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Reflection Gallery
Features Bergland Artist
Chris Wirtanen |
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| Hancock - April 5, 2009
The Reflection Gallery currently is
exhibiting the art of Bergland artist Chris
K. Wirtanen. Thursday afternoon there was a
reception held for the artist at the
Reflection Gallery, which is located on
Finlandia's Portage campus. This is a "must
see" exhibit. Ironwood residents will be
doing themselves a big favor to make the
trip to Hancock and view the artistry of
this Ironwood native. Chris grew up in
Ironwood and is a graduate of G.C.C.
Wirtanen's Exhibit of beautiful watercolor
paintings will be on exhibit through April
10th. |
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| Chris Wirtanen is a retired
after teaching art for 37 years. Chris
taught in elementary school, high school and
also taught art to adults. He completed a
Master of Arts with an emphasis on the lost
wax process of bronze casting, and has
completed additional university study at
several institutions, including University
of Wisconsin, Superior, and Northern
Michigan University, Marquette. |
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Now that Chris has retired he
has moved to Bergland. He says that he now
has the time to practice what he preached.
The educator in Chris came to the forefront
when addressed the Finlandia students
gathered at the reception. He answered their
questions and did a great job of sharing
some of his knowledge with the audience.
His artistic abilities come to the forefront
on the walls of the gallery which contain 24
terrific watercolor paintings he has
completed.
His impressions of
the rugged landscape and stark
beauty of his familiar haunts
are difficult to categorize, and
he shuns the idea of developing
a 'style.' He describes his
paintings as a reaction to the moment.
The exhibit at the Reflection Gallery
certainly gives credence to the many moods
of the U.P. that Chris says his watercolors
reflect.
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Pictured above
- top photo Rachael and "J" the
co-student curators of the Reflection
Gallery introduce Chris Wirtanen to the
audience. Middle - Chris meeting
with Denise Vandeville (left)
(Interim Dean of ISAD, Assistant Professor,
Ceramics), and Carrie Flaspohler
(right) (FU Gallery Director and Adjunct
Instructor).Bottom photo - Chris addressing
the students and other audience members. |
| The Reflection Gallery is
surely that to a photographer attempting to
capture some of the beauty of these
watercolor paintings. The gallery has
overhead florescent lighting which creates
much glare and many reflections in the glass
covered paintings. We did the best we could
to avoid the reflections that compromise the
beauty of these paintings. The following
are the paintings on exhibit until April
10th. |
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"New Friends" |
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"Quiet Realm" |
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"Mist Rising" |
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"Twisted Twilight" |
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"Chaos in Color" |
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"Colorama" |
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"Forest Fragments" |
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"Tumbling Wings" |
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"Brookie Dreams" |
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"Merriweather Glow" |
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"Ambush" |
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"U.P. Gothic" |
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"Forest Glow" |
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"Huron Mountain
Express" |
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"We Un's" |
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"Fall Run" |
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"Misty Blue" |
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"Silver Streak" |
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"Forest Ribbons" |
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"Beartooth Memories" |
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"Blue on Blue" |
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"Gogebic Morn" |
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"Prime Pair" |
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"Trio" |
| The Finlandia University
Reflection Gallery is open
Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m.
to 9:00 p.m. It is located on
the second level of Finlandia's
Juitila Center Campus, 200
Michigan St., Hancock. |
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