I'm feeling incredibly grateful. Last week, the grants for the Minnesota State Arts Board - Arts Initiative Grants were announced, and I am one of this year’s recipients. I’ll get to share with you a new body of paintings based on our local air quality and atmospheric composition here in Minnesota.

Based on research of both observing the sky and learning about its chemical makeup, I will create a body of new paintings and exhibit them next fall. However, my intent is not to reproduce the appearance of a specific sunset or sunrise, rather, to compose the paintings like infographics, representing the chemical make-up of the air in Hennepin County. Although I imagine these new works will be similar to my latest gradient pieces, the color gradations within the atmosphere paintings will correspond to air pollutants or to the sources of those pollutants.

I am interested in studying air and atmosphere as a part of our planetary system that is invisible to us but sustains life on this planet. Like many people, I don't really understand much about the air I breathe every day, much less how it is changing because of environmental changes. I'm feeling fortunate that I get this opportunity to dive into learning more about it and sharing what I learn.

Lindsy Halleckson is a fiscal year 2018 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.