ArtPrize 2024 - Dynamic Sunset

Dynamic Sunset represents the most difficult, yet rewarding project of my artistic career. This creation has taken a year of my life, plenty of sweat, and even a little blood. As a Purple Heart Veteran and lifelong artist, I have learned that both life and the creative process are full of hardships and challenges that we are called to turn into beauty. 

Dynamic Sunset is currently on display, free to the public, on the main floor of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum from Friday, September 13th to Saturday the 28th. The piece is currently available for purchase, including a customer display light, and local delivery for $17,000. For inquiries, contact John T. Katerberg at jtkaterberg@gmail.com.

Dynamic Sunset began with 104 lbs of sheet brass and welded steel to form the canvas. This process was both physically and mentally demanding. It even cost me a chunk of my leg! I first learned to weld, as a younger man, during Operation Desert Storm. At the time, I had no idea that repairing damaged military vehicles was preparing me to create my greatest works. A graduate of The Kendall School of Art and Design, oil painting has long been my medium of choice. For Dynamic Sunset, I used an experimental combination of oil and acrylic that allowed me to paint directly on the metal. The real magic came when I ground the paint layers away, revealing the brass underneath. Buffing and shaping the metal brings the scene to life, creating an illusion of movement that can only be experienced in person. 

The painting is finished with a layer of automotive clearcoat making it touchable. I hope Dynamic Sunset reminds viewers, as it has reminded me, that how we respond to the struggles and storms of life can prepare us to create and shine.