Juan Francisco Guzmán

In the Sololá region of Guatemala, Juan Francisco Guzmán is known as an inspiring, demanding, life-changing high school teacher and the director of the school’s Spanish language arts curriculum. His writing won the national prize for literature. But, Guzmán is also famous worldwide as a highly-acclaimed artist who is one of Guatemala’s most celebrated painters.

On Saturday, July 31 from 11 am to 3 pm Charlene’s Gallery Ten in Gills Rock will host a very special one-day Trunk Show of his paintings. Lea B. Pellett, an emeritus professor of anthropology at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia is responsible for bringing his work from Guatemala to the USA, literally carrying this collection of rolled paintings here by hand. Some will be exhibited on stretchers and some remain as un-mounted works.

Reality and fantasy are the intersecting qualities of Guzmán’s work. He explains that his art is an evolutionary consequence of his personal search for meaning by inspecting man’s nature since pre-Columbian times until today. At 1 pm on Saturday, Jodi Kacer will present a talk on the artist and his Mayan heritage.

“I resonate to the message that he sends with his art,” Kacer explains. “And I am passionate about it. His art is a fusion of modern plastic and primitive indigenous arte-naif, rich in symbolism. Splashes of surrealism spring forth uncontrollably in a mysterious blend of the real and fantasy.”

Born in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, Guzmán has been painting for more than 25 years. His cultural immersion there permits him to create his own original techniques and schemes resulting in a synthesis of Guatemala’s metabolic, undulating magic and reality. The thrilling colors, the symbolism and the backgrounds all harmonize into a unified real and magical form.

“Guzman has a deep appreciation of the Mayan culture and his artwork captures that essence magnificently,” says Richard Morgan, Director of the Cultural Center Los Encuentros.

Juan Francisco Guzmán is “the magic expressionist of religious celebration and the piercing scream of the pueblo,” says Maria Jose Torres, Nicte-Arte, Spain. “Poet, philosopher, educator; Guzman travels with his work through space reflecting on the nature of the spirit, while charged with a limitless emotion. Guzman has exhibited in North America, Guatemala and Spain. In Spain he is known for his ability at composition and in particular control of backgrounds, a stylistic characteristic symbol.”

Learn more about the merging of ancient and pre-Columbian beginnings with modern art trends and the social and cultural life of Guatemala in this one-day exhibition of paintings by Juan Francisco Guzmán.

Charlene’s Gallery Ten represents over 100 artists in a gallery collection that is contemporary, original and eclectic. GT Coffee, complements the gallery, serving espresso drinks and Door County cherry pie by-the-slice open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM with free Wi-FI. The gallery is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM (closed Tuesdays) at 12625 Hwy. 42 in Gills Rock, Wisconsin. Telephone 920.854.9907 for further information of visit on-line at www.GalleryTen.com.

Krishna and Arjuna by Ram Rojas

Muralist and painter Ram Rojas will exhibit a retrospective collection of his paintings at Harmony Café Fox Valley in Appleton, opening with an artist’s reception on Friday, July 16 from 5:30 pm ‘til closing (10 pm). Rojas is known and respected for his works in several genres that include on-site murals, studio portraits, landscapes and spiritual art derived from his love of eastern religions. He calls this show an “autobiographical display of my interests and passions.”

Ram (pronounced rah-m) was born in Caracas, Venezuela. At 14 years of age, he was selected from among students at Venezuela’s National Art Academy to travel to the United States along with other young artists from Europe, China and Australia to study at the Academy of Vedic Art in Los Angeles, CA. While he was there, an international publishing company took note of this very-disciplined young artist. His masterful pieces became a regular addition to their books and magazines covering a wide variety of interests. He sought further classical training in Europe where he studied Old Master’s works, living and painting mostly in Florence, Italy.

His work continued to appear in multi-language publications around the world; illustrating history, religion, art, mythology, philosophy and science books. Ram’s publishers sent him on an educational tour of India where he studied ancient cultures, techniques and theory of Asian art. Rojas eventually returned to the USA to continue his studies at Barnstone Studios in Philadelphia, where he consolidated his diverse, worldwide experiences with the universal principles of design, anatomy, composition and color theory. Following the completion of his studies, he moved to California where he focused on classic representational art and portraiture.

Gotrock Farms by Ram Rojas

“Over the years my art has undergone an evolution derived from the places I have lived and studied in and the surrounding historic and philosophical influences that those different cultures have brought into my focus,” says Rojas. ”This show will provide an opportunity for my fans and friends to see glimpses of the path I have travelled and how it has affected my work.”

More than a decade ago Ram Rojas discovered Door County, bought and restored a classic home in Sturgeon Bay and established his studio there. He has been painting on canvas and walls ever since, including a mural in the Walls of Wittenberg project and a current work underway at The Clearing in Ellison Bay. Rojas will present an artist’s talk followed by a Q&A at 7 pm on the evening of the Harmony Café opening.

Rojas will present a talk followed by a Q&A at 7 pm on the evening of the opening.

Debra Hadraba

At 8 pm he has arranged for St. Paul singer/songwriter Debra Hadraba to perform some of her latest songs on stage. Known for her work as a founding member of Braveheart Women Global Community, she has just released her first experimental multi-media CD, which consists of 7 original songs, 3 e-books and more than 20 of her zany video performance pieces and animations. The Harmony Café will provide drinks and snacks at the opening and there is no change to attend. Ram Rojas’ paintings will be on exhibit throughout July and August.

“I welcome the opportunity to show my work at this ideal spot,” says Ram Rojas. “Much more than just a café, Harmony invites the entire community to gather in friendship with great food and entertainment.”

Harmony Café Fox Valley is located at 233 E. College Avenue in Appleton, Wisconsin. They are open Monday through Wednesday from 7 am – 9 pm; Thursday through Saturday from 7 am – 10 pm and Sunday from 9 am – 8 pm. For more information please call 920.734.2233 or e-mail: harmonycafe@gwicc.org.

The school will be located in a new facility in the Lake Michigan shoreline town of Algoma, 12 miles north of Kewaunee. The move will be completed just in time for the commencement of the 2010-2011 school year which begins August 31.

Previous to the move, the Academy was located in a grand old refurbished dairy barn in Kewaunee.

“We have all cherished and enjoyed our residence at the ‘Big Barn’. However, it is time to open the second chapter of the Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art and this move will facilitate a new era.” says Norma Bell, Owner, Manager, and Executive Director.

The new Algoma location at 316-318 Steele Street, is a vintage 1905 brick building. The space will provide 3,000 square feet of open floor plan, 13 foot tall ceilings that have decorative tin tiles and cornices, hardwood floors and many other vintage appointments.

Craig Blietz, Artistic Director of the Academy, says “Each day we strive to improve upon what we provide to our students and this new facility presents us with another opportunity to do so. The authentic early 20th Century character inherent in the architecture of this building will infuse our curriculum and the educational experience, bringing forth the atmosphere and quality of 19th century art schools in Paris and Munich.”

With Dick Bell’s departure Norma Bell becomes the sole proprietor and administrator of the Academy. Craig Blietz remains the Artistic Director. The school will also retain the name “Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art.” The Academy will host a Grand Opening Celebration with details available soon.

Before the Grand Opening Party there will be a Moving Sale…

The Barnsite Gallery and the Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art will host a moving sale on Saturday, July 17 from 9 am to 4 pm at the current location: 109 Duvall St. in Kewaunee.

Art and Craft Supplies Including:

Stretch Canvas
Hard Board Panels
Tracing Paper
Paper Pallets
Frames
Maimeri Watercolors
Water Based Oils
Colored Pencils
Self Healing Mats
Art Spectrum Sanded Pastel Paper
Canson Paper
Fabriano Paper
T-Squares
Canvas Panels
Plus More

Furniture Including:

3 Beds (1800s)
Assortment of Chairs
Trunks/Wooden Boxes
Hutch
Plus More

Woodworking Equipment

Too many things to list
Everything is Priced to sell

More information on the Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art can be found online at www.kewauneeacademy.com or by calling 920.388.4391 or 925.963.7023.

Created on an iPod...

Attendees will also have the chance to view the international exhibit “The World at Our Fingertips,” currently on exhibit at Flying Pig Gallery and Greenspace. Susan Murtaugh, one of the participating artists, will be our special guest for the evening.

James Andrew Beard was an eccentric chef and personality whom many consider to be the father of American gourmet cooking. In the 1950s he brought French cuisine into the American popular mainstream. Who could imagine that the words of James Beard would serve as a philosophical keystone to the current work of the next artist featured at Charlene’s Gallery Ten?

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard

In 2006, Sarah Aagesen received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Millikin University. Her four-year emphasis then was focused on figure drawing.

“In those four years, I worked in charcoal, and with an array of erasers, practiced drawing the nude figure, while working on my line and detail,” she explains.

But in 2006 she made a radical shift, changing medium during her last semester of school in the development of a final project for a preeminent figure drawing course. From that point on, she has been working with bright, vibrant colors to create abstract compositions – a leap from the strict and academic realism that she was used to. She also took up photography as a “casual release.”

In 2008, as a graduate and an islander who works many roles to survive, Sarah took on a job at the Washington Island Hotel, Restaurant & Culinary School.

“Food became one of my central inspirations when it came to art,” Sarah reveals. “During this period of my life, I learned about sustainability and the importance of local foods and wanted to express that importance through my work.”

And she did it with the camera. The bakery and the kitchen put out such beautiful food that she began to stop the chefs and say, “Wait, let me take a picture of that.” What evolved from her expanded awareness of the quality, beauty and sourcing of food is this new, deeper exploration. The latest work she will display at Gallery Ten is comprised of large photographs that zero in on close up details, colors, texture, line and compositions of patterns in food.

“This work represents my appreciation for food and all that it has to offer. Not just for the taste, but for the brilliant colors, the fresh, organic shapes and unique textures. I have taken something pure and truly beautiful and changed the way you look at it by simply capturing silhouettes or focusing on an unusual part, making it fun and playful,” says Aagesen.

“There is a strong resemblance between my past work and present; the color palette, organic line, and compositions. I create a sense of depth and dimension and have been able to do so, again, with food.  It’s a subject everyone can relate to.  Each piece is beautifully grown and has its own identity. I take these pieces and showcase their natural beauty.”

Sarah says there is another quote, one by Ralph Waldo Emerson that captures the essence of her entire show. “If we live truly, we shall see truly.”

You can meet Sarah Aagesen at Charlene’s Gallery Ten in Gills Rock at an artists’ reception celebrating the opening of her show on Saturday, July 3 starting at 3 pm. You are invited to enjoy a collection of delicious snacks and complementary wine while you meet the artist and take in the exhibit. At 4 pm Sarah will present a gallery talk providing insights and reflections on her work.

Charlene’s Gallery Ten represents over 100 artists in a gallery collection that is contemporary, original and eclectic. GT Coffee, complements the gallery, serving espresso drinks and Door County cherry pie by-the-slice open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM with free Wi-FI. The gallery is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM (closed Tuesdays) at 12625 Hwy. 42 in Gills Rock, Wisconsin. Telephone 920.854.9907 for further information of visit on-line at www.GalleryTen.com.

Daffy by Judith Gahn Murphy

Work by these three artists will by on display in the barn and granary galleries on this historic farmstead from June 26 through August 28.

Jessie Schroeder Voss is a potter who will be showcasing her functional pottery with the bright, whimsical colors she finds inspiring in spring and early summer.  Her trays, vases and dinnerware sets are decorated with floral elements in bright poppies and spring flowers.  Her work has been featured on the Rachael Ray Show and has gained several awards in juried art shows across the Midwest.

Lynita Santora Wolf uses wire, chain, semi precious stones and found objects to create a piece of jewelry that is strong, interesting and has proper movement.  Each piece is truly unique and is inspired by objects she finds at antique stores and flea markets.  Lynita’s jewelry can be found across the Midwest in galleries and juried art shows.  She will have a trunk show at Off the Wheel Pottery from 10am-7pm on June 26^th.

Judith Gahn Murphy is a watercolor painter who paints forms and objects of the earth using layers of paint to create bold values and unique combinations.  She looks for images to paint through her camera lens to find compositions that interest her, like a small section of a tree root or the petal of a daffodil.  Judith is an art instructor at the MATC and her work can be found in several juried art shows throughout the Midwest.

Off the Wheel Pottery is located in Egg Harbor at 4234 County Road E (1.3 miles east of the village). For more information, visit www.offthewheelpottery.com or call 920.868.9608.

Sunset at the Hardy Gallery in Ephraim

Door County artists Dan Anderson, Brigitte Kozma, Donna Brown, John Dietrich, and Len Villano made up the panel of jurors for this year’s exhibit. The jurors narrowed down the number of works down to 87 from the 165 that had been submitted for the show.

Of the pieces that were selected to be in the exhibit, four works won Juror’s Awards and one piece earned a People’s Choice Award, which was voted on by visitors to the Wall-to-Wall Salon Exhibition prior to the juried show and is not awarded based on artistic merit. The award winners include Daryl Asbury, who won a Juror’s Award for his oil painting entitled Ephraim Rain on Cedars, Rob Williams, for his piece Peninsula Park, Quiet Evening (oil), Zheng Ping Wu, for Yu Zhe (photography), and Dannica Walker, who won two Juror’s Awards for her watercolor Peace with Strings Attached. The 2010 People’s Choice Award was awarded to Anthony Beadell for Echarpe Colore, his enamel and oil painting. The 2010 Juror’s Awards and the People’s Choice Award were sponsored by The Artist’s Guild, an art supply and framing center located at 117 N. Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay.

“The jurors had some extremely difficult decisions to make as far as narrowing down the body of work for this exhibit,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director for the Hardy. “Overall, the artwork submitted this year was exceptional.  The resulting exhibit is one of the most diverse I’ve seen in recent years, which is always exciting.”

The 48th Annual Juried Exhibition is on display at the Hardy Gallery through Sunday, July 18. The Gallery is located on Ephraim’s historic Anderson Dock and is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm, with extended hours to 8 pm on Monday evenings in conjunction with the Ephraim Business Council’s “Evenings in Ephraim” concert series. The Hardy will be open on Monday evenings beginning Monday, June 21.

The historic Hardy Gallery is a non-profit organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. For more information about the Hardy or its annual Juried Exhibition, please visit www.thehardy.org or call 920.854.2210.

Debora’s presentation underscores her participation in the current exhibition at the School, ”Medium is the Message,” which provides a behind-the-scenes look at an artist’s medium of choice and how it informs their work. In addition to her large-scale prints, which span up to 11 feet, the artist’s presence in the gallery is enhanced by a short video of her detailing the inspiration behind her work, as well as her love of the printmaking process. Debora’s 4-day printmaking intensive workshop, scheduled at the end of June into early July, has been sold out.

Debora received her Masters of Fine Art from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Working with the printing techniques of intaglio and screen print, her work emphasizes repeated line, building rich space out of ambiguity, and shadowy structure. Among her many awards are the Vreeland Award for Fine Art, and the Triennial Prize at the Egyptian International Print Trienniel in Cairo. Debora’s work may be viewed on her website: www.lifesizepress.com<.

The gallery talk is free for Peninsula School of Art members and $5 for all others. Prior registration for the presentation is suggested for those interested in attending.

Peninsula School of Art, located in the heart of Door County, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the visual arts through education, exhibitions and community outreach. Peninsula School of Art offers one to five day workshops, lectures, exhibits and family-friendly events for students of all ages and abilities. The School and Guenzel Gallery are located at 3900 County Hwy F, in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 am - 5 pm.  www.peninsulaartschool.com.

The Hardy Gallery

“Our annual juried exhibition is the premier juried artist exhibition in Door County,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director of the Hardy. “It’s one of the most highly anticipated shows of the season.”

By nature, a juried exhibit is a competitive event. Similar to a performing artist, visual artists “audition” for the opportunity to be a part of the Hardy’s Juried Exhibition, and the artwork is selected through a process of careful deliberation by a diverse panel of jurors, all of who are active professional artists on the Door County peninsula. The result of this selection is a fresh and innovative grouping of artwork representing a wide range of media and styles. The jurors for the 48th Annual Juried Exhibition include John Dietrich, Donna Brown, Dan Anderson, Len Villano, and Brigitte Kozma.

The exhibition offers exposure to artists of all levels and experience, giving emerging artists the opportunity to gauge their development and established artists the chance to explore new ideas and techniques.

“This exhibition gives artists the opportunity to have their worked viewed by visitors from around the world,” says Meissner-Gigstead. “The preceding Wall-to-Wall Salon (where visitors have the chance to see all the works submitted for the Juried Exhibition) was a huge success this year, and we’re hoping that people come back to enjoy what the jurors have selected for the show. The wide variety of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and mixed media work is always exciting to see.”

The Juried Exhibition runs through Sunday, July 18 at the Hardy Gallery, located on Ephraim’s historic Anderson Dock. Awards selected by the jurors, as well as the “People’s Choice Awards” – votes cast by visitors for their favorite pieces during the Wall-to-Wall Salon Exhibition – will be announced at 6 pm at the opening reception on Friday, June 11.

The Hardy Gallery is a non-profit organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. The Hardy is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. For more information about the Hardy and its upcoming exhibitions and programs, please call 920.854.2210, email info@thehardy.org, or visit www.thehardy.org.

Exhibit II features oil painter Lori Beringer, sculpture artist Jude Ryan Reiling, watercolor and colored pencil artist Allan Servoss, and fiber artist Julie Crabtree-Phannes, with the artist reception for Exhibit II scheduled for Saturday, June 12 from 4 – 7 pm.

Jane's Cottage by Lori Beringer

Lori Beringer’s oil paintings express a sense of excitement and energy – emotions that come from the intimate exchange of her surroundings. Landscapes, still lifes, and portraits are her concentration, and she says that no matter what subject she’s painting, there’s a good chance that light plays an important role. “I enjoy painting light and whatever that light happens to pass over in a certain moment,” she says. Beringer also enjoys painting en plein air, and says that painting on site and experiencing the culture (whether its in her home state of Wisconsin or abroad to France) creates a timeless sense of place in her work. In addition to painting full time, Beringer is also an art teacher, leading students in classes at the Kewaunee Academy of Art and Peninsula School of Art.

If one were to ask sculpture artist Jude Ryan Reiling where she draws her inspiration, she is quick to say that she is interested in “the mystery of the chasm between the artist and the medium, and exploring the transition that takes place when my inner world meets matter.” To explore this mystery she often thinks of rituals, experiences, and emotions that are both personal and universal, such as joy, hope, loss, sorrow, and memory. All of these themes are expressed using visual symbols and gestural form. “I like the fact that these figures have a universal mystic quality,” she says.

Although Allan Servoss has been told over the years that his watercolor and colored pencil works are moody, lonely, serene, and even surreal, he says he prefers to let people view it on their own terms. Servoss works on location to create sketches but says that most of his work is more or less “made up” as it progresses. He rarely uses any references, preferring to work from his imagination, based on the things he observes around him on a daily basis. “In working this way, I strive to include only what I feel is essential, hopefully allowing the viewer of my work to bring themselves in as part of the process,” he says. In addition to showing his work for Exhibit II, Servoss will also be demonstrating his work on Sunday, June 13 from 11 am – 2 pm.

Originally from England, fiber artist Julie Crabtree-Phanenes spends her time developing textural stitched and painted landscapes by utilizing her sewing machine as well as simple needle and thread. Her love of the outdoors and the texture one can find in these landscapes serve as her inspiration. “Texture is everywhere,” Crabtree says, “from the gnarled entwined tree roots to the frozen ice sculptures distorted by the eroding winds of Lake Superior’s northern shoreline.” Nature has “an endless supply of uniqueness” to offer, and her goal is to capture and emulate this uniqueness in her distinctive style. In addition to “drawing with needle and thread,” she will often experiment with hand dyed and distressed fabrics.

The work for Exhibit II will show at Fine Line Designs Gallery through Tuesday, July 6.

Fine Line Designs Gallery is located at the north end of Ephraim at 10376 Highway 42 and features original paintings, sculpture, custom wood furnishings, and fiber art from over 90 renowned artists. The gallery also hosts the annual Town Line Art Fair every year on Columbus Day weekend. Gallery hours are daily 10 am – 6 pm, Sundays 10 am – 5 pm. For more information about Fine Line Designs Gallery or its artists and exhibitions, please call 920.854.4343 or visit www.finelinedesignsgallery.com.