Waunakee Artisan Market

Imagine a walk in a forest after a spring rain, not rushing, but savoring each moment. Pause to examine an unfurling fern, or a tiny mushroom. Later, emerge into a meadow of wildflowers and butterflies. Breathe deeply, feeling refreshed. When you enter Gloria Beachey’s booth, you walk into a world of tiny woodland enchantments. Her unique jewelry pieces are created from real flowers, ferns and mushrooms that her husband helps her collect. She carefully dries each natural element in silica gel so that they retain their shape and color. Then she arranges them inside a bezel or frame in several layers of clear epoxy resin. The results are winsome woodland gems that transmit the tranquility of a walk down a forest path. Each piece is as unique as the natural elements they're made from. And Gloria Beachey is as delightful as her creations, so when you visit you may find that you lose time, as we did, just talking with her about her artwork and deciding which pieces you can’t live without. You’ll definitely want to spend some time with her at WAM on October 5th, and wander through her miniature forest.

gloribeejewelry.etsy.com

Our next WAM artist to introduce is Trudi Leder of Waunakee. Trudi’s photography has become something of a local phenomenon. Always a lover of photography and beautiful sunsets, Trudi began posting daily images during the pandemic on a Waunakee page with the caption “Goodnight Waunakee”. Her saturated and positive imagery received lots of likes and warm feedback from members of the community. Her desire to express herself and “make people happy” helped her to elevate her iphoneography to the next level, and taking at least one photo a day has given her a large stock of Waunakee area photos for creating cards and prints. Both Trudi herself and her art are well-loved in Waunakee. We’re excited to introduce her Waunashine work to more people. Make sure you mark your calendars to attend on October 5 @ Schumacher Farm Park, 10-5PM.

trudilederphotography.com/
Trudi Leder Photography
Waunashine group: Waunashine

From a long line of makers and farmers, Jill Johnson naturally feels drawn to create art inspired by her farm life, the natural world and centuries-old techniques in fiber arts. Using the ancient process of wet felting, her sheep's wools become the base for vessels, jewelry and wall pieces. Dyeing, embroidery, bead work, bits of metal, wire and found objects complete her highly detailed and unique fiber works. She reinterprets not just the many ways to use materials but also how to use them to represent the world by combining soft wools and fabrics with hard metals, perfect glass beads or irregular found objects to create pieces that defy categorization - more multi-media than strictly textile art. Jill’s work is at times representative, other times, abstract, but always evocative and tactile. It borrows from tradition but has a modern and uniquely Jill Johnson twist that makes it fresh and interesting. We’ve been recruiting Jill of RiverWinds Farm since the beginning of WAM and couldn’t be happier that her calendar opened up for us this year. Come wander through her charming booth and find some felted inspiration for you or someone you really like at WAM on October 5th.

riverwindsfarm.com

When we first saw Martz of Odonata Woodworks' booth, we did a double-take. At first, we saw her ocular wooden vase staring at us and then frames filled not with pictures but with artfully arranged dried flowers, until finally we noticed her hanging 3d hexagons. It was clear that this was an artist with a visionary design aesthetic. In her work we noticed not only the skill and care she takes with her chosen medium, but her love for the wood itself and the artistry that results from her passion. When making her large furniture pieces, Katie mills lumber to exact measurements, but there’s always extra unused wood. Unwilling to lose those beautiful scraps to fire, Katie honors the remainders by crafting them into gorgeous vases, framed floral-scapes, lamps and lanterns. As she repurposes remnants of walnut, cherry, ash & oak, Katie looks for the movement of the grain and the unique features of the wood to inform what she makes. Whether she opts for an organic fluidity that flows from her wood grains, or emphasizes the cool geometry that her material’s rigidity allows, each one of her creations provokes fascination and enhances the space it’s in. It’s no wonder she was awarded a three-month Artist Residency at Working Draft Beer Company in 2024 and received the Best New Artist award at the Lake Mills Art Festival in Fall 2023. At WAM, we love emerging artists with a new sustainable vision for old art forms. Check out Katie’s booth on October 5th to reuse, recycle and re-adorn!

www.odonatawoodworks.com

We love art for art’s sake and all the joy and insight it brings. But we’re also delighted when art can serve a practical purpose in the home. That’s one of the things that makes Gina McSherry’s work so special. As a retired floral designer, Gina wasn’t quite ready to leave her flowers behind. Instead, she incorporates them as an accent to her colorful mosaic flower pots or recreates abstract versions of their colorful forms by making fused glass floral sculptures. Her fused glass vases, plates and bowls with their bright color palette make any occasion special. After a year away, we are thrilled to welcome Gina McSherry back to WAM! Gina has been making her upbeat artwork since 2014 and continues to experiment and add new products and designs to her repertoire. We’re pretty sure we have some flowers that need a pretty, new pot to rest in. No doubt you do, too. Come brighten your day at WAM and spend some time with Gina McSherry and her Pretty Pots N Pieces.

https://prettypotsnpieces.com

Milwaukee sculptor, Burton J. Gross, uses his training in cartoon animation to create a wide array of expressive characters. From pop culture icons to whimsical creatures of his own design, Burton brings wry humor and skillful detail to both his 3D polymer clay sculptures and acrylic paintings. His themes and inspirations are derived from nostalgic pop-culture and nature, but he gives both his unique spin, adding whimsy and relatable expression to his characters. Cartoon-faced mushrooms display a wide range of emotions, while Mario and Luigi revel in a dance party and Ms. PacMan confidently ignores her menacing ghosts. Burton builds worlds that draw on the familiar but add new perspectives and emotions, allowing us to see our environment and fictional friends with new eyes. Plus, they’re just lots of fun! You’re sure to find a print or figurine that ignites both memory and delight for you or a lucky gift recipient. Once you enter Burton’s booth at WAM on October 5th, you won’t want to leave without a new pocket-sized friend of your own.


Burton J. Gross

Cameron Gillie’s photography keeps his step count high. We first discovered Cameron at an art fair where he was selling his unique black and white pinhole photography prints. We were fascinated by both the pinhole process and the moody vintage look of his images. What we didn’t yet know was that this was only the tip of his photographic iceberg. During his life-long career as a photographer Cameron’s done a little bit of everything, from newspaper photojournalism, to wedding photography, pinhole photography and, most recently, authoring photobooks. His first book, “Around Wisco – Hiking the Ice Age Trail” took him on a 1,200 mile journey where he discovered gorgeous places and fascinating people and towns while hiking the Ice Age Trail. It’s a stunning coffee-table book that will beckon you to open it and peruse the images and stories again and again. His second, newly published book, “Ristad Farms – Grain Farming in the Red River Valley”, documents the beauty and labor of the growing season on a working farm. In addition to these large hardcovers, Cameron has published some smaller supplementary “zines” showcasing specific places and his unique photographic style and equipment. Whether you purchase his prints, his books or both, Cameron has distilled the essence of what makes Wisconsin so special with his experience, skill and thoughtful eye. And there is another book currently in the making – this time from his perspective from a canoe! Come to WAM and while you’re choosing what images to bring home, ask Cameron about his next adventure!

www.aroundwisco.com

Need a little lift? We know the perfect booth for you to visit when you come to WAM on October 5th. New this year, Waunakee resident Melissa Hathaway began painting when she was battling some difficult health symptoms. She discovered that her whimsical & bright watercolors helped to calm her. Since then, she’s painted nearly every day, creating pieces that bring her joy. Her buoyant creations tell stories representing significant moments in her life. Each piece showcases her lighthearted style and often contains a charming detail like a little bird, a gleam of gold, a tiny house. The bright colors and deft brushwork imbue her paintings with a refreshing, spirit-lifting vibe that matches her goals for her work. Melissa believes that it only takes one light to illuminate the darkness, and that conviction inspired her business name: One Light Studio. She hopes her art will bring light and offer peace to the lives of those who view her work. We love the candy colors and playfulness she brings to her creations. They’re sure to brighten both your outlook and your home.
light.studio
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558625430401

One of our favorites, Rick Ross of Summit Art Studio from Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, has joined us at WAM since our very first year. Rick’s media is the fascinating combination of oil paint and cold wax. He works to both add, and at points in the process, strategically subtract layers of oil and wax. Repeating this process many times allows him to create textured, aged, atmospheric abstract and abstract landscape paintings. He says he’s always loved art but was inspired to return to it after becoming a parent and began seeing the world through the eyes of his children. Nature is his subject matter, whether literally interpreted through landscapes and still life or abstractly represented by the textures and depth of oil and cold wax medium. He loves to explore and is inspired by history, age and patina. We love the depth and richness of Rick’s evocative work and are thrilled that he’s sharing his work with Waunakee once again.

www.summitartstudio.com

Summit Art Studio

A dragonfly superimposed over the pattern of dragonfly’s wing, delicate grasses and prairie flowers that seem to stretch toward the sun, or the mesmerizing pattern reminiscent of a giraffe’s neck: somehow Carol White manages to capture delicate details and make them into wearable jewelry art. Created from silver, bronze, brass and copper, Carol’s unique pieces shimmer and glow in her elegant metals that are occasionally accented with gemstones. Each necklace and pair of earrings stands alone, whether made from sheet metal or a moldable product called metal clay and showcases her extraordinary eye and skill. Her innovative jewelry pieces are at once classic and yet utterly original. You’ll want to take some home both for yourself and as gifts for your most discerning and appreciative friends. Watch for the glints of light reflecting off of exquisite metallic treasures to lead you to CW Designs' booth on October 5th!

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076518324493

Next up, meet John Olthafer. He grew up in the hilly farm country in southwest Wisconsin, but now lives in Waunakee. He considers himself to be a woodworker, tinkerer, and artist and loves working with his hands and dreaming up new ideas. His creativity was born from dabbling in woodworking from his early teens - trying to build sensible items out of impractical wood scraps. Lazy "O" Wood Works is named for his father who used the Lazy ‘O’ brand for their family farm. Over time and with better tools he was able to hone his craft while staying true to his deep Wisconsin farm roots. John blends his skill and the beauty of his materials with items that are practical and often whimsical too. Can't wait to see his collection in October!

Lazy "O" Wood Works

Renee Gavigan of .guide stitches her artistic sensibilities into the educational fabric of our own Waunakee – teaching art to elementary students. But when she’s not guiding young artists, she’s creating her unique quilt paintings. Renee’s Wisconsin roots influence all of her work. She’s especially drawn to classic and contemporary quilt patterns and pushing the boundaries of organized chaos. She paints on both a large and small scale – her largest recent work featured quilt patterns painted on a giant wedge of cheese which was displayed last summer in downtown Monroe for their “Cheese Glorious Cheese” celebration! We are charmed by her painted quilt landscapes, and the way her work reflects the hues and textures of the Wisconsin countryside. It’s Wisco tradition and history with a bright, modern twist and we’re here for it! Say hello to your Waunakee neighbor and bring home some unmistakably Wisconsin-themed art home with you at WAM on October 5th.
guide
https://msgaviganart

Our last student artist, Gwenyth Severson, is a multifaceted person with many interests: violin, Taekwondo, engineering and astronomy. But it’s that last one, her love of all things space-related, that brought her to visual art. Gwenyth says she looks to outer space for the majority of her subjects and is inspired by what humans can achieve with technology as we look further into the sky. Though she experiments in cyanotype and nature photography, her true passion is capturing celestial images at night, particularly the ever-changing moon. An aspiring Electrical or Mechanical engineer, Gwenyth hopes to always pursue her astrophotography as a creative outlet. We hope she does too, and look forward to what her scientific and artistic sides create together. Come find out at WAM on October 5th.

New to WAM this year, artist and Waunakee High School student, Liesl Rettig, says of all the different art forms she’s experimented with, she’s most drawn to photography. As a child, she loved playing with her father’s Canon camera and found she was most compelled by images of architecture and nature. She loves looking for texture and lines to enhance her pictures and seeks out shots where the subject is in high contrast to its surroundings. She plays with taking shots in different types of light and has enjoyed taking photos both during travel abroad and closer to home. Her best work highlights her ability to frame a scene using leading lines and unusual perspective. We can’t wait to see what she’s been working on this summer and what journeys she’ll take us on with her unique viewpoint. Stop by her booth on October 5th to choose a first edition of this young artist’s unique photo prints.

Francesca Danielson loves to make people smile or laugh with her art. Her work often begins with sketches in her notebook which she then transfers to digital drawing software. From there she plays with her imagery, exploring different forms, to create everything from charming cartoon animals to sophisticated sports logos. She has an uncanny ability to transmit a wealth of expression through only a few deftly applied lines on her animal character faces, even while exploring different graphic styles. Though this is her first WAM, she’s no stranger to the business of art and has already sold her work at Waunakee High School. She’s experimental with her art products as well, and creates prints, stickers, temporary tattoos, magnets and t-shirts to sell. We love Francesca’s entrepreneurial spirit and whimsical artistic vision. We’re already saving a spot on our laptop for an original Danielson sticker, and we’re excited to check out her eclectic array of wares at WAM on October 5th.

sites.google.com/waunak
eecsd.org/stickers-com/home

B Lutes has been a student artist at WAM since our first year and the quality and complexity of their work continues to grow. A passionate drawer and painter, B creates exquisite drawings which they color with subtle gradations of color with markers or watercolors. B's favorite subjects are fantasy characters, robots, plants and animals and they render each of them with love and humor. Most recently B won a WRAP state award for a sculpted rendering of one of their robot drawings. The evocative 3d work showcases the extraordinary care and whimsical detail B puts into every one of their pieces. Their illustrations, even those of realistic subjects, incorporate delightful elements of fantasy, making each image uniquely theirs. B will be offering framed originals, prints, stickers and buttons of their work. We just got word that they will also have some hand painted polymer clay jewelry. We love the imagination, expression and stories hidden in all of B’s art and know you will too. Make sure to come and encourage all of our student artists on October 5th from 10-5!

sites.google.com/view/the-art-of-b-lutes/homeoctopus.art

We are completely astounded by the art of University of Wisconsin-Madison student, Annika Quint. Annika first joined us last year as a recent graduate of Waunakee High School. Her otherworldly visions are executed with a technical skill and an eye for composition that are beyond her years. Annika has been pursuing her craft for a long time as an artist from birth. She says that she fell in love with drawing and painting at three years old, when she smeared abstract shapes onto the walls of her playpen. Art has become a way for her to communicate and to express emotions she finds difficult to verbalize. She hopes her pieces speak to others who yearn to be seen and heard. Annika is a multi-award-winning artist and her work has been displayed twice in the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art – credentials many adult artists would envy. We love the detailed delicacy of Annika’s images, the breadth of emotion she transmits, and her unique, imaginative voice evident in every one of her creations. You’ll want to start collecting her work at WAM on October 5th so that you can say you knew her when she was just starting out!

WAM is excited to begin introducing our exceptional student artists. These young emerging artists, selected through our juried application process, are awarded free booths to help them get started as they begin to share their amazing art with the world. WAM will also be awarding at least one scholarship to one of our Waunakee High School students.
Our first student, Kai Benz, is returning for their second year. Both mixed media art and photography require an ability to view the world from a unique perspective and to compose and frame the art you see. Kai Benz has this ability and their emerging art reveals how they see both the outer world and their inner world – a tiny shadowed gray shell set in a background of sand, a dark layered canvas that’s torn and roughly re-sewn, a foreground of grass pushing its way through a boardwalk by the light of the distant setting sun. In their work we see a theme of the beauty in overlooked details, and the effort of becoming. Are you wondering, like we are, what new observations Kai has made over the summer? Join us at WAM on October 5th to see the world from Kai’s perspective.
photog

Mary Wright is an exceptional mixed-media artist, award-winning art teacher in the for 28(!) years in the Waunakee School District, and a dedicated liaison and mentor to our WAM student artists since our beginning. Known for her custom collaged family portraits, this year Mary has harnessed her talent as a “compulsive embellisher” to share her whimsical non-representational acrylic paintings and her beloved moon men wall sculptures. Mary’s paintings are a dancing mélange of color, pattern and texture. Their energy and movement in bright psychedelic hues conjure both memory and emotions. The vintage “Moon Man” reproductions also stir remembrance. After Mary's mother passed away last year, she started making replicas of her mom's "moon man" art piece dating back to the 1930s. Initially, Mary made them as family gifts in memory of her mom. But as demand for the droll relief sculpture grew, Mary continued to make them in a variety of colors and finishes for many avid buyers. An artist to her very core, everything about Mary is effusively creative. Seeing the world through Mary’s eyes is a true delight and perspective-changing experience. Your visit to her booth will be a highlight of your day at WAM, and the print or relief sculpture you bring home will be a lasting souvenir from an authentically artistic soul.

Mary Go Round- Mary Wright, Artist