`Eight Counties’ exhibition showcases three local artists

Works by local artists Richard Bronk, Dan Gardiner and Jason Lantagne will be featured in Eight Counties, an exhibition running Jan. 24-March 21 at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan.

The public is invited to a free opening celebration from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24. Arts Center Director Ruth DeYoung Kohler will welcome artists and visitors and present $3,000 in awards at 1 p.m. Curator Jennifer Jankauskas will share her insights on the exhibition during a gallery talk at 1:30 p.m. The event will afford an opportunity to mingle with the artists and includes live music and light refreshments.

Two of Bronk’s pieces were accepted – a table and a chair. Gardiner and Lantagne each will have a painting in the exhibition. This is the 12th in a series devoted to showcasing the diversity and strength of art created in Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Washington counties.

“This year, our call for entries generated an unprecedented response, and the final selection of works was drawn from a competitive field of over 1,550 works of art by more than 500 artists. Eight Counties presents an inspiring vision of the vibrant artistic spirit alive in the region,” said Jennifer Jankauskas, Arts Center associate curator.

Eight Counties boasts more than 150 works of art in a variety of media, including painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, woodcarving, textiles and glass. The pieces range from old-world traditional to contemporary in style. The exhibition is an important part of the Art Center’s deep commitment to nurturing emerging and established artists from local communities and throughout the country.

The Arts Center is located at 608 New York Ave., Sheboygan, and opens daily at 10 a.m. Admission is by freewill donation. Free parking is available. For more information, call (920) 458-6144 or visit www.jmkac.org/EightCounties.