Kate Lawler Perry has always had a passion for history and a deep desire to recreate something of meaning and value through her paintings.
Having a family history over the past four generations in the Gordon, WI community, justifiably explains her passion, dedication and love for this area. It is this passion that has inspired her to capture images of the beauty and history of the Gordon-Wascott area in her paintings.
Her first painting, "GREAT GRANDFATHER'S BARN", is an old red barn
still standing on the property her Great Grandparents homestead
on the Eau Claire River, east of Gordon in the early 1900's.
The next painting was "TOM AND JERRY" depicting two tall red pine
trees over 200 years old that stood majestically on each side of Bass
Lake Road in Gordon, WI. These trees were babies during the
stagecoach time and a huge part of the history of the area. The
trees eventually were cut down to allow for a wider, updated road.
Kate's inspiration was to save their memory in her painting.
The painting, "CHIEF KABEMABE'S VILLAGE" depicts a Chippewa Indian
Village as it may have looked in the 1820's. The village occupied one
of the most beautiful spots on the St. Croix River. Chief Kabemabe's territory stretched from Gordon, WI to Prairie Du Chien, WI. All traces of the village have disappeared but this painting seemingly brings back the reality of Gordon's Native American history.
Another painting, "THE MOSTER FIRE OF 1977" represents the five-mile monster fire that raged out of control for 17 hours in the surrounding area, destroying more than 13,000 acres and sixty-three buildings in its path. "In this painting I have attempted to capture the reality and devastation of this historical Monster Fire."
Every year around mid-February/early-March, Kate's father, Bob Lawler, would eagerly await for the arrival of the first robin of spring. He would always greet that first robin with, "Hello There Little Girl". There is no better indicator of Spring than a robin singing outside your window. Kate painted this American robin and named the painting "HELLO THERE LITTLE GIRL" as a tribute to her father and to create an everlasting memory of him and his love for Mother Nature and birds (especially the robin),
In 2020, "THE GORDON FIRE TOWER" painting was completed. The Gordon Fire Tower was constructed in 1935, as a look-out tower to observe the area and help detect wildfires. In 2016, the State of Wisconsin decommissioned all fire towers statewide as they were no longer needed. Gordon and surrounding communities united and within one year they had raised enough money to save the tower. It is now the first fire tower camping rental in the Midwest. This painting is to express appreciation and gratitude to the Friends of the Bird Sanctuary (FOTBS), all the volunteers and contributions for their hard work, and commitment in the preservation of this valued historical landmark.
The "PRINCESS O ME ME" (Maime Wiggins) is special as Maime was the niece of Antoine Gordon, founder of Gordon, WI. An activist for the Grand Council of American Indians, she dressed in full Native American costumes when she performed as a singer and dancer.
Kate's most recent painting is of the "GORDON DAM", located on the St. Croix Flowage in the town of Gordon, WI, dates back to 1935. It affects the water level in 30 area lakes and also raises the water level for power generation in the Gordon underground power station. The St. Croix is a northern river, especially below the Gordon Dam, where white cedars and alders line the banks and the water is tinted dark with tannin. The townspeople, surrounding communities, and visitors love, enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the dam and park. Many will have their own connective memories with it For Kate, there is a special significance which motivated her to paint this. In November 1998, she and her sister, Patty, strolled the walkway over the dam, hiked through the Gordon Dam County Park, and sat on the banks of the St. Croix enjoying their special time together as they talked about their childhood days, family, interests, dreams, and future. Little did they know this would be the last time they would ever see each other. Tragically in February of 1999, Patty lost her life in an automobile accident. Kate's roots are in Gordon, so she often visit family and the dam. As she observes and listens to the rushing, swirling, splashing, and sometimes quietness of the waters, her mind takes her back to that precious last day spent with her sister at this very place. Like a river carving its path through the land, grief carves its mark on our hearts, shaping our identities and perceptions. Ultimately, both water and grief teach us the resilience to navigate the ever changing currents of life. She hopes you enjoy this painting as much as she enjoyed painting it.
All of these paintings can be viewed in the Gallery.
