Conley Publishing - Special Sections
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Meet MOWA exhibitor Tom Uttech Meet MOWA exhibitor By Ken Merrill Daily News Staff For Tom Uttech, the Museum of Wisconsin Art's new facility is a challenge. Uttech, a working artist for 50 years and an art professor at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee until his retirement 15 years ago, has what he modestly calls "a small national reputation as an artist." Truth be told, Uttech is one of the most important landscape Uttech artists in the United States. He's also been a member of the board at MOWA for five years. Although he says that he felt a bit out of his league at first, attending board meeting where the focus was primarily on the business side of the museum — "I sort of felt like an old wet turkey sitting in the back of the room," Uttech said in a recent phone interview — he's grown more comfortable as an artist with something to contribute to the museum's mission. Submitted The image of Tom Uttech's piece, "Nin Mamakadendam," is courtesy of Tory Folliard Gallery, Milwaukee. "We've gotten to the point now where there's something actually happening: my experience as an artist is starting to be used a little bit more," Uttech said. "I've been speaking up a little bit more about aspects of what the museum should be — where in the past if I were to start talking about interest rates, it would have been ridiculous." What should the museum be? "A place where the creation of art and the appreciation of art of Wisconsin is going to be fostered and encouraged and celebrated," Uttech said. "I think it's been relatively successful given the circumstances under which it existed ... that old building and the lack of certain kinds of exhibition space, educational opportunities and so forth." The museum's new home provides a radical change in circumstances — and a challenge for Wisconsin artists, Uttech said. "It really is an amazing building," Uttech said. "The whole situation is really unexpected and something a person would really never imagine. This is a national-class facility. "The presence of this museum and the attention that it will garner to the work brings a great deal of responsibility to us Wisconsin artists to show that we deserve that venue," he said. "It should make us take ourselves a lot more seriously and work a lot harder. The museum should not be a place that reduces itself by not expecting that of the artists and that may be very hard on us." A native of Merrill, Uttech lives on a 60-acre farm near Saukville. He's still creating art. "I've just returned from New York for a show ... and right now I'm preparing for another show at the Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee, probably in the fall of 2014. I'm working very hard at all of this and making a living at it." He clearly loves his work and relishes the opportunities MOWA's new digs will bring. "It's going to be a very big challenge for us and I think it'll be a lot of fun," he said. Lowe Truman Lowe By Jennifer McBride Daily News Staff Truman Lowe is sharing his perception of home with Museum of Wisconsin Art visitors. While touring the gallery, they will find themselves immersed in "Thunder." "Thunder"is a hanging piece that measures about 8 feet and fits within a 4-foot column with varying lengths of willow suspended, Lowe said. "Once it's suspended and you look at it, it looks like thunder and it looks like rain — it really does convey the sense of thunder," he said. The artist rips bark from willow trees and uses the core for his creations. He chose willow because it really doesn't age and with a bit of sandpaper it becomes almost white, he said. "It has a really nice quality that is smooth and soft to look at." He finds an agreeable farmer willing to get rid of the trees and usually gathers the willow in early summer. "When you cut a batch of willow it grows back even more beautifully," he added. The 69-year-old Madison resident was born in Black River Falls. After earning an undergrad degree at the University of WisconsinLa Crosse, he spent a few years teaching at the K-12 level. He wanted to be a better teacher and went on to earn a masters in fine arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he said. He taught for a year and a half in Kansas. "I discovered I was a woodlands Indian, not a plains Indian," he said. "I needed to get back to the trees and streams and the landscape." The UW-Madison art professor retiree of two years, and husband to Nancy, uses many natural materials derivative of woodland structures that his ancestors built in their shelters, he said, whether a wigwam or tepee. Congratulations to the MOWA! See you in Spring, 2013 230939001 6 • Museum of Wisconsin Art • News Graphic & Daily News • March 2013