Isle Royale ReflectionFor me, it was all about the wind, the water, the wildlife and, of course, the wilderness. At times there was a constant fierce wind. Waves would rise and fall with such an intensity that a steady roar dominated every second of existence. Other times the wind would be soft and the calm water would lap the shore quietly, inviting a swim on a warm day. The only thermometer in the cabin was completely rusted and non-functioning but that didn’t matter. It was always possible to judge what was happening outside just by watching the dish towels as they swayed in the kitchen. A soft breeze and the towels would barely flutter. But on windy days the towels would blow stiffly, staying horizontal while unexpectedly brushing my face as I walked by. I was luckier than most other residents with wildlife sightings. Several times a cow moose with her twin calves lingered just outside the cabin. Sometimes I watched them browsing just outside the kitchen window. Mom would take a branch in her mouth and strip the entire length in a second - at the last moment her eyes rolling to the back of her head as if to say “dang, that was sooo good”. Once as I arrived home at dusk, the threesome blocked my entrance back into the cabin. Sometimes all one can do is simply wait and watch and wonder. But it was one morning toward the end of my stay that especially remains etched in my mind. I made a fortunate and early decision to sleep with my head where my feet would normally go since that was where the window was - I didn’t want to miss a second of what was happening just outside. One morning as I groggily reached for my book for a short read before motivating, I saw it. A lone wolf, just outside the bedroom window, trotted by. I bolted upright and got up in time to watch it continuing down the path, out of view, toward the outhouse. The magic of this island wilderness has left an indelible mark in my memory. It is a precious place - deserving of being a National Park and a place that I hope to return to someday. - Roxanne Everett, 2023
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Artist-in-Residence Roxanne Everett captures dish towels blowing in the wind as all the open windows of the Dassler Cabin capture the winds of breezy Lake Superior. "Scoville Point"
NPS 
About the ArtistRoxanne Everett is a contemporary landscape painter who is inspired by wilderness areas of the US and abroad. Roxanne received a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Idaho and a Masters degree in Forest Sciences at the University of Washington. Following a career as an Architect, she spent many years as a US National Park Backcountry Ranger, living and working months at a time in remote alpine environments. She was selected as an artist in residence for many private arts organizations (US, Iceland, Australia, Canada, Greece) plus six US National Parks. Roxanne divides her time between the urban environment of Seattle and a tiny, remote mountain community in the North Cascades of Washington state. She shows her work regularly throughout the Pacific Northwest and is a member of Women Painters of Washington in Seattle. Her work can be found in the permanent collections of six National Parks or Monuments including: Zion (UT) Isle Royale (MI), Acadia (ME), Badlands (SD), John Day Fossil Beds (OR) and Agate Fossil Beds (NE). In addition, Kings Canyon National Park (CA) has her backcountry journal on permanent display in the Grant Grove Visitor Center. You can view more of Roxanne Everett's work on the artist's personal webpage.
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Last updated: December 30, 2025