Jessica Holt born in 1934. She…
Swam in a lake and played rodeo with her four sisters and Tommy Jacobs on the family farm – Walcowis – in Lake Geneva, WI. Found the mountains in her college years in the 1950s in Boulder. Organized and galavanted around Chicago in her 20’s. Married, raised kids and dogs, toasted the town, planted daffodils, jogged in terrycloth, politicked and painted, lost her husband (Edward Holt) and found her first painting mentor (Bob McCauly) in Rockford until 1985. Erupted her artistic voice and explored unabashedly under the tutelage of Susan Sennsenman, Martin Puyear, Klindt Houlberg ,Phyllis Bramson, and Charles Wilson at UIC. Followed her whimsy and natural instincts to her new home on PassCreek in the Big Horns. Toiled alone, with the exception of her dogs, 23 winters to deepen her mind and connect her self. Traveled to Iceland, Banff and Civitella in residency with other artists and thinkers. Shared pieces of her heart, in the warm months, with Bauen campers, visiting artists, stray family members, old friends lost hunters, a man from Australia, and her grandchildren. Returned to the Rock River and the peace of the lush Wisconsin hills to envision her last creations and laugh and sing her final days with family and friends.

…In Spiritelli June 2016