September Guest and Featured Artist Member

In September, VIVA Gallery (Viroqua Independent Visual Artists Cooperative) welcomes Laura Siitari as our guest artist for September. Laura has always thought of herself as an artist, starting with scratching “The Creature” in scary letters into the windowsill as a child. She earned her degree in painting from UW-Milwaukee. In 1999, she and her husband moved from Milwaukee to the Mississippi River valley area, where she began painting again in earnest, including running a gallery for five years in Lansing, Iowa. Laura is often drawn to familiar objects and scenery.

 Her intent is to show the grace and tranquility of everyday scenes as an antidote to the fast-paced, mindless routines so many of us get caught up in. Though her style is realistic, she is not trying to fool the eye; rather, to distill the elegance of shapes, patterns and mystery of shadows.

Our featured artist member in September is Monica Jagel. She describes her work as simple in

composition, with colored pencil the details shine. She loves the nuance and subtleties of the medium. Through her work her passion is revealed – the diversity, beauty and intricacy of the natural world. If she can make someone pause and consider the importance of protecting the natural environment she has succeeded in her work. 

a Halloween card by Monica Jagel

look for it at VIVA!

August Guest Ellen Reyher

In August, VIVA Gallery (Viroqua Independent Visual Artists) welcomes Ellen Rehyer as guest artist.

Ellen is a talented artist who uses sensuous form and color of native plants and landscapes for inspiration.

Ellen lives in La Farge and has exhibited her work in Wisconsin and Florida.  Her love of color and

nature vibrates in her paintings.  Her work evolves from observations of nature while sketching her  most vivid impressions.  Later in the studio Ellen reworks the impressions, playing with color, lines and form in larger compositions.  The thread of continuity running through her work expresses a synthesis of the sensual and spiritual whether it takes an abstract or more realistic direction.

Nick and Alyssa Smolen at VIVA in July

Nick and Alyssa, father and daughter artists from rural Westby are VIVA guests the month of July.

Alyssa is currently studying photography and graphic design at UW-Milwaukee.  She has been interested in photography since she was in grade school.  Alyssa enjoys photographing nature and landscapes but her favorite subject is horses.  Upon graduation she intends to start a wedding photography business.  Her subjects are typical but she photographs with an artistic twist to create unique images.  She will exhibit a variety of subjects at VIVA.

Nick is a blacksmith.  He got his start in 1988 when he began forging Damascus steel blade stock for custom knife makers.  Nick began making his own knives for sale, hunting and chef knives are his specialty.  More recently he has added ornamental iron work to his repertoire, candle holders, tables and sculptural pieces.  He combines modern and traditional forging techniques giving his pieces a unique look.  

Come to 1st Thursday, July 5 from 5 pm to 7 pm to see the work of these two local artists, along with the work of all members of VIVA Gallery.  After the artist reception have dinner at the Rooted Spoon Kitchen Table.

Our Guest in June - Joe Schwarte

Joe Schwarte, a native of Chicago, attended art school on the GI Bill and with the benefit of good mentors and a bit of luck, designs and builds furniture for a living just outside Gays Mills.

Joe’s furniture has been featured in Fine Woodworking Design, at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City, at “Around the Coyote” Arts Festival in Chicago, at the Fine Furnishings Show in Milwaukee, at “Off the Square” in Madison (awarded “Best of Wood), at the Lake Forest Art Expo, and most recently at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Join us at VIVA Gallery on 1st Thursday, June 7, from 5 - 7 pm, meet Joe and see his fine work up close.  Come for the artist reception and stay for dinner at the Rooted Spoon.  Dinner at Rooted Spoon begins at 7 pm.  Make your reservations by calling 637 - 2223 or email at 

rootedspoon@gmail .com

Pete Sandker at VIVA the Month of May

In May VIVA Gallery in Viroqua welcomes watercolor artist Pete Sandker as guest artist.  Pete’s beautiful paintings reflect his inspiration from his life in southwestern Wisconsin and also time spent in Maine.   The mix of Wisconsin woods and the nautical themes of Maine are evident in his works.  Pete says “…I have spent a lot of time trying not to be an artist, but I have found that I can’t escape it.”

Pete, who currently lives in Madison, grew up in southwest Wisconsin on a goat farm.  Growing up, he spent all of his time with family milking goats and living simply, only making a trip to town once every two weeks.  Almost all the time in his formative early years was spent outdoors and in the woods with his brothers.   This love of the wild and woods continues to this day and informs and inspires his paintings.  Pete is a self-taught artist whose work has been shown at several galleries in Portland, Maine.  His current work is also being shown at the Artist Annex in Mineral Point, WI and Flow Art Space in Minneapolis

Join Pete and members of VIVA Artists Cooperative May 3 for 1st Thursday, 5 - 7 pm.

The Rooted Spoon Table will be serving dinner, next door to the gallery, after the artists

 reception.  Call the Rooted Spoon at 608-637-2223 or email at rootedspoon@gmail.com and reserve your seat.

Jamie Heiden our April Guest

 The Weight of the World

The Brilliance of the Ordinary

In April, VIVA Gallery in Viroqua welcomes photographer Jamie Heiden as guest artist. Jamie describes her art as “finding a little fairytale every day,” and her photographs are perfect illustrations of that statement.

Jamie captures images that are familiar slices of time and then applies textures with watercolors or through digital manipulation, resulting in photographs that are characterized by soft lines, muted colors and undefined depths. Testimony of the universal appeal of her work are her awards— Jamie received the 2010 and 2011 Best of Photography award from Madison’s Art Fair Off the Square, and won the 2010 and 2011 People’s Choice Award at both the Art Fair on the Green in LaCrosse and the Driftless Area Art Festival in Soldiers Grove.

The gallery’s First Thursday will again be followed by a dinner next door at Rooted Spoon Kitchen Table. A set menu of local, seasonal foods, inspired by the artist’s work, will be offered for $21.00. Please make reservations by calling (608) 627-2223 or emailing rootedspoon@gmail.com.

Meet Jamie and view her work at VIVA’s First Thursday reception on April 5 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The gallery is located at 217 South Main Street in Viroqua. For more information about this and future First Thursday events, contact the gallery at 608-637-6918 or info@vivagallery.net. You may see Jamie’s work at the gallery throughout the month of April, as well as the work of 17 member artists.

Ken and Michelle Workowski - The Nature of Things

In March, VIVA Gallery in Viroqua welcomes Ken and Michelle Workowski as guest artists. The couple works with nature’s materials to create willow furnishings, poplar-bark baskets, birch-bark frames, lamps and lampshades, antler chandeliers, and cabinetry.  The Workowskis’ lifestyle and business have always kept them close to nature. In 1986 they purchased 50 acres of land near Viola, and built their log home with trees they cut and peeled themselves. While many of the materials they use in their business, aptly called The Nature of Things, come from their land, they also lease willow thickets from local landowners. They both teach classes on making willow chairs, paper lampshades, and bark baskets at the Sievers School of Fiber Arts on Washington Island.

This month, the gallery’s First Thursday will be followed by a dinner next door at Rooted Spoon Kitchen Table. A set menu with a vegetarian option will be offered for $21.00. Please make reservations by calling (608) 627-2223 or emailing rootedspoon@gmail.com.

Meet Ken and Michelle and view their work at VIVA’s First Thursday reception on March 1 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The gallery is located at 217 South Main Street in Viroqua. For more information about this and future First Thursday events, contact the gallery at 608-637-6918 or info@vivagallery.net. You may see Ken and Michelle’s work at the gallery throughout the month of March, as well as the work of 17 member artists.