Tom Rauschke
From the beginning Tom Rauschke’s work has been about trees. The first attraction was to the wood itself, in its raw form, “tree parts”. He loved all of it, the color, the grain, the knots, the bark, and even the cracks. For him it was an obvious choice, and it grew everywhere around him. All different types, most of it free, and ready to work. All he had to do is figure out a way to remove the parts that he didn’t want. That’s where tools and techniques come in.
The mobile’s purpose is to fill a space with form, color, and movement, and that function they serve fully well. For over thirty years Tom has been incorporating mobiles into his wood sculptures. These mobiles were generally very small as they often “flew” within the sculptures, adding an aspect of movement inside the form. A small flock of crows, a school of fish, or leaves falling from a tree, these mini-mobiles also brought an element of narrative to the piece.
Tom received a BFA from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1973 and has been a professional artist since 1977. His work is represented in numerous public, corporate, and private collections.
He currently lives outside Palmyra, Wisconsin, but was a regular visitor to the Waukesha Library since he could walk.
Sandhill Cranes is located in the north atrium. Acquired in 2018.