Art Reflections exhibit, Gallery Talk highlight UW-S Gallery in October

The Sheboygan community is invited to visit the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan Fine Arts Gallery for its special Gallery Talk by Wisconsin artists Kay Jelinek, Evie Grasse and Patty Aker from latest Fine Arts Gallery exhibit, Art Reflections, on Wednesday, October 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Gallery.

An art reception has also been planned for Friday, October 19 from 5-7 p.m. in the Gallery. The public is invited.

After graduating from Viterbo College with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education, Kay Jelink taught art in Milton, Monroe and Janesville for 30 years. She worked on additional graduate credits at UW-Madison and received her Master’s degree in Professional Development in Art at UW-Whitewater.

Jelink was also active in other community art-related organizations, such as being a researcher and one of the curators for the Janesville Art League Permanent Collection. She has judged an art fair in Marshfield and was one of the jurors for one of Beloit’s Plein Air events. She has exhibited in numerous places including galleries in Janesville, Beloit & Vicinity Show, Artful Women in Madison, UW-Whitewater master’s show, Wisconsin Art Ed Exhibits, UW Hospital Madison, EFFProjekts Gallery in Sheboygan, Two Fish Gallery in Elkhart Lake, and many more. Now living in Sheboygan and a member of the Sheboygan Visual Artists, Jelink was recently in the 2012 juried membership show, as well as other SVA exhibits.

Evie Grasse learned from a young age that she had the ability to create art in all media. Seventeen years ago she chose to Plein Air paint in watercolor with mentor James Michael, and she has never looked back. Since then she has taken many workshops, with favorites Ratindra Das and Bridget Austin as well.

Traditional transparent works have become her passion due to the serenity it brings to her life and the pleasure it brings to others. Grasse is attracted to the Great Lakes and parks because they provide beautiful creations in the form of ski, water and flora, which are usually on parts of her canvas. Grasse belongs to the Wisconsin Watercolor Society, Sheboygan Visual artists, Cedarburg Artist Guild, Rahr West Art Museum and Virtual Art Gallery of Sheboygan. Her work has been juried into many of these throughout her journey.

Grasse’s work is increasing in popularity as she has won the Juror’s Choice Award at SVA, The Viewer’s Choice Award at the Plymouth Art Center and a merit award at the Cedarburg Plein Air paint competition.

Growing up in England in the Swing’ 60’s exposed Patty Aker the glamour of that era. At the beginning of the Millennium, Aker returned to college to pursue her passion for art and fiber. She attended class at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, and the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan. Her current work started when asked to create a baptismal banner for her church. She endeavored to paint the banner on silk. The project took many months of trial and error. The experience was so wonderful and addictive that it has spurned a cottage business venture, Gaelic Sands.

In 2009, she trained as a docent at the John Michael Kohler Art Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan. She also joined two web-based art groups, which surrounds her with enthusiastic art-centered people and provides her with drive and inspiration for her work. Besides painting silk wall-hangings and canvases, Aker also creates art on silk scarves.

All artworks in the Art Reflections exhibit will be on display through October 25. The Fine Arts Gallery is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and located inside the Fine Arts Building.

For more information on the show or gallery talk, contact Carrie Hoppe, Director of University Relations, at (920) 459-6612 or e-mail carrie.hoppe@uwc.edu.