Scott Keith and Jack Honeywell in October at VIVA


Scott Keith Sculpture




Jack Honeywell Stained Glass

VIVA Gallery Welcomes Two Guest Artists in October

Two Driftless Area artists will share the spotlight at VIVA Gallery’s First Thursday reception on October 5. Jack Honeywell, a stained-glass artist, and Scott Keith, a potter, have been honing their respective crafts for over 40 years. That depth of experience and artistry adds up to an exceptional experience for gallery goers.
Jack maintains his own workplace, Cedar Tree Studio, near Winona, Minnesota. He finds inspiration in the Driftless landscapes, in the people around him, and most often, from the many colors, textures, and varieties of glass itself. Encouraged to pursue art as a child, he has followed an artistic path his entire life. He studied drawing and painting in high school and college, and in the mid-1970s, a friend introduced him to the copper foil technique of stained glass. This was a turning point in his creative life, and he has shaped stain glass works ever since. He studied advanced techniques at the Pilchuck Glass School near Seattle, Washington, and has worked for Hauser Art Glass in Winona.

Scott has been “spinning mud” for four decades, many of those years with Red Wing Pottery, where he was part of a small crew that kept alive the tradition of making salt-glazed stoneware. The iconic stoneware was the first style of pottery that Red Wing created on a large basis. Lately, Scott’s interest has shifted to more sculptural forms, influenced by Mexican surrealism, American folklore, and Pagan whimsy. He has traveled to many different areas of the world, and sees his memories realized in his finished pieces. He loves the malleable qualities of clay and the infinite possibilities it affords. Scott’s Newton Valley Pottery studio is just outside of Viroqua, Wisconsin.

Jack’s stained glass and Scott’s clay sculpture and pottery, along with the diverse works of VIVA’s 18 member artists, will be featured at VIVA’s First Thursday reception on October 5 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and will be on display throughout the month. 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. 


Diane Brown Pottery


                                                              VIVA Gallery Welcomes Diane Brown

VIVA Gallery’s First Thursday reception will be held on September 7, and will showcase the pottery of Diane Marks Brown. Diane, who spends her summers in Viola, is influenced by her surroundings in the Kickapoo Valley. Her pottery blends organic forms, earthen colors and whimsical functionality in objects that can be used every day.

Diane received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Teaching Certificate from the University of Illinois and continued her art education at the Art Institute of Chicago, studying ceramics and art history. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the Chicago area, and kept up with current trends in ceramics through workshops in Illinois, where she spends spring and fall, and in Colorado, where she spends the winter. Her work has been exhibited at venues in Illinois, Indiana and California. 







Jacqueline Reeves Watercolor



                                                          Watercolors by Jacqueline Reeves at VIVA Gallery

VIVA Gallery’s First Thursday reception on August 3 will feature the watercolor paintings of Jacqueline Reeves. Jackie loves to paint the scenes that surround her, from life on the Lancaster, Wisconsin farm where she lives with her husband Byron, or favorite places from their travels together.

Jackie expresses herself best in watercolor, preferring the freshness and transparency of the medium. She likes the way that colors can mingle on the paper and yield unique and varying results. Through her work, Jackie feels that she is preserving a way of life that is fast disappearing, recording the chores and inhabitants of a small family farm. But she doesn’t limit her painting to farm life. An avid traveler, Jackie captures engaging scenes with her camera, and returns to the farm to paint them. Her paintings often strike a chord with viewers, recalling places and points in time that make for happy memories. 



Paul Hatlem July's Artist





VIVA Gallery Welcomes Landscape Photographer Paul Hatlem

VIVA Gallery’s First Thursday reception on July 6 will feature photographer Paul Hatlem as guest artist. Paul is a landscape, nature and adventure photographer based in La Crescent, Minnesota.
Paul’s photography captures the seasons and beauty of the Midwest as well as scenes from his travels around the world. An avid hiker and kayaker, Paul also has the necessary patience that allows nature to reveal itself, and all of this culminates beautifully in his panoramic photography. His images captivate the viewer, affording a genuine sense of place. Paul uses high-resolution digital photography, capturing the subtle details of the natural world and transferring them to large print format with stunning clarity and color. Printing the images on canvas lends a painterly quality to his photographs.

Paul has a degree in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse, and has been involved
in photography, graphic arts, and printmaking for more than 25 years. He does his own printing on fine art paper or canvas with archival quality pigmented inks. His images grace the walls of homes and corporate offices around the Midwest.
 





Christine Myhr Our Guest in June




VIVA Gallery will feature Christine Myhr as guest artist during the month of June, opening her exhibit with a First Thursday reception on June 1. Christine, a long-time resident of Gays Mills, Wisconsin, paints directly from life, always seeking to capture the play of light and color in her landscape and still life paintings.

Christine graduated in 1987 with a B.A. in Art from Gustavus Adolphus College in St.
Peter, Minnesota. In 1986, she had the unique opportunity to study abroad at The Marchutz School of Drawing and Painting in Aix-en-Provence, France. There she learned to paint in both oil and watercolor, spending a year immersed in the light, color and beauty of Provence. She also studied art history through visits to museums in Paris and painting trips to Venice, Italy. After graduating from Gustavus, Christine went back to France in 1989 and spent another year studying at the Marchutz School. She continues to learn and grow as an artist by taking workshops, showing work at galleries and art fairs, and sharing knowledge with a wonderfully supportive community of local painters.


Christine’s oil paintings, along with the diverse works of VIVA’s other 18 member artists, will be featured at VIVA’s First Thursday reception on June 1 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and will be on display throughout the month. 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.



Ken & Michelle Workowski and the Nature of Things

Winners of the Driftless Area Art Festival Peoples Choice 2016 Award, Ken and Michelle Workowski.  Ken and Michelle are members of VIVA Gallery and we are honored to feature their work the month of May.




Ken and Michelle reflected in their work.





April 20, 2017— VIVA Gallery’s monthly First Thursday artist reception will be held on May 4 and will feature the beautifully crafted natural furnishings of Ken and Michelle Workowski. The gallery sponsors the People’s Choice Award at the Driftless Area Art Festival, and the Workowskis were the winners of the award at last year’s festival. VIVA is doubly pleased as Ken and Michelle are member artists.

Ken and Michelle have always had a fascination with the raw beauty in nature—the absence of straight lines and the patterns and curves traced and formed by the elements. As their business, aptly called The Nature of Things, has evolved over the years, they have taken that raw beauty and transformed it into practical furnishings, including willow and wood furniture, birchbark frames, poplar bark baskets, lamps and lamp shades. Many of the materials they use come from their 50 acres of land near Viola.

In a world increasingly full of concrete, steel and electronics, the Workowskis understand that we all have a need to connect with the natural world. Their work is not only satisfying because of its strong design, but also because pieces often evoke an emotional response. The tactile pleasure of touching rough bark or smooth wood, the visual treat of intricately woven willow or laced poplar, the appreciation of the clever uses of nature’s palette in creating truly unique pieces of furniture—all are sensations that stem from their varied pieces. You are guaranteed to feel a connection.

The engaging natural works of art created by Ken and Michelle, along with the diverse works of VIVA’s other 16 member artists, will be featured at VIVA’s First Thursday reception on May 4 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and will be on display throughout the month. 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. 


Amazing Color Pencil Artist - Monica Jagel in April


"I Love Carrots"


Rainbow Chard

Monica is interested in using her images to create functional art that is both environmentally and socially responsible. 
It is Monica’s belief that a focus on “local” builds resilience and strengthens community and reduces environmental impact. Therefore Monica’s cards  are created and printed with solar power close to home.  The newest offering is functional art in the form of Eco Friendly Kitchen towels that are printed in the Mid-West onto 100% cotton fabric. The re-usable function of flour sack towels was realized during the depression. Today more than ever it makes sense to put away the paper towels and put this absorbent fabric back to work!



ABOUT THE ARTIST...
Monica has a B. A. in Art Studio and is also a certified Botanical Illustrator. Monica works in her home studio in rural Wisconsin, all of her artwork is original from her own observations and imagination.  She finds inspiration every day all around her! Colored Pencil is her favorite medium and is often combined with watercolor, graphite or Pen & Ink.   

 ABOUT HER CARDS:  
Monica has worked to create a blank note card that is both environmentally and socially responsible.  Should you choose to make a purchase you can feel great knowing that your purchase supports both social awareness and the earth! A portion of the income from sales is donated to charity.

SOLAR PRINTING: Solar energy generated in La Farge, WI  (Jack Hill Photography) powers the scanner and printer that prints Monica’s artwork onto high quality paper. She hand cuts and packages each card herself.
THE ENVELOPES are made in Neenah, WI and are comprised of recycled paper, powered by 100% green electricity.
THE WRAPPER is not plastic, it is called a Bio Bag and it is compostable.

FLOUR SACK TOWELS 
The newest offering is functional art in the form of Eco Friendly kitchen towels!  The images are carefully designed to reflect a healthy lifestyle of gardening and healthful home cooking! Printed in the USA onto 100% cotton, these towels should be washed in cold water, dry on low or better yet… line dry! The re-usable function of flour sack towels was realized during the depression. Today more than ever it makes sense to put away the paper towels and put this absorbent fabric back to work!

BOOK: A RURAL ALPHABET
Monica and Joanne Adragna Shird met and became friends through a local art group. Joanne’s poetry truly enriches Monica’s illustrations. The collaboration between Monica and Joanne grew naturally from their kindred hearts and souls. 
A RURAL ALPHABET was written and illustrated for kids of ALL ages!