Joyce Koskenmaki, Maggie Parr, Randy Wakeham, Kayo Miwa & Kenyon Hansen

October 1st-November 20th Artist Reception is on October 1st, at 7 PM with a short artist talk starting at 7:20 PM

Finlandia Gallery is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition Joyce Koskenmaki, Kayo Miwa, Maggie Parr, Randy Wakeham & Kenyon Hansen

The exhibition is at the Finlandia Art Gallery, located in the Finnish American Heritage Center.

This dynamic group of artists with styles and media ranging from painting, printmaking, fiber, drawing and clay, all have one thread in common and that is Joyce Koskenmaki. Joyce taught at many universities during her time as a professor. Kayo Miwa, Randy Wakeham and Kenyon Hansen were all students of hers. Maggie Parr though not a traditional student, but Joyce’s daughter, was influenced all the same.

Joyce Koskenmaki will give an artist talk in the Martha Wiljanen Community Hall, located in the Finnish American Heritage Center, on October 29th, 6-7 PM ET.

For more information about this exhibit, call (906) 487-7242 or email gallery@finlandiafoundation.org. The Finnish American Heritage Center, owned and operated by Finlandia Foundation National and located at 435 Quincy Street in Hancock, Michigan, is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Artist Bios/Statements

Joyce Koskenmaki

I was raised in a Finnish immigrant community here in the UP, but always wanted to come back after teaching art in five different colleges. This climate and terrain felt like home, despite the cold winters.

In grad school at the University of Iowa I was trained by Abstract Expressionist painters who taught me how to begin with a line and listen to the work from beginning to end. The printmaker from Argentina taught me about making sure the work was my own and always belonged to me. I taught at three private liberal arts colleges and two state schools: Augustana, Kenyon, Earlham, Superior and LaCrosse, before retiring from Finlandia, never tenure- track, but always wanting students to find a voice of their own. 

I had exhibitions of my own work nationally and internationally, including the American embassy in Helsinki and now the university in Rovaniemi, Finland. 

My goal in my work has always been to bring comfort and peace not only to myself but hopefully also to my viewers, to provide them with something they need for their inner spirits, through personal subjects and especially the harmony created by the relationship of colors and shapes to each other.

https://www.joycekoskenmaki.com

Maggie Parr

Maggie Parr is Joyce Koskenmaki’s daughter. Joyce rarely gave Maggie direct lessons, but she set up an environment where creativity could thrive. Maggie had freedom the draw, sew, paint, sculpt, make candles and papier mache creatures, build sets, and melt army men to make pins. Joyce would often ask Maggie for a second pair of eyes on her paintings and quilts, so they discussed what worked or didn’t work in a piece. She also encouraged Maggie to pursue art as a career—a gift that allowed her daughter to take that leap of faith.

After majoring in Fine Arts in college, Maggie landed a job as a Show Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, where she created attractions for Toontown and Animal Kingdom. She went freelance in order to deepen her painting practice. She continued to work with Imagineering and expanded into book illustration, murals, portraits, comics, and writing for books and television. Through all of it she kept her own painting at the center, seeking out the teachers who could give her classical mastery. She eventually earned an MFA, developing a style that bridges realism and expressionism. Today, she creates signature artworks for corporations, individuals, and non-profits. She also teaches artists the classical rendering techniques that let them confidently break the rules in service of their own work, and she mentors creatives in search of deeper authenticity and creative productivity.

https://maggieparr.com/

Randy Wakeham

I earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Finlandia University’s School of Art and Design. I was fortunate enough to have a wise teacher tell me to paint what I love.

I love painting Lake Superior water in landscape, and my work evokes a love of the Copper Country with its beautiful lakes and streams.

Kayo Miwa

My art has always been like love letters to the world I am a small part of. Even when I could never have dreamed of my life so far from Japan, my home, so many years ago.

On canvas, I enjoy the larger surface to create images of the landscapes that I have personally visited, walked, fished and loved. My hope is to give each viewer the feeling of actually being there, and not limited to my specific location but each of their own special places.

The scale of my print making is much smaller in size, and in recent years I have only printed simple lino cut images for our holiday greeting cards. I love the idea of sharing my art in envelopes with friends and family all over the globe. 

My art journey, however, would not have continued without all the people in my life responding to my love letters. I realize that the smallest nudge, and deadlines, is what it takes to get me back to painting. I have always been fortunate to have great teachers and influences that guided my path.

Kenyon Hansen

Kenyon Hansen is a studio potter and educator in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan. His work has appeared in numerous publications and exhibitions around the country and abroad. Kenyon has participated in residencies at The Archie Bray Foundation, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, and Center Street Clay. Kenyon has taught workshops at craft schools, universities, and art centers throughout the United States and abroad. He maintains a home studio with his wife Lindsey in Dollar Bay, MI. 

The insatiable need to work with my hands is the driving force of my craft. The pulse of my practice lies in the rhythm of making, and through repetition the pots evolve. My work explores the tactile relationship between my hands and the clay, seeking to capture the ephemeral beauty of the firing process and create objects that enhance the everyday. Through the process of creating, I aim to foster a deeper appreciation for the handmade and the human touch, reminding us of the value of connection and the joy of simple moments.   

https://www.kenyonmhansen.com