Gills Rock Coffee Opens Season with Four Artists

Gills Rock Coffee Shop will show the work of four artists this season. The exhibit features the artwork of photographer Ann Ratkowski, metal worker Lewis Risenhoover, mixed media artist Norm Knott, and clay artist Kris Franzke.

Ratkowski has a passion for photography that started 40 years ago when she received a camera for a birthday gift. Today she uses a Canon with a zoom lens, which comes in handy for taking pictures of boats without getting her pants wet. This is her first opportunity to share her photography with the public.

Risenhoover, born and raised in Colorado, is currently a welder by trade in Oostburg, Wis. To create his finely detailed wall hangings, he first draws a picture on paper, cuts out a stencil, and traces it onto a piece of stainless steel. Then he uses a plasma cutter to cut out the picture free hand. This is also his first time exhibiting his work publicly.

Knott, who was represented by the former Charlene’s Gallery Ten, is a mixed-media artist whose work has been exhibited in solo and group museum shows nationwide. In addition to showing his “McBuddha – The Spiritual Franchise” installation, Knott will introduce “Normaments” to Door County.

Franzke, another artist who showed in the former Charlene’s Gallery Ten, works in many mediums, but the collection she’ll show is made of clay. The pieces are different from her past work, which was vibrant with color, because they’re black and white. The process begins with building forms, then continues with molding the clay, adding an underglaze, and using the sgraffito method to create the design.

Gills Rock Coffee is located at 12625 Highway 42 in Gills Rock. For more information call 920.854.9907.