07/21/2026
I have costumed for Optimist Theater Company doing Ghost tours at the historic Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin since 2022. “Spirits of the Silent City”. Recently costumed a one-day fundraiser for FHC, our dressing room in the Halls of History, and the scratching sound coming from behind the marble walls concealing remains in coffins, was like a Welcome Back message. We will see….. much has changed in my life.
Even though I own and operate an Upholstery business, I have accepted challenges for outside work from custom furniture builds to costuming for theater and creating my sculptural chairs in whatever spare time I carve out. I have spent my time in totally different occupations even though I studied Fine Art at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design focused on sculpture and graduated from the University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee with an MFA in Sculpture, I always maintained my skills by attending figure drawing sessions throughout the years. Then came a phone call for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Tom Queoff Sculpture in Milwaukee heard of a project in LaCrosse, Wisconsin looking for an indigenous artist who knew figurative work. I had worked for him about 30 years ago and he remembered I was an Oneida Tribal member, threw my name out there. The Rotary Club of LaCrosse presented the challenge. I sent then copies of my figurative work, did a small model and by November of 2024 the contract was signed.
Since that call in March of 2024, my upholstery business has been on hiatus. I receive daily requests to do anything from a set of dining room chairs, to Grandmother’s favorite rocking chair, wing back chairs, barrel back chairs, bar stools, etc. (no sofas) Now comes that difficult decision between returning to upholstery work or continuing with figurative sculptural work and selling the upholstery business.
Since I love being a part of costuming ghost tours and bringing them temporarily back to life, that will remain for now.
Full circle….. Maybe the Spirits of the Silent City can send a sign pointing me in the right direction.
That's all.
Ps I would love to see you at the dedication of Betsy Thunder, July 30th 9am
