Community Artists
Gordon and Marie Borchardt
Gordon and Marie Borchardt both excelled in art. Marie taught art at Slinger Middle School and her way of expressing art was through flyers and programs for the chorus and band concerts. She also did numerous pieces for the family that depicted religion. She also used watercolors and acrylics and depicted water. Gordon had his own educational TV show for art in Milwaukee and ran a printing business. Not only did his art reach out to the community but also in his private life. Together, Gordon and Marie created many works that hung in their house and each year, they would make the entire family original Christmas cards. His art was prevalent in the community. His painting "Schleisingerville to Slinger: 1921" was at various local businesses including Joe's Barber Shop and the Associated Bank in Slinger. It currently is up near the entrance of Slinger High School near the district office (2014). This mural done in 1984 depicts 21 builds most of which Gordon sketched on the spot. 12 of the 21 were in their original form (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 1). It took him four hours a day for six months to finish the painting. His artwork can also be found in the E.H. Wolf business in Slinger (Weninger 2013). There he has three train paintings. Also his artwork hangs in a First United Methodist church in Hartford (Times Press). In an interview with Denise Borchardt, granddaughter of Gordon and Marie, she spoke very highly about them and their passion for art. Denise explains, “They are very near and dear to my heart. They were very involved with my sister, brother and I, and just very active so it’s kind of cool to play an active role in bringing their art to the community. They had so much to share and that’s exactly what they wanted to do with their art. You see a lot of murals with stories.I really felt that they wanted to carry those stories on.” Gordon and Marie met in college as they both were taking art classes to pursue their passions. Together Gordon and Marie even took a trip to New York and painted multiple pictures of the harbor and city. (Interview with Denise Borchardt 2013)
Jessica Herrmann, Senior, 2014
More Borchardt art here. Below are some of Gordon's paintings that are currently housed at E.H. Wolf, Sons (2014)
E.H. Wolf, Sons is located right next to the railroad tracks.
Jessica Herrmann, Senior, 2014
More Borchardt art here. Below are some of Gordon's paintings that are currently housed at E.H. Wolf, Sons (2014)
E.H. Wolf, Sons is located right next to the railroad tracks.
Chris Graziano
If you were looking for the most recent mural in Slinger, you would want to look at the Slinger Community Library. High school art teacher, Mr. Chris Graziano, brightened up the library with a bang by painting his mural "Adventures Ahead." Painted in 2013, it took him approximately 60 hours to complete. His inspiration was to make it fun and lively for the kids that took part in the library. He incorporated many important symbols of our town, like for example; a 1953 Slinger fire truck, a Stork for Storck Brewery, the Slinger Racetrack, the watertower, St. Peters Church and even the ski hill, Little Switz. Graziano says it was fun to do and it was nice contributing to something people will appreciate
-Maddie Hassinger, Senior, 2014
-Maddie Hassinger, Senior, 2014
Chris Graziano constructed a "very abstract, industrial door" for the art studio located in the basement of Slinger High School in the 2013 school year. His goal was to "give people the impression that work was always going on in the art room." It also symbolizes that art can be expressive in many different ways, shapes, and forms. (Graziano interview, March 2014)
-Mallory Schoenke, Senior, 2014
-Mallory Schoenke, Senior, 2014
Art studio door (Side view, 2014).
Below: Graziano artwork at St. Peter's Church
Below: Graziano artwork at St. Peter's Church
Fred Stonehouse
Fred Stonehouse is an artist residing in the Slinger School District. He currently teaches art at UW-Madison and has his work on exhibit locally at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend and also at the Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee.
From the authors of the Tory Folliard Gallery website: "A major figure in Wisconsin art, Fred Stonehouse is nationally recognized for his beautifully executed artwork and witty sense of rebellion. His style has a sophistication that reflects his diverse, cross-cultural interests, and outsider and folk art influences. Often encompassing religious or surreal contexts, his paintings are a materialization of his nostalgia for familiar cartoon figures of the past, blended with the artist's own delicate balance of humor, beauty and derangement. The artist, a Milwaukee native, has enjoyed over fifteen museum exhibitions across the country including a retrospective at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and has been featured in Blab and Juxtapose magazines."- (Tory Folliard Gallery.com, March 12, 2014)
According to Kevin Lynch of Express Milwaukee.com, "Stonehouse's world looks past the Techno-web world to deeper issues of connection, or disconnect, with nature and self and others." (Shephard Express, Express Milwaukee.com, January 3, 2012).
Stonehouse explains his painting Marsh Night in a Press Release for his solo exhibit at California studio Koplin Del Rio. "The marsh is a place where the boundaries between water, earth and sky are blurred and blend into an atmospheric melange that serves as an apt metaphor for the creative process. In the marsh of my imagination, the rules of logic and natural science are reborn as whimsy and invention." (Stonehouse, Fred. Press Release from KoplinDelRio website. May 2011).
From the authors of the Tory Folliard Gallery website: "A major figure in Wisconsin art, Fred Stonehouse is nationally recognized for his beautifully executed artwork and witty sense of rebellion. His style has a sophistication that reflects his diverse, cross-cultural interests, and outsider and folk art influences. Often encompassing religious or surreal contexts, his paintings are a materialization of his nostalgia for familiar cartoon figures of the past, blended with the artist's own delicate balance of humor, beauty and derangement. The artist, a Milwaukee native, has enjoyed over fifteen museum exhibitions across the country including a retrospective at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and has been featured in Blab and Juxtapose magazines."- (Tory Folliard Gallery.com, March 12, 2014)
According to Kevin Lynch of Express Milwaukee.com, "Stonehouse's world looks past the Techno-web world to deeper issues of connection, or disconnect, with nature and self and others." (Shephard Express, Express Milwaukee.com, January 3, 2012).
Stonehouse explains his painting Marsh Night in a Press Release for his solo exhibit at California studio Koplin Del Rio. "The marsh is a place where the boundaries between water, earth and sky are blurred and blend into an atmospheric melange that serves as an apt metaphor for the creative process. In the marsh of my imagination, the rules of logic and natural science are reborn as whimsy and invention." (Stonehouse, Fred. Press Release from KoplinDelRio website. May 2011).
http://toryfolliard.com/artists/fred-stonehouse/
http://www.fredstonehouseart.com/
The Owl Gallery
The Owl Gallery is located in Slinger High School. The Owl Gallery was the vision of SHS art teacher, Chris Graziano, and was constructed during the summer of 2012. Here student artwork such as paintings, drawings and sketches are displayed for the school and community.
Slinger Art Gallery Donors (See attachment below the picture)
| owl_gallery_donors.doc |
The following quotes were collected by sociology student, Mallory Schoenke, in the 2013-2014 school year concerning the mood and effect of the Owl Gallery by students and faculty.
Faculty quotes:
The Owl gallery is such a beautiful place to show case the artistic talents of so many Slinger HS students. I am always impressed by the new and creative items displayed. The owl gallery has improved the hall's appearance by 100%; it now reflects the classiness of the student body.
- E.H. Guth-Degner
I stand in wonder at some of the pieces and recall former classmates that were great artists. One girl at my elementary school was excellent at coloring; she put the rest of us third graders to shame. I often think of her when I'm standing at the gallery. It also makes me feel good to know that so many students have an outlet to develop their talents here at the high school. Talents come in so many forms.
-Barb Herther
The renovation has completely changed the feeling in the hallway. The hallway was boring and empty. Not a place to want to visit, and pause to observe. Now the hallway is colorful, creative, and filled with exceptional work that you can't help but to want to stop and look at. For others coming into our school - new students, or parents - this is SO MUCH better than the hallway before. This is actually a central location to show on a tour now....where before it was just a place to walk through.
-Mrs. Holzer
For more faculty comments on the Owl Gallery click on the link below.
Faculty quotes:
The Owl gallery is such a beautiful place to show case the artistic talents of so many Slinger HS students. I am always impressed by the new and creative items displayed. The owl gallery has improved the hall's appearance by 100%; it now reflects the classiness of the student body.
- E.H. Guth-Degner
I stand in wonder at some of the pieces and recall former classmates that were great artists. One girl at my elementary school was excellent at coloring; she put the rest of us third graders to shame. I often think of her when I'm standing at the gallery. It also makes me feel good to know that so many students have an outlet to develop their talents here at the high school. Talents come in so many forms.
-Barb Herther
The renovation has completely changed the feeling in the hallway. The hallway was boring and empty. Not a place to want to visit, and pause to observe. Now the hallway is colorful, creative, and filled with exceptional work that you can't help but to want to stop and look at. For others coming into our school - new students, or parents - this is SO MUCH better than the hallway before. This is actually a central location to show on a tour now....where before it was just a place to walk through.
-Mrs. Holzer
For more faculty comments on the Owl Gallery click on the link below.
| owl_gallery_quotes_and_sociology.docx |
In addition to student art, the Owl Gallery occasionally has faculty art on exhibit. What a great inspiration to students to see their teachers' work.
(Photo on left from Fall 2014)
(Photo on left from Fall 2014)
Student Quotes:
"We don't have an art club in school, so for me, this is a place for artists as a group to display their work. It's a collection of expressions. It's my favorite section of school." Lea Mason (spring 2014)
"There is a sense of pride for student artists to get their work up in the Owl Gallery." Payton Scheel (spring 2014)
"We don't have an art club in school, so for me, this is a place for artists as a group to display their work. It's a collection of expressions. It's my favorite section of school." Lea Mason (spring 2014)
"There is a sense of pride for student artists to get their work up in the Owl Gallery." Payton Scheel (spring 2014)
The Art Department sponsored a "Post-It Note" contest. Students and faculty were challenged to created art limited in size to a post-it note. Students and faculty voted on winners. (Fall 2014)
Over the summer of 2014, Chris Graziano and others created "The Loft" out of an unused stairwell. Click here for more information on this project that connects to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). Below is a collection of food based art to match the 2014-2015 research topic agriculture and food ways. One aspect students looked at was the influx of different waters and nutritional beverages on the 2015 market. (See Lea Mason's piece in middle). Photo by Nancy Schilling-Genz
Student Artists
Student Place Based Art: Using the Slinger Area/Culture as Muse
Life in a Year
By: Valentina Sierralta Sotomayor, Senior, 2014 (foreign exchange student from Chile)
Our life is like juggling, we throw everything up in the air and we have to keep moving it so it doesn’t fall. We carefully keep adding more to this, and little by little we shape our lives, who our friends are, and who we are. Leaving this, it’s hard, and it is even harder when you feel that you belong there, that you know who you are and what you are doing. You stop this juggle and you leave.
Slinger is the place where I had to start juggling all over again-creating memories, making friends, understanding a language and how the people behave. I had a dead line, and it is after a year that I can say that Slinger is my second home.
By: Valentina Sierralta Sotomayor, Senior, 2014 (foreign exchange student from Chile)
Our life is like juggling, we throw everything up in the air and we have to keep moving it so it doesn’t fall. We carefully keep adding more to this, and little by little we shape our lives, who our friends are, and who we are. Leaving this, it’s hard, and it is even harder when you feel that you belong there, that you know who you are and what you are doing. You stop this juggle and you leave.
Slinger is the place where I had to start juggling all over again-creating memories, making friends, understanding a language and how the people behave. I had a dead line, and it is after a year that I can say that Slinger is my second home.
Pike Lake Trail
By: Jessica Herrmann, Senior, 2013
This fall landscape depicts a nature trail at Pike Lake State Park. Every year since I moved here 12 years ago my mom and I hike up to the Pike Lake Tower and climb to the top and admire the spectacular view of the leaves changing colors. It reminds me of Slinger because it shows me how privileged I am to live in a place where I can take the time to watch something as simple as the leaves change colors and fall to the ground.
By: Jessica Herrmann, Senior, 2013
This fall landscape depicts a nature trail at Pike Lake State Park. Every year since I moved here 12 years ago my mom and I hike up to the Pike Lake Tower and climb to the top and admire the spectacular view of the leaves changing colors. It reminds me of Slinger because it shows me how privileged I am to live in a place where I can take the time to watch something as simple as the leaves change colors and fall to the ground.
Powder Hill
By: Amber Hautula, Senior, 2013
Powder Hill is one of those significant landscapes that in themselves represent the community. My charcoal drawing was used to illustrate the simple beauty that draws people to Slinger. A winter picture was used to represent how powder hill was created from the glaciers that spanned most of Wisconsin. The road symbolizes how humans have modified and interacted with some of the natural capital in the area.
By: Amber Hautula, Senior, 2013
Powder Hill is one of those significant landscapes that in themselves represent the community. My charcoal drawing was used to illustrate the simple beauty that draws people to Slinger. A winter picture was used to represent how powder hill was created from the glaciers that spanned most of Wisconsin. The road symbolizes how humans have modified and interacted with some of the natural capital in the area.
Best Friends
By: Mallory Schoenke, Senior, 2013
My painting is based off a picture that I found of my little brother and his best friend who were in the Slinger soccer club from the year 2008. This painting represents how important soccer is to Slinger and how close everyone is to each other. Slinger is such a small town, everyone tends to know everyone! The two boys in this painting are now in middle school together and are still best friends.
By: Mallory Schoenke, Senior, 2013
My painting is based off a picture that I found of my little brother and his best friend who were in the Slinger soccer club from the year 2008. This painting represents how important soccer is to Slinger and how close everyone is to each other. Slinger is such a small town, everyone tends to know everyone! The two boys in this painting are now in middle school together and are still best friends.
Dog Named JJ
By: Sofia Herman, Junior, 2013
My name is Sofia A and I was born and raised in Russia for 8 years of my life. Later was adopted by and American family and moved to my home town now which is Slinger. My Slinger painting is of a Dog named JJ. The reason for why this dog is Slinger to me is because where I grew up (Russia) we couldn’t really own a pet and when I moved to Slinger, a dog was one of the first pets I actually admired and loved.
By: Sofia Herman, Junior, 2013
My name is Sofia A and I was born and raised in Russia for 8 years of my life. Later was adopted by and American family and moved to my home town now which is Slinger. My Slinger painting is of a Dog named JJ. The reason for why this dog is Slinger to me is because where I grew up (Russia) we couldn’t really own a pet and when I moved to Slinger, a dog was one of the first pets I actually admired and loved.
Year Book Memories
By: Kiley Sabin, Senior, 2013
My painting is of my grandma’s senior year yearbook page. She graduated from Slinger in 1959. This painting is very special to me because my grandma passed away over a year ago and I wanted to create an important snapshot of her life. On the left hand side of the painting all of her extra-curricular activities are listed and then in the corner was a note from one of her friends. The various pictures pasted around her portrait are from the things she did throughout her high school career. Cheerleading and color guard were two of her favorite activities; she also loved to play in the band and pep-band.
By: Kiley Sabin, Senior, 2013
My painting is of my grandma’s senior year yearbook page. She graduated from Slinger in 1959. This painting is very special to me because my grandma passed away over a year ago and I wanted to create an important snapshot of her life. On the left hand side of the painting all of her extra-curricular activities are listed and then in the corner was a note from one of her friends. The various pictures pasted around her portrait are from the things she did throughout her high school career. Cheerleading and color guard were two of her favorite activities; she also loved to play in the band and pep-band.
Jim’s
By: Sarah Craine
Jim’s is a place we all go in Slinger to relax and enjoy amazing TALL ice-cream cones with our friends and family. It’s the perfect little ice-cream shop in this small town. Even if you order the smallest size, a baby, they still make it bigger than any ice-cream you would get anywhere else. Jim’s is a place that makes you feel at home with all the friendly people. I remember all the times I went there with my friends before all the Slinger High School homecoming parades. Jim’s will always be a place I will remember for a life time.
By: Sarah Craine
Jim’s is a place we all go in Slinger to relax and enjoy amazing TALL ice-cream cones with our friends and family. It’s the perfect little ice-cream shop in this small town. Even if you order the smallest size, a baby, they still make it bigger than any ice-cream you would get anywhere else. Jim’s is a place that makes you feel at home with all the friendly people. I remember all the times I went there with my friends before all the Slinger High School homecoming parades. Jim’s will always be a place I will remember for a life time.
Tin and The Nugget
By: Morgan Mountjoy, Sophomore, 2013
In my charcoal drawing it is very clear the love and compassion the mother is giving the child in that captured moment, and for the rest of her life. Slinger has shown love and compassion for all the citizens for many past generations, and, like the mother in the picture, Slinger will never stop giving the love and compassion to the villagers who inhabit it.
By: Morgan Mountjoy, Sophomore, 2013
In my charcoal drawing it is very clear the love and compassion the mother is giving the child in that captured moment, and for the rest of her life. Slinger has shown love and compassion for all the citizens for many past generations, and, like the mother in the picture, Slinger will never stop giving the love and compassion to the villagers who inhabit it.
By: Tim Meyers
The Slinger High School Marching Band is well known in the area. Autumn offers spectators opportunities to see the band march at football games and parades. Slinger students researched the band and other music entities in the Slinger area during the 2013-2014 school year.
Artist unknown.
By: Abby Gagne
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By Abby Gagne
In 2014-2015, students were challenged to incorporate Slinger area agriculture and food themes into their work. Corn continues to be a popular crop to produce in the Slinger area. There was an early November snow in Slinger in 2014. |
