About the Artist

Biographical/Educational Information: Artist Gary John Gresl

• Born May 12, 1943, Manitowoc, WI;
• Attended Catholic grade school, public high school, Manitowoc County Teachers College;
• University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (BS with Music Minor);
• Additional art and art history classes thru UW Oshkosh and Silver Lake College Manitowoc;
• University of Wisconsin Madison, MS Related Art Dept. School of Family Resources and Consumer Sciences, (formerly called School of Home Economics and subsequently called School of Human Ecology);

• Art classes in high school;
• Art and art history classes at UW Stevens Point, UW Oshkosh, Silver Lake College;
• Art history and Museum Training and Connoisseurship classes at UW Madison;
• Taught art plus other subjects in the Brillion, WI school district 1966-71, Principal of a small middle school for two of those years;
• Self-taught in the directions and techniques of assemblage.

• Exposure to Abstract Expressionism during the 1950's;
• During a New York World's Fair excursion in 1963-64 saw Franz Kline and Rauschenburg works in New York City;
• Youthful experiences as collector of various materials from rocks to coins;
• Creating first assemblage 1964 using found objects from an abandoned farm dump;
• Experiences on farms, rural and natural settings as a youth;
• Example of enthusiastic teaching/learning from a teacher. J. V. Ackerman, at Manitowoc County Teachers College;
• Real life experience and traumas of growing and teaching in Brillion WI;
• Marriage... children... divorce;
• Antique/collectible dealing;
• Self education in 20th Century abstract art from Kandinsky thru the 70's;
• Recognition in age 30's/40's that personal judgment of what good art might be is as viable as anointed critics and museum personnel;
• Operating a business for over 25 years;
• Working with other professionals in the fields of antiques and art;
• Personal associations with artists including John Balsley, Estherly Allen, Kenn Kwint, Rudy Rotter, to name but a few.
• Working on the Board of Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors in all positions for a number of years.
• Co-founder of MVAR, Milwaukee Visual Arts Roundtable, yr. 2000
• Contributing author to bimonthly "Art In Wisconsin", newsletter of Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors, Inc.
• Nominated for 2001 Governor's Award in Support of the Arts, community organizations category
• Spokesperson for adaptive reuse of the Praries School Old Coast Guard station on Milwaukee's Lake Michigan shoreline for use as a center for regional art
• Founder and Co-Chair of the Wisconsin Visual Art Lifetime Achievement Awards, along with the West Bend Art Museum and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.
• Served as juror for exhibitions and participant in art workshops
• Invited Guest Speaker UW Milwaukee, Carroll College, and others