Two Wisconsin Artists Featured at Charlene’s Gallery Ten

Painted woodcut by Marilu McCartney.

Charlene Berg at Gallery Ten in Gills Rock is anticipating the forthcoming summer art scene with a roster of ten new local and regional artists in featured solo-exhibits and the works of more than 100 others on display in her collection. An exhibit of hand-painted woodcuts by Oconomowoc’s Marilu McCartney and the photography of Jacksonport’s Paul Schwengel are currently showing through June 5. On Saturday, May 24 Charlene invites the public to meet McCartney and Schwengel in person at a gallery reception in their honor from 3 – 5 pm.

McCartney applied her visual talent early on commercially as a freelance artist and as a public school art teacher; however, the majority of her career has been spent with an architectural design firm, focused on manufacturing and home construction.

Her personal artistic endeavors are centered on the creation of woodcut prints. Having achieved a Masters Degree in Printmaking at UW Madison in the ‘60s, she further pursued studies at the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Washington, Seattle.

“I enjoy the process of cutting a drawing into wood because, no matter how carefully I plan it, each particular piece of wood always has something itself to say about my rendering of the final image,” she explains.

Paul Schwengel’s photography is featured in the Tower Gallery at Charlene’s. He began taking photos as a young teenager and was encouraged in high school joining the yearbook staff and proceeded from there to work in advertising. Self-taught through research and the study of magazines, books and by making “thousands of good and bad exposures,” Schwengel says he is most influenced by the works of Paul Strand and other early B&W photographers.

Photo by Paul Schwengel.

“Black and white close-ups have always been my medium,” he says, “looking for the unusual perspective, angle or view not readily apparent in everyday scenes.”

Berg says, “The gallery has never looked so good,” extending a cordial invitation for art lovers to see for themselves and meet McCartney and Schwengel at the Saturday, May 24 reception.

Charlene’s Gallery Ten represents over 100 artists in a gallery collection that is contemporary, original and eclectic. GT Coffee, complements the gallery, serving espresso drinks, free wi-fi access and Door County cherry pie by-the-slice.

The gallery and coffee shop are open Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday), from 8 am to 5 pm at 12625 Hwy. 42 in Gills Rock, Wisconsin. Telephone 920.854.9907 for further information or visit on-line at http://www.GalleryTen.com.