08/28/2026
The story of this space began with a new pup. As a family, we’ve rescued several pets over the years, but a time comes in life when you start to count how many dogs your remaining years will allow for. It had been over 25 years and numerous rescue dogs since we last raised a puppy, and I wanted one more go at it.
We soon learned this dog was different—she needed more. She had a boundless energy that wouldn’t allow her, or us, any peace until it was spent. I realized I could either squash that energy or find ways to channel it, and I chose the latter. It was during that long winter of dark cold nights and endless fetch that we first heard about the Sniffspot app through emBARK in Eau Claire. Around that same time, I recalled seeing a piece of vacant, overgrown land up for auction. My first thought upon seeing the listing was what a great fetch run it would make. The auction was still live, so I visited the space on a cold afternoon just as the sun was setting. It was a special experience; I saw the true possibility of the land and won the auction.
While I work as a corporate graphic designer, I am also a local artist and illustrator. I started freelancing internationally during my junior year at UWEC and have continued freelance work part-time ever since. Over the years, I’ve shown my art at local galleries, including two exhibitions each at the ERAC and the Ruth Foster UWEC Gallery, as well as shows at the Heyde Center for the Arts, the original L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, and a solo show at Volume One Gallery.
Most recently, working on a collaborative project with Claudio Sanchez, Blaze James, and Steve Niles provided funding needed to help bring this Sniffspot project to life. I'm incredibly grateful to them for that opportunity.
Facebook: Claudio Sanchez, Steve Niles, Blaze James
https://www.sniffspot.com/to/JFKbZovm