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Via Colori Revisited
Artists create gorgeous but fleeting images
October 2007
by Mary Martineau
email mmartineau@northmarket.com

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© Photos by Mary Martineau

Brent and Rick Kronk with Rick's grandmother Sarah Cantrell seated in front of her portrait lovingly created by the Kronks.

The North Market hosted the “Official Unofficial Via Colori®” on Saturday, September 8. It was intended to be a whole weekend event, but the weather did not fully cooperate and Sunday was a wash. Nonetheless, the fifty participating artists got in a good four hours of drawing on Saturday morning before the rain took over for a couple hours. Then another four hour stretch of lovely weather in the afternoon gave them time to finish their masterpieces. I chatted with a few as they labored over their chalk paintings, learned a bit about their regular pursuits and what possesses them to spend hours on their knees creating gorgeous but fleeting images.

RICK AND BRENT KRONK

Husband and wife duo Rick and Brent Kronk made their fourth Via Colori® voyage. Each year they have painstakingly detailed a portrait of a woman’s face. Past images came from catalogs or pictures that they randomly found and were attracted to. This year they went a decidedly personal route and selected a black and white photo of Rick’s grandmother, Sarah Cantrell, taken some seventy-plus years ago. The ninety year old matriarch made a special visit to Via Colori® to witness her grandchildren’s lovingly created rendering of her youthful visage.

Real life occupations:
Rick, Digital Print Manager for Robin Enterprises and “Adventure Guy” with Re:Group
Brent, Marketing Account Supervisor for huber + co.

Why they do it:
“In a world so full of commercialism, Via Colori® is art for art’s sake! This is our single collaborative artistic outlet for the year. We don’t make the time to do it any other time and this gives us permission to create for the weekend!”

Kris Schramer

KRIS SCHRAMER

Kris Schramer is a founding Via Colori® artist as well. Her past (and present) creations center around neighborhood greenspace Goodale Park. More specifically, a viewpoint of it from the canine perspective! Always intricately detailed and whimsical, Kris’ squares depict everything from a map delineating the best “stinky spot to roll in” to a poem cajoling dog owners to clean up after their pets. She also delves into the political realm tackling the tricky topic of the proposed leash law in an amusing manner. This year’s square entitled “If the dogs of Goodale Park had submitted proposals for the new fountain…” includes a parody of Rome’s Trevi Fountain, in which local leash law proponent Councilman Kevin Boyce holds harnessed dogs. And, of course, throughout the day as Kris toils she is visited by a host of her subjects including her own pooch, Ollie, the rain-soaked but ever-patient black lab Ben, and the charming German Shepherd and park regular Lilly!

Real life occupation: Assistant Professor of Fine Art at the Columbus College of Art & Design

Why she does it: “I’ve done this for four years and I enjoy the high levels of interaction with other artists and the public. Normally I paint alone in my studio; at Via Colori I get to collaborate with others and listen to the public’s immediate reaction to my work. You get to hear what the average “Joe” on the street appreciates about art and it’s not what you think!”

Edwin John Yang

EDWIN JOHN YANG

Edwin John Yang is a relative newcomer to Via Colori participating in his second event.

This year’s illustration depicted a dramatic and colorful dragon. His inspiration for his artwork was his Asian heritage. He wanted to create an image with bold colors and appealed to everyone, especially kids! He’d almost completed it when the rain washed away its brilliant colors and left a shadow of the drawing. Post rain Edwin went back to work renewing the radiant hues of his mighty beast.

Real life occupation: Graphic Designer in the Marketing Department at the Columbus Dispatch

Why he does it: “This is so much FUN! It allows me to both be creative and interact with other artists! I will definitely be here next year, you know it! Rain or shine!”

Jen Kiko

JEN KIKO

Jen Kiko is on her third Via Colori®. She likes participating in Via Colori® because it is not a competition, but instead a community builder for the artists of Columbus and for the neighborhood. She enjoys meeting people from around the Short North and seeing how they are involved in the arts too. 

Real life occupation: Art Teacher at Westerville Central High School

Why she does it: "I like to be in the great outdoors doing artwork with others. I think it's interesting to have a different venue at the North Market this year and it makes it a little more exciting!  (But I hope it is back to being as big as past years next time at the park.)  I use Via Colori® as a challenge to myself as an artist, to come up with something new and my own.  Each year I have done some sort of figure or huge portrait, so this year I decided to do a 10 ft whole body piece and play with color. Too bad we also go to play in the rain! "

©2007 Short North Gazette, Columbus, Ohio. All rights reserved.