Artists Bio

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Joan M. Bohlig

Joan M. Saiberlich Bohlig was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. She earned a BS degree in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an MFA from Alfred University, Alfred, NY. She has also taken various classes at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Atelier Aghib in Brussels, Belgium, and at Minnesota River School of Art, Burnsville, Minnesota, and Paquet & Hurinenko Studio in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1961 Joan moved to Minneapolis to teach art in the Minneapolis Public Schools. There she met and married George Bohlig. From 1980-1982 1/2 they lived in Brussels, Belgium. They currently live in Eagan, a southern suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. They have two grown married sons, lovely daughter-in-laws, and six wonderful young grandchildren. Joan has maintained her own art studio/gallery since 1963 doing etching, oil painting, collage, and illustrating several books. She is represented in collections across American, in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Her 99th one person show was at Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, December 2004.

Joan says," I began this series of ‘Etchings on Biblical Themes’ in 1974 at a time when I personally was not getting much satisfaction out of life as a mother, wife, and homemaker with two art degrees. I was taking evening classes and earnestly praying, asking God to show me something to do to make my life seem worthwhile. With praying came watching for possibilities. The ‘Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’ was sketched on a church bulletin during a sermon on that theme. It was used in my etching class for the first of these biblical etchings. The second was a different size and shape. With the third etching using a biblical theme, the possibility of a unified series became apparent. Shortly thereafter, all the etcher’s materials and an ancient press became available through an artist’s estate sale. In 1975, in south suburban St. Paul, Minnesota we built a home in the woods with an art studio between the house and garage. The antique press has been replaced by two modern presses and the prayer has been upgraded to ask God to work through me and use me. I believe He is doing this and that His hand is also in this work. My family’s Christian heritage, and the Bible yield an unending source of wonderful material. The making of these etchings has positively changed my life and I anticipate continuing on with this series as long as I am able."

She has to her credit a 1994 calendar of etchings for ELCA. Her work has been used in numerous book illustrations, several book covers, and she has illustrated two books. Her pottery, drawings, paintings, and etchings have been exhibited at 99 venues as one-woman shows in the United States and abroad. Etchings from the series; Etchings on Biblical Themes’ are in collections throughout the United States, Belgium, France, England, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, and The Ivory Coast West Africa.

Joan is eager to share her work. The work can be made available as; a large (65 framed pieces), or small (32 framed pieces) gallery show. She has a show and tell program. The etchings are also for sale as individual works of art unframed or framed with museum quality materials in several different formats. Contact Joan for arrangements.

Joan Bohlig