October Guest Thomas Metcalf

• Thomas Metcalf was born in 1974 in Grangeville, Idaho.  After graduating from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington in 1996.  Tom studied with Leo Neufeld in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and later with Patrick Befaudier in Chicago, Illinois.  His critically renewed intricate paintings employ a Northern Renaissance glazing technique to achieve a glowing realism, reminiscent of 16th century altar pieces.  Thomas' paintings are held in private collections throughout the United States.

To see more of Thomas' work go to his website here

Explore the Creative Mix of Artist Diane Dahl

The work of guest artist Diane Dahl will be featured at VIVA Gallery during the month of September. While the art world would describe Dahl as a mixed media artist, she thinks of herself as a master of exploration, creativity and fun. She works with acrylics, pastels, photography, clays, computers, and bits and pieces from nature.

Dahl graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a degree in Fine Art with a design emphasis, and a second degree in Business with a marketing emphasis. Since 1999, her main art form, and her “bread-and- butter,” has been murals. Her murals grace the lobby of the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells, the liquor department of Festival Foods, and Downtown Mauston. Her VIVA display will include mixed media hangings and spirit rattles.

Dahl’s work will be on display at the gallery throughout the month of September, as will the work of all VIVA member artists.

Guest Artist Barb Kettner

Barb Kettner

Barb was born and raised in Milwaukee.  She earned a B.S. in exceptional education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an  M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction at Cardinal Stritch College. She spent much of her time in school drawing sketches of her classmates while listening to lectures.

In 1981, she began teaching emotionally disturbed children in second, third and fourth grades, and daily incorporated some form of art into her teaching. This pattern continued throughout the next twenty-five years of teaching in the Milwaukee Public Schools.

Barb is married to Rick Kettner, formerly of Gays Mills. They decided to return to the Driftless area to retire in 2006. They run a rental cabin business, Kettner’s Riverfront Cabins in rural Viola. Barb makes sure to paint or draw for a few hours every day. She finds the Driftless Area endlessly inspiring with its rolling hills, meandering rivers, fast disappearing tobacco sheds, and ever changing skies.

In 2002 Barb was preparing for her own serious pursuit of art, taking classes part-time at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and  at the Milwaukee Art Museum.  She continued drawing, using pencil, colored pencils, pastels and oil pastels. She has since moved on to painting in watercolor and oils. Ken DeWaard and Kathie Wheeler were invaluable in moving Barb forward in her oil painting.  Anne Tedeschi and Jeanne Ruchti inspired her to become a better watercolor painter with their mentoring and instruction.

Barb paints portraits of animals and people, landscapes en plein aire, still lifes, and also paints from photographs. She has exhibited at the Driftless Area Art Festival for the past six years, and was chosen as the feature artist for the 2011 fund raising raffle.

Elizabeth Larson

Watercolorist Elizabeth Larson is Guest Artist at VIVA Gallery

In June, VIVA Gallery in Viroqua welcomes Elizabeth Larson, watercolor artist, who now resides in Elk Mound. Larson grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, in a family that included visual artists, writers, and craftsmen. Her watercolors make a statement about heritage and a way of life that is fast disappearing, with subjects such as small family farms, factories that are now still, old farm machinery, and abandoned cars and trucks. Recently she has been painting animals, including raptors, wild cats and primates.
Larson’s work has been exhibited at the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council’s “Confluence of Art” shows, Arts West, Vision and Word, in the Wisconsin Regional Arts Program, and at the Pump House in La Crosse.

See Larson’s watercolors at VIVA’s First Thursday reception on June 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. Larson’s watercolors will be on display at the gallery throughout the month of June, as will the work of all VIVA member artists. 

Andy Chulyk May Guest

A. Andrew Chulyk

Andrew Chulyk, artist, sculptor, designer and writer is a native New Englander living and working in La Crosse, WI. His art and design career spans over 40 years and has exhibited throughout New England, the East Coast and other national venues. Locally, his sculpture is represented by Studio Gallery 1311 in La Crosse, The Anderson Center in Red Wing, MN and The Lanesboro Art Center in Lanesboro, MN with work in many private collections including that of Henry Porter Jr. former Director of the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis, MN, The Museum of Modern Arts Museum Towers in New York City and Merrimack College, North Andover, MA. His work has been reviewed in Art New England and Sculpture

People's Choice Award Winner John Craig

Poker Face

When the Sheep Got out in Viroqua

Anybody Out There?

In April, VIVA Gallery in Viroqua welcomes John Craig of Soldiers Grove as guest artist. Craig is the winner of the 2013 People’s Choice Award at the Driftless Area Art Festival, an award underwritten by VIVA Gallery. His rare ability to combine art and humor won the hearts and votes of attendees at last fall’s festival, especially his latest exhibit of photo collages, “Lost Treasures from the Heart of the Driftless.”
Craig’s unique artwork, with its story-telling flair, has appeared in magazines and books, in advertising and in corporate brochures, on billboards and record album covers, even on pinball machines and watch faces. In all of his work, he experiments with “found color,” using bits of color and texture from materials found in candy wrappers, matchbooks, postcards, game boards, posters, magazines—in fact, anything printed.

Meet John and see his colorful and brilliantly creative collages at VIVA’s First Thursday reception on April 3 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. John’s artwork will be on display at the gallery throughout the month of April, as will the work of all VIVA member artists. 

Joyce L. Reimer Petrozzini Frith

Fantasy painted on cloth and furniture

Fantasy

Joyce L. Reimer Petrozzini Frith

When I think of my art, it is a dream that swirled in my brain and comes out my fingertips, feeling as though it is presented to me as a smiling gift that I really have nothing to do with except to be the receptacle of it.  My job is to pass it on.

It is a love of my heart where all things are possible.  My hope is it will touch your heart, where you feel and know anything is possible.

I was born in1941 into an artistic family. No one pushed you this way or that, but you were allowed to develop your imagination. I have no formal education in art, but would always look at the art of others and think, “I could do that.”

I didn’t start my artistic life until I was in my late forties –when I had to paint something or bust.  To my surprise it was well received.  Since then I have painted furniture, walls, canvases, shoes, windows, and trunks.  Most were done on commission, and a few art shows in Australia.  Most of my art is in Australia in private galleries.  My favorite medium is acrylic, but I try everything: ink, chalk, found objects, and watercolor.

At the moment, padded paintings are what I enjoy most--the work is intensive, and some of them take up to a year to do.  They started out as tiny thumbnail drawings or scribbles, then pen ink--but they lacked something.  I started painting on fabric and then padding them. The paintings came to life for me and made me smile at the magic they produced within my emotions—like Tinkerbell, I believe.

Most of my work is done through commissions or word of mouth.  I am new in this community, and I hope you enjoy my work.  I have included windows and some tables because it  represents all parts of my art.