“No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.”–Unknown You May Call Me Earl... vBy Chauntel Wright Have you ever stood in a store all by yourself reading captions on greeting cards laughing hysterically (if you have not, I highly recommend it)? How about looking at, touching, and admiring pieces of artwork which seem to understand and relate to nature? Pieces so unique to an artist they are easily identified and stand-out amongst other works? This describes the talent of local artist Earlene McNeil Larson. I came to know Earl and her work through the G.A.R. Hall and later through showcasing and selling her work in our gallery. She has an infectious personality and sense of humor, earthiness, individuality, and a creative spirit all unique to Earl. She describes herself and her art as: “By heart and birth, I am a crazy Dakota girl…41 years of creating, inspired by nature, my work reflects where I am at in life, so growing and changing is an experiment my patrons share with me. Out of all of this journey, a daughter, a son, and 10 lively grandchildren peak the top of my list and usually are not for sale. Handmade paper derived from old corduroy pants, is my main medium. Whimsical, dimensional notecards, books, wall pieces, and luminaries are the by-recycled products created from this fiber… Enjoy, Earl!” I have always wanted to know more about Earl. I wanted to know what inspired her to become an artist and what drives her to create. Also, I was interested in the path she took and her experiences along the way leading her to the place she is now. I called her about writing this article and scheduled an appointment. We were to meet in her studio, and I could not wait to see where her creations are “birthed”. Driving up to the property it screamed “Earl lives here”! A log cabin built by her husband and son (obviously also talented and creative) communing in nature. The home is surrounded by beautiful gardens, a landscape friendly to nature, and visitors from the wild which frequent the property. Earl led me to her large studio where she creates. We settled-in and began an interesting conversation about Earl and her art. Earl grew-up in rural Aberdeen working hard on her family farm. She describes life on the farm as being “hired hands with not much time for outside activities.” Her siblings were her friends and her family were who she spent her time with. It was not until she attended kindergarten, she began making friends outside of the home. Meeting new kids and learning new things were exciting! She fondly remembers an art project the teacher had the students create. She recounts “empty Velveeta boxes filled with items to decorate the boxes with…I thought wow!” When asked if it was from the kindergarten project, she knew she would be an artist she shared “it was not a thought-out process it just fell into place”. Nearing graduation, Earl went to the guidance counselor’s office and was browsing through information about different colleges and universities. This is when she stumbled across a brochure about Willcockson Eye Associates, P .C. Quality Eye Care, Close To Home • Quality medical and surgical eye care for you and your family • State of the art cataract surgery • Expert treatment of diseases such as glaucoma, eye complications from diabetes, and macular degeneration • Extensive selection of frames, styles and lens options at The Spectacle Shop, LLC. The Spectacle Shop, L.L.C. 415 W. 3rd, Yankton • Call 605-665-9638 10vHERVOICEvJULY/AUGUST 2019 Karen E Dickes, D.O. Board Certified Ophthalmologist Medical and Surgical Eye Care Gregory A Kouri, O.D. Optometrist Medical Eye Care