The summer has been positive in the studio as the grounds have moved away from the square and in some cases away from the straight edge. These are obviously not a new invention for the world of the arts but for a novice woodworker (if I can even call myself that) this is a new approach (the curved ones especially). All of the works are available (at the writing of this) so please contact me if you are interested. Enjoy!

Saturday made my (and EXPO Chicago‘s) return to Navy Pier. It has been a long time and the day was well spent. Seeing artworks, galleries, artists, and gallerists from around the world was fulfilling (and really visually exhausting). It was fantastic to run into a friend Frank Juarez and then an Instagram celebrity and artist more-so in her own right Mallory Shotwell (follow them both) as I worked my way through almost every booth. Enjoy the images and make sure you plan two days next year for EXPO Chicago.

When one has a small group but a large voice the changes that can take place in society can be huge.

Gallup’s latest update on U.S. abortion attitudes finds 58% of Americans opposed to overturning the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, while 32% are in favor. Since 1989, between 52% and 66% of U.S. adults have wanted to maintain the landmark abortion decision. Today’s support roughly matches the average over that three-decade period. – Lydia Saad: June 19, 2021

https://news.gallup.com/poll/350804/americans-opposed-overturning-roe-wade.aspx

The past number of months have been dedicated in the studio in working on a series of six paintings / prints that address the necessity of the the visualization of the support for a woman’s constitutional and SCOTUS supported right to reproductive choice. While the march on Washington was quite a while ago in the history of protests and marches, the image and symbolism of the hat still stand strong.

Thank you Abby Korb for the creation of the pink hat. This will get its own frame and artwork (a little down the road).

This work began as a monochromatic work in blue (go figure) weeks ago. And then Russia waged war on Ukraine. While I can’t do a whole lot to help the fight, this piece offers what I can do to help. $1000 is the asking price and all proceeds will go to a not for profit that is helping the people of Ukraine. I’ll frame it. The shipping costs and the sales tax will be added to the cost after it is sold (and you and I can talk about that when you purchase the work).

HERE are the progress images of the work from start to finish.

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I am honored to represent all of the outstanding secondary visual arts educators in Wisconsin and the nation. Thank you to my loving wife and daughter Julie and Abby Korb for their never ending support of my efforts as an artist, educator, and leader. Without you both, I’d never have been able to accomlpish what I have. Thank you to my parents and family, my mom Ginger Boglitsch and my dad Frank Korb as teachers and dad Paul Boglitsch for demonstrating the importance of teaching others as well as serving others as a volunteer and leader. Thanks as well as all the other teachers in my family for demonstrating to me the importance of education in out lives. Thank you to my friends in the WAEA for my nomination and friendship. Thank you to those who I have worked with as partners in my lifetime of teaching. My art teacher and then colleague, Sonja Kipper for bringing me back into the art department as a high schooler and then as a partner in the same department. Sue Messer, Bob Mertens, and Bill Chandler for helping me find my way as an artist and educator. Beth Schleiger for helping me break out of my shell in the department and get involved in the WAEA as a leader, Brett Roberts for being my exemplar as one who can do a phenomenal job, not letting the frustrations get to me, and being able to relax a little, and Angie Szabo (as well as the entire K-12 team in Fort Atkinson) for continuing to push me to be the best arts educator for our kids and community. Thank you to everyone else whose names I haven’t forgotten but can’t list here because I will have forgotten someone… Thank you.

Check Out The NEW Episode! Your’s Truly.

Follow all the episodes HERE at Authentic Obsessions website or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Frank Korb – Planning & Preparing Materials

Patient, purposeful and persistent, high school arts educator and abstract painter Frank Korb is fascinated with building frames, stretching canvases, and preparing his materials. Frank focuses on the formal elements and principles of art and the push and pull of relationships. Frank starts each work by laying down bible pages to add texture and text. Frank is in his studio every day, often spending only 45 minutes each session, but his persistence pays off!

I am honored to represent all of the outstanding secondary visual arts educators in Wisconsin and the nation. Thank you to my loving wife and daughter Julie and Abby Korb for their never ending support of my efforts as an artist, educator, and leader. Without you both, I’d never have been able to accomlpish what I have. Thank you to my parents and family, my mom Ginger Boglitsch and my dad Frank Korb as teachers and dad Paul Boglitsch for demonstrating the importance of teaching others as well as serving others as a volunteer and leader. Thanks as well as all the other teachers in my family for demonstrating to me the importance of education in out lives. Thank you to my friends in the WAEA for my nomination and friendship. Thank you to those who I have worked with as partners in my lifetime of teaching. My art teacher and then colleague, Sonja Kipper for bringing me back into the art department as a high schooler and then as a partner in the same department. Sue Messer, Bob Mertens, and Bill Chandler for helping me find my way as an artist and educator. Beth Schleiger for helping me break out of my shell in the department and get involved in the WAEA as a leader, Brett Roberts for being my exemplar as one who can do a phenomenal job, not letting the frustrations get to me, and being able to relax a little, and Angie Szabo (as well as the entire K-12 team in Fort Atkinson) for continuing to push me to be the best arts educator for our kids and community. Thank you to everyone else whose names I haven’t forgotten but can’t list here because I will have forgotten someone… Thank you.

Thank you to MARN for the incredible opportunity to share my and our experiences in the MARN Salon Conversations. I had the great opportunity to see this show of incredible artists in late September. Please make sure you get to the show this weekend (November 15 and 16, 2021) for MKE Gallery Night and Day.

“C is for Conversation: how conversations between the artists and critics affected the creative processes” is the 2021 MARNsalons Final Exhibition running September 24 – Nov 2, 2021 within the MARN ART + CULTURE HUB. The exhibition features the work of artists who participated in the 2021 MARNsalons Program and members of the 2021 MARNsalons Advisory Committee. The 10 Salon Program Artists engaged in deep conversations and exchanged ideas with 3 local and 3 national critics during virtual studio/workspace visits from February to June, 2021. Majority of work featured in the exhibition was created after the conclusion of the artists and critics dialogues. Exhibiting artists include Katie Avila Loughmiller, Deborah Brooks, Alexa Hollywood, Carley Knight, Frank Korb, Lennis Mathews, Meghan McGrath, Reid Sancken, Francesca Simonite, Katherine Steichen Rosing, Valaria Tatera, and Marian JA Vieux.

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All Americans, 18 and over, have the Constitutional rights to vote in our elections. Here are the Amendments that define our voting rights.

• AMENDMENT XV – Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.
  • Section 1.
    • The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude–
  • Section 2.
    • The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

• AMENDMENT XIX – Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.
  • Section 1.
    • The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
  • Section 2.
    • Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation

• AMENDMENT XXIV – Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.
  • Section 1.
    • The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.
  • Section 2.
    • The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

• AMENDMENT XXVI – Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.
• Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.
  • Section 1.
    • The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
  • Section 2.
    • The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/education/all_amendments_usconst.htm

Throughout the country we are facing challenges about the November 2020 election (still) with 1/3 of Americans (https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/21/politics/biden-voter-fraud-big-lie-monmouth-poll/index.html) and 2/3 of republicans under the belief of the “big lie” that the election was stolen (not believing the 7 million votes that President Biden had over former President Trump) (https://www.prri.org/spotlight/the-big-lie-most-republicans-believe-the-2020-election-was-stolen/). Republican held state legislatures are working to do all they can to make it more difficult for everyone who is eligible to vote to do just that… VOTE. The republican legislatures across the country are continuing to cast doubt about the legitimacy of the 2020 elections and the process that we go through to elect out officials (except the very same elections that gave them their seats of power).

There are NO OFF YEARS! We must, as Americans, work together to make sure that ALL AMERICANS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE to vote have the easiest way possible to get out their vote.

My newest work You Are Fully Equipped To Do This Right Now, In This Moment illustrates the rise of all (minorities as the exemplar – this is who the GOP is pushing down with the new Jim Crow approach to the legislation) over the efforts of those in power to suppress those rights. The quilt and the multicultural lines that run throughout and off of the handmade Gee’s Bend (and the history of quilting from the days of the earliest quilts) inspired quilt, represent all those who are being suppressed (or are at the least being attempted to be suppressed). The rough topped red, white, and blue topped block, wrapped in the Constitutional Amendments support the quilt but the rough surface also separates the quilt from the Constitution. The hard board base is collaged with the very anti-voter legislation that the WI GOP led legislature is proposing. All topped in the red of the GOP and the immovable and centralized hard black line, self-contained, moving around nothing but itself has worked its way into the amendment. The gold of the outside edge of the work represents the golden rights, the classical leaf that frames the building blocks of the republic, the democracy we live in.

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To see the PROCESS of the work, click HERE.

Make sure you get out YOUR VOTE and HELP OTHERS to get out their vote as well. Mail in ballots, absentee ballots, drop boxes, voting sites, registration are many of the issues that are being legislated upon. Make sure you CONTACT you state legislation as well and voice your beliefs about what is being debated.

Frank