Ever since we completed the River House, Jeanine and I have struggled to select artwork that we can both agree on. Today, Jeanine suggested we get out of the house for an adventure, and I reluctantly agreed to visit several local art galleries. When we entered the Three Stones Gallery in downtown Concord, we were both immediately drawn to the works of local artist Joan Kocak. Kocak creates her art using encaustic photography, a process in which layers of beeswax and resin are fused onto a photographic image with a blowtorch, creating both texture and a durable seal. The scenes in the collection we purchased are from the Great Brook State Park, located one town over in Carlisle. Before mounting them in our kitchen, I used cardboard stand-ins to refine placement and spacing.

In the past, either Jeanine or I would compromise on joint art decisions, invariably leaving one of us dissatisfied down the road. Based on that history, we resolved not to acquire anything new unless we both loved it without reservation. Thank you, Joan Kocak.