Lou Ann Mattson, Mike Dodge and Katsy Hanson collaborated on the design and painting of the “Liberty” quilt square. Mike Dodge has always loved color, and gained an appreciation of painting with Plaster of Paris as a child. Later, she took courses in art history, acrylic painting and sculpting. Then, in a period of creative energy, she explored painting on silk, porcelain, and ceramics, discovering long-sought talents. She’s had some professional success with her photo art, and is now, painting with watercolors. Mike is grateful to be influenced (and entertained) by the talented Katsy Hanson and Lou Ann Mattson, and gets inspiration (and lots of laughter) from her current art teacher Kay Oien and her King’s Bluff Watercolor Society. Katsy Hanson taught elementary education for more than 30 years, and was the coordinator for Gifted students in the Chisago Lakes School District prior to her retirement. Katsy likes to dabble in various art forms and is currently taking watercolor classes. She enjoys spending time with the Watercolor Society, and they make time to paint at Kay’s, or at a cabin up north, or wherever they might decide to go! Lou Ann Mattson also taught elementary education, and since her retirement has been active with her church, the Fairview Lakes Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, and the Chisago Lakes Area Community Foundation. She worked closely with Noel Stensrud, Brenda Palmquist and others on the foundation’s Art Dash in 2010 and 2012, the Highway 8 Chairs project in 2013 and now the Swedish Barn Quilt Trail. Lou Ann is also on the Steering Committee for FutureWalk. She enjoys giving back to the community, and is helping to make it one of America’s Best!
