by Josie Rodriguez
Josie: How long have you been in Kenosha?
Chet: 15 years.
Josie: Tell me a little about Artworks?
Chet: It has a gallery and frame shop including other art supplies available for sale. We have classes every week, such as figure drawing. Five dollars in advance, Seven dollars at the door. Kids classes are offered. Make and take classes….stained glass…..etc…
Josie: What made you want to open up Artworks?
Chet:I was a picture framer for someone else for twenty years. I accumulated equipment and framed out of my own house for a while. I decided I wanted to be self employed. I did framing for a year and a half helping out a store in town…bought all the stuff from it when they decided to close shop. My wife and both ended our jobs at the same time and invested our money into starting up Artworks.
Josie: Who benefits most from coming into artworks?
Chet: It is structured to handle anybody in the arts from ages 2-103.
Josie: In five years you see yourself….
Chet:Here at artworks. Doing what we do. Getting the word out that there is a cool art scene going on here.
Josie: In five days you see yourself….
Chet:In a chair by the fireplace reading this interview.
Josie: Are you personally an artist or just interested in helping out the supply and demand process?
Chet: I teach the drawing classes, while Lisa is more of the organizer.
Josie: Bottled water or tap?
Chet: Bottled.
Josie: Favorite places to eat in town?
Chet:Wine Knot, LazyBird, Quedoba….too many to count.
Josie: Fill in the Mad lib to help us understand a little bit more about yourself.
MAD LIB
I WAS BORN in a vat of shrimp sauce
THEN TINY SHRIMP WERE very upset.
AFTER THAT we dance! WHEN the day the music died.
SINCE THEN PIRATES are cooler than ninjas AND BANANAS split.
OVER ALL I KNOW less that I thought I did!
Josie: Tell me what you wanted to be as a kid.
Chet:Baseball player.
Josie: In your opinion what does your business need to be operating at its full potential—or are you content?
Chet: Awareness!
Josie: Beer or wine?
Chet: A.Beer.
Josie: Would you rather have three mice, three pigeons or three pigs?
Chet: Three pigs. I have three kids who eat like them so it would be a smooth transition.
Josie: Who inspires you?
Chet: My children. My wife and genuinely talented people driven to achieve.
Chet Griffith, you have been “exposed”
You can contact Chet at his myspace page
Art-Works is located at 5002 7th Ave. Suite 100, Kenosha WI, 53140
Telephone #(262) 652-5911 Fax#(262) 652-5941
7 comments ↓
hi dad…ur famous! whoo!
Oh, this interview is not nearly enough Exposure for you, Mr. Chet!
First thing, everyone should know that Chet is an absolutely phenomenal artist! I mean, I can totally believe the part in the “mad lib” section about being born into a vat of shrimp sauce (and it does answer a few questions I had)…but I think the reason that all the tiny shrimp were so upset was because Chet was drawing perfect, teeny-tiny designs on them with very sharp pencils!
Second thing, the same precise attention to detail that Chet displays in his own artwork are exhibited in his talents as a picture framer. Professional framing can make average work look good, and great work look remarkable…which make him a magician of sorts.
Finally, what makes the Griffith’s ArtWorks so special is that the prices are reasonable enough that the artists themselves can present their work the way it ought to be presented. Oh, and you can buy art supplies in town by businesspeople who know their products, and are genuinely interested in the art you are working on. We all need to support that!
Nice piece in the Kenosha News by Bill Robbins, Chet.
You are famous!!
See you Saturday.
Melanie Hovey, your check is in the mail!
Thank you.
About time this talented artist got “in the art news”…I’m sure there should be a Part II…and soon! I can hardly wait….now go get ready for that solo exhibition at 716 in September!!!
I am very fortunate to have “stumbled” upon this page! What a great forum and what a great place! Chet…anytime you want to increase your “awareness” to Kenosha you know where to find me…….
I second the need for Mr. Chet - part 2: in which he elucidates on the pros and cons of matte black framing and all things art related. Perhaps a book is in order.
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