This gorilla family will be Gary's entry at ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, MI next September. Prizes are awarded by public votes. Top prize is $250,000! Over 1500 artists are entered. See more about this one of a kind competition at ArtPrize.org.

Silverwareback (alone) received 3rd place in the Miscellaneous Category at Gateway Art Council's Spring Fling 2011. He was also awarded the Peoples' Choice Award and the Students' Choice Award. Good practice for ArtPrize!

An answer to prayer was moving Gary's shop to our house in December. Our landlord converted a shed into a great studio!  All we said was "Would it be OK to fix this shed up so Gary can weld here?" and suddenly they were cleaning it out and putting in new windows and doors and walls and lights and electric wiring and on and on. We are truly thankful.

Gary was honored to be the featured artist for Brukner Nature Center's "Art of Nature" annual fundraising event. It was a wonderful evening for a wonderful cause; a privately funded nonprofit nature preserve that has provided many sweet memories for our family. Gary and I had the chance to meet supporters of the nature center and talk to them about his art. This little screech owl is one of the center's ambassadors. If you've never been to Brukner, please check out the link their site on our "Things you might like" page.