e sse nt i al arts
In 1888, the Swedish artist Carl Larsson and his artist/designer wife Karin Bergöö established their home and studio in Sundborn, Sweden. In the 100 years that have passed since his death, his life; his work; and, more importantly, the lifestyle he and Karin established at Sundborn has become an avatar for the aspirations and hopes of many artists: the merging of artistic pursuit and family idyll. Larsson’s most famous work celebrated his joy in family life and served as inspiration for his creative output. Amy Arnold and Kelsey Sauber Olds followed a similar path to their artistic and domestic circumstance. While their artwork doesn’t stem directly from their family narrative, their initial and early intention was to find a location to establish an almost magical marriage of familial strength and shared creative endeavor and imagination. They met in Madison but quickly realized that in order to craft the life they wished of independence, self-reliance, immersion in natural beauty, and inspiring community, they would have to find a different locale to pursue their dreams. They now occupy a small farm on a windswept ridge with sweeping views in every direction a handful of miles outside the town 30 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s
