Far North | Tom Maakestad

Raised in rural Northfield, Minnesota in a family of artists among a community of farmers, Maakestad has always used his knowledge and appreciation of the land as a source of inspiration for his work.

Maakestad writes about this new work: "The “Far North” series was created from the boreal forests of Northern Minnesota. I have known this region from early childhood when my family took trips to the North Shore, one time driving around the entire circumference of Lake Superior when I was maybe 3 years old. That journey left an indelible impression on me. In subsequent years I have spent time in the Boundary Waters Wilderness area both in summer and winter.

Although I have been known for painting Midwestern landscapes from the rich river valleys and farmland near where I was raised, the northern forests and lakes provide a completely different challenge.  There is an unusual light in the northern landscape. Bracketed by a pressing density, light catches the top of the trees at end of the day and some stems turn to orange, as the light is refracted from the atmosphere.

This group of relatively small paintings are meant as a touch stone. Many of us have been to the northern border regions and have taken away memories of that place. These paintings are my reflections of this fragile, yet formidable and important environment."