Where Three Lines Meet

FORT MADISON - The saying goes, “Life is what you make it.”
Three local women embody a variation: “Community is what you make it.”
Within the 52627 locale, you might spot micro-communities anywhere you go: the morning crowd at Hardee’s, friends walking into Soul Studio for a yoga class, or a small group meeting up to play chess at Swed & Co.
My path crosses with Mary Ilmberger Scott from time to time at Swed. Scott, an artist, has formed a micro-community of five local artists. Four of the five include Teresa Dearing, Mary Ilmberger Scott, Barbara Zumdome, and Linda Ross. During a recent meet-up with Scott, Zumdome, and Ross, Ross explained how they got together.
“The group formed by serendipity, as we are all creators – in different mediums – but our paths have run parallel and have crossed many times before our group formed," she said.
Ross has been creating from a very early age and experimenting with the “what ifs.” Her father was a science teacher, and her parents were both world explorers. They supported her tinkering and bought her a Brent kick (pottery) wheel when Ross was sixteen. She and her husband Kevin met shortly after she studied at Iowa State University. They started a homestead in Lee County, and with the help of her talented electrician husband, Chestnut Hill Pottery was born.
Ross has always had art as a hobby side gig.
"I throw and hand-build functional stoneware, yes, on that same Brent wheel. Having raised two girls, I have been on the show circuit for years, but now am semi-retired."
She holds spring and holiday shows, and with a new studio, which allows her to teach. “[It’s] fun having families and groups come play in the clay,” she said. Her creations go beyond clay.
“I love fiber, metal, glass, and wood. I have been told my sculptures look like folk art, if I had to pick a style. I tend to let my brain connect to my hands. Generally, I have an inspiration, and then I act on that, intuitively."
Ross and Zumdome first connected through a mutual hairstylist, while Zumdome and Scott were neighbors from childhood.
“I’ve known Barb since I was a little girl, sneaking into her backyard to help bottle feed the baby lambs her dad brought home to nurture,” Scott said. Zumdome’s family raised sheep, and she spent her summers creating alongside her maternal grandmother, a creative soul who worked as an elementary school teacher.
“[My summers] involved many different media (materials) and learning about a flock of sheep and their wool,” Zumdome said.
It was a natural progression for Zumdome to create with wool, and she furthered her education, learning weaving and spinning under Shirley Held and Alice Novelli at Iowa State University. After marrying in 1978, Zumdome and her husband started their own fiber flock of natural- colored sheep. Zumdome described her style as primitive folk.
“I have spent years traveling to fiber events across the Midwest and selling wool and learning new skill sets such as felting. I started accumulating wool processing equipment, which led to developing a line of felt ornaments and figures to sell, made with my wool,” she said.
Zumdome participates in a few fiber shows and makers’ markets, and each year she teams up with Ross and Scott for select local events. Her local market was cultivated by having creations to sell at the former artisan shop that Ross and Scott ran. Zumdome explained their connection this way: “We all found each other by knowing a kindred spirit when you see them.”

Scott had spent several years in Fort Madison’s downtown retail arena selling vintage and antique finds before wandering into the magical, former The Artisans Next Door shop, run by Ross.
“Linda had a knack for fostering an environment that encouraged creativity, and suddenly, I felt motivated to dive back into my artistic interests,” Scott said, 
She said that art has always been a part of her life.
“I vividly recall a moment from my childhood–sitting on a stick of butter my mother always left on the table, eager to see the impression my little corduroy pants would make. It turns out, my artistic ideas were destined to be a little unconventional from the start."
Art classes became a refuge for Scott, shaping some of her favorite memories from her school years. “We live in such an exciting time, where having access to the internet allows you to gain knowledge of all different art mediums. Over the years, after experimenting with numerous mediums, "I’ve always returned to my favorite mixed media, collage, altered books, and acrylic painting,” said Scott.
Scott said aside from knowing Zumdome from childhood,  Ross and the other two members of the group flowed into her life organically. This group of local women has been casually gathering for years. Their meet-ups include snacks, shared or individual art projects, lots of laughs, and the occasional cocktail or Green Frog Caramel Shot of Whiskey (courtesy of Barb).
Scott described the group as avant-garde.
“The universe knew I needed others around me with similar art and creative interests. I’m blessed to have found my tribe," she said.
Ross, who describes the group as bad asses, said, “What happens in the group, stays in the group! We always happen to have fun making art, getting sticky, wet, inky, and paint everywhere.”
Sharing an afternoon with these women was truly a magical experience. Although they might describe their group as organically falling into place, their paths crossed with intention. From raising Esther, a bottle-fed lamb turned artisan mascot, to planning camping trips, these women have built a true community. Zumdome said she has gained a mutual respect for life and enjoyment with these friends.
“In current society, I feel the importance of being part of a meaningful group, to have connections to others with shared interests," Scott said, "Having a hobby, whether it’s something you enjoy doing alone or in a group, IS SO IMPORTANT when navigating through life.”
Turning local encounters and shared connections into a micro-community can produce many meaningful benefits. “Everyone in our group brings something different to the table through unique life experiences, ages, interests–collectively evolving,” Scott said.
Her phrase, “collectively evolving,” should be the tagline for every group. "We certainly have inspired each other, and we cheer for each other and hold and lift them up when they need it! Sometimes, more heads are better than one! [My] advice to others would be to find those folks that you have common tread with. Those people are your tribe. Start small, dream big. Art in any medium is very achievable,” Ross said.
What is your art? - While Scott spoke specifically about using the internet for art resources, her insight can be applied more broadly. The internet serves as a powerful tool for discovering new hobbies, learning skills, and exploring a wide range of interests. Your art could be golfing, playing Dungeons & Dragons, a book club, biking, or anything you want it to be. What connections can you create?
Within the broader community they’ve long been part of, these three artists have spent years creating together only to later realize that their individual art studios form a perfect triangle on the map. It’s easy to feel disconnected as a single point, and prioritizing comfort or distractions can keep us isolated. The opportunity to draw lines and build communities on our map is here. Will you take it?
You can visit Barbara and Linda’s booth at the Denmark, Iowa Renaissance Faire happening this year on November 1 & 2. Ross, Zumdome, Scott, and others will have a holiday show on December 5 and 6 at Chestnut Hill Pottery near Wever.
Ross promotes her work on Facebook and Instagram under Chestnut Hill Pottery. Scott promotes her work on Instagram under @maryilmbergerscott, as well as an occasional Facebook post. A portion of Scott’s art is available for purchase at the Galesburg Community Arts Center and in her Etsy shop: maryilmbergerscott.etsy.com.