We are featuring Columbia Falls metal artist John Rose during the month of September. John has been working with various types of metal since his teens and has many years experience as a fabricator/welder. Throughout his years of employment, he was always creating designs from scrap metal and selling those pieces as a hobby. When unable to find a job after moving to the area in 2001, John started making and selling his artwork at area farmers markets as well as doing custom orders.

John enjoys the outdoors, drawing inspiration from his surroundings to create wildlife in whimsical and traditional designs in heated copper. He starts with mostly reclaimed material, creating a variety of unique handcrafted designs that include jewelry, ornaments, garden art and wall art. By cutting the copper sheet, hammering by hand for texture and shape then heating each piece to various temperatures, his technique achieves unique colors that are individual to only that piece. John enjoys working with his hands and looks forward to each day in his workshop.

Meet John during Whitefish Gallery Night, Thursday, September 3rd, 2009 from 6-9 PM. John's work will be displayed during the opening and throughout the month of September.

Lighting is a crucial part of the design process. All too often it doesn't get the attention it deserves.

There are 4 basic types of lighting; general ambient light, task or focal light, accent lighting and, of course, natural light. Having a balance between them all is ideal. Task light is vital in the kitchen, office, shop or anywhere you are working. It can come from recessed or other ceiling fixtures if you are building or remodeling. Track lighting can often be added to a finished room. A table or standing lamp can give good task light for deskwork or reading. Dimmers, which can be added to any wall switch, can make this same task light into ambient light. This is a great way to create diverse feelings in a room.

Take a look at the rooms in your house or where you work to see how many types of light you have. Have fun manipulating the light in a space to see how many different moods you can create.

One of the players on our local junior high football team never saw action in a game. But the assistant coach, liked the kid and always gave him pep talks.

"Remember, Ben," he told him, "everyone on this team has an important role. There is no I in team."

"True," said the boy. "But there is a Ben in bench.