Join this growing list of venues to host an art and music jam:

Conservatory of Music / Lawrence University, Faculty Recital, Appleton, WI

Tritone Jazz Camp, Bjorklunden, Baileys Harbor, WI

Brewed Awakenings, Appleton, WI

Chagal Opening Reception / Appleton Art Center, Appleton, WI

Eau Claire Jazz Festival and Art Crawl - Eau Claire, WI

Hillside Inn, Ellison Bay, WI

Seasonal Saturdays at Gallery 42, Sturgeon Bay, WI See calendar listing below right.

We can provide the musicians, too.
For more information please contact Tim at:
920-785-1123

story starters exhibition featured creative writing and art

English students from Gibraltar High School were invited to write stories and poetry to twenty of Tim's paintings called "story starters." Each of the paintings include small three-dimensional figures interacting with the painting. Each tells a story – but what stories do they tell?

The opening reception took place on Friday, January 15th from 7p. Students read their stories standing next to the paintings they wrote about. It was a really enjoyable evening. Thanks to Lauren Bremer and Gibraltar High School students for being a part of this cross-disciplinary arts experiment.

The Story Starters Exhibit will have a reprise in August of 2010 when the Flying Pig in Algoma, WI will feature eleven of the twenty "story starters" paintings and open the writing to people all over Eastern Wisconsin. See our news page for more information.

Some of the fifty Gibraltar High School English students getting inspiration for their creative writing from the twenty paintings in the "Story Starters" series.

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avian and abstracts

While Sturgeon Bay's Miller Art Museum hosted the "Birds in Art" exhibit featuring art by artists from around the world, just two blocks away (as the crow flies) in the Fairfield Building, Gallery 42 exhibited bird art by three local artists. Gallery 42 owner Tim Nyberg showed his bird paintings and abstracts. Joining Tim in the gallery was ceramic artist Reneé Schwaller and wood carver David Frykman - each showed their creations featuring birds.

Tim's bird paintings ranged from scary Hitchcock-esque ravens to whimsical bird/human encounters. His abstracts, many of which have been painted to live music during the gallery's art and music jams, added even more variety to the show.

You can see some of the bird paintings in the exhibit by clicking here.

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now open in Sturgeon Bay

Gallery 42 has relocated from our Juddville location and is now open in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The gallery is located in a building that is very familiar to art lovers, having (until April of 2009) housed the Fairfield Center for Contemporary Art.

We are pleased to bring art back into this wonderful old building that was built as the post office in 1890, served as the hospital, and was totally refurbished in the 1980s to house William Fairfield's contemporary art collection.

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art and music jams at gallery 42

click here for this season's jam calendar

G42 (Gallery 42 calls the event "Art and Music Jam." It')s the experiment that's held every week at the Sturgeon Bay gallery. You might also refer to the event as "Paint by Number" (musical number that is). As guest musicians (most of them accomplished jazz players) play their initial notes, Gallery 42 owner Tim Nyberg stands facing  a large empty canvas - closes his eyes - listens to the music - and waits for an image to come to mind. He grabs ahold of the first inkling of an idea and starts flinging paint.

"Sometimes it's a shape, sometimes a color, a texture, a rhythm. Whatever the music gives me. The trick is to get it onto the canvas quickly - before it disappears."

He works fast, often in time with the music. The image appears quickly, then changes, and changes again. He turns his head, then the canvas, and keeps painting.

"During the process, the music often takes different turns sending my thoughts in new directions. Or what appears on the canvas - which is usually quite abstract - seems to work better sideways or upside down from the original orientation." 

Working in acrylic, Tim works fast and doesn't seem to mind changing direction mid-course. Sometimes he'll spray a mist of window cleaner on the painting, let it sit for a second, then grab a rag and wipe. The smear becomes a rich base for new visual ideas. More paint is applied, then smeared with fingers, scrapped with small pieces of wood or scribed with the opposite end of the brush.

"The paintings seem to build themselves. Sometimes they're successful, sometimes it was just a fun few minutes of observing whatever happens.  But it gets really cool when the musicians watch what's happening on the canvas and start to improvise to what they see. That's what really makes the process a dance of creativity between artist and musician - both of us taking turns leading."

When it all works just right, the painting process ends perfectly with the last note of the music. The dance ends, the partners look at each other and smile (or sometimes shrug their shoulders and laugh). The onlookers applaud. 

(above) Tim paints with the Jana Nyberg Group at the 2009 Eau Claire Jazz Festival.

(below)Two paintings created during the event. Music with lyrics often produces more figurative paintings while instrumentals tend to create more abstract images.

"It becomes like a dance - the artist takes leads from the musican(s) and visa versa. Each playing into each others' sensativities and creativity. It's quite a challenging and rewarding experience. And, from comments made by onlookers, they seem to enjoy observing the creative process as much as the artists enjoy participating." - Gallery owner, Tim Nyberg

"Door County artist Tim Nyberg has been sponsoring a number of events in his gallery in which he paints improvisationally to live (improvised) jazz. He did the painting ["Weather Ornette" on the left] at the recital of Lawrence jazz faculty pianist Lee Tomboulian, and the audience loved it. It brought the arts together and gave non-musicians a very unique visual way of comprehending the abstract notions of improvisation." - Fred Sturm, Director of Jazz and Improvisational Music at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, Appleton, WI

"The Eau Claire Jazz Festival had the pleasure of hosting a performance described as "an improvisational dance between artist and musician" for the concluding concert for our four day event.  Tim Nyberg spontaneously created paintings as he listened to the wonderful Jana Nyberg Group perform. The experience demonstrated improvisation at the highest level from a visual standpoint.  The full house was a generous mixture of community members and middle school to university students.  The standing ovation at the end was a testament of their appreciation for this wonderful experience." - Robert Baca, Director of Jazz Studies, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire / Artistic Director, Eau Claire Jazz Festival.

musician participants in the art&music jams have included:

The Adam Meckler Group Adam ia a jazz (trumpet) performance major from Lawrence University Music Conservatory in Appleton, WI. He's also a killer composer (you can hear some of his new work at MecklerMusic.com). Adam is a regular performer with the Jana Nyberg Group, Vale Todo, and other ensembles. At the art and music events you will hear Adam's more experimental works - often including computer, trumpet, melodica, cajon, sampled sounds, and vocals. For his Gallery 42 performances, Adam will be joined by various other musicians.

More about Adam Meckler: Trumpeter, composer and educator, Adam Meckler graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI in 2007 with a degree in trumpet performance and an emphasis in jazz studies. He was a member of LU's Downbeat award winning Jazz Ensemble (2007) under the direction of critically acclaimed composer and educator Fred Sturm. Adam studied Jazz Composition and Arranging, Jazz Theory and Aural Skills, and Jazz Pedagogy under Fred Sturm. He was the recipient of LU’s prestigious jazz composition award being inducted in to the Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia’s Leadership in Music award.

Adam and his wife Jana (Nyberg) currently reside in Saint Paul, MN. Adam performs regularly with The Jana Nyberg Group, the Stan Bann Big Band, his own quintet, and freelances as a composer and performer. In addition to composing for jazz small groups and big bands, Adam also writes for woodwind quartet, quintet, and brass quintet settings. You can find Meckler on the Jana Nyberg Group's latest self-titled album released in March of 2008. website: AdamMeckler.com

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Lee Tomboulian Keyboard phenom Lee Tombulian is the jazz keyboard professor at Lawrence Music Conservatory in Appleton and has a list of "has played with" as long as the road from Appleton to Juddville. We were successful in getting Lee to bring his accordion along with him from time to time. If you haven't ever had the chance to enjoy Lee's virtuosity, his music can be heard online with his group CIRCO. You can hear some of Lee's music performed with his group "CIRCO" online at CDBaby.

More about Lee: Lee moved to Arkansas in 1977 and enrolled the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville). He studied jazz piano with Frank Stagnitta. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. By 1990 he was one of the top professional jazz pianists in the state. He won the Spectrum Award (Little Rock arts publication) for Best Jazz Pianist in 1992. While in Little Rock he studied Charles Thomas' bebop piano technique. He was awarded a grant from the Arkansas Arts Council to study jazz piano with Art Lande at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, CO.

He left Arkansas in 1993 to attend University of North Texas (Denton) to earn Master of Music in Jazz Studies ('97). He gigged and recorded with many of the Dallas-Fort Worth area's finest musicians, including Circo, who recorded and performed his Brazilian-influenced compositions (Pete Brewer-saxes and flutes, Dennis Durick-drums, Brian Warthen-bass, Uruguayan Ricardo Bozas, percussion, and Betty Tomboulian-vocals), John Adams (bass), Dallas Unlimited (variety band with Molly Grogan-vocals, Danny Grogan-bass/vocals, Wayne Delano-sax, Tommy Nash-guitar, and Dan Robins-drumset. Other bandleaders Lee worked with are: Mike Drake, Vicho Vicensio, Trey Gunter. He worked with singer Tony Hakim (guitar/vocals)for years at Strictly Tabu then moved to the Crescent Club in the Crescent Hotel complex around 98.

He was adjunct professor at: University of Dallas (Irvine), Cedar Valley Community College (Lancaster), North Central Texas Community College (Corinth), Texas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth). He teaches at the University of [North Texas Combo Camp][1] each summer. In 2005, he became Instructor of Jazz Piano and Improvisation at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, WI. website: LeeTomboulian.com

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The Jana Nyberg Group performing improvisations and original compositions. Adam Meckler (trumpet) is a recent graduate of Lawrence University's Music Conservatory and is an award-winning jazz composer. Adam featured some of his original compositions created by combining audio sampling with live trumpet. Jana Nyberg provided etherial vocals and Jake Nyberg performed on drum set and other percussion instruments. Hear samples of their music at JanaJazz.com.

More about Jana: Jana was raised listening to an eclectic mix of music ranging from Steely Dan to Bonnie Raitt to Mozart. She was fortunate to attend a high school with an excellent music program with a killer jazz band. And, her parents brought her and her jazz drummer brother, Jake, to hear many of the jazz performances available the Twin Cities' (Minnesota) rich jazz community.

Jana Nyberg is quickly becoming recognized as a force in the jazz world. Her blend of sophistication and creativity make her a one of a kind jazz artist. She holds a degree in instrumental education with a minor in creative expression from Bethel University in St. Paul. It is there that Jana began to sing in jazz combos and big bands, and began to realize her passion for jazz.

After moving to Wisconsin in 2005 to accept a full time band directing position in Green Bay, Jana formed The Jana Nyberg Group. Teaming up with trumpeter/composer Adam Meckler, and guitarist Evan Montgomery out of Lawrence University Conservatory, they played regularly for concerts, restaurants, private parties, weddings, and festivals. Each summer they have played regular gigs on Wednesdays and Fridays in Door County, WI where they perform about three times a week.

In 2007 plans to record their first CD began to simmer and by January of 2008 they were in the Studio recording with renowned engineer Larry Darling. The band had some trouble deciding what to put on the album, but came to the decision to use mostly their fresh arrangements of standards, rather than their original music. They wanted to collectively “tip their hat” to the greats in an effort to create something that is also exciting and innovative. Joining the trio on the album was drummer Jake Nyberg, and award winning bassist Mark Urness. The quintet laid down the album in only six hours using nearly all first takes.

Since the release of the album in March of 2008, the band has received critical acclaim, as well as radio play on important jazz stations around the country. The Group is currently based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. website: JanaJazz.com

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Greg Pagel Gallery Forty Two's favorite electronic NUT. Greg's inventiveness on the electronic keyboards tend toward the wacky, although, he's an equally accomplished classical piano player. "It's great fun painting to Greg's music - it's alive with ideas, colors, textures... and, he improvs off of what he sees me painting as well." Greg may bring his accordion as well. You can hear his music online.

More about Greg: Often regarded as the most unusual jazz keyboardist in Wisconsin, Greg Pagel began playing the piano and composing at the age of nine. He has performed at Jordan Hall and Symphony Hall in Boston, as well as Lincoln Center in New York. He has shared the stage with such notable musicians as Kenny Wheeler, Benny Golson, Joe Maneri, Cecil McBee, Bob Moses, Luciana Souza, Janet Planet, Ricky Ford, Matt Turner and Bobby Vinton.

Greg's latest CD, “Plastic Machine Music,” is a daring fusion of jazz with hip-hop and electronica. CD Baby gave the CD 5 stars, calling it “an ingenius hybrid of jazz fusion backdrops, experimental electronic innovation and a poprock-informed writing,” and praising its “creative development of motives and ideas, an overall giddy enjoyment of urban, industrial and machine noises.”

Greg adds that he is a Kung Fu master, once climbed the Eiffel Tower blindfolded, and won an Emmy for "Best Use of the Word 'Flatulence' in a Daytime Drama." Although we question the validity of such claims. website: GregPagel.com

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Woody Mankowski This guy is amazing! An in-demand reed player and vocal chameleon like you've never heard before. He might lay down some Ray Charles or Marvin Gay for the jam. Don't miss him! Woody's website has a sampling of what you will hear.

More about Woody: Forrest “Woody” Mankowski has been performing professionally since age 12. Besides singing, he also plays tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, as well as clarinet and flute. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, with a B.A. in Music Performance. He lived in New York City for two years, where he played regularly with the band “New York City Swing” and composed and arranged music for the off-Broadway theatre group, “Project 400”.

Woody has also worked in many recording studios as a commercial singer/instrumentalist. You may have heard him on television or radio singing or playing lead on over four hundred jingles for clients such as Turner Classic Movies, Culvers, Country Kitchen, and Miller Lite.

As a free-lance musician, Woody has backed up popular artists such as The Temptations, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, James Ingram, Peabo Bryson, and others. He has played in the pit orchestras for touring Broadway shows including “The Producers”, “Chicago”, and “Hairspray”.

Woody taught Jazz Saxophone at Lawrence University for six years. He has written over eighty music transcription books for Hal Leonard Corporation. Woody leads a jazz quartet, and frequently collaborates with other musicians in the Midwest, including Big Mouth, Janet Planet, and The Art Blakey Tribute Band. He tours as a soloist and appears with major symphonies in the United States performing the male lead. website: WoodyMankowski.com

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Adam Macintosh Adam is a good friend and gifted songwriter/performer who found his way to Door County from Portland, Oregon via the Steel Bridge Songfest. His vocals will remind you of Lennon/McCartney. He hosts a weekly "Songwriter's Showcase" in Sturgeon Bay and the Fox River Valley in which he encourages original compositions. Quite possibly, Adam will be joined at the jam by his very significant other, Anna (who is much more easy on the eyes), and has a wonderful voice as well.

If your'e a regular to the art and music jams, you'll be interested in seeing what effect the introduction of lyrics has on the art and music "dance."

More about Adam: Adam Mackintosh is a unique American songwriter. After 6 European tours and three years in Wisconsin writing with some of the nations best writers, Adam has shared stages and recordings with James Hall of The Pleasure Club, Storm Large, Anna Sacks, Jackson Browne, Pat mAcdonald (Timbuk 3), Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown's Funky Drummer), Eric McFadden of Parliament Funkadelic and a multitude of highly talented industry professionals. Adam has performed at over 400 concerts in the US and Europe to crowds ranging from 10 to 5000. His style of music has been compared to many of the greats, Harry Nillsson, David Bowie, John Lennon, Radiohead, George Harrison, Jellyfish, Old 97's, Big Star and The Kinks. website: AdamMackintosh.com

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Evan Montgomery The "White Wes," Evan Montgomery is a kick-butt guitarist (classical, jazz, blues, funk - whatever genre you through at him) from New Jersey. Watch with amazement as his fingers dance around the frets and over the strings. Only in his early twenties, Evan's talent is truely amazing and a joy to listen (and paint) to.

More about Evan: Evan Montgomery began playing guitar as a teenager and soon displayed a talent and interest in jazz music. During his middle and high school years he participated in a variety of projects and groups including regional jazz bands and various modern and post-modern rock groups. Evan was often featured as a solo jazz guitarist at many of the venues in the Basking Ridge/Somerville area of New Jersey. Evan also contributed greatly to the local scene by co-founding a jazz jam session where many aspiring artists of many experience levels could get together and perform in a open and friendly setting.

Evan began attending the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, WI in 2004, studying classical and jazz guitar performance with Nathan Wysock and Steve Peplin. In the spring of 2006, Evan left Appleton to move to Milwaukee, WI in order to gain more performance experience, where he continued to study with Steve Peplin and Jack Grassel. During his time there Evan was a regular member of Urban Sol who often appeared at The Onyx Nightclub and fundraisers for the Campaign Against Violence and the NAACP. He also played on a regular basis with Jerry Grillo, Kirk Tatnall, and Steve Peplin. Evan also began performing steadily with the Jana Nyberg Group in Door County and Appleton in 2006 and still plays regularly with them today. In the winter of 2007 Evan returned to Lawrence University to complete his degree and is scheduled to receive his Bachelors of Music with a Jazz emphasis in the spring of 2009. Evan is considering pursuing a graduate degree in music performance as well as in musicology after completing his undergraduate degree at Lawrence.

Evan currently lives in Appleton, WI where he teaches private lessons and performs regularly with the Jana Nyberg Group and his own groups that he leads. website: EvanMontgomery.com

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Lulu's Playground Lulu's Playground consists of a unique instrumentation including trumpet, cello, accordion, and guitar.
The band is made up of four old friends who go back to their school days at Lawrence University Music Conservatory.

They've played together in jazz groups, salsa bands, orchestras, improvisation classes, and hallway jam sessions, and now they've joined forces in a new city to bring you an old chemistry. Their music ranging from jazz standards to experimental music lends itself perfectly to the improvisational aspects of the Art & Music Jams. website: LulusPlayground.com

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Ross Catterton is a reed player also from Lawrence University. His inventive sax compositions range from mellow/sad/pensive to joyful, happy and energetic. Ross is often joined by other jazz musician friends and experiments with digital audio looping to accompany himself.

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Andrea Wittgens Seattle-based singer/songwriter Andrea Wittgens is the freshest original new voice on the scene in years. Combining sultry, engaging vocals (she has been compared to artists as varied as Rickie Lee Jones, Regina Spektor and PJ Harvey) with original songs that are both hypnotic and exuberant, and always showing immaculately appropriate musicality with clever yet disarmingly honest lyrics.

Andrea will be appearing at g42 for Art&Music Jams when she visits Sturgeon Bay during the Steel Bridge Songfest.