B. Gunar Gruenke was born and raised in Wisconsin. He grew up surrounded by artists and craftsmen creating and conserving stained glass and decorating America’s historic buildings and sacred spaces. He began studying art at the age of seven years old, under the tutelage of his grandfather, Bernard O. Gruenke, his father, Bernard E. Gruenke, both nationally recognized ecclesiastical artists, as well as various fine artists from around the world. He studied Business Administration in college and graduated with a major in General Business and emphasis in Economics and Finance from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.
B. Gunar Gruenke is the third generation owner and President of the internationally recognized Conrad Schmitt Studios based in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Established in 1889, the architectural arts studio is one of Milwaukee's early pioneer businesses as witnessed at the Milwaukee Public Museum in the "Streets of Old Milwaukee" permanent exhibit. The Studio’s collection of notable stained glass artwork is on display at the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows at Navy Pier in Chicago. The art studio specializes in various techniques and procedures including the investigation and documentation of original decorative schemes, gilding, glazing, marbleizing, scagliola [1] and stenciling as well as the new design, replication or conservation of stained glass and murals.
He has made his life’s work to carry on the tradition his father and grandfather have passed down. Mr. Gruenke oversees all facets of Studio operations including managing and supervising, restoration and renovation projects, as well as the coordination of all phases of the craft associated with architectural arts and decorative interior schemes. Mr. Gruenke also served as: the President of the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) from June 2007 to June 2009;[2] a Director of the SGAA Stained Glass School; a Director of the Western Great Lakes Chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology (APT) and as an APT International Board Member. His contributions to the field of stained glass have garnered the Distinguished Service Award 2010 [3] from the Stained Glass Association of America for the Studio’s work to compile, edit and implement the "SGAA Recommendations for Safety in the Stained Glass Studio.”
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B. Gunar Gruenke sits on the Board of Directors of the Gruenke Foundation for the Arts. This 501c3 Not For Profit organization founded in 1996 is dedicated to the education of the arts to the general public. The foundation's roots can be traced back to 1991 when it was first established. The Gruenke Foundation for the Arts curates an historic collection of fine art. The collection ranges from 1893 World's Trades Fair Exposition Mosaics to a Gregorio Vasarri painting from the early 16th century. Mr Gruenke is leading the foundation in currently applying to the Getty Foundation for a grant to Conserve the 1893 Exposition mosaics and have them curated within an international traveling exhibit.
Mr. Gruenke has authored numerous publications on stained glass as well as written articles on decorative arts for trade publications such as: Claims Magazine,[4] Adoremus Bulletin,[5] Church & Worship Technology,[6] Your Church,[7] Stained Glass Quarterly,[8] Journal of Architectural Coatings,[9] PaintPro Magazine,[10][11] Traditional Building Magazine,[12] Church Executive Magazine,[13] PWC: Painting and Wallcovering Contractor,[14] Religious Product News,[15][16] Globe West,[17] Quantum Publishing,[18] the Waukesha Freeman,[19] and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He has spoken on television news features and has addressed audiences including the Restoration & Renovation Conference, the NeoCon World’s Trade Fair, the Power of Paint and Coatings Conference, and at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Following is a partial list of samples, partial or full projects that Gunar has supervised and managed:
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
Hawaii Theatre, Honolulu, Hawaii
Citi Performing Arts Center, Wang Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
State Theatre, Sandusky, Ohio
Ohio Theatre, Columbus, Ohio
Ascension Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Saint Francis Xavier Vincennes, Indiana[20]
St. Norbert's Church, Roxbury, Wisconsin
Highland House Madison, Wisconsin
French Lick Springs Hotel, French Lick, Indiana[21][22][23]
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Salem, South Dakota
St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Knoxville, Tennessee
Ottawa County Courthouse, Port Clinton, Ohio
Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado
St. Mary’s Cathedral, Colorado Springs, Colorado
St. Mary’s Church, Burlington, Wisconsin[24]
Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, Colorado
Warner Theatre - Lobby, Torrington, Connecticut
St. Christopher Catholic Church, Hobe Sound, Florida
Springer Opera House, Columbus, Georgia
Assumption Church, Chicago, Illinois
Drake Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
Orchestra Hall, Chicago, Illinois
Old Stone Church, Cleveland, Ohio[25]
Roosevelt University – Ganz Hall, Chicago, Illinois
St. Mary of the Angels Church, Chicago, Illinois
St. Vincent DePaul, Chicago, Illinois
St. Joseph’s Church, Downers Grove, Illinois
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, West Brooklyn, Illinois
Paramount Theatre Center, Anderson, Indiana
Angola Post Office, Indianapolis, Indiana
St. Mary Cathedral, Lafayette, Indiana
West Baden Springs Hotel, West Baden Springs, Indiana
Union Passenger Terminal, New Orleans, Louisiana
Colonial Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Bon Marche Building, Lowell, Massachusetts
Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Temple Theatre, Saginaw, Michigan
Gillioz Theatre, Springfield, Missouri
St. Mary’s Basilica, Natchez, Mississippi
Camden U.S. Courthouse, Camden, New Jersey
Federal Reserve Bank-Sample, Cleveland, Ohio
Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Columbus, Ohio
Philadelphia City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rajah Theatre, Reading, Pennsylvania
Paramount Theatre, Charlottesville, Virginia
Lincoln Theatre, Marion, Virginia
Mosque Theatre, Richmond, Virginia
Al Ringling Theatre, Baraboo, Wisconsin
Brown County Courthouse, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Ozaukee Hospital, Ozaukee, Wisconsin