About Danna Gabriel

 Danna embarked on her artistic journey during a challenging period, finding solace and healing through art amid a divorce. After moving into a new home, she envisioned creative projects for her space, initiating a collection of bottle caps for a unique bar top. This passion for bottle caps persists, becoming a distinctive element in her art. Venturing into tempered glass mosaics, she appreciates the beautiful shine they bring to her creations. Danna also takes delight in incorporating recycled materials, emphasizing her commitment to sustainability in her artwork. 

 Danna became a member of Antigo Visual Arts (AVA) shortly after delving into mosaic art. Her passion and dedication led to her role on the board of directors, and she currently serves as the President. In addition to her involvement with AVA, Danna serves as a student liaison, connecting with the local high school art club to recruit students for community art projects. She holds the position of regional coordinator for the Association of Wisconsin Artists (AWA) Wisconsin Regional Art Program-Teen (WRAP-Teen) Program and serves as the secretary for the AWA Board.

Danna expanded her mosaic network by joining the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA). Attending conferences in Nashville and Toledo, she connected with mosaic artists worldwide, forming lasting friendships. Danna further enriched her mosaic experiences by taking a class with Anabelle Wewer at Tami Macala's Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art. 

 Danna has conducted workshops focusing on Mosaic Flowerpots and Tempered Glass Mosaics, and she is expanding her teaching repertoire to include other engaging mosaic projects. Known for her relaxed teaching style, she takes joy in seeing her students explore the world of mosaic art. Her workshops began at Northcentral Technical College in Antigo and have extended to venues such as the Trout Museum in Appleton, Wisconsin. Danna has also shared her expertise with various local art groups, including the Wisconsin Valley Art Association and Lakeland Art League. 

 Danna has recently acquired a decal printer from Enduring Images in Golden, Colorado. After completing training in Colorado, she brought home a kiln and has begun experimenting with creating printed mugs. Her upcoming project involves an outdoor mural with tiles, and she is working towards launching this initiative in the near future. 

 Definition of Tesserae: Small pieces of stone, glass, ceramic, or other hard materials cut in cubical or regular shapes. 

Danna enjoys incorporating various types of tesserae into her artwork, with a particular fondness for collecting beer, soda, and wine bottle caps. Her diverse collection includes broken ceramic plates, colored wine bottles, and leftover tempered glass from workshops, which she creatively utilizes in her mosaic creations. 

 Danna is a passionate supporter of recycled art. Inspired by her local art group's plastic bottle cap project, she visited the home of the late Mary Ellen Croteau, a renowned advocate for the environment and a plastic bottle cap artist. This experience profoundly influenced Danna's perspective on recycled art. In the wake of Mary Ellen's passing, Danna is committed to carrying forward her impactful visual movement, raising awareness about waste in our society.