Kyle Martin is a painter from Reedsburg, Wisconsin. He approaches his work by observing and painting the effect of light falling on the landscape. His art is created outdoors, painted en plein air, taking direct inspiration from the subject. By using color to show atmosphere he will often return to the same location to capture different moods of the same scene. His luminous paintings are created with active brushwork and broken color.   Kyle’s work is displayed at the Cornerstone Gallery here in Baraboo.  He also has a blog where you can see a wide variety of his paintings as well as follow along “behind the scenes”.

Kyle Martin Painting from Paul Schonfeld on Vimeo.

Pickle relish and steel may not have much in common, but for Tom Montemurro the two may conjure up the word “passion”. You see Tom loves pickle relish (enough to visit his mother-in-law in Kansas to help make a batch to last him all year) and he loves to sculpt. Tom shapes steel with fabric-like viscosity. The children in his sculptures lend a carefree feeling and conjure up memories of playing pick up games with the neighbor kids.

It all started back in 1960 while Tom Montemurro was studying Industrial Design at San Jose State College. Tom was required to take a number of art courses, including sculpture. All of that bending, pounding, cutting, melting, welding, and sawing sparked an interest for Tom. A designer by day and sculptor by night, Tom eventually became captivated by the art form. He went back to school at Wichita State University to receive his BFA in Sculpture.

Tom has worked in the design field building models used in industry. His website www.montemurrostudio.net showcases many of his fabulous designs and displays a variety of styles from realistic to abstract. Tom feels the creative process is not magic. It requires discipline and, like any job, “you just have to do it”. He’s fueled by his interests in cars, trains, machinery, sports, wildlife, animals, children, and photography; however he is as much or more interested in the materials and process as the finished product.

Tom has lived in Lake Delton for the past thirty years with his wife, Alice. “Our two grown daughters have left, but our cats still like us,” states Tom. He is willing to discuss commissions for specific works and may be swayed with a jar of pickle relish.

The weekend’s snow fall certainly brought the holiday season to life.  We spend part of our snowy weekend exploring the Artisan Christmas show out at Papa Bear’s on Hwy 12.  While it seems the economy is on every-one’s minds this holiday season, the show was still enjoyed by lots of folks from around the area.  By now you know what we do around here is go out and get the pictures, so check the links below!   By the way, if you see something in a photo that you’d like to purchase as a gift for the holidays I’d suggest you go to the Artisan Christmas Website, then look up the artist.  There are samples of their work so you can make the connection, their contact information is there as well.

• 2010 Artisan Christmas Slide Show | Flickr Gallery

Over the next two weekends you’ll have a perfect opportunity to find a unique and truly special holiday gift here in central Wisconsin. This weekend (Dec 3-5) local artisans will be putting on the annual “Artisan Christmas” event at Papa Bear’s log cabin model home on highway 12 between Baraboo and Wisconsin Dells.  Then next weekend (December 10-11) more area artisans, authors & “purveyors of good things to eat” (according to the website.) will be holding the annual “Very Merry Holiday Fair” at 323 Water Street (Near Circus World Museum.) here in Baraboo.  Two weekends, two events, too many choices!

Here’s our spin.  Do both.  Each show has its own personality.  Although both shows are held in the Baraboo area, each has a different group of area artists.  You won’t see the same works at both shows.  The fact is, we know the organizers of both shows and know they put their hearts and souls into these events and the results are amazing, entertaining and a joy to attend.  Another point to make is that you will find some wonderful gift ideas that don’t cost a lot.   No one should feel they can’t afford to attend or even shop at art fairs.. I mean, let’s be real here.. these are artists.. They get it!  Lastly, we’ve learned to hold back a bit of our holiday shopping until after the Artisan Christmas & Very Merry Holiday Fair events.  Last year we found in-expensive hand-made toys that will last forever,  unique jewelry for under $30.00s and a few other little gems that we would have never found anywhere else.  Oh, and if you’re one of those folks who actually do buy your spouse a Lexus for Christmas.. there’s some choices for you as well.

• Artisan Christmas Website
• Our 2009 Artisan Christmas Gallery Slide show | or Flickr Gallery
• The Very Merry Holiday Fair Website
• Our 2009 Very Merry Holiday Fair Gallery Slide show | or Flickr Gallery

Picture: Jewelry by Jeff Hill of Hills Gallery & Gifts in Baraboo.

* Disclosure: As you can see both shows are advertisers on the Skillet Creek Journal.  But we’d be biased anyway. Promise! 

Downtown Baraboo businesses kicked off the holiday season last evening with their annual holiday wine walk. The exclusive event is sold out so quickly each year that in the end, most of are left to simply walk the side walks and window shop. With the holiday music echoing around the square and the shop windows in full holiday regalia, that’s not such a bad option either (Check out our photo gallery below).  This year we were invited to stop down and visit (even without tickets!) by the folks at Hills Gallery & Gifts. The gallery was simply “wall to wall” when we got there. Thankfully they were getting a lot of help from the artists of the upcoming Artisan Christmas event. Even as busy as they were, it was nice to get in and warm our toes! (Not to mention listen to local artist Todd Perche kicking it up on the bongos…) We thank them for the invitation and of course hope some of you will check them out this holiday season! Hills Gifts and Gallery is at 121 4th Street right by the coffee shop.

Today, the rest of us get to join in the fun as the downtown shops open their doors to everyone for the annual open house. It’s a good idea to stay around this evening as well for the annual holiday light parade. One thing about Baraboo, they certainly have this whole holiday thing down. We’ll see you this evening.  I’ll be the one with the camera! 

• Downtown Baraboo Window Shopping & Wine Walking Gallery (pop-up slideshow) | Flickr page

* Top image – Third Street, Outside Bekah Kates.

Artist Kathryn Vaughn is as interesting as she sounds, part artist, part writer, part jewelry designer, part florist, part radio personality, part cheese maker, it’s hard to know where to begin with Kathryn.  Originally from New Jersey, Kathryn moved to Madison, Wisconsin (currently living in Stoughton) in 1980 where she dabbled in many careers but it was a near death experience with pneumonia that spurred Kathryn into action to start making art in a serious manner.

Kathryn created her own medium, painting with cold water dyes, ink, and metallic powders.  The result is a painting with such great life it can not be reproduced in any form.  As an artist, Kathryn creates those things that she would like exist: a healed earth, blue roses that never die, a home where someone is always there for you, and a garden blanket to bring restful thoughts.

Kathryn’s original paintings, jewelry and bookmarks are for sale at the Cornerstone Gallery.

Odin's Canyon

Love's Healing

It’s that time again!  The Annual Fall Art Tour begins Friday at 10am and runs through Sunday afternoon.  The 3 day event (Oct. 15,16,17, 2010) offers folks a chance to visit the working studios of some of the area’s most talented artists. Now, don’t think the tour is simply a bunch of wealthy people buying costly art, it’s not that.  The Art Tour gives everyone the opportunity to actually explore artist studios, to see where and how they work, and how their unique art pieces are created. Certainly you can buy wonderful and sometimes pricey works of art for your home or office, but you’ll also find even $20.00 or less can bring home one-of-a-kind treasure from hand-made jewelry to unique post cards and more.   Read the rest of this entry »

Downtown Baraboo’s fall Fair on the Square made for a great way to spend a Saturday.  Thousands of folks from around the state converged on Baraboo’s historic square for another round of food, music, karate, belly dancers, and of course arts and crafts.  It’s fair to say that clear skies, fall colors and temperatures near 80 certainly boosted the attendance. While the annual event changes very little from year to year we were gratified to see some changes under the new organizers.  The live music was vastly improved (at least in the afternoon) and updated into the last century, while the introduction of a beer garden for the adults was a nice touch as well. The next Fair on the Square won’t happen again until spring.  Next up for downtown Baraboo?  BooFest!!  More on that in the near future…

Huge crowds turned out for the days events.

• More pictures from the Fair on the Square – Click Here.

Kids, don’t try this at home. That applies to pretty much everything you’ll see performed by the Golden Dragon Acrobats, a Chinese troupe of acrobats, jugglers, contortionists and all-around daredevils.”  – New York Post

The friends of the AL Ringling theater are proud to present the Golden Dragon Acrobats this this Friday, October 1st, 7:30pm at the historic Al. Ringling theatre in downtown Baraboo. Don’t miss this chance to see world-class artists performing acts of raw strength, great beauty and amazing skill. Admission is $26 for adults, $16 for seniors & students (including college with ID) and$11 for kids age 4-12.  For more information visit www.alringling.com.

More:

• Golden Dragon Acrobats Website

If you didn’t have the opportunity to explore the Sauk County Art Association’s Fine Arts Fair in Baraboo over the weekend never fear, we’ve got a nice selection of images from the event posted for you.  One thing we can’t replicate is the street recitations by “the Live Bard”, which may have been the day’s top entertainment.  There was also an open mic on the courthouse square, a farmer’s market and children performing Lithuanian folk dances under the marquee at the Al. What a mix! All in all, not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

• Click Here to view our Flickr Photo Gallery or view as a slide show here.
• Sauk County Art Association
• The Live Bard