Mister Koppa

Art is the evidence of creative activity.

The activity evidenced in my collages is an exercise in sorting, organizing, and composing. First, I select a few “sets” of images, each set from a specific source (all of which may or may not have any obvious relationship to one another). Then I challenge myself to create a series of related, aesthetically balanced, intriguing, and, at best, amusing compositions. The resulting collages include relationships between color, shape, line, perspective, scale, movement, and often the direction of a gaze. For some, a collage is simply fun to look at, but for those who like to make sense of things, these strange arrangements generate yet another creative challenge: interpretation. There are no wrong answers, nor are there any right answers.

I was born in Milwaukee (January 28, 1969, 5:30 a.m.) and enjoyed working in my family’s grocery store during my teenage years on Milwaukee’s East Side. After receiving a B.S. in Art from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991, I returned to manage the grocery store throughout my 20s. The most important thing I learned at the grocery store, and in school, is that there are opportunities for creative arrangements everywhere we look. By taking time to compose these arrangements, we force ourselves to think creatively about relationships between things. The resulting composition is an artifact, and, whether temporary or permanent, can be an impetus for thoughtful amusement in the minds of those who witness it. I put this knowledge to practice in daily life—in my work and in my play—and it always seems to have a positive impact on the world around me. Creative behavior is contagious and fun. I can’t pinpoint how I caught it, but I hope I can give it to you.

8 x 8 Art SQuared January 2015

                                                                      VIVA Gallery – Art SQuared

A new show, “Art Squared,” features the work of member artists in a unique format.  Each artist has created

a piece on an 8” x 8” wrapped canvas, and these will be displayed in a grid as one large body of work. 

Each artist has been given complete freedom to create a work of their own chosen subject and in their own medium.  Printmaker and ceramic artist Mark Herrling has created a 3D piece called “Star System” using stoneware, metallic acrylics and horse shoe nails.  Painter Liz Quebe offers “Five Below”, one of her signature cows wreathed in an icy cloud of breath.  Photographer Jerry Quebe offers an image of a drift fence buffeted by winter snow.  Jeweler and glass artist M’lou Wilkie will have a glass and tile mosaic on display, and Diane Dahl’s assemblage, “Layered Landscape” is a collage composed of copper mesh, beads and fiber overlaid on a photograph taken at the Neceda Wildlife Refuge. 

Daniel Gilbertson has applied a tooled leather piece of climbing roses on a lattice filigree to the canvas, while weaver Angela Feltes will incorporate fiber into one of her photographs that has been transferred onto the canvas. Painter Anne Tedeschi has chosen a warm subject, a watercolor of a crackling log fire, and Christine Larson’s vibrant red Pegasus is a sure antidote to January cold.

Holiday Artisan Market at VIVA

There will be many items for the home, including those made by two of the area’s premiere furniture makers—Joe Schwarte of Gays Mills will offer custom-designed cutting boards and Viroqua’s Ray Boch will have classically-designed boxes and cutting boards. Member artists Ken and Michelle Workowski of La Farge will have their popular rustic bark mirrors, poplar bark baskets and delicate lamp shades, all made from elements native to our area, and guest artist Terry Beck of Viroqua will have spoons carved from woods grown on his own land. Tea sets, mugs, and bowls are both beautiful and useful, when created by the talented hands of Viroqua’s Maureen Karlstad. Multiple layers of glazes color the porcelains of Charna Schwartz of Plymouth, Wisconsin, and the carved pottery of Madison’s Alison Wheeler provides choices from playful to polished.

Looking for things to wear? Member artists from Viroqua make all styles of jewelry— beadwork from M’lou Wilkie, metalwork from Raelene Roberts, stone and wire works from Christine Larson and fused glass from Angela Feltes. Add the talents of guest artists and even more choices emerge—Jan Mrachek from Wabasha, Minnesota, uses many colors and textures in her jewelry, and Liza Paizis of McGregor, Iowa incorporates wax sculpture casting to create her pewter jewelry. VIVA members Kathy Aaker of LaCrosse and Angela Feltes of Viroqua are weavers extraordinaire, offering exquisitely woven scarves and vests, and Daniel Gilbertson of Readstown offers nature-themed patterns on leather purses and belts. Guest artist Sharlene Bohr of Cresco, Iowa adds eco-printed decorative and functional textiles.

To beautify your walls, there is a wide selection of paintings, photographs, and prints—watercolors by Bill Mapp (Viroqua), Anne Tedeschi (Ferryville) and guest artist Diane Splinter (Viroqua) ; oils by Paul Bergquist (Viroqua), Deb Conlon (Gays Mills) , Christine Larson (Viroqua) and Liz Quebe (Soldiers Grove); and photographs by Jerry Quebe (Soldiers Grove). Prints by Mark Herrling (Fennimore), assemblages by Diane Dahl (Mauston) and intricate color pencil drawings by Monica Jagel (La Farge) round out the selection. For your table or hearth, there are the unique sculptures of David Myers (Sparta), assembled from metal, wood and found objects, and candlesticks and hand-forged sculptural pieces by blacksmith Nick Smolen (Westby).

Seasonal and holiday greeting cards will also be available, as will the lovely and fragrant handmade soaps of Viroqua’s Virginia Goeke. 

Alison Wheeler Pottery

Jan Mrachek Jewelry

Charna Schwartz Pottery

Sharlene Bohr Textiles

Liza Paizis Jewelry

 Terry Beck Hand Carved Spoons

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.