Congratulations! Fascinating material, beautiful art, great job on the website, and I will be really excited to read your book when it appears. Has anyone ever told you that you resemble Carl Ahrens physically? At least, from the family photos, it appears so.
Prof. Kathy Hickok, Iowa State Univ.
Ames, IA
Very interesting site! Good work.
Susan Hoffman
Wiarton, ON Canada
I was referred to your website by Janice McDuffie and was very impressed with all the work/research you have done. This kind of persistence indicates a real passion and I commend you for your efforts to bring Carl's story to us. Best of luck.
Ethel Ingalls
USA
A web site on Carl Ahrens was long overdue. Thanks for all your hard work.As a collector of Canadian art I have found this site very useful. I look forward to the book and any other future updates to the site.
Austin Lyles
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Kim this website is really awesome!!! I wish you had started it years ago, it would have helped me with research on my art project when I was in school. The art is incredible!!!
Keila Baca
Los Angeles, CA USA
I became very familiar with Carl Ahrens paintings and sketches through dear friends of mine, his daughter, Chloris Downes, and her daughters, Nonna and Siegie. The walls of their homes were lined with the art. I am very happy to see that his work is getting the recognition it deserves. Good work Kim!
Eleni Pappas
Los Angeles, CA
Kim, this is a wonderful sight and your great-grandfather's paintings are breathtaking. Your book project sounds like a true labor of love--best of luck with getting it published. I will most certainly buy a copy! Your great-grandfather's paintings are indeed a wonderful "sight.”
Helen Hensley
Bryan, TX
I am a fellow WLT'er as well as a painter and sculptor. I enjoyed and admired Carl Ahrens' work--absolutely beautiful. Kim, your website is well done and informative. I share your frustration w/agents re publishing fiction. I am in the same boat but perhaps some day! Your proposal relating to Carl Ahrens should receive positive responses. Hope to see you at WLT Conference in June.
Betty Gordon/a native Dallasite
Alvin, TX
Carl's life is incredible. I await the book with the greatest interest.
Rick Taylor, Artist
Mississauga, ON Canada
I was referred to this site by my friend, Rick Taylor, who owns an Ahrens painting. I am an e-Gallery visitor and was quite impressed with the beauty of his work. The colours are so delicious. I'll be adding this site to my "favourites."
Adriana Rinaldi
Oakville, ON Canada
My friend and fellow artist Rick Taylor just told me about Carl Ahrens and his fascinating life. I am a member of the Arts & Letters Club and I understand he was as well. I can especially see the influence of Innis on Ahrens work and appreciate many of the images that are displayed on the web site. I gave Rick the A&L email address for you and hoping they may have some information about your gr. grandfather and hope you will be able to discover more information about your great grandfather.
Sam Paonessa, Artist
Toronto, ON Canada
I'm Rick Taylor's niece, he directed me to this site. I'm very interested in local history, and the art collection in the archive where I work has a couple of Ahrens, which I plan on viewing. Good luck with the book!
Kimberly Taylor
Canada
I am in one of Rick Taylor's classes and he directed his students to this site. I am very glad he did so since the paintings are inspiring both from an artistic and historical perspective.
Ann Nunes
Mississauga, ON USA
Feel privileged and grateful to have been introduced to this amazing artist and his work. Hope the publication of the art book will be a whirlwind success. He deserves it. Thanks!
Cecil and Olga Thompson
Etobicoke, ON Canada
Kim, Thanks for developing this website in tribute to your great-grandfather. It's the best web reference on Carl Ahrens currently available. Thanks also for your biographical work - I can't wait to read the book! Carl Ahrens has an important place in Canadian art history. His influence on the body of work by the Group of Seven has been largely ignored. I hope your work, and the interest it will generate, will focus attention on the man who was the grandfather of the first truly Canadian art movement. We aren't related, but I wish we were!
Michael Ahrens
Marshalltown, IA
I love your website and am very excited to learn about Carl Ahrens. I grew up in Kitchener, Ontario and always loved Homer Watson's work, but never heard of Ahrens. WOW! It's about time! Thank you very much.
Fred Lenz
Canada
Thoroughly enjoyed the website after reading the article in The Record. I am looking forward to the show, and the book at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery on April 28th, 2007. Great story and artwork!
Paul de Souza
Cambridge, ON Canada
Hi Kim! This is a terrific site and you are doing a wonderful job with it. You have been blessed with the talent and conviction to create this testament to the Carl and his work, but also to bring to life for others, just who the man was and what he means to you and all of us. We are proud to be a part of the legacy.
Kathleen Mortensen
Kitchener, ON CAN
Hello, Wonderful website! Looking forward to reading the book! We have a Carl Ahrens oil on board 10x 12 titled Woodland Springtime. Painted in Doon. Let us know if you'd like to see a photo.
Pascal David
Toronto, ON Canada
Congrats Kim on your website. I find it to be very educational and interesting. As you already know, I own two of Carl Ahrens' works (oils). I truly believe the man has been overlooked as a great painter and should be put on the world's stage alongside other renown famous artists.
Dan Legros
St-Charles, ON Canada
Great job on the site face-lift. The new background colors really highlight the art. You certainly have renewed interest in a great but forgotten artist.
Fred Downes
Siena, Italy
What a beautiful site this is, with the new background colours to set off the paintings, which they do so wonderfully. It truly is amazing how a community can gather together to share information and even find precious items like these paintings, and all through the magic of the internet. Well done, Kim! You do your great-grandparents proud!
Lorna Ferguson
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
I am so glad I took the time to look at this wonderful web site. Life is full of surprises and this is one. What a talented family. You are a joy to stumble upon and I will certainly watch for that book when it is published. About 10 years ago I started doing slideshows with music in an attempt to create a family history. It is fun to see how one can develop this into a very professional representation...good luck to your bright future.
Betty Lou Morse
Tucson, AZ
Outstanding website. Well organized, diligent investigation, descriptive writing captures your passion for portraying Carl's life. With the Ahrens name, I wish to explore its derivation and heritage. My grandfather immigrated to Minnesota from germany. Germans immigrated to Berlin (Kitchener). A relative recently advised the Ahrens name came from inhabitants along the Ahr River, a tributary of the Rhine River in Germany. This led to them being referred to as Ahrens. Do you have any info on the subject? I'm interested in your book and purchase of a Carl Ahrens painting. We travel through Kitchener to Stratford Festival on a regular basis and have visited Ahrens Street. My merchant father, E.J. Ahrens, used to buy shoes from the Ahrens Shoe Company in the early 1900's.
Lyle Ahrens
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
My dad found an article on Carl and wondered about his paintings. I will love showing him this site and letting him read all about Carl. We are from the Iowa Ahrens' and have the name 'Carl' in our family tree also.
Terri Ahrens Lancaster
Chelsea, MI
Wonderful to be here and read your work. I'll check in frequently.
Rick Wilcox
Caney Creek, TX
Kim, fabulous job on the site. Very informative and impressive. Congratulations on all your hard work.
Susan C.
Frisco, TX USA
I am the great grandson of Carl Ahrens and the 1st cousin of Kim Bullock. The Website is awesome, Kim!!!
Chris Keith
Los Angeles, CA USA
I am Carl's 2nd great-grandson and 2nd cousin to Chris Keith and Kim Bullock. His biography and artwork has so much depth and mystical elements. A real unique and innovative personality he had.
Dan Loya
Los Angeles, CA USA
Thank you for introducing me to this wonderful artist. I love landscapes and his are brilliant. Your website is very user friendly and informative. Great job!
Lisa S.
Grapevine, TX USA
Fascinating site! As you well know, I'm a big fan of your work, as well as Carl's. Can't wait to read the book!
Deborah Downes
Dallas, TX USA
The website is great. I can't wait to read your book!
Angela Bullock
Kansas City, Mo USA
Kim, this is really wonderful. I wish Mamma, Daddy and Granny could see this site. It means so much to me I could just cry. You are doing what everyone else wanted to do but couldn't. Bless you my darling niece.
Sieglinde Downes Baca
Los Angeles, CA USA
What a wonderful site to get to learn more about this artist.
Lorna Johnson
St Charles, IL USA
What beautiful art. I can only imagine other pieces hung on walls where the owners don't know the real story behind what they have. I hope you surface others!
Nikki Baird
Denver, CO USA
Wonderful and Informative website! I look forward to the book!
Jill Peters
Buffalo, NY USA
Great to see family heirlooms!
Sheree Rabino
Makati, Philippines
Very nice page, Kim. Good luck with your book.
Martha McGowan
Rochester, NY USA
Kim - I remember Grandaddy Carl. I was three when he died; I do have my own memories as well as my Mother, Father and our Granny (Madonna). I was actually named after her. I couldn't pronounce the nickname Donna and called myself Nonna. You did a wonderful job honey. Carl Ahrens and Madonna are proud of their great-granddaughter. Love and more.
Nonna Downes Lindquist
Los Angeles, CA
Kim, this is a really great site - very informative and what beautiful paintings and prints!
Dena Fender
Dallas, TX USA
What a beautiful site - I love Ahrens's work and this site is a testment to not only his painterly life but to his
entire life. You've managed to cature the beauty of his work and the depth of his influence. Wonderful!
Jeannine Thibodeau
Brooklyn, NY
What an amazing, fascinating life he had! I was a painter before I took up writing, and look forward to
reading your book when it is published.
Rhiann Wynn-Nolet
Maine