Joe Kutchera

A Fisherman and His Boat – A Portrait of Philly Anderson

Joe Kutchera — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:26:26 +0000

While writing my book Portraits of Immigrant Voices, I learned how much I enjoy interviewing people and boiling down their life stories into a page or two. I had the same opportunity when I worked on “From Lake to Plate: Local Fishing Families and Foodways,” a photography exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, featuring my […]

The post A Fisherman and His Boat – A Portrait of Philly Anderson appeared first on Joe Kutchera.

Meeting a Legendary, Pioneering Runner

Joe Kutchera — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:10:16 +0000

Who was this sitting next to me, I wondered. She had a big smile, yet a tearful demeanor. She was wearing what I assumed was traditional African attire: a black dress with beads woven along the waistline and a majestic web of red latticework beads around her neck. Her hair was pulled back. And around her forehead, she wore a yellow, red and black beaded headband.

The post Meeting a Legendary, Pioneering Runner appeared first on Joe Kutchera.

My Aunt Kathryn Kucera: A Creative Life of Family, Art and Teaching

Joe Kutchera — Wed, 21 May 2025 19:59:09 +0000

Following is a speech that I shared at the memorial for my Aunt Kathryn Kucera (the sister of my Dad, Tom Kutchera) who passed away on May 3, 2025 at the age of 95 years old: I grew up knowing my Aunt Kate as the host of many family parties at her house on […]

The post My Aunt Kathryn Kucera: A Creative Life of Family, Art and Teaching appeared first on Joe Kutchera.

From Lake to Plate: Local Fishing Families and Foodways – A New Exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum

Joe Kutchera — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 21:36:46 +0000

Who are the people that bring us the fish that we eat? That is the question that we address in a new photography exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum entitled “From Lake to Plate: Local Fishing Families and Foodways.” I wrote and co-curated the exhibit along with Kevin Cullen, the executive directive of the […]

The post From Lake to Plate: Local Fishing Families and Foodways – A New Exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum appeared first on Joe Kutchera.

Meditation on Fish and Food Workers: Faces of a Fish Empire, a Work Family

Joe Kutchera — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 14:49:05 +0000

Seven years ago, Naomi Shersty organized a photo exhibit of my Dad’s portraits of Empire Fish Company employees, which opened on Labor Day Weekend. This week, the Wauwatosa Public Library welcomes our updated and expanded exhibit to its gallery space with new photos, oral histories, and research about commercial fishing on Lake Michigan, again opening […]

The post Meditation on Fish and Food Workers: Faces of a Fish Empire, a Work Family appeared first on Joe Kutchera.

Immigrant Stories to Honor Hispanic Heritage Month

Joe Kutchera — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:28:04 +0000

#HispanicHeritageMonth officially kicks off today, September 15, and runs through October 15. It begins on the Independence Days of five Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua – and continues with a nod to the Independence Days of Mexico and Chile, respectively, on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18. Hispanic Heritage […]

The post Immigrant Stories to Honor Hispanic Heritage Month appeared first on Joe Kutchera.

New Book Launch During National Immigrant Heritage Month

Joe Kutchera — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 11:34:30 +0000

Artist Alfonso Pérez Acosta and I are excited to launch our new hardcover coffee table art book, Portraits of Immigrant Voices, featuring the stories and portraits of 22 immigrants who have come to Richmond, Virginia from around the world. In a recent proclamation, President Biden dedicates the month of June to immigrants, stating, “This National […]

The post New Book Launch During National Immigrant Heritage Month appeared first on Joe Kutchera.

Preview to Pause the Journal

Joe Kutchera — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 17:01:21 +0000

My friend Rachael O’Meara invited me to write the foreword to her new book, Pause the Journal: How to Use Intentional Writing to Create Your Dreams, which helps readers form new habits in taking daily breaks to read, write, and reflect. I share it with you here on my website, as a preview to the book and also because I’ve become a big believer in journaling and meditation. In combination, these practices have helped me to create a gratitude practice, which helps me improve my mood. feel clear headed, and experience better focus in my work and family life.

The post Preview to Pause the Journal appeared first on Joe Kutchera.

In Honor of Veteran’s Day, the Story of Djakaria Konate, Serving Our Country and Those in Need

Joe Kutchera — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 14:54:11 +0000

In honor of Veteran’s Day (November 11), I proudly share the story of Djakaria Konate, who I wrote about in the series PORTRAITS OF IMMIGRANT VOICES, a project I worked on with artist Alfonso Pérez. Djakaria’s story inspired and surprised me, regarding how someone who isn’t even born in the USA can dedicate himself to […]

The post In Honor of Veteran’s Day, the Story of Djakaria Konate, Serving Our Country and Those in Need appeared first on Joe Kutchera.

Inviting Youth Voices into the Process of Reinventing Monument Avenue

Joe Kutchera — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 14:24:46 +0000

This opinion article originally appeared in The Richmond Times Dispatch. What will Monument Avenue look like in the years and decades ahead? And what will replace the Confederate statues and pedestals along Monument Avenue? When I reflect on these questions, one particular quote surfaces for me again and again. While unveiling the once controversial but […]

The post Inviting Youth Voices into the Process of Reinventing Monument Avenue appeared first on Joe Kutchera.