Biographical Brief
[From the artist's Web site:]
Greg Koeppel has always considered art to be an important and integral part of his life.
After graduating from college in 1972 with a degree in Art Education, Greg was called back to his boyhood farm due to a family- related tragedy. While working
there, he developed a plan: to build a pottery studio based on a design
he made in one of his college courses. Luckily, Greg was able to
purchase some land from the farm and demolish an old barn which he
utilized for his studio. He also harvested cedar from the farm and
split the shakes for the roof.
In 1975, as his pottery was becoming established, Greg was offered the opportunity to teach at the town’s local school. With that, his pottery business became a summer venture.
For the next twelve years, Greg turned out pottery. With the help of his wife and two children, he exhibited his work at numerous art and craft shows, often receiving awards and ribbons.
In 1987, Greg decided to pursue other art interests and ideas and no longer produced pottery.
He
returned to his “first love…painting” and produced works including
several commissions in the summers, as he continued working in education
during the school year.
During
this period Greg’s interest in sculpture took over and he began
producing pieces for his yard. A cow and a life sized crucifix were two
which he fashioned out of scrap sheet metal. These folk art pieces
continue to be favorites among visitors and passers-by.
In
college, Greg had assembled a pair of ceramic totems for his sculpture
class which eventually ended up as a decoration in front of his studio.
And, in the ensuing years the thought of totems kept nagging at him.
Eventually he decided to experiment with them once more. This time, he
received his inspiration through recycling. He collected discarded
containers and created totems that seem mysterious and magical. The
totems or “pillars” are made of concrete. As a medium, concrete, though
plain in itself, displays great strength and integrity. Concrete
inspires Greg to not only make more totems but also to create figurative
pieces which he proudly displays in his yard.
Greg
continues to look for imaginative and interesting ways to create, such
as his “Cone”, a woven construction using branches from various small
shrubs and trees.
When Greg retires from his regular job, he plans to give full attention to his art.