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Gianfranco Tassara, President | 816 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53204 | Fax: (414) 672-9479
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Northwest Indiana / National - August 8 2004
Catholic Cemetery - September 2001
Catholic Cemetery - June 2004
Catholic Cemetery - September 2004
Catholic Cemetery - August 2001
Columbus Journal - Saturday, December 19, 1998
Shepherd Express - December 27, 2001
Catholic Herald - Vol. 130 No 50
Catholic Herald - Vol. 135 No 7
Catholic Herald - Vol. 133 No 24
The Times - Vol. 44 No 6
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Monday, January 14, 2002
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - May 23, 2001
Catholic Herald - Vol. 135 No 42
The Wall Street Journal - March 16, 2000
Milwaukee Northshore Lifestyle - February 2002 - (Page 66), (Page 67)
Catholic Herald - Vol. 133 No. 28
Catholic Herald - Vol. 133 No. 10
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Tuesday, November 9, 1999
Artisan carves a niche in religious diversity
By Tannette Johnson-Elie
Peruvian's thriving business reflects culture in liturgical art, sculptures
At his south side liturgical art studio, Gianfranco Tassara creates brown-skinned Madonnas and other figures that more accurately reflect the heritage of worshippers in Hispanic and African-American churches.
"In churches, everything has been done cookie-cutter style for the last 30 to 40 years," Tassara said. "You don't see much diversity. Nowadays, that's important."
The religious diversity niche generated a thriving business for Tassara, 46, owner of Inspired Artisans Ltd., located in the Milwaukee Enterprise Center-South business incubator at 816 W. National Avenue.
A native of Peru who came to the United States in 1975, Tassara started the studio in his south side Milwaukee home in 1997. Sales jumped from $26,000 that first year to $250,000 last year.
Tassara said his approach to liturgical art has been a key to the company's growth.
"For example, here the Madonna looks very dark," he said of a Mexican Madonna sculpture that hangs in his small studio. "She also looks African-American."
Hispanics and other ethnic groups want to see themselves in the images at their places of worship, Tassara said.
"Spanish-speaking people in particular have gained a voice, and they want their culture reflected in the places they choose to worship," Tassara said. "They deserve to get what their culture has to offer. I like bringing that diversity to a building."
Religious work accounts for 80% of Inspired Artisan's sales. Tassara has done more than 100 projects throughout the U.S. and the world.
Those efforts include the baptismal font pedestal at Corpus Christi Church in Milwaukee; a mural revision at St. Mary's Hospital Chapel; restoration of a Frank Lloyd Wright cross outside Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wauwatosa; and an ambry paschal candle stand for Holy Family Church in Whitefish Bay.
Tassara said his most satisfying work is a 20-foot-tall sculptural cross at St. Adalbert Cemetery, which can be seen from I-94.
He also restored the original brass entrance to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, and he refurbished the marble and terra cotta exterior of Farmers & Merchants Union Bank in Columbus. "It's beautiful," John Pratt, vice president of Farmers & Merchants Union Bank, said of Tassara's work on the bank's exterior.
Tassara said he would like to do more secular work because dealing with church bureaucracy can be a challenge.
"It takes a long time for religious groups and churches to make a decision," he said. "When they decide, they want it right away. They know their theology, but they don't have any concept of what it takes to complete a job."
Maria Montreal-Cameron, president and chief executive officer of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said Tassara is the only Hispanic in the area who offers such service.
"Gianfranco is a well-kept secret in the Hispanic community," she said. "He's a true craftsman."
Tassara became fascinated with churches and religious art while growing up in Peru and Italy.
His first job here was at Rexnord, where he worked until 1981. He later went to work for Conrad Schmitt Studios Inc., New Berlin.
At Schmitt, Tassara participated in the restoration of the mosaic wall at the War Memorial and of the mosaic floor at the Milwaukee Public Library and oversaw the restoration of the atrium of the Federal Courthouse.
After 15 years with the studio, Tassara used $25,000 of his savings to launch the business.
Now, the studio employs eight. His wife, Karen, and their son Marcel, 18, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, also are involved in the business. The couple has a younger son Gino, 10.
"I hope someday to have a grandchild and walk with that child and say this is what your grandma and grandpa did. This work is going to be there many years."
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