“My first adventure with it was in junior high,” recalled Feldhans, an artist from Pomeroy. “I met the police that night.”

It turns out that flashing lights coming from the top of the school tend to alarm people.

“Lights were flashing around,” he said. “I was on top of the junior high in Rockwell City. A hop, jump and a skip up the fire escape and you’re up there. I knew I needed to get above the street lights (to get a good picture).”

For Feldhans, it was a lesson learned. Ever since that night, he always lets people know in advance what his intentions are.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Roger Feldhans, of Pomeroy, an artist who works with light painting photography, shows a spiral glass piece he used to create the image next to him.

“I learned to let people know what I was doing,” Feldhans said.

Growing up, Feldhans used a film camera.

“That’s when you didn’t know what you had,” he said. “You had to wait.”

As a painter, sculptor and photographer, Feldhans has long appreciated art.

As a child he would ride his bicycle to the Blanden Memorial Art Museum in Fort Dodge from Rockwell City, which is about a 27-mile trip one way.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
"Liquid Glass," the name of the work of art by Roger Feldhans, is pictured next to the object that helped create it. Feldhans' exhibit Colorbomb! is on display at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum through May 15.

“A lot of my friends came to Fort Dodge to go to the mall or McDonald’s,” he said. “I came here to go to the Blanden.”

Now, Feldhans’ work is on display at the same museum he used to visit as a child.

His Colorbomb! exhibition is in the upstairs gallery on the second floor of the museum, located at 920 Third Ave. S. It features 23 different works of art.

There, visitors will find photos that may appear like candy canes or a posh ball.

Many of the photos are created using wands, batons or glass.

Feldhans also uses what’s called a light flute for his work.

He used it to create the “Ribbons and Plasma” piece.

Dennis Smith, a light painter from Australia, makes the light flutes.

He’s been involved with the craft for 30 years.

“He’s a guru,” Feldhans said. “He makes tools and teaches you how to use them.”

Although Feldhans and Smith have never met in person, the two are familiar with each other’s work.

Smith recorded an introductory video for Feldhans’ exhibit.

Smith described painting with light as “an escape from daily life” and an “amazing way to connect with people.”

He mentioned the constant scrolling that people in today’s society do on their mobile devices.

Light painting allows for a pause.

Smith described what he sees when he looks at Feldhans’ work.

“What I see is Roger moving through space and time with all these colors,” Smith said. “He’s moving in three dimensions.”

Smith added, “These have brought Roger and many others a lot of joy.”

Exposure is an essential detail in light painting photography.

Some exposures are 30 seconds, while others are several minutes.

“Your time and exposure determines how much ambient light you pick up,” he said. “I study light — a lot.”

Another piece called “Liquid Glass” was made using a spiral glass piece.

“Some people get nervous because I take some expensive piece of glass and wave it around in the air,” Feldhans said. “It’s art creating art.”

Each piece is well thought out.

“It’s more intellectual than people think,” he said. “There’s a lot of planning before you even get the camera out.”

The exhibit will be on display through May 15. It’s open Wednesday through Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Feldhans will be in attendance on Saturdays to answer questions.