August Artist of the Month: Joanne March – 94 Years Young and Still Creating

We’ve all heard of someone beyond middle age being described as “X-number of years young.” Anyone who knows Joanne March will agree that she is an example of someone who is truly “94 years young.” With that in mind, Antigo Visual Arts is pleased and privileged to announce that Joanne March is our Artist of the Month for August.
Joanne, originally from Chicago, met her husband Pete, who was from England, while they were in college in Stevens Point. According to Joanne, “We both drank tea, so we were a good match.” They were married in 1953 and moved to Antigo where Pete taught high school physics and chemistry. Together they raised 6 children and spent many summers camping around the country, wherever Pete happened to be going to school that particular summer. When their youngest started school, Joanne went to work with Title I and for nine years she helped kids with reading and math until the program was eliminated. She went to work for the Shopper’s Guide for another nine years as a sales associate, helping set up ads on the computer. After her and Pete retired, they continued to travel and visited may places here and abroad until he passed away in 2004. They had been married for 51
years.
Joanne was in her 70s at the time and started painting in acrylics, drawing on inspiration from the many places they had traveled to as a couple, and as a family. One memory will trigger another, so with a lifetime of experiences and memories, she’s never short of material to put to canvas. Over the past 20-plus years she’s created a significant collection on a variety of subjects and continues to experiment with textures and colors.
Joanne will be moving to the Colorado Springs area in late August to be near her children, so as a farewell, on August 8 AVA host a public reception at their gallery, and one-person exhibition featuring Joanne’s work which will be on display until September 17. The gallery is located at the AVA gallery located on the 2nd floor of the Langlade County Historical Museum at 404 Superior Street in Antigo.
When asked the secret to her longevity, Joanne says it’s her positive attitude and curiosity. “Don’t be afraid to try new things. That’s what keeps us young.”