a large Icosahedron painting. All five Platonic Solids have now been created for the Center.
- April 12th and 13th I was in Sheridan working with two Elementary Schools. I also did a slide-lecture for the Sheridan Artists Guild and a small showing of Termespheres.
- April 28th and 29th I will be in Groton, South Dakota working with students at 9th annual All Dakota High School Fine Arts Exhibition.
- May 12th I will be in Belle Fourche at the Middle School doing workshops.
- June 1st through the 30th I will have a showing of Termespheres at Black Hill State University in Spearfish SD.
- June 13th – 17th I will work with High School students at Black Hills State University.
- June20 – 24 I will teach two classes at Black Hills State University. One is called THE GEOMETRIES UNDER THE PAINTING and the other is TOTAL PICTURES.
- June 28- 29th a gallery talk and slide lecture and workshop on polyhedra for High School students for the Center for the Advancement of Mathematics and Science Education in Spearfish.
- July31st – 3th I will take a show and do a lecture on Math/Art at the Renaissance Banff in the Banff Centre, Banff, Canada
- August 18th I will hang a Termesphere showing in the stairwell at the Washington Pavilion In Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
- October 7th-8th the opening for the show and a lecture and workshop will take place at the Washington Pavilion.
- October 19th I will take a show to the Octagon Center for the Arts at the Iowa State University in Ames Iowa.
Patrons
– I feel it is very important to say a few words about patrons to the arts. Many of us think we, as artists, are the only ones that make art happen. In reality, without patrons art would become a scarcity indeed. Patrons are the people who want art to happen enough to put their hard earned cash out there to see that art does happen. Artists would be a much smaller group if they had to create in a void. Perhaps they might be born in a rich family or all have two jobs to support their art. Patrons are not given enough credit in the art history books. Patrons also give the art a safe and good home whereas sometimes the artist has it stored in the back shed. Anyway, thank you patrons from all of us that rely on your help.
End Note
- A good idea is only as good as how hard you push it.
- If you wait for that person to come along to discover you, you may be growing flowers rather than painting them.
- Learn to listen to yourself…………
- Perspective is the skeleton of visual space……….
- When the body gives up, the mind has no home……….
- A very interesting life is to challenge oneself to search for the orders in the Universe…
They are there for us to find…………
Thank you for reading to the end
I hope some of my thoughts will get some comments back from you, positive or negative and, new ideas. I love the way some of my math friends are making suggestions of concepts for me to consider. If you would like to be taken off this newsletter list please let me know. As always, thank you for your tremendous support and encouragement. I would love to hear what you think.
Feel free to call at 888-642-4805 or email me termes@blackhills.com