In 2016, Ringelstetter found himself in Wisconsin, tightly within the clutches of seasonal depression when he saw a friend Adam Egenolf of his posting on Facebook from Coconut Grove, Florida, working an art show. Ringelstetter reached out immediately and began to dig into the details in order to figure out how he could put himself in a similar position. He had just recently joined the Spring Board in his hometown, whose aim was to attract more tourists in the winter months, but he felt it was too early in his life to settle down into the winter lull when he could still be pushing his art in warmer climates.
He knew that he was taking a big leap, but once he was accepted into enough shows he left the state with $200 in his pocket and a heart full of hope. He quickly came to find that this was the peak season in Florida, and the rates for lodging were high in the few open places that were left. But it would seem that something was determined to keep him there, as a friend reached out while Ringelstetter was traveling with the details of an artsy air BNB. The stars aligned and they had plenty of space for Ringelstetter, who wound up making friends with the owner and her daughter Lilly, whom he still visits with when he’s in the area.
Darienne Keniece