By Heather Ruenz
SLN Staff
The artwork of Wauwatosa couple Julia Collins and Ron Zdroik is on display at Whitewater Arts Alliance’s Cultural Arts Center through April 24. The show, “ART X 2,” is free and open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Collins’ work is paintings and drawings while Zdroik’s is woodturnings. The two have created art for the WAA’s public arts project for several years.
Collins retired from the graphic arts industry in 1989.
“Circumstances at the work-place encouraged my decision to retire quite early in my career. Otherwise, as you read this article, I would be roughly 92 years old. On the outside chance that I might one day celebrate a 92nd birthday, I would hope to still be engaged in what I love and seem to be best suited for…which is artwork. Hopefully I manage to create something beautiful, thought-provoking or just plain fun for other people to enjoy,” she said.
Following school Zdroik started his own small graphic design company. For 20 years as owner/operator he designed, illustrated and produced logos, brochures and advertising literature. In 2002, Ryan, Kromholz & Manion asked him to join their patent law firm in Brookfield, where he wears many hats, but his primary function is interpreting and illustrating inventions to be submitted for patent applications.
“Currently my focus is mostly wood turning. I design and create vases and bowls incorporating my knowledge of metalworking, airbrush painting, decorative piercing and wood bending,” he said.
Zdroik said both he and Collins have been life long artists “in one form or another. I’ve always done wood, from carpentry to woodworking, even as a teenager. But I seriously got into it four or five years ago as an art form.”
When asked if they had any advice for aspiring artists, Collins said, “Keep at it. Keep drawing and pursue as many events as possible. It’s all about making connections and self-promotion, which is hard but so important.”
Zdroik agreed, adding, “Continue to be creative and get your work out there.”
The items at the show are for sale, with Zdroik’s work ranging in price from $60 to $400 while Collins starts at about $150 and goes as high as just over $2,000. To determine prices the artists said they get input from friends who are also artists, and consider the difficulty and time, to some degree.
“Size doesn’t play into it because some smaller pieces are more detailed while some larger ones are simpler,” Collins said.
Whitewater Arts Alliance President Linda Long is delighted to welcome this dynamic duo to the CAC.
“We are so pleased to have Ron return with some of his work, as it was quite popular with our visitors. And we are even more pleased to feature Julia’s work as well this time. She is an amazing talent who creates with bold color and whimsy,” Long said. “I hope everyone gets a chance to come see this wonderful show by two gifted artists.”
The Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St. is in the historic White building near the Birge Fountain. Parking is behind the building and on side streets, with an elevator available from the parking lot entrance.
