The Spotlight March 20, 2009

Printmaker Marianne Stanke is inspired by images from the enviornment, the neighborhood in which she lives, and the world she discovers in her travels.  Her collographs, monotypes, woodcuts and engravings are pulled off a Takach Press in The Brown Dog Studio, which is located in her home in West Salem.  She is committed to creating art using supplies and processes which are friendly to the earth, her body , and her mind.  She sent me a few photos of her work and once again I had a difficult time choosing one to add to the slide show.  For any new readers of Coulee Region Art, click on the “Local Area Artists” box at the bottom of this post to get to the slide show.  If you like what you see and want to see more of Marianne’s art you have two options.  She currently has a show in the Kader Gallery at the Pump House Regional Arts Center but hurry up, the show “Under Pressure” ends Saturday March 28th.  If you can’t make it to the show you can click on her name listed in the Local Area Artists box on the right hand side of this blog.  I have linked her name to PortalWisconsin.org where she has several pieces of her art displayed on their online gallery.

Jill Rippe just recently started Rippe Art Studio.  Her art is her passion and joy but her profession is as a food chemist and Director of R&D at Main Street Ingredients.  If her name sounds familiar, and it might, it could be because Jill’s mosaic tile work was seen last summer on one of the very popular Herons of La Crosse, “Debi’s Heron.”  Her recent work is sculptural and made of fiberglass covered in hand cut glass and ceramic tiles.  Jill will be featured in a new exhibit in the Front Gallery at the Pump House titled “Garden Whimsy.”  There is an opening reception on April 3rd from 6:00 to 8:00pm.  Proceeds will benefit local organizations:  Riverfront, WAFER Food Bank, and Women in Philanthropy.  The exhibit will include creatures and fountains in mosaic tile for indoor and outdoor gardens.