Janice von Stein grew up in Hancock County, Ohio. She has also lived in Vermont, Illinois and currently lives in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. Janice began teaching art in Ohio in 1971 and her last 24 years at River Valley High School in Spring Green, Wisconsin. As a result of her liberal arts background and teaching experience, Janice works in a wide variety of media. Her work includes calligraphy, artist books, drawing, painting as well as small sculpture. She attended Bluffton University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Bowling Green State University. She earned a MS from University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She has received state level recognition for teaching excellence in Ohio as a Jennings Scholar, as a Kohl Fellowship recipient in Wisconsin, and as the Wisconsin participant at the Teacher Institute in Contemporary Art hosted by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work has been featured in the Colucci Gallery in Madison, Gallery 22 in Delaware, Ohio and she is a contributing artist at the Red Door Gallery in Richland Center, Wisconsin. She has numerous pieces in private collection in Vermont and throughout the mid-west including two paintings in permanent collection at the Wisconsin Education Association Trust building in Madison, Wisconsin. Her work was selected for viewing at the Governor’s Mansion during the term of Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle.
Artist Statement
My art has always been about finding my way. It is a way of mentally processing life by looking at events and important relationships. It helps me celebrate what gives life meaning. As a result, much of my work is about or because of those relationships. Many pieces grow from the story behind that connection. I enjoy purely decorative arts, but my work seems to gravitate back to subjects that are very personal. The form of artist books, use of text, gold leaf, and assemblages with what I refer to as “artifacts”, seem to be reoccurring media themes. Some pieces include artifacts that document the relationship. Collaboration is inspiring to me. But whatever the final product, it almost always comes with a story. beyondjanice@yahoo.com
