Galena, Illinois artist Harold Martin paints powerful scenes in a way that captivates both the spirit and imagination of the viewer. One look at Mr. Martin’s work and his technical mastery is immediately evident. The Dubuque Museum of Art was proud to present this major installation of Mr. Martin’s highly realistic paintings and drawings. The remarkable figures in these works are Martin’s friends and acquaintances; their experiences and personalities sometimes establish the subject of the paintings. Religious symbols are prevalent throughout but, unlike Symbolism, each symbolic object does not always provide insight into some mysterious hidden meaning, instead the objects work together aesthetically to complete the work – more akin to the visual language of a modern day Hieronymus Bosch. Harold Martin graduated from the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the Art Institute of Chicago. He worked with the Leo Burnette and J. Walter Thompson advertising agencies for 25 years before answering his true calling as a painter.

Image: Harold Martin, My Four Masks, 2004, acrylic on panel, 30 1/2×48 1/2 in., collection of the artist

Textile or trompe-l’œil? Whether sewn, beaded, or embroidered, Richard Moninski’s textile paintings delight the eye – capturing an accurate yet painterly rendering of these masterfully crafted textile works. Moninski of Mineral Point, Wisconsin explored the varieties of brystklut, ornamental bodice inserts found on Norwegian women’s folk costumes, in this exhibition of his realistic oil paintings. Intrigued by the rich cultural heritage that shows through in the bodice designs, Moninski visited Norway in 1996 and 2000 to study first-hand the geometric and traditional patterns integrated into these complex pieces of fabric. The cleverly juxtaposed, abstract patterns inspired him to create this ongoing series of textile paintings.

Moninski received an MFA in 1984 from the State University of New York in Albany, and his BFA in 1980 from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He is the owner and director of Green Lantern Studio in Mineral Point.

Image: Richard Moninski, Brystklut VII, 2006, oil on linen, 32×34 in., courtesy of the artist

11 new artists filled the warehouse space at 10th and Jackson Street in Dubuque once again with their cutting edge artwork. Artists were Abigail Butcher, Jamie Elizabeth Hudrlik, Anita Jung, John Martinson, Tom Newport, Joey Wallis, Yen-Hua Lee, Bruce Howdle, John Kabot, Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, and Doug Schlesier. This years Voices exhibition also included a theatrical performance by The Loras College Players and Fly-By-Night Productions: Shakespeare Live – theater with an artistic twist.

Over 50 prints by such Regionalist masters as Thomas Hart Benton, John Steuart Curry, and Iowa’s favorite artist Grant Wood. This collection came from the extensive print collection of Dr. Belverd and Marian Needles of Chicago and the Dubuque Museum of Art was proud to be able to display these popular and timeless works.

Image: Thomas Hart Benton, Huck Finn, 1936, lithograph on paper, 19 5/8×23 5/8 in., collection of Belverd E. and Marian Needles

Galena, Illinois artist Nikolaus Miesing presented a select collection of some of his most stunning, Brancusi-inspired stone sculptures. Born in Germany, the artist often travels to Italy to select the stone that he will carve and has the marbles and travertines he chooses shipped back to the States. He also uses local materials like Iowa limestone. Miesing’s work had recently been featured in the Museum’s Biennial exhibition.

Image: Nikolaus Miesing, Stylized Female, 1999, Indiana limestone, 26 1/2x9x5 in., collection of the artist

How two very different artists interpret the same subject is a popular and often very appealing study. Such was the case with the exhibition, “Hands.” Minnesota artist, Petronella Ytsma and Illinois artist, Beth Shadur each use the human hand as the subject for their work. In Shadur’s mixed media works the hand represents a multicultural symbol for protection, prayer, unity, giving, and creating.

Ytsma calls the human hand the original and ultimate tool. In her series of hand photographs titled “Treuren”, Ytsma makes a statement using hands of all ages and races that have experienced all levels of manual labor and human toil.

Image left: Beth Shadur, Hand’s Off (detail)

With the endorsement of President Theodore Roosevelt and the backing of J.P. Morgan, Edward S. Curtis set about accumulating one of the most important cultural records of Native Americans ever assembled. He photographed tribes from Indian cultures between 1907 and 1930 covering the Plains to the Southwest, Northwest, and Alaska. These images are not purely ethnographic records. Curtis was an artist and that is evident in the moving impressions and pictorial nature of his portrait images.

Image: Edward S. Curtis, Geronimo – Apache, The North American Indian, volume I, plate 2, photogravure on Dutch Van Gelder paper, copyrighted 1907, Image: 15×10 ½ in., on long-term loan from the Carnegie-Stout Public Library, gift of Mrs. Emma H. Ward. LTL.1999.11.2

Mary Merkel-Hess is a genius with paper and fiber. The Dubuque Museum of Art was honored to exhibit the sculptures of this Iowa City fiber artist. Her brilliantly colored basket forms recall the soft movement of fields of grass on a windy summer day as well as the strict lines of a manicured lawn. Contained in a precisely arranged package, they are the epitome of natural beauty in their form and material.

Image: Mary Merkel-Hess, Haven, 2005, reed, paper, and acrylic paint, 19x14x6 in., courtesy of the artist

Pigs 1 to 10 is the story of ten industrious pigs and their quest to discover the mysterious land of their bedtime stories. This children’s book teaches counting and encourages the imagination and curiosity of young readers. Geisert is famous for his children’s book illustrations especially his use of pigs as the main characters in many of his books including Pigs from A to Z, Roman Numerals I to MM, Pa’s Balloon and Other Pig Tales, Mystery, Pigaroons, Lights Out, Oink, Oink Oink, and The Giant Ball of String.

Image: Arthur Geisert, Pigs From 1 to 10, pp. 14-15, 4/100, 1992, Etching on Rives BFK paper, 11 1/4×18 1/2 in., The Arthur Geisert Collection. Gift of Arthur and Bonnie Geisert, made possible by Jack and Mantea Schmid. 02.11.206

Prolific Dubuque artist, Joseph Walter (1865-1946), emigrated from Austria in 1898 and made a name for himself as a church muralist though his passion was painting pictures, primarily scenes of Dubuque and the surrounding landscapes. This exhibition showcased eight newly acquired works.

Image: Joseph Walter, Untitled, September 19, 1934, watercolor on paper, 12×18 in., gift of James S. and Marcia Christensen, in memory of parents Stanley T. & Gladys M. Christensen (Roberts) and her sister Lillian Roberts, a close friend of the Walter family, 05.08.015

Originally slated as a tri-annual invitational, this popular event now takes place every other year to maximize exhibition opportunities for regional artists. Artists within 200 miles of the museum were invited to submit their work for consideration by guest juror, Alan Z. Aiches, an art museum professional for over 25 years. Mr. Aiches established Aiches Design in Washington D.C. in 1998 and serves as an adjunct curator at the National Building Museum.

Image: RoseAnn Wilgenbusch, Surf City, October 2006, acrylic, copper leaf, and gold leaf, 30×40 in., courtesy of the artist

Strong colors, whimsical shapes, and bold symbolism highlight the abstract works of central Iowa artist, Ingrid Lilligren. An Associate Professor at Iowa State University, Lilligren received her M.F.A. from The Claremont Graduate School and her B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin. Her fresh California-influenced work provided a wonderful opportunity for visitors to experience a taste of the bustling Western art scene.

Image: Ingrid Lilligren, Dee’s Sniffer, 2002, clay, bamboo, and horsehair, 64x32x16 in., courtesy of the artist

An exhibition of illustrations created by Iowa artist Kettle made its exhibition debut at the Dubuque Museum of Art. Entitled Nomi’s Rainbow Family, the exhibition included 29 original paintings accompanied by the text for a children’s book by the same name.
This project was conceived of by Kent Shankle who worked in collaboration with his two daughters, Kethe and Naomi Shankle, to develop a fictional story based upon some of the real-life experiences that they encountered living in a non-traditional family situation. Naomi, whose nickname is “Nomi”, became the central character of the narrative. As she prepares to attend a family event at her school, she must come to terms with the fact that her family might be somewhat different from other families. The book attempts to address issues of divorce, alternative lifestyles and step-parenting in a light-hearted, yet straight-forward way, embracing and celebrating the diverse nature of contemporary families.

Images: Kettle, Nomi’s Rainbow Family, pp. 28-29, 2007, 4×6 in. ea., courtesy of the artist and Kent Shankle

Northern California painter Barry Masteller creates haunting cityscapes that recall the glowing effects of Rembrandt and the charcoal drawings of Seurat. In his Boulevard series, the artist has arranged city streets and apartment buildings, along with the silent movements of silhouetted, Hopperesque people seen through store or apartment windows, to create a sense of community and isolation.

Mr. Masteller has shown his work extensively, most recently at the Caldwell/Snyder Gallery in New York. His work is included in many public and corporate collections, including the Crocker Museum of Art and the Monterey Museum of Art.

Image: Barry Masteller, Boulevard 49, oil on canvas, 48×54 in., courtesy of the artist