“It is a simple and profound act of faith to venture forth into the unknown; art is an act of faith. It is the search, the process and adventure, the battle well fought on that terrible field of white canvas, the journey that is art, as much or more than the destination, which matters. Art matters.” ~ Mark Zimmerman

Mushrooms suddenly became a big part of Mark Zimmerman’s life this past summer . . .

Painting mushrooms that is.

Now, if you’re wondering how someone with a MFA in painting from Illinois State University and who was the former executive director of The Arts Center in Jamestown, ND lands on mushrooms as his muse, well then, you have to understand the power of place and how it can intersect with the creative process. Mark deeply values and learns a great deal from the land he and his wife, who is also an artist, live on and steward in the Black Hills. It’s the land that fuels his art and his ongoing process of discovery. As he says of his current subject, “I knew I’m going to draw a mushroom and I don’t know how yet.”

In addition to being an artist and a lover of place, Mark is also a poet and passionate art instructor. I’m excited to talk with him about how the power of place intersects with his own creative process and what lessons he’s learned from sharing his craft with others.

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**Video broadcast available** on YouTube @imperfectbest

**Learn more about Jason Freeman** at AwkwardlyAwesome.com