Shanan Galligan
With a family full of artists — mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, step-mom, uncle, and on — it should be no surprise to find me in graphic design today. I was born with a pencil in hand and sported better watercolors than any six year old should. But as I was heading out to college, each person in the family sat me down and told me that whatever I did, whatever my path, I should stay out of art.
I tried. I studied English, French lit and creative writing. I started bands, made noise, even tried a career in, egad, technical writing. But in the end, I came back to the family trade. I rediscovered how thrilling it can be to turn an abstract idea into something you can touch. Where ideas meet words meet visual punch. Where I could devote a lifetime.
I find the greatest inspiration comes from working with other passionate, talented people. We exchange ideas, we challenge each other, and in the end come up with something none of us expected in the beginning.
I’m all for the joys of my small new family, noisy rock and jazz, campfires and back porch barbecues, travels, travails, and all of life’s little lessons.
- 09.23.08 | Taliesen with Charles Holden
- We had the opportunity to tour the Taliesin with the best architect we know. It was a great afternoon basking in the sun and history.
- 09.01.08 | Longing and perseverance
- Having a kid means you get to go to the zoo.
- 07.11.08 | Up north, summer makes us weak
- Thank goodness for little things that help us resist the kryptonite that is our 2 weeks of Wisconsin summer.
- 06.24.08 | The smallest things change everything
- The smallest things make the biggest impact in our lives. Nine weeks old as of last Friday.
- 06.02.08 | Summer’s here at last
- You can tell if you stick your head out our windows and turn to face the capitol.
- 06.01.08 | Grandma Galligan in a ’61 Nash
- 06.01.08 | Forevertron
- Maybe it’s the long winters, but Wisconsin features some of the best obsessive art in the world. Take the Forevertron near Devil’s Lake, outside Baraboo. A great place to visit if you’re in the neighborhood.
- 06.01.08 | Travel
- With summer on its way, I start to yearn to get out on the road and travel. For the moment, here’s an image from my last trip to the Oregon coast.
- 03.01.08 | One More Time!
- Back in March I had the chance to play one more time with Smokin' with Superman — celebrating the reopening of our favorite club, The Silver Dollar Cantina down in Dubuque, Iowa. Thanks to Jonathan J. Miner for the photo.