Jo Myers-Walker's Blog

Cover of St. Anthony Messenger,
July 2012

Welcome, readers of St. Anthony Messenger!

And thank you, Sue Stanton (in-depth interview and writing) and Ngaire West Johnson (photographs, mainly in the print edition) for summing up who I am, in words and pictures. Change is part of my lifestyle, so that’s not easy!

If you don’t get St. Anthony Messenger in the mail, you can read the articles online – they often include personal profiles of people you might be interested in.

Updated from the future to add:  The most recent several years are online, but this particular article is no longer available on their website.

Jo, Wolfgang, and Ursula at the NFCB conference (photo courtesy of Wolfgang Fischer)

Part of last week I was in Houston at the 37th Annual Community Radio Conference organized by the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. I’ve been working with the Youth Radio Project at KHOI, which has partnered with Radijojo World Children’s Radio Network (based in Germany; link is to Google-translated page) so that KHOI children can talk to other children all over the world. I was pleased to meet Wolfgang Fischer of Radijojo, shown here at the conference with me and Ursula Ruedenberg of KHOI. I also attended workshops on programming, fundraising, and speaking on-air, and met other folks doing youth radio throughout the U.S.

Part of U.S. Hwy. 69 that goes past Gilbert was closed during summer 2012, but is now open

Update 2013: I’ve sold the little bank in Gilbert, and now I’m based in Iowa City. Check out my blog to see what I’m doing these days!)

Update August 23, 2012: US Highway 69 is now open for you to get to Gilbert from either north or south, and it looks like the resurfacing project has been completed! I’m keeping these instructions posted for the G.W. Carver Ave. alternative route, since it’s such a nice drive.

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If you’re going to Gilbert from Ames, you can take G.W. Carver Ave. north instead – it’s a scenic drive and actually could be shorter, since it comes out closer to Gilbert at Co. Rd. E23.

If you go west on Bloomington Rd. to the west side of Ames, Bloomington turns into G.W. Carver Ave. and curves north. Then (from the Gilbert Gazette): “Follow Carver (R50) about three miles north to the stop sign and turn right onto E23. Travel a half mile east. Once in Gilbert, E23 becomes Mathews Drive. Turn left just before the railroad crossing onto Main Street.”

If you’re heading from a different direction, or just like to see things on a map first, you can find Gilbert on Google Maps.

125 Main Street, Gilbert, Iowa

Update:
I’ve sold the little bank in Gilbert, and now I’m based in Iowa City. Check out my blog for what I’m doing these days!

Original post:
You might notice from local real estate listings that the “bank” building in Gilbert (where I have my studio) is currently on the market. I plan to continue teaching in the area, whether at my own building or other locations. I’ve been seriously thinking of retiring in some way, though, and want to continue my Franciscan journey. By not being attached to a building I would have more freedom to follow my spiritual passion. This still includes artmaking (often with others)!

I’ll keep you posted on any developments, and you can contact [redacted] if you’re interested in a distinctive classic building.

Front room of The Left Bank Studio
(photo by Cortney Kintzer, used with permission)