Doug Beasley’s photographic vision explores the spiritual aspects of people and place, and is concerned with how spirit is recognized and expressed in everyday life. While grants and commissions fund much of his personal work, he also photographs fine art-based commercial assignments throughout the world.

Beasley’s Vision Quest Photo Workshops, held at his Trade River Retreat Center near Grantsburg, WI, emphasize following one’s heart, soul, and vision over the mechanics of camera use. In addition to the guest artist week at Martinez Studio, Beasley is also teaching an intermediate photography course at Fish Creek’s Peninsula School of Art. Beasley’s Door County connections also include the Linden Centre, where he teaches a two-week intensive photography class for those interested in photographing the landscape, architecture, people, and culture of the Dali, Lijiang and Yunnan provinces of China.

“Photography is my response to the world surrounding me, as I attempt to represent my inner state through the physical reality of the outer world – expressing a mystical connection to the Earth and its inhabitants,” Beasley says. “I hope that my photographs act as ‘prayer-like’ offerings and are meant as a departure point for the viewer’s own visual or spiritual journey.”

Over the course of the guest artist week, Beasley will be taking pre-orders for his latest photography book in addition to having a book and print special. With a forward from Native American activist Winona LaDuke, as well as an introduction by photo historian and writer George Slade, the 112-page book is printed on premium paper and is published by 5 Continents Editions in Milan, Italy and distributed by Abrams Books.

The book stems from Beasley’s solo exhibit last year at the VisionQuest Gallery in Genoa, Italy. Beasley worked with the Castille D’Albertis Museum in Genoa on a project on the Hopi Reservation – the museum has a large collection of Native American art and a relationship with the Hopi Tribe.  Subsequently, the Museum decided to mount a permanent exhibit of his Sacred Landscapes.

Martinez Studio is located one mile south Jacksonport (Door County), Wisconsin, and is an intimate working studio/gallery focused on the work of Sandra and Wence Martinez. The couple’s work includes Wence’s intricate, contemporary weavings and accessible photography and Sandra’s signature glyph paintings and drawings as well as her functional art. The gallery is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm daily May through October. For more information, please call 920.823.2154 or visit www.MartinezStudio.com.

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 foundation was assisting in the selection of a large outdoor sculptural centerpiece to be installed in the new sculpture garden at California State University, Dominguez Hills, CA. The foundation’s criteria for submissions was to seek sculptures that evoke the interaction between cultures, either positive or negative, and/or the interaction between traditions and the modern world.

Bren Sibilsky’s submission, “Dadaleus,” illustrates how knowledge creates understanding… but along with knowledge comes responsibility.

Sibilsky explains…

“The story of Daedalus reminds the viewer of how the intelligent mind of the human race has the ability to understand problems and overcome obstacles thru knowledge and ingenuity… regardless of race, creed or culture. Knowledge combined with creative ingenuity is the great equalizer of all men. The intelligent, compassionate human mind is something we all share.

“Through knowledge of each other and our great diversity of cultures, we learn and grow from each other. With knowledge comes freedom for all, but also a great responsibility to the user, as noted when the father, Daedalus gives his wings to his son, Icarus, who ignores his father’s advice, and flies too close to the sun and melts the wings.

“Each generation has the responsibility to transfer their knowledge to the next and also must emphasize to them the importance of using that knowledge wisely and the way intended.”

Algoma sculptor, Bren Sibilsky was one of six artists to receive the Cultural Patriot Award. This award recognizes the designs that successfully invoke the special qualities of a given culture or cultures. The Cultural Patriot Award also qualifies her for membership in the Picture Art Foundation SCULPTORS CIRCLE.

The P.I.C.T.U.R.E. Art Foundation is a multi-cultural, non-profit art organization whose mission is to Preserve, Inspire, CULTURE, Teach, Unify, Respect and Explore.

Bren Sibilsky lives and works in Algoma, Wisconsin where she has her studio and display area, open Friday-Monday, May thru October. She shows many top quality fine art pieces that she has created and has shown work from a select group of other artists. Bren is an international, award winning sculptor and also teaches at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek.

Having worked in the art field for over 20 years her current primary focus is sculpture in the style of classical realism with emotional undertones. According to the artist her sculptures are, “a study in understanding universal emotion.”

A few of Bren’s many other awards include her selection as an ARC Salon finalist in sculpture for her sculpture “Aphrodite.” She was also a recipient of a “Best of Sculpture” award in Manhattan Arts International’s “Herstory” juried exhibition and a top 10 winner in the international show “The Healing Power of Art.”

You can learn more about the library and sculpture garden project at: www.pictureartfoundation.org. For more information on Bren Sibilsky visit her Website at: www.brensculpture.com.

Guenzel Gallery

Readings will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, with a short intermission during the middle of the program. Interested poets and writers should contact the School by January 18 to ensure participation and a listing in the evening’s program.

‘Word Meets Art’ is now in its third year, and has become a popular addition the the Guenzel Gallery Salon party. In addition to complimentary refreshments and readings of original works by local poets, Isadoora Theatre Company will present vignettes from their upcoming play, “The Dinner Party,” written by Neil Simon, and directed by Henry Timm. The party and exhibition is free and open to the public.

Executive Director Cathy Hoke-Gonzales, is pleased that so many writers have participated in the past. “‘Word Meets Art’ arose because so many local artists not only create visual art, but also create literary works of art. Extending the Salon party to include the art of spoken word is timely and has deepened the level of participation for local artists,” she says.

Prospectuses for both the Salon exhibition and Word Meets Art readings are available at the School or online. For more information about this event and other Peninsula School of Art workshops, exhibitions, and community programs, call 920.868.3455 or email info@peninsulaartschool.com.

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, 9am-5 pm.

Albin Erhart's "Patriotic Dodekaeder"

Artwork for display and for sale will be accepted on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 5 and 6, from 9 am – 4 pm at the School, 3900 County Road F, Fish Creek. Artists may submit up to two pieces, with an entry fee of $10 per work. Art work previously shown in the Guenzel Gallery is not eligible.

In recent years, over 150 works have been displayed, with art filling the walls of the School’s Guenzel Gallery in authentic salon, floor-to-ceiling style. The Gallery Salon culminates with a party on Saturday, January 23, from 6 – 9 pm. In addition to complimentary refreshments and readings of original works by local poets, the Isadoora Theatre Company will present vignettes from their upcoming play, “The Dinner Party,” by Neil Simon. The party and exhibition is free and open to the public.

According to Executive Director Cathy Hoke-Gonzales, the Guenzel Gallery Salon has become so popular in recent years that the exhibition has been extended from one week to two weeks.

“We wanted to provide an opportunity for those who might have missed the Salon due to a more limited time frame to experience it this year,” she says.

Prospectuses are available at the School or online at www.peninsulaartschool.com. For more information about this event and other Peninsula School of Art workshops, exhibitions, and community programs, call 920.868.3455 or email info@peninsulaartschool.com.

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 exhibition, “Life Through a Plastic Lens,” November 20 – January 2, at the Peninsula School of Art, 3900 County Road F in Fish Creek, reveals how the “imperfections” of plastic, toy cameras produce welcome results for the photographers of the Plastic Camera Group of Madison, WI. On November 21, at 4pm, there will be an artists’ discussion held prior to the opening reception, scheduled from 5 – 7 pm. The exhibit and associated events are free and open to the public.

Image from the Madison Plastic Camera Group

Approximately 60 photographs will be on display, including a handful of works provided by students who recently attended a Holga camera photography workshop at the Peninsula School of Art. Subject matter for the exhibition includes both rural and urban landscapes, portraits, street photography and still-life compositions.

Embracing “problems” such as light leaks, uneven focus and low contrast, photographers will often collect a number of these simple, inexpensive cameras to take advantage of each camera’s known idiosyncrasies.

The­­ cameras used by the Pla­­stic Camera Group range from the classic Diana (produced in the 1960s by the Great Wall Plastic Company in Hong Kong), to the Holga, which was introduced in 1982, also in Hong Kong. The Holga was created to provide an inexpensive consumer camera for the Chinese mainland, where 120 film was more readily available than 35 mm. One member of the Plastic Camera group uses a Velveeta Cheese 110 camera, once an advertising give-a-way.

A sampling of cameras of various vintage will also be on display during “Life through a Plastic Lens.”

The popularity and creative freedom involved in utilizing a plastic camera has led to modified versions – either manufactured or retrofitted by photographers. These models include flash, pinhole, panorama, 3-D stereo, a Holga with a Polaroid back called a Holga-roid, and versions that use 35mm film.

Image from the Madison Plastic Camera Group

Holga and Diana images consistently appear in fine art photography books and exhibitions, and claim prestigious awards. In 2001, David Burnett won the White House Press Photographers Award for his Holga photo of Al Gore at a campaign stop.

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.

The ETC program, established in 2007, pairs the high school students of Gibraltar with experienced local artists for specialized learning in a variety of creative fields. Half-day workshops offered in past years have included digital photography, graphic design, theater/play writing, creative writing, poetry, gourmet cooking and food presentation, architecture, pottery, clothing design, landscape design, and more.

In the 2008 – 2009 ETC program, over 200 GHS students participated in two different half-day workshops taught by 23 area arts professionals both at the school and off-campus at an artist’s workshop or studio. After the workshops, evaluations were given to each of the students to assess their interest in participating in a small group mentor experience later in the school year. 13 students were matched with five appropriate mentors.

For the 2009 – 2010 school year, the ETC programs will work a little differently. Surveys completed by workshop instructors revealed a need to separate the freshman class due to the wide variance of skill levels among the students. All GHS freshmen will participate in a “sampler” of creative workshops this year (most of these taking place at the Peninsula School of Art) with the sophomore through senior students making selections for two half-day workshops similar to last year.

“We are excited to partner with the PSA in order to bring the students a better experience,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, the Hardy Gallery’s Executive Director.

Peninsula School of Art serves adults and youth with high-caliber visual arts education experiences throughout the year. The year-round facility offers six to eight gallery exhibitions per year, seven working studios with equipment for ceramics, metal arts, photography, painting and drawing, print- and paper-making, as well as a comprehensive art resource library for education and inspiration. By partnering with the Peninsula School of Art, GHS students will become familiar with the equipment and resources that Peninsula School of Art has to offer. Students who choose to enroll in the mentoring program will have ongoing access to the professional caliber studios and equipment.

The last half-day workshop on November 17 will conclude with an all-school assembly program presented by ComedySportz, a motivational comedy group. After these workshops have been completed, the small group/mentor workshops will be formed at the beginning of 2010.

The collaboration between the Hardy Gallery, FOG, and PSA has been a vital one through the inception of the ETC program, and this year, the three organizations will expand to work with the Door County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The FOG always centers its programming on a theme, and the theme for the 2009/2010 year is Service Learning, a term that combines community service with regular classroom activity. Through the ETC program, the participants will create artwork (in collaboration with the homeowners) that will hang in the homes built by Habitat for Humanity this year.

“The county’s extensive and vibrant arts community provides the necessary support for the ETC program,” says Meissner-Gigstead. “Not only do the students benefit, but it also provides an opportunity for local artists to do educational work over the off-season. It’s a great way to align the needs of the students with the immense resources offered by our peninsula’s artists.”

The Hardy’s Exposure to Creativity program was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Hardy Gallery is a non-profit organization enriching the vibrancy of the Door County community by promoting and fostering local art. For more information on the Hardy or the Exposure to Creativity (ETC) program, visit www.thehardy.org or call 920.854.2210.

"Burning/Curbside, Diptych," by Steve Wadzinski, Oil on Canvas, ca. 1985

Artist, architect, mentor – the talents of Steve Wadzinski defied measure. “Steve Wadinski: A Legacy,” is a selection of the late artist’s Postmodern paintings and installations, as well as his architectural works, on display from April 17 through May 30, at Peninsula School of Art’s Guenzel Gallery, 3900 County Road F in Fish Creek. The reception, which is free and open to the public, is on Saturday, April 18 from 5 – 7 pm.

This posthumous retrospective of Peninsula School of Art’s first executive director features expressive paintings and combines (painting and sculpture in one work) influenced by modern masters Robert Rauschenberg and Jean-Michel Bisquiat, among others. Wadzinski, a former resident of Green Bay and Ellison Bay, was a modern day Rennaissance man with Masters degrees in Fine Art, Architecture and Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Wadzinski intertwined his studied view of worldwide current events, his love for the natural landscape of Door County, and his spirituality in many of his works.

Before his death in 2006, Wadzinski had taught art at UW-Green Bay in the 1980s and mentored a number of Door County artists. Following his purchase of the family business, Pecard Chemical Company in Green Bay in 1991, Wadzinski devoted his artistic energies to architecture, designing an energy-efficient, low-maintenance home with commercial materials in Ellison Bay. He also converted a barn, and designed and built another smaller structure near Kangaroo Lake in Baileys Harbor, with the intention of providing a space for visual and performance artists to work and present their talents to the public.

“Steve’s legacy is one of inspiration and a continual search for excellence in artistic expression,” says Cathy Hoke-Gonzales, Executive Director Peninsula School of Art. “His legacy and the mission of the Art School coincide in this exhibition.”

For more information about this event and other Peninsula School of Art workshops, exhibitions, and community programs, call 920.868.3455 or email gallery@peninsulaartschool.com.

Peninsula School of Art is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the visual arts through education, exhibitions and community outreach. Peninsula School of Art and Guenzel Gallery are located at 3900 County Hwy F, in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9am-5pm. Visit www.peninsulaartschool.com for more information.