Hidden Thunder
A watercolor artist and an archeologist team up to interpret the hidden history and heritage painted in American Indian rock art found in the Upper Midwest in Hidden Thunder: Rock Art of the Upper Midwest. With an eye toward preservation, Geri Schrab and Robert "Ernie" Boszhardt take you along as they research, document and interpret the petroglyphs and pictographs made in past millennia.
Offering the dual perspectives of scientist and artist, Boszhardt shares the facts that archaeologists have been able to establish about these important artifacts of our early history, while Schrab offers the artist's experience, describing her emotional and creative response upon encountering and painting these sites. In addition to publicly accessible sites such as Wisconsin's Roche-A-Cri State Park and Minnesota's Jeffers Petroglyphs, their book covers the artistic treasures found at several remote and inaccessible rock art sites in the Upper Midwest--revealing the ancient stories through words, full-color photographs, and Schrab's watercolor renditions.
Viewpoints by members of the Menominee, Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, and other Native nations offer additional insight on the historic and cultural significance of these sites. Together these myriad voices reveal layers of meaning and cultural context that emphasize why these fragile resources--often marred by human graffiti and mishandling or damage from the elements--need to be preserved.
Robert Boszhardt
Robert F. “Ernie” Boszhardt is an archaeologist who has worked in the Upper Mississippi Valley for nearly four decades, much of that time at the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. His research has touched upon nearly every aspect of Native American archaeology in that region, including rock art. He has authored numerous articles and three books, including Twelve Millennia: The Archaeology of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, which he coauthored with James L. Theler, Deep Cave Rock Art in the Upper Mississippi River Valley, and A Projectile Point Guide for the Upper Mississippi River. He continues to conduct field work and write from his home in the Madison area.
Geri Schrab
Geri Schrab is an award-winning watercolor artist who came to her artistic calling quite unexpectedly. Born and raised on a typical Wisconsin family dairy farm, Geri built an early relationship with the land. Although interested in art, she pursued what seemed a more secure career in court reporting. She and her husband visited their first rock art site in 199: Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site in Wyoming. So moved by the ancient messages at that site, she picked up a paintbrush and her world changed. Since then rock art has remained her sole artistic focus, painting sites across the United States, Ontario, and Australia. Her work has been featured in diverse publications and can be found in collections around the world. She serves often as artist in residence. Previous publications are Bridging Time, a fine art book, and Weaving the Past with the Present, a coloring book of North American rock art sites. Her work can be found online at www.gerischrabstudio.com.