Turi Rostad

How did you come to Norfolk? 
My grandfather moved up here from Winsted. We lived in the house across from Botelle on Beacon Lane. I was the fourth kid and the house got too small, so we moved to Roughland Road.  I moved back to Norfolk 25 years ago because I was a single parent with a kid, and I needed a village. 

What do you do here?
I have a frame shop-art gallery. All the art on the first floor is for sale. I have a studio and a print shop here, too. I make frames in the shed next to my house. I also coach tennis at Regional 7. I’m super busy in the spring. I’ve been coaching for at least 15 years. 

What medium do you work in? 
Acrylic. I also draw in black charcoal. I’ll have work on display in the [Norfolk] library soon. 

What do you like about acrylic?
That it dries quickly. I can paint over it and work on it. It’s quick. 

What’s the best part of your work? 
I have a good eye for framing. I’ve been doing it for 40 years. Looking at frames, I help customers determine where we’re headed. 

What subject matter do you typically paint? 
It’s organic. Shape and form outside generates it. What I don’t do is try to paint something exactly. I like it loosey goosey. My paintings evoke a feeling. 

Do you have a routine? How do you work? 
No. I like to get out of my head and away from to-do lists to let ideas flow more. A lot of things I do now are based on rejecting technology. You have to work with your strengths. I like to sidestep my weaknesses. 

Who are you inspired by? 
Georgia O’Keefe was my hero. I drove through Dry Creek Camp in New Mexico to look for her. She invited me [in] for a cup of tea. I was speechless. She only said five words to me: “Cream or sugar?” and “Goodbye.” I like Frank Stella, Mark Rothko, Wayne Tebow and more abstract work. It changes with the decades, which is part of the fun of art. 

What do you like best about living in Norfolk? What do you like least? 
What I like best is that it’s a small community. I moved here because as a single mom, I needed to be somewhere if I needed to call somebody at two in the morning, I could. 

What I like least is that it’s a small community! If you’re not willing to dance naked under a streetlamp, you shouldn’t live in a small town because people will know all about it. It teaches you to keep your mouth shut and not to pass judgement.

Favorite spot in town? 
My son and I used to play on the green. I didn’t have to mow the grass. That was great. I like the bridge in Barbour Woods. I’m a fan of Haystack Mountain. When I was a kid, we used to go up to Dennis Hill and climb on the roof there. 

Anything else to add? 
I don’t know if I’ve earned it, but the town of Norfolk has been good to me. I’ve been blessed. 

— Interview by Michael Cobb