Artist Stephen Katrosits (shown in his Banbury studio) will have work in
the Volume One Gallery through Oct. 31.

Quick, look back at the cover of this magazine (or click here). I know the guy who painted that – we go way back.

During my freshman year at UW-Eau Claire, 1988, Steve Katrosits was my professor for a class called Introduction to the Visual Arts. The heavy use of slides earned the course the nickname “Art in the Dark.” Professor Katrosits spoke eloquently about a topic that I knew nothing about so, naturally, I pegged him as an elitist snob.

We looked at a lot of slides; I remained skeptical and in the dark. When Katrosits shared side stories about his life as an artist, however, I listened differently. He scavenged thrift sales on weekends, looking for castaway objects that could be turned into art. To liven things up, he walked us to the Foster Gallery on campus, where some of his work was on display. As part of his pop art collage, a goldfish swam in a tiny bowl, shining in a spotlight. He told us he liked that the art was alive, and that he had to tend to it on a daily basis.

For years afterwards, I’d see him biking around town—long grey beard, backpack, baskets on his bike—and I’d think, “I bet he’s heading to a garage sale.”

Now 24 years after taking his class, I’m interviewing Katrosits in his Banbury Place studio; this is our first actual conversation. His beard is short and white now, and the retired life allows painting to consume him – sometimes for 12 hours at a time. Surrounded by paintings, he says, “I’ve gotten two years’ worth of productivity here in two months.”

Katrosits is feeling the time crunch for his upcoming showing at The Volume One Gallery at The Local Store, yet he refuses to rest on past work. “This isn’t a retrospective or a greatest hits show,” he says. Then, with a laugh he adds, “I’m not ready to die yet.”

Looking to challenge himself, Katrosits is experimenting with a technique that reverses the typical artistic process. He begins with a random, old frame. Then he begins a painting to work with it in size, style, and color. The frame provides the ignition and the challenge of limitation.

From there, Katrosits describes his creative process as a learning process – a “constant, daily dialogue” with his work, where each piece takes on a life of its own. “I can’t think of a single piece where I knew what it was going to be at the beginning,” he says. “You have to keep your mind open and your eyes open.”

Thinking of the showing at The Volume One Gallery, I bring up the goldfish and ask if anything will require that type of daily attention. “I remember that,” he says. “The first day I went to take care of it, I found it flopping on the floor. Luckily, I got there in time to scoop him up and get him back in there. I like the idea of being involved, taking care of that stupid fish…or changing the batteries on something.”

But not this time?

“I’m afraid not,” he says. “These pieces pretty much take care of themselves.”

They are, after all, alive.

The opening reception for the Modernist Architectural Paintings of Steve Katrosits will be Sept. 7 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Volume One Gallery, located inside the Volume One World Headquarters. Katrosits will be featured in the gallery through Oct. 31.