Barn structures are always a favorite with me. They symbolize Iowa – their individual characteristics, the land they occupy, and the fact they are disappearing from the landscape.

I began the series of interesting barn structures early in my career as an artist. I have always lived in big cities and the rural lifestyle was a big change. My first collages began with these barn structures. I drove through the countryside, seeking them and photographing and sketching them for future reference. Sadly, many of these are gone now.

This particular barn belonged to a close neighbor of ours and was built in 1906. The barn was dismantled because it was unsafe but they saved the original wood carving with the date. My design is close to the original structure, taken from my photo a few years ago.