Tuesday morning we’re off to Arlee, Montana, by way of Missoula, to spend a few days with Danny Kraus. When my father escaped from Germany to Prague in early 1933, with the Nazis on his tail, he was befriended by a Czech dentist and became an adopted member of the family. One of the dentist’s sons, Hans – who became “Jean” in France – came to the U.S. about the same time we did in 1947, and settled in Norwalk, Connecticut. Jean and Jeannon and their three boys were family, we got together for weekends at their house or on Connecticut beaches, Thanksgivings in Manhattan and many other occasions. Danny and his brothers were my brothers. Danny’s been all over the world, he’s sailed on merchant ships in the Pacific, he was in Namibia for years rescuing and studying cheetahs, and for long time he’s been living in Arlee and producing wonderful massive sculptures.
We arrive Tuesday evening in time for dinner and a good chat with Danny. He’s got a terrific rambling log house in the woods, the original much smaller structure has been added to over the years in several directions.
Big Cabin in the Big Woods
Jan & Danny on the stoop.
From the loft...
We get to admire some of Danny’s work, he’s going to dismantle a couple of pieces and on Friday he’ll truck them north to their new home, the front yard of the woman who’s recently bought them.
The next morning Danny’s our guide for a drive north along the eastern shore of Flathead Lake, ending up at Bigfork, at the far end of the lake, to visit the town and its art galleries. On the way back we stop for lunch on the porch of the Sitting Duck, which has a gorgeous view of the lake.
Flathead Lake
And we’re entertained by a pair of barn swallows who are working non-stop trying to fill a row of huge, empty mouths.
A mother's work is never done...
Fresh cherries from one of the many roadside stands are a delicious highlight of the drive south.
We get back to Arlee and the Hangin’ Art Gallery and Coffee House for their farmer’s market and dinner/fund raiser. When we told a friend in California last week that were going to Arlee to visit an artist she immediately consulted Mr. Google and asked us if he was connected with “Hangin’ Art”…we told her we didn’t know, but it turns out that Danny is the treasurer for the Killdeer Art Cooperative which is based at the gallery.
The Gallery
In addition to several of Danny’s work, there are other beautiful sculptures, photos, paintings and watercolors showing there. The fund raiser is a great success, and they’re sold out of steak by the time we arrive. It’s just as well that we had a late and ample lunch. We eventually head back home to Danny’s for a light omelet supper.
Dismantle & lower...
Thursday morning I help Danny dismantle the two sculptures that will be installed at the buyer’s garden on Friday, and load it into his pickup. It’s a job consisting of think… lift… cogitate… drag… think some more.. lift… rest… consider… lift… plan some more, and always WATCH YOUR FINGERS!!!
...drag..
...and roll.
The peanut gallery.
And we have an appreciative audience.
All done
After a couple of hours it’s all stashed in the back of the truck and secured with lots of ropes and padding, plus the tripod and all the tools Danny will need to install them at the site. At least he hopes so.
This is our last night here, in the morning we’ll have to leave Danny and his cozy house in the woods filled with his spirit and his art. And not all his work is big and heavy.