The Diana

04/04/2026

Happy Easter Friends!

After an eternal winter, spring has sprung and I am back out shooting. I did a lot of printing this winter, The Winco Project is really coming together, and I am getting very excited about exhibiting this summer.

It is finally dawning on me that I am going to finish this project, and that after almost 15 years of work, I finally feel like I can be 'done' documenting Scott County and move on to other subjects.
That deadline has also resulted in several lists of photos not yet taken:
photos I thought I took
photos I wanted to take
photos that need retaken
photos to complete a series

Which brings me here. I am currently photographing all the churches in Scott County, and while I think I know them all, I thought I should double check with the people, I don't want to suffer the consequences of leaving a congregation out. Following is a list of the churches that I am aware of, active and inactive. If I missed one, please let me know in the comments! Thank you!

Wi******er
Wi******er United Methodist Church
St Marks Catholic Church
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Grace Baptist Church
Primitive Friendship Baptist Church (Hardshell Baptist Church)
Christ Lutheran Church
Sandy Creek Southern Baptist Church
First Christian Church
First Baptist Church
The Old Presbyterian Church

Alsey
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church

Bluffs
St Johns Lutheran Church
Trinity Lutheran Church
Bluffs United Methodist Church

Glasgow
Glasgow Baptist Church

Manchester
Manchester Baptist Church
United Methodist Church

Naples
Naples United Methodist Church

Exeter
The Old Hippy Church

Oxville
Plum Creek Baptist Church

Bloomfield
Bloomfield Baptist Church

Riggston- none
Merritt- none

image: Hardshell Baptist Church on West Cherry

11/03/2025

We’re excited to announce that our library is receiving a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York as part of , an initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Carnegie Libraries hold a special place in American history and in the hearts of generations of Americans. Learn more at carnegie.io/47kNpzh

🗺️ Find Carnegie Libraries across America on this interactive map: carnegie-libraries.carnegie.org

💌 Submit your memories and photos to the Carnegie Libraries digital archives: carnegielibraries.org

11/01/2025

Update! We are still in here behind this paper.

Starting a business is hard, my friends, and I am just one woman, trying to make this big dream go. There has been a lot going on behind the paper on the windows, both challenges and accomplishments, professional and personal. In many ways all my dreams are coming true, but I am fighting tooth and nail to make it happen. In other ways, wow, its been a series of unfortunate events, none of them unsurmountable, but all requiring lots of hard work, the help of other people, and patience.

First: Like many businesses in Wi******er, I am trying to fulfill two goals here. Sell books, and support the arts in Scott County. As many of you know, I am a photographer, and I have secretly had a dream of having an art gallery on the square in Wi******er since I was in high school. Earlier this year I started applying for grants to expand my own photography here in Scott County, and exhibit my own work. Late this summer I found out I received one of these grants, and it will fund not only the printing and exhibiting of my work, but also the building of a small photography studio in this building. More about my work can be found at on facebook and on instagram by searching The Winco Project.
Completing and exhibiting this body of work about Wi******er will be the biggest accomplishment of my life, and I can’t wait to move forward.

Second: This beautiful building is…historic, and historic buildings hold surprises. Earlier this fall there was some work that needed done in the building. As many of you have noticed, I put paper in the windows. The same week I found out I was being awarded a grant to build a studio, I also had professional men with tools coming to do some repairs. I was unsure of what time they were coming, and I was unsure of how extensive the work was going to be. I put up paper to create some temporary privacy while things got messy inside, and I was HOPING I was going to take that paper down in a couple weeks, after a little the repair & maintenance, some rearranging, and after I set up a mini studio in the front of the store to start taking portraits.
In addition to all the things going on downstairs, there are renovations upstairs as well, for an apartment for me to move into. After that apartment is ready, I am building out a larger studio in the rear part of the building.

This is where the phrase “best laid plans” applies.

Repairs and renovations take time. These are things most people would have done before they opened a business, but we know that is not my style, and I went all in on day one. I am an artist, guys, not a contractor.
I am still here, I am still working, I am still opening. The paper is still on the windows, because unfortunately one of the beautiful picture windows facing the square cracked after I put the paper up. This window, and the windows upstairs for the apartment, are being replaced, but I am not a window installer, so I am patiently waiting for the men with tools. If I am being totally honest, I am hesitant to remove the paper on the window that is cracked simply because I do not want to touch it, much less rip packaging tape off it.

At the moment I am diligently organizing 2026 to complete The Winco Project and researching to begin my book. Being awarded the Creative Projects grant from the Illinois Arts Council was the best thing that could have happened, and makes this dream of owning an art gallery in Wi******er possible, and the work of the last few weeks has been adding this to the business plan for next year. Stay tuned, I am not going anywhere. I have a lot of things left to do in Wi******er before I run away to the mountains.

07/28/2025

07/27/2025

Elizabeth does not care if you want to see that hefty copy of Rembrandt, His Life, His Work, His Time.

07/27/2025

I am seriously reconsidering the staff choices, both refuse to carry books.

07/27/2025

The Babysitters Club created an entire generation of women entrepreneurs.

My tween gobbles up 'Goosebumps' and 'The Baby-Sitters' Club' books, and I think it's making her more independent and confident.

07/24/2025

"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."
-Mark Twain
Meet Molly the shop dog. She is a mostly good girl who loves walks, the frontier man, playing in the rain, and chasing the bookstore cat. Standard pup stuff. She is in the window trying to convince me to sell pet merchandise, but her modeling skills could use some work.

07/21/2025

Let’s do this! 💪

07/21/2025

The car show was a little rainy, but we did get a ride by from Toby.

It seems fitting that my street photography career begins with a local legend.

07/20/2025

Today, while I priced books and visited with people from the car show, I saw the same thing over and over. People were carefully examining these photocopies.
These were taken by Mervin Woods, of Pike County, during WW2. His grandson, David, shared them with me several years ago. My first business expense was a b&w printer, and these were the first images hung up in The Diana. The first exhibits I've planned were for these images, over 200 of them.
Today, I spoke with several veterans and children of veterans about their own photographs from WW2 & Vietnam.
One Vietnam veteran told me several years ago he had a really bad day, and he thought no one would ever want to see his pictures from the war, so he burned them. He said now he regrets it, maybe his grandson would want to see them.
There was a part of me that was very familiar with what he must feel. I've also destroyed my own work while having deep emotions and later regretted it.
I see this man regularly in town. He proudly wears his Vietnam ball cap all the time. I have not met many men who went to Vietnam that don't carry it with them still. I hung these pictures to remind me why I was doing this and to stay on track. Today, that reminder came in the form of a veteran who told me he didn't think anybody cared about what they did over there, and that broke my heart. I told him my grandfather was in WW2, and I deeply regret not asking him about his experiences. We continued talking, and he returned to the store twice, once with an antique camera as a gift. He told me he took lots of art classes in high school, and he still had his drawings...
(in books we call this foreshadowing)
In the coming weeks, I am going to start planning an exhibit for veterans.
What does that mean? I am not sure exactly. It might just mean I hang this one Vietnam vets art on my wall and tell him that I care, and I am glad he brought it over. I will keep you updated as this project develops. Reach out if you want to help plan or sponsor this exhibit.
Veterans & their families: If you want to share something with us, your photographs, your art, your story, reach out. There are people that care.