Gary's Splash Page

News & Notes

You've got to visit Gary's phorography class page. This year's class portfolios are posted and they are spectacular. If you are looking for great emerging photography talent, this is the place.

Among Gary's latest projects is a dedication to his friend, mentor and long-time broadcast colleague, Paul Hemmer on the occasion of his retirement after nearly a half century behind the microphone..

Are you linked to Gary's blog? For heaven's sake, why not? Gary has been publishing a technology and creativity blog for almost a decade, and until recently it was exclusively available on a private site for staff of the Dubuque Community School District. But there were so many requests for access to the blog that Gary decided to make it available to the general public. Click here for the latest installment.

Ongoing Projects

Here's one of Gary's favorite projects, and you can witness the early stages of development right on through to completion. In keeping with Gary's mission to educate people about good nutrition, sourcing local food, local cuisine, and gardening, Gary is producing a show about Farmers' Markets. Click to learn more.

Gary Olsen is the official filmmaker for That's My Dog! training facilities, and this is the founder, Robin MacFarland (and her dog Tommy who actually drives that truck... no, we're kidding... he loves his Toyota Prius. Gary's love of dogs and friendship with Robin formed an interesting and productive collaboration, and this team has produced some extraordinary instructional videos.

Believe it or not, one of Gary's most popular short subjects is "The Rose Lady of Dubuque." Filmed when the celebrated porcelain painter, Helen Burkart, was 90 years old, she had never been recorded in such a fashion. Gary was the first and the last to capture her deft brush strokes. Helen died in November, 2009, and this film will allow her unique approach to painting and her memory live on.

No, this isn't Kryptonite. It's peridot, one of the many gems Gary and Linda saw at the Tucson, Arizona Gem and Mineral Show last winter. "We've prepared a documentary film and photos of our experience in what arguably could be called the Gem Capitol of the World," explains Gary. Go to Linda Olsen's Jewelry Web Site.

The above frame is from the film Gary produced based on a recent trip with his wife jewelry artist, Linda Olsen. "The Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee was a field trip we'll never forget. So you don't think you would care much for beads and buttons? Trust us. The entertainment and information value of this project are worth the effort. We interviewed the rockstars of the bead world." Click here.

It's not all work...

Great fish caught in Canada.

Gary's Fishing Blog! "I would take these marvelous fishing trips and tell my friends I caught some nice fish. Naturally nobody believes me. So I started taking a camera along, sometimes a video camera, and now I put all of my fish and fish stories on my Fishing Blog. I've applied technology to the traditional fish story. Instant credibility."

Can't find that page in Gary's site?

We created a links page that has icons from each of the pages in the archival files. Many pages in the site are somewhat specific for clients or projects, and may not have direct links. But now, with Gary Olsen's Weenerrific Web Pages, you can relocate the favorite page!

Dubuque Schools on the Web

Gary is Web Master and Public Affairs Coordinator for Dubuque Community Schools, and you can view his most ambitious project to date at http://www.dubuque.k12.ia.us. Gary's first order of business when he joined the district was to design a new logo for the Dubuque Schools. That was followed by a fairly complex Annual Report and of course the district's comprehensive website. The site is a true multimedia experience. It contains not only information but remarkable visuals and an audio component which is very interesting. The website has reached its eight year milestone and it now contains over 20,000 files, photos, movie and sound clips, and graphics. It attracts approximately 15,000 visitors daily. Visit this innovative site and learn about the Dubuque Community Schools, among the top seven quality school districts in the nation according to Expansion Management Magazine.

Welcome to the Studio!

elcome to Gary Olsen's Digital Media Design website. This website is a virtual studio of work in process... especially graphic design work. But there are also movies! There is a growing number of videos representing a wide variety of projects that Gary is working on at any time. We work with a variety of clients, but we maintain a small and exclusive list because Gary does not want to provide anything short of wonderful, thoughtful and especially personal service. Besides being a designer, painter, photographer, and a documentary film maker, Gary is the Web master and public affairs director for the Dubuque Community School District. In addition, Gary teaches a photography class at Clarke College in Dubuque. Below are some highlights of projects that Gary is working on... WIPS... Works In Process. Our design clients use this site to check on their projects. The web is ideal for this close client collaboration.

First of all, Gary's creative expression extends to the following areas: Graphic Design, Illustration, Movie Making and Photography. Graphic Design encompasses all forms of design for advertising and communication. It includes print, publications, and signage.

Then there's Illustration. Gary does everything form pictorials to fine-art for galleries. His specialty is portrait painting, an enterprise that has established him in his home town of Dubuque, Iowa. Gary studied under the late, great Frank Licciardi, and produces approximately a dozen portraits a year for various clients.

Movies is a creative enterprise Gary has embraced seriously in the last few years, and he's produced over 200 short films for the Dubuque Community School District, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, and various other clients. Gary shoots and produces event videos and that includes weddings. "I enjoy the festivities and almost tribal nature of the traditions we maintain," explains Gary. "I just love the entire process, and I approach every one with the eye of a journalist."

Gary teaches photography as well as offers professional photographic services. His background is largely photojournalism, and he's taken this experience and applied it to event and commercial photography. Gary also teaches photography workshops at Clarke College.

We're on DCS-TV Channel 19 on Mediacom Cable Television!

Gary Olsen is an award winning media developer for the Dubuque Community Schools. Gary joined the district after a long career in communications and graphic design for such firms as John Deere, NCS Pearson, and Frank Hardie Advertising. He has worked with federal and state government agencies designing and building websites. For the past eight years, among his projects with the Dubuque Community Schools, he's built and programs a Cable Television Channel, Mediacom 19, that is available to subscribers in the greater Dubuque Tri-State market. Gary has won numerous awards for filmmaking, documentary work, and graphic arts.

Channel 19 is the exclusive domain of the Dubuque Community School District and was launched as a cooperative venture between Dubuque Schools and Mediacom Cable. Programs originate in Dubuque schools, and play state-wide. Among the series television shows that Gary produces are of course the national award winning Kids in the Kitchen, Crazy Cam!, Designer's Club, Mudd Puppies, Musical Moments, Doctor! Doctor!, and several others.

One of Gary's favorite shows is The Garden Organic, a gardening series for kids that films over the summer months and is produced by long-time collaborator, Megan Dalsing. It is for this show Gary won the Cable Leader in Learning Award. Gary was named by Cable Leaders in Learning along with nine other award winners from across the nation in 2009 for innovation in applying technology to learning. The award was presented at ceremonies in Washington, DC.

Gary and Mediacom Cable won the highest honor in cable broadcasting in 2007, The Beacon Award, for Kids in the Kitchen. Competition for the award included National Geographic Channel, Time Warner and Cox Cable. There were more than a hundred entries in the Series Television category. Also, Gary won the distinction of being among the top 40 best cable in education content providers in America.

This January, Gary and his cast for Kids in the Kitchen are producing their fifth season of the show.

Below is some of the cast of The Garden Organic.

This is really cool. Gary has been cartooning for major publications nationwide including USAToday, and now he has a catalog of his most recent cartoons he has drawn for the Dubuque Community Schools on parent/teacher/child relationships. Click here. Gary has been cartooning for a long time, but now since he has an outlet for his creative output on the Web, he draws one to three a week. Gary has a growing fan base. In addition, he teaches cartooning workshops and his speciality is teaching cartoon basics to kids. "Hey, I'll teach adults, too," adds Gary. "Everyone loves to learn how to draw caricatures and cartoons." Gary's work has also been featured in text books published by McGraw Hill.

The Stained Glass Print Project

An extremely popular print that is sold in Dubuque area art galleries and frame shops is Dubuque Stained Glass. This art print was created by Gary Olsen in collaboration with Bryce Parks. Many people who purchase the print (proceeds benefit Maria House for women and children in need of emergency transitional housing), wonder where all of the stained glass windows in the print belong? Now you can download a key to the windows in the print, plus a production diary and more photos!. Click here.

The Main Street Print Project

If you're a Dubuque native, then you'll simply love this. It's one of Gary's trademark "Memories of Lifetime" photographic assemblages commemorating the history of Dubuque's Main Street and Downtown District Businesses. The objects that comprise the collage are all part of a vast collection of collectibles and business memorabilia belonging to friend and collaborator, Bob Redding. Bob's collection forms the basis for an exciting new project that Gary is involved in called, "The Main Street Print Project." The print project celebrates the rich history of Dubuque's downtown area, undergoing a cultural and business renaissance of sorts these last few years. Gary was commissioned by Dubuque Main Street Ltd., the business advocacy group that is celebrating a 20 year anniversary. Click here to learn more about this exciting community project, a portion of proceeds from which benefit the print's sponsor, Dubuque's Main Street LTD.

It's not all work and no play...Here's Gary with one of his latest endeavors, a recumbent bicycle he bought on the Internet. A great movie clip is available demonstrating this most innovative contraption. It's actually more comfortable than a traditional bike, better on hills, and faster because of the rider's recumbent riding position cuts the wind better. Learn more by clicking here.

Digital Video and Photography

Visit our professional photography and videography services section. We only do a few of these very special events a year, so it's critical to book well in advance of your planned event. This website is still in the developmental stages. There are parts of this site that are incomplete. But slowly and purposely we are adding functionality and more information... at least enough information to help you make a decision about your special event photography and videography needs. Want to see some portfolios? Click here.

Digital Photography Classes

Another Digital Photography Course was taught at Clarke in June and July this summer. Each class is a four day intensive workshop. This is one of the most popular workshops taught in the area. Students get to use their own cameras as well as professional equipment provided by the instructors. This photo of Gary Olsen was taken by one of the students this past summer. Click here to learn more and view the student portfolios and a movie documentary of one of the classes!

The Dubuque Historical Sign Project

The Dubuque Historical District sign project is underway, and these are the first drafts. The signs will mark the Jackson Park, Cathedral, West 11th Street, Langworthy and Old Main historic districts in the City of Dubuque. The designs passed their first hurdle with the Historic Preservation Commission, and there promises to be some modifications based on the input received. "I love the collaborative process," explains Gary. "Because you often expose opportunities one would not experience working in a vacuum." The commissioners loved the icons, however, and suggestion an additional one for one particular historic district. Stay tuned to this website for more details as they become available.

Well aren't you a Daisy!

Meet Daisy! She's the newest addition to the Olsen household, and she is so smart. For example, she did a little doodle on the Berber, and I told her, "On the paper, on the paper!" She replied, "but I haven't read it yet." For more funny photos, click on her photo.

Oh Canada!

See Gary's film shot on location at Lake Seseganaga, Ontario Canada. Only Gary and his pals can turn a fly-in fishing trip to the North Country into an epic adventure. It showcases Gary's portable video production capabilities. The video was shot on Mini-DV with a palm-style camera, and the editing took place on a Dell laptop computer. If you have high-speed web connections, you can partake in a super high-quality MPEG version of this 45 minute movie. Lots of fish, lots of fun!

On the left is one of Gary's more interesting projects. Gary purchased an old dressing table with a missing mirror, and he thought it might make nice piece of decorative furniture. But it had to be a decoration with a theme and that theme was Mark Twain. The result is entitled "The Mark Twain Desk." The desk is completely hand painted. Check out the step-by-step diary of the project complete with preliminary designs. Visit the Mark Twain Desk Project. A derivation on this project is the

Frog Project done in conjunction with the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. The project especially involved Linda, herself is a decorative painter, and they even the neighbor kids. Click here for an explanation and more exciting movies.

Pet Projects

Nice doggie! Gary has launched a portrait offering based on his incredibly successful Memories of a Lifetime. Gary's pet portrait commissions have always been among his "pet projects" hence the very appropriate name. Click on the link and see some samples.