Roz Wound Up

Memorial Service for Will Powers, Typography and Design Expert

Will Powers, was the design and production manager at the Minnesota Historical Press in St. Paul for the past 11 years. He passed away recently. You can read his obituary here. He was respected throughout the local and national publishing community. Last night at Open Book a memorial service was held for Powers with family and colleagues speaking about his importance in their personal and professional lives. Powers loved jazz and between speakers Butch Thompson played jazz piano selections, and ended with a clarinet piece. After the memorial wine was served while the crowd celebrated Powers' life and viewed selections of his design and printing work on display.

In my brief professional contact with Powers I knew he cared passionately about his work and the details of his craft. It is inspiring to see the impact such individuals have on the community.

You can read another obituary here.

Dog Days

 Left: journal sketch of a Boston Terrier for a painting series I am working on. Page size 6.5 inches square. Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and gouache. Click on the image for an enlargement.

Today is Emma’s death day (you would expect a student of Victorian Lit. to hold such memorials). The change in seasons is always more difficult without the girls venturing forth with me each day, discovering the changes as they accumulate into a seasonal reality. When you train dogs to track something marvelous happens. Their noses become an extension of your own sense. Their observations become additional information for your brain. Together you speak the language of wonder with a vocabulary of discovery. It’s seamless, immediate, and more than a little thrilling.

How can you be sad when you were given such a gift?

Go celebrate dogs today by finding one to draw!

Profile: Richard Crammer

Right: Green Heron, ©Richard Crammer, graphite and watercolor on paper.

My friend, artist Richard Crammer died Thursday morning. (He turned 56 on Monday.) On February 5, 2007 he was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma. His left leg was amputated and he underwent a series of chemo treatments which were unsuccessful. 

I want to take a moment to share a couple thoughts about Richard and the gratitude I have towards him. His life and talent need to be celebrated and remembered.