New Member Christine Larson is July Guest Artist

Chris is fascinated with the emotions connected to color. “I begin a piece by first painting my entire canvas with the dominant “mood” color. As I paint, I allow the color to show through and recently have begun to do a lot of scratching back through layers of the glazed oil paint. I know the painting is done when all of the lights and darks are in and the final “spark” is there.” She strives to convey on canvas her interpretation of the unseen forces connecting all things. “In my studio work, I tend to create an abstracted dream landscape. In my Plein Air landscapes, I often try to simplify shapes and show Nature’s vibrations as I experienced them, through the use of color and the ever changing effect outdoor light has on it."  

In June, Lisa Martin and VIVA member Ray Bock

June 14, 2013- In June, VIVA Gallery in Viroqua welcomes mixed media artist  Lisa Martin as guest artist and Raymond Bock as the VIVA member featured artist.

Eclectic rural artist Lisa Martin's acrylic and mixed media paintings are whimsical, original and often accompanied by quotations. Her work is produced on wood pieces from old furniture marrying the painting to fit the piece.  Lisa’s art style reflects her love of farming (she is a dairy farmer and cheese maker), her love of country, and religious faith.

Accomplished woodworker, Ray Bock is VIVA’s featured member artist in June.  Ray designs  architecturally inspired boxes, centerpiece bowls and furniture beautifully created in a variety of woods. 

Meet Lisa and Ray at VIVA's First Thursday reception on June 6 from 5:00 pm 7:00 pm.  The gallery is located at 217 South Main St. in Viroqua.  For more information about this and future First Thursdays events, contact the gallery at 608-637-6918 or info@vivagallery.net.  You may visit Lisa and Ray’s,  work at the gallery throughout the month of June, as well as the work of 17 other VIVA member artists.

Thinking Spring with Tammy Olson, Ken & Michelle Workowski

Tammy Olson is a mixed media artist who resides in rural Wisconsin.  After 15 years of working as a registered nurse, Tammy rediscovered her love for creating art and now spends her time as a stay-at-home mom and an artist.  Some of her favorite days are when she is able to find a little time to spend in her studio with a nice cup of hot tea, her pencils and paint.

In her art she enjoys bringing many different mediums together into one piece.  She works with watercolor, coffee, acrylic, ink, pencil, found papers, old text and recycled coffee filters.  She is especially fond of using recycled tea bags.  This works out wonderfully because she likes to drink a lot of tea! Tea bags are incredibly versatile, they can be painted, ripped, cut, drawn on and glued or used just as they are with their beautiful tea stained colors.   Tea bags have a wonderful transparency to them which gives them a bit of unpredictability when using them, but also can result in some delightful surprises!

Her work is filled with a lot of color.   She is drawn to bright, lively and vivid colors especially orange, lime green and aqua. 

Michelle and Ken Workowski are Featured VIVA Member Artists  in May.   They work with natural and sustainable materials in their home business The Nature of Things.  Their work includes beautifully crafted birch-bark frames, poplar-bark baskets, lamps, lampshades, antler chandeliers and more.  Come and see their unique creations

Driftless Art Festival Peoples Choice - Jamie Heiden

Jamie Heiden is a photographer first.  She gets the most satisfaction out of taking a picture.  But when she sits down at her computer, the beginnings unfold.  Most of her finished images contain multiple photographic layers.  Playing with each layer individually allows for a finished product ever-so-slightly varied from traditional photography and represents slices of time showing the magic in our reality; finding that little bit of fairytale everyday. 

Jamie has won the Driftless  Area Art Festival’s People’s Choice Award, sponsored by VIVA Gallery, for the last three years.

VIVA’s featured member artist is oil painter Lisbeth Quebe.  Liz’s work includes landscapes that feature the rolling hills of the Driftless Area, its creeks and streams, and its iconic family farms.  Her still life paintings resonate with people because of the subjects and the memories they prompt.  Her recent work includes farm animals, capturing the personality of cows and chickens on canvas.

Liz Quebe  - VIVA Gallery Featured Member in April

Pete Daniels February Guest Artist / M'Lou Wilke Featured VIVA Member Artist

Pete Daniels Artist Statement

            In nature, the paradox of mystery and logic, flatness and thrust, stillness and torrent, the gray of solitude and the color of community all await observation and experience.

            A simple line separates the water from the sky.  Repeating hexagons form the structure for the community of bees.

            Nature first inspired me to seek peace.  Nature inspires much of my art. 

In this show I explore the dynamic between water and sky, so magnificently observable on the shore of an ocean or great lake.  I explore the hexagon and the circle, often hidden structures, but brought into my experience as a beekeeper or gardener.  Yet the sun and the moon are there every day, and when I remind myself to take them in again I am fascinated by the mystery of the simplicity of their form.

I enjoy working conceptually, and exploring my concepts and subjects in the abstract and surreal, yet informed by realistic subjects.

Art, for me is an experience.  Thank you for journeying with me.

M'Lou Wilke
Featured VIVA Member Artist

From M'Lou

I work in a variety of mediums as I am an art educator. Stained glass and beaded jewelry are the two mediums that represent me at VIVA Gallery. I am focused on species of birds and flora found in the Driftless region for my original stained glass designs. My beadwork is all about color and texture and intricate processes such as brick stitch, peyote stitch and bead knitting.  

Happy 2013 • Our January Headliners

Daryl Skrupky was a guest at our Holiday Market in November and December.  He's at VIVA on his own for January.  Come see his spectacular work, it features fish, deer and turkeys.  He loves the outdoors and puts that love into his art.

Maureen is a VIVA founding member, she took some time off to focus on teaching, now she and her work are back at VIVA.  She is always exploring new ideas in her art, her work is beautiful and functional.  Come, See.

November and December Holiday Market at VIVA

Viva Gallery wants holiday shoppers to find more variety this year at the gallery.  We invited 8 Guest Artists!  Shopper and Gallery-goers can peruse the handmade, local art and find lots of great gifts now through December, there's something for everyone!

Besides our member works and goods we have:
Amy Arnold - Peepwool hats and pot-holders
Terry Beck - beautiful hand-carved wooden spoons
Zeba Due - wire-wrapped stone and gem jewelry
Jeauxi Gaines - Handmade creations from upcycled materials
Joseph Schwarte - Handmade cutting boards and custom furniture
Nick Smolen - Hand-forged ornamental iron work
Daryl Skrupky - realistic pencil drawings of wildlife
Jensine D. Wing - Jewelry creator using semi-precious stones, copper, sterling or brass