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MARQUETTE -- The Lake Superior Art Association has announced that it will be hosting a series of drawing classes, taught by Gina (Taccolini) Lindberg, titled "Secrets Revealed: How Anyone Can Learn to Draw!"
The first class will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in Studio 1 at Peter White Public Library. The draw class is best suited for high school students and adults. Come early! Lunch will be provided for participants beginning at 12:15. The classes are free to the public but limited to 30 participants, so pre-registration is necessary by emailing lbuckbrown1@gmail.com with your name, phone number and email address. Indicate if you will be joining us for lunch.
All supplies will be provided, and participants will be taking a packet of information and supplies home to use for practicing their newly acquired drawing skills!
Gina has an interesting story to share about her family and how and why she became an Art Teacher. She was born in Marquette in 1959, the middle daughter of Louis (Louie) and Shirley Taccolini. Her father, Louie, had graduated from Negaunee St. Paul High School, where was the first U.P. basketball player to score over 1,000 points. He then attended Northern Michigan University, where he was captain of the NMU basketball team.
After graduation, Louie taught biology for over 38 years, with 30 being at Marquette Senior High School. He was known for taking groups of high school students across Europe for six weeks, always ending up in Lovere, Italy, where his family had immigrated from. Many honors and awards came his way over the years, such as Michigan Biology Teacher of the Year, NMU Distinguished Alumni Award, MSHS Teacher Recognition Award and NMU Sports Hall of Fame.
Louie Taccolini was also interested in art! He took painting lessons from the well-known and respected UP artist John Heath. Louie was also an avid bird watcher, later carving the birds that he had studied. Many of his bird carvings are in the display case outside of the Shiras room on the second floor of Peter White Public Library.
Gina is proud of the display case of her father's bird carvings at Peter White Public Library.
Gina's mother, Shirley, modeled a positive attitude for her children and was their greatest cheerleader. A plaque is mounted on a wooden tree in the PWPL's Children's Library in memory of her mother, who was a mother to all people, especially children, who entered her loving home. Her caring, empathetic nature has been passed down to her children and grandchildren.
Gina's parents encouraged her art interests at a very early age, enrolling her in Anita Meyland's Saturday art classes. She learned about the art of various cultures with emphasis on Mexico. She recalls a Mexican "Fiesta: celebration with the breaking open of a colorful piñata.
Gina attended NMU and majored in painting under John Rauch and planned her curriculum in Art Education under Diane Kordich. Both John and Diane guided and encouraged her as both an artist and an educator and to always be her best self. Diane refers to Gina as the best art student I ever had.
She began her teaching career in the Marquette schools using "Art on a Cart." She then became a K-12 Art Teacher in Ewen-Trout Creek School for the next 30 years, always painting and sharing her art and inspiration with her students. Gina married Lee Lindberg in 1982. Lee became the Principal at E-T C. They have a son and a daughter, who followed in her grandfather's and parents' footsteps and became a math teacher.
Gina was a respected and admired teacher at Ewen-Trout Creek. She was credited with bringing out the best in every student and treating them all equally. Upon retirement, Gina and Lee moved to Ft. Meyers, Florida, where she taught art for three more years and finally settled in Marquette a few years ago.
Gina is eager to share her knowledge with anyone who believes they can't draw!
Future LSAA Kiosks will highlight the instructors and artists of LSAA workshops and Art Talks that are scheduled for the coming year.