Becket’s puts personal expression on menu to support local artists

Surviving as an artist in the real world is no easy feat, especially for those truly wishing to make a difference. In order to make it, one has to find support. Luckily, for artist and middle school teacher Hannah Kuplack, Becket’s was one of the supportive establishments ready to help. Becket’s has been in business for 15 years and offers a wide range of contemporary American dining, but one thing differentiates them from other local restaurants, an illustrious gallery. 

General manager and artist Dylan Stolley was inspired to become the art director after seeing the shallow decor of the first public opening.

“When we opened 15 years ago, we had white walls,” he said. “White walls offend me as an artist, so we frequently run shows for about two to four months, depending on various factors.”

To spice up the flavorless walls, Stolley decided to enlist local artists to create their own ornamentation. Kuplack, the most recent, took advantage of this opportunity in an exhibit of her own on February 1. The overall process of qualifying for an exhibit was easy.

“It did help that I had a show there right out of college and that I already had a social media page with a large portfolio to show them,” Kuplack says. “I love the space and am excited that they said yes.”

However, the young artist’s journey with the arts started much earlier. 

“My mother and grandparents were artists, so I would say it runs in my blood,” she said. “I have been drawing since I was three and just never stopped. I don't think I ever will.”

As she grew older, Kuplack developed her own style and went to school to continue her passions.

“My style has evolved throughout the years,” she said. “For the longest time I focused on portraiture and even graduated with a BFA focusing on drawing the figure. Over time, I found that botanicals were more marketable and focused on creating something unique to the art world. I have always had a bit of an edge to me, so it makes sense that bones and skulls would fit into my art.”

Along with this, Kuplack’s work features various forms of nature incorporated into her creations.

“I am inspired by nature that can be well rendered with fine lines,” she said. “Including flowers, mushrooms, plants, bones and leaves among other things. Nature has always been my favorite inspiration.”

For senior server at Becket’s, AJ Jackson, Kuplack’s work is a pleasant addition to the work and social environment of the restaurant. 

“I love her art currently at Becket’s,” he said. “I connect with the dark and floral vibe a lot.” 

Stolley, having a bachelor of fine arts degree, appreciates the creativity Kuplack incorporates into her work. 

“Her artwork is fun,” he said. “It’s also different from what we normally show. It’s also more consistent than mine, which is certainly all over the place.” 

On top of being a local artist, Kuplack finds inspiration and motivation from her day job.

“As a teacher of middle schoolers, I find self expression to be of high importance,” she said. “Fashion, personality, hair, makeup and hip lingo are pretty much my work life.” 

Self expression, through work and appearance, is important for creating authentic work that mirrors the artist. Kuplack values this deeply. 

“Without self expression, we have no sense of self,” she said. “I would argue that self expression is an art and that each of us can incorporate art into our lives even if we do not create traditional art ourselves.” 

Kuplack’s views of individuality resonate with many, including Stolley. 

“As an artist, I think expression is very important,” he said. “If you don’t express yourself, you’re just kinda living in a box and doing stuff for other people.”

New addition to the Becket’s team, Logan Peterson, also supports the artistic addition to the riverfront eatery. 

“It’s important because it’s one of the few things humans inherently like to do for themselves,” he said. “It’s one of the redeeming qualities of humanity.” 

Becket's chef Gabe Riske enjoys being a part of a business that allows local artists to shine. 

“The city you live in is nothing without local support,” he said. “Becket supports everything local, including the arts.”

Becket’s worker Victoria McQuillin feels that more local businesses should support artists. 

“I think it’s a great way to give new artists a chance to show off their work,” she said.

 Kuplack has similar feelings regarding local resources that display individual creativity.

“It supports the business to have something new to excite the patrons as well as supporting an artist who would like to showcase their talent,” she said. “I wish that it was more of a commonplace concept.” 

Stolley agrees and believes more businesses should have gallery exhibits like Becket’s; however, it’s not for everybody.

“I think that is a really good idea if it works,” he said. “But let’s say you have a clothing store on Main Street, while it might be cute occasionally, you might not want to always be open Saturday night and have a bunch of random people coming through.”

Not every business can support local artists, which leads to some worrying about the future of artistic expression.

“I feel like to an extent, it could be argued that expression is being suppressed,” Jackson said. “I feel artists should be able to express their feelings and beliefs in a way that feels right to them. Artists can still express themselves but not in a way they always could.”  

Kuplack shines a different, positive light on the situation. 

“The digital world has changed art but if anything, it has forced artists to be more creative,” she said. “It has given a whole new level of world wide exposure to budding artists that before the digital age was impossible. We may not have the same feel of the art world as we did in the days of Picasso, but now we have what every artist needs: inspiration, exposure, a world wide community, and a platform for their art. Anything is possible.”

By Marcus Miller

February 21, 2023

Oshkosh West Index volume 119 Issue V