WPCA Holiday Schedule

We will be closed on and around Christmas and New Year. The gallery and education center will be open during the week between the holidays. On these days (December 28 - 31) we will also host Afternoons with Art, exciting opportunity for children age 6-12 to spend time off school.

Afternoons with Art are $5 a day for WPCA members and $ 10 for non-members. Scholarships are available.

Please register by calling Kate at 755-8892.

Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve - CLOSED

Friday, December 2, Christmas Day - CLOSED

Saturday December 26 - CLOSED

REGULAR HOURS,

December 28 - December 31: noon - 5 PM

Monday, December 28 - Afternoons with Art, 1 - 5 pm

Tuesday, December 29 - Afternoons with Art, 1 - 5 pm

Wednesday, December 30 - Afternoons with Art, 1 - 5 pm

Thursday, December 31 - Afternoons with Art, 1 - 5 pm

Friday, January 1 - CLOSED

Saturday, January 2 - CLOSED

THANK YOU TO ALL MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS IN 2008/09 SEASON!

YOU MAKE THIS ALL POSSIBLE!

ARTIST MEMBERS
Jordan Acker Anderson
Chris Andrews
Nancy Aycock
Cicely Babb
Al Balinsky
Stephanie Bartz
E. Jane Bekos
Bill Berens
Austin Boechler
Frank Bondzinski
Angela M. Brandon
Richard Bublitz
River Bullock
Donna Burdge
Christine Buth-Furness
José Alfredo Chavez
Valerie Christell
Rise Christensen
Tamiko Dargan
Melva Darrough
Heather Eiden
John Fatica
Fred & Margaret Figie
Susan Foley
Mary Galinowski
Lee Gierke
Jeffrey M. Goldberg
Regan Golden-McNerney
Tom Halfmann
Katie Hassemer
Connie Hawkins
Judith & Svend Hestoft
Maria Ellen Huebner
Eriks Johnson
Carrie Joubert
Henk Joubert
Kat Klemp
Frank Korb
Geri Laehn
Jason Lantagne
Theresa Lauer
Riccardo Liotta
C. Matthew Luther
Gregory Martens
Scott May
Mark McBride
Lynet McDonald
George Mee
Todd Mrozinski
Cristian Muñoz
Roberta E. Nelson
Barbara Nelson-Fuqua
Karen Norris
Lance Orr
Louis Anthony Orr
Nicolaus Ortiz
Boris Ostrerov
Dan Patrinos
A. Marie Phillips
Simon Phillips
Jenny Poetzel
JoAnna Poehlmann
Jessica Poor
Deidre Prosen
Douglas Pruitt
Steven Rademan
Ari David Rosenthal
Pacia Sallomi
Vicki Samolyk
Denis Sargent
Mary Anne Schall
Greg Schoeneck
Paula Schulze
Monica Sirimarco
Renee Skiba
Peter Skiba
Henry H. Smith
Thomas & Jean Sobon
Ximena Soza
Diane Steigerwald
Ann E. Stein
L. Yvonne Stevenson
Morgyn Stranahan
Sandy Lee Sugden
Cynthia Taylor
Judith Z. Tolkan
Inés Villanueva
Louise Webb
Sandra Westbrook
Savoy Westbrook
Charles Wickler
Fo Wilson
Leann Wooten
Paul Zovic & Joanne Lipo Zovic
Clarice Zucker
Jim Zwadlo

Individual/Family Members $ 50–$ 99
Harmonie & Daniel Baker
Daniel & Janet Brophey
Barbara Brown Lee
James Byrne
Vicki Chiger
Christopher Davis-Benavides & Karen Gunderman
Carol & Buz Dittrich
Nan Fitzpatrick
Sheila Jozwik
Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Lauer, Sr.
Mary Ellen Lukaszewicz
Jose Montoto
Heather Pantoga
Scot Dragan & Jean Berens
Mary Mellowes
Patricia Obletz
K. Lee Peterson
Adolph & Suzanne Rosenblatt
Marilyn Schmid
Corinne Tobin
Vivian & Paul Traskowski

Supporting Members $ 100–$ 249
Elfrieda Abbe & Daniel Sargeant
Byron Becker
Fred Berman
Dorota Biczel Nelson
Kate Brosnan Bradley
Andrea & Charles Bram
Diane & David Buck
Robin Coffman
Virgilyn Driscoll
Phil Fisher
Michael & Donna Flanagan
Tim & Susan Frautschi
Gianfranco Tessara/Inspired Artisans, Ltd.
Sharon Giesfeldt Van Ruiswyk
Constance P. Godfrey
Peter Goldberg
Janet & Fred Goldsmith
Sue Goldwomon
Gary John Gresl
Russ Jankowski
Jenevie & Russell Jensen
Lona Long Velasco
Janet Matthews
Polly Morris
Scott Paulus
Fabiola Rodriguez Strande
Louis A. & Barbara J. Stippich
Tori Tasch
Pegi Taylor Christiansen
Carolyn White-Travanti & Leon Travanti
Mel & Dan Trittin
Gary Tuma
Jamie & Dan Ward
Marie Mellott & Yehuda Yannay
Rosa Zamora

Collectors $ 250–$ 499
Mr. & Mrs. David French
Gary Polzen
Jim & Marie Seder
Norma Trevino
Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Weiss

Sustainers $ 500–$ 999
Diane Ekstrand
Mrs. Henry E. Fuldner
Kay & Richard Knight
Luz Mercado
Christine Symchych

Benefactors $ 1,000–$ 4,999
Barbara E. Manger & Bill Lynch
Ruth De Young Kohler

Foundations, Corporate and Government Supporters
Arts at Large
ASQ
ATT Foundation
Helen Bader Foundation
Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation
Brico Fund
Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee
Chambers & Owen, Inc.
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
CPL Industries, Inc.
Patrick and Anna M. Cudahy Fund
The Gardner Foundation
Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s:

• John C. and Harriett Cleaver Fund
• Mary L. Nohl Fund
• Non-profit Management Fund
• Walker’s Point Center for the Arts Endowment Fund

Harley-Davidson Foundation
The Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation
Herbert H. Kohl Charities
Milwaukee County CAMPAC
Milwaukee Public Schools – Partnership for the Arts
Mortimer Charitable Lead Trust
Northwestern Mutual Foundation
St. Rafael the Archangel School
Wellpoint Matching Gift Program
Windhover Foundation
Wisconsin Arts Board with the funds from the State of Wisconsin, the National Endowment for the Arts and National Recovery Act
Woman’s Club of Wisconsin

Opening of CoPA's 3rd Annual Juried Exhibition

First signs of impending winter did not scare CoPA's members, artists and photo enthusiasts, who came out in force to celebrate the opening of CoPA's 3rd Annual Juried Show. Even though this year's juror, Paul Ha of St.Louis's Contemporary could not join us due to previous (certainly important!) art engagements, he was kind enough to send us a video tape with his thoughts on the jurying process and photography he selected. It's a great addition to the show that helps to see the work included in the exhibition from a new, fresh perspective.
We were fortunate too, that all the award winners were able to join us: Mary Farmilant of Chicago, IL, awarded "The Best in Show," John Koeppen of Racine, WI and Chris Norris of Madison, WI, who both received "Honorable Mentions," and Kristin Keshena, enthusiastically selected to receive "Viewers' Choice Award." Thank you all for coming - it was a wonderful night!

Outpost Exchange Alternative Gift Fair

This December marks the return of the Outpost Exchange Alternative Gift Fair. As an alternative to a traditional trip to a shopping mall, you can honor family and friends by donating to an organization that fits their values. Donations take the form of “gifts” that participating non-profits offer shoppers. The event calls attention to the growing needs in the community in a manner that invites you to come to the table in the spirit of holiday giving traditions. Last year’s fair drew hundreds of visitors and raised several thousand dollars for local charities. For us, The Alternative Gift Fair is a great as it helps to build relationships and community.

When you visit the Exchange Alternative Gift Fair, you will receive a “shopping list” of participating non-profit groups which show the different donation levels shoppers can support. Gift cards will be available to complete the gift giving experience. WPCA will be offering memberships of different levels, starting with our basic artist membership of $ 25, together will limited edition T-shirts featuring WPCA artists and special artistic goodie bags.

The Alternative Gift Fair will be in conjunction with the Buy Local Fair, sponsored by Our Milwaukee, a local business alliance that advocates for locally owned, independent businesses. Together, both events bring attention to the importance of supporting and living local. For a complete list of participating AGF organizations, visit the link.

Last House Productions AUDITIONS

AUDITIONS for the short film, The Bully.

Award-winning filmmakers of Last House Productions will hold auditions for their next short film, The Bully on Saturday, December 5th, 2009, 12:15 – 4:30pm.

Shooting of the film will take place in and around the Milwaukee area in late March and early April of 2010. Meals will be provided on lengthy shooting days.

Young actors of all types, ages 7 to 18, are encouraged to audition for lead roles. Also needed are adult actors ages 25 to 50.

Auditions will be videotaped and will consist of improvisation and readings from the script.

More information about The Bully can be found at the official website.
For an audition appointment call Matthew at (562) 261-4637 or email thebullymovie@gmail.com

WPCA - Milwaukee's best gallery of 2009!

Many, many thanks to all of you who took the time to vote for us in the Shepherd Express's annual poll of Milwaukee's Best! We feel very thrilled to be named Milwaukee's best art gallery of 2009.
We all know that the competition in the gallery category must have been tough as there are many amazing people here in town, including many of our dear friends, working extremely hard to both embrace Milwaukee's wonderful artists and bring in the fresh talent from elsewhere. Hence, we are even more honored to be awarded this title.

To see complete results in Arts and Entertainment category, please visit this link.

We are very grateful to everybody who contributed to our success: our supporters, unbelievable members, all the volunteers and interns, our Board and all the funders who back up their faith in us with their monetary funds. We couldn't have done it without you - it's been a truly team effort.

But above all, many thanks to artists who worked with us to make the gallery events true success. Starting with the most recent, we have to acknowledge Rosa Zamora, who carefully curated the current Day of the Dead Exhibition, an amazing group who under auspices of Terry Daulton and Dolly Ledin put together Paradise Lost, truly wonderful Jennifer Harris and Regan Golden (we are sending big thanks to Regan in Houston, TX), MARN mentors and mentees, Gabriel Villa and Rene Hugo Arceo and all the good folks of Pilsen, Richard Knight, members of the Southeastern Chapter of Wisconsin Visual Artists, and - above all - our artist members who stand by us through thick and thin. THANK YOU!

Faces of Día de los Muertos

Many, many thanks to over 320 attendees of the Día de los Muertos celebration: artists, friends and neighbors, who came to participate in the special festivities of the night. As always, Rosa Zamora brought together an unforgettable, diverse group of people to create the ofrendas for the loved and important ones who passed away. The evening was full of attractions for anyone from age 1 to 101: from yummy food and snacks, sugar skulls meticulously crafted by Rosa herself, face painting by Eriks Johnson, to wonderful traditional music by the Mexican trio and a lecture on Oaxacan tradition of the Day of the Dead by Dara Larson and Dan Leister of Alverno College.
I know we haven't been very good about posting recently, so I hope that a small sampling of our pictures from the evening will make up for the lack of posts.




Gary Tuma and our artist members, Paula Schulze and John Fatica. Beautiful hand-cut flags above their hands were meticulously prepared by Rosa.



This amazing mural was created by Armando Gallegos, who spent a long week crafting his piece.



Eriks Johnson's face-painting services were in such high demand by both children and adults alike, that he didn't leave his chair until 9.30 pm. Water and snacks were brought to him by nice volunteers. Waldek Dynerman of MIAD looks on as Eriks is starting his another creation.



The altar by Ximena Sosa "We can't stop a bullet but we don't have to shoot" is created to commemorate victims of gun violence.

Ximena Soza and Cristian Muñoz, who also created an ofrenda for this years' exhibition.

Educational team extraordinaire: WPCA's Director of Education, Kate Bradley (right) and Teresa Lauer.

Lona Long Velasco, our Board President and curator, Rosa Zamora.





Eriks hard at work - he seriously did not stop for 3 hours!







Cristian Muñoz, Ximena Soza and Rosa Zamora.

Antv Antinao created an altar dedicated to the Mapuche people (living in nation of Chile) he descends from.



Dara Larson of Alverno College.

The Board: Lona Long Velasco and Morgyn Stanahan.











Gary Tuma, Dale Christiansen, Pegi Taylor Christiansen.

Milwaukee's art funding in danger

As you might have heard, the funding provided annually by the City of Milwaukee for the Milwaukee Arts Board is in real danger, so it is pertinent that we voice our opposition to the proposed budget cuts for the upcoming year.

We can express our concerns about the Arts Board funding at the Mayor and Common Council Joint Public Hearing on TUESDAY, October 13th at 6:00 pm, in the Council Chambers at the City Hall (Third Floor, 200 E. Wells St.)

If you cannot attend, you can also email the Mayor at mayor@milwaukee.gov.

BELOW, YOU'LL FIND THE LETTER WE RECEIVED FROM ALDERMAN MURPHY.

***

Dear Members of the Milwaukee Arts Board and fellow Arts Organizations,

As you may already know, under Mayor Barrett’s proposed budget for 2010 the Milwaukee Arts Board will lose approximately two thirds of its funds. The Mayor has recommended cutting $110,000 from the 2009 allocation of $160,000. The subsequent result of this action will also be a loss of $25,000 matching grant dollars from the Wisconsin Art Board’s.

I am clearly opposed to such a cut; the largest reduction in any department. This proposal would result in a total loss of almost 75% of the board’s funds. I thus encourage you to attend the Joint Public Hearing being held by the Common Council and the Mayor Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 6:00 PM in the Common Council Chambers, Third Floor, City Hall, 200 E Wells Street, to share your concerns. As many factors are taken into consideration when determining the next year’s budget, it is important that the Common Council hear your voices in opposition to the Mayor’s budget.

I look forward to seeing you at the hearing to support art in the City of Milwaukee.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call me at 286-3763.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Murphy

Alderman, 10^th District

***

Stimulus Grant

Last Tuesday, Governor Doyle announced the awarding of $300,000 in stimulus grants for Wisconsin arts organization. Walker's Point Center for the Arts is a recipient of one of the $15,000 grants. That evening, a local legislator questioned the use of federal stimulus funds for the arts. On Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden announced a $299 million award to a local firm for research and development of automotive battery technology. There was nothing but praise for that funding. And rightly so, since green technology research and development is a stated goal of the current administration.

In doing the math ($299 million vs. $300,000) I was reminded of the monetary value we place on arts and culture in this society and how arts are often the last funded and first cut when we have an economic downturn. I was also reminded how the arts are the focus of attack simply because artists often challenge the status quo and push our emotions on political, social and economic issues. The arts can also calm us in trying times and unite us in common cause. These are the very reasons the arts are necessary to sustain our vitality and continue our national dialogue around issues of culture and the arts.

The current recession has impacted all sectors of employment not just the financial or automotive sectors who have received the vast majority of stimulus funds. The purpose of stimulus funding was to create and restore jobs. The arts grant received by WPCA will result in the restoration of our part time classroom art teacher position providing free after school art education. These are Milwaukee youth in a neighborhood that has seen significant job loss during the past year. This position was cut in February due to the current recession and funding challenges facing many nonprofit organizations during the past several years. I am also reminded that artists' wages are far lower than those of research scientists or financial managers who have benefited most from the stimulus funds.

"Decorative Directive" in the news

"Decorative Directive" is a wonderful exhibition and it has enjoyed some excellent press coverage so far.

It was among the Gallery Night picks of Kat Murrell in the Third Coast Digest, Peggy Sue Dunigan in the Shepherd Express and Mary Louise Schumacher in the Journal Sentinel.
To find out more about the exhibition you can read the review in the Shepherd and also an interview with Regan Golden on their website.

If you haven't seen the show yet, these articles can give you a wonderful background to truly enjoy and appreciate the work of both Regan Golden and Jennifer Harris. Please, come visit us before August 22.

New Art Fair in Madison, WI

We received this information from one of our artist members and thought that some of you, who do exhibit at art fairs, may be interested in this opportunity. ArtWorks: Madison Show is a new event developed by designer Colin Murray. More information on the website: www.ArtWorksMadison.com.

Get involved!

This is a fabulous opportunity to get involved in a project of Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, please consider supporting their fundraising efforts.

Saturday Softball League (SSBL) will be holding an art event on August 19, 2009 to raise funds for the NAGAAAFest 2009 - the Gay Softball World Series.

The event will be held at the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center and across the street at Gravity Marketing - (formerly Don Quixote restaurant).
Promotional partners include; BESTD Clinic; AIDS Resource Center of WI; Milwaukee Gay Arts Center; Challenge Board and Cream City Foundation's Joseph R. Pabst LGBT Infrastructure Fund; to name a few.

The $25.00 event will include a wine/beer tasting, food, entertainment, an art exhibition, and a silent auction with donated pieces from numerous galleries and individual artists.

The names of artists or contacts at galleries that might be interested in donating art to the silent auction, or loaning pieces to the exhibit are needed ASAP. If you know of anyone, please send an e-mail to Mike Kuharske at mkuharske@gravitym.com with the artist’s name, phone number and/or e-mail.

If you are willing to contribute to either the auction or the exhibition, this link explains how you can participate: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=eb_2fd3mR8YkeSij_2b8miKSMQ_3d_3d

For supplying a contact or two, you’ll receive a complimentary invitation to the event!
Also, approximately a dozen volunteers are needed at the event as well. If you’re interested in helping, please contact:

Mike Kuharske, Partner
Gravity Marketing LLC
704 S. 2nd Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414.202.5874
414.755.0842 fax

http://www.linkedin.com/in/kuharske

mkuharske@gravitym.com

Getting ready for the new show!

While the kids are happily working on the earthworks in the Menomonee River Valley, we are getting ready for our next exhibition, which promises enticing food for both the eyes and the minds. On Gallery Night (July 24th), we're opening a two-person exhibition by Regan Golden and Jennifer Harris titled "Decorative Directive."

Perhaps in a surprising pairing, the show brings together two artists with seemingly radically disparate backgrounds. Regan Golden received her MFA training in the department of painting and drawing at UW-Milwaukee and has a strong background in art theory and philosophy from her studies at the Grinell College. Today, she works primarily with cut paper. Jennifer Harris, on the other hand, studied industrial design during her undergraduate career and later engrossed herself in jewely and metalsmithing at the MFA program at SUNY-New Paltz. Having taught and maintaining the labs at UWM for a few years, she has recently returned to her roots in industrial design.

Regan Golden, What is yours is mine is yours: Part Three, 2006. Hand cut and wrapped Seamless Photography backdrop paper, dimensions vary.
Jennifer Harris. Etiquette Tray (detail), 2004. Fiberglass tray, original image, 16 1/2 x 12 x 1 inches.

Despite those different backgrounds, both artists share a number of interests that both aesthetically and conceptually bring them together in a refreshing and unexpected duo. While their aesthetics is strongly influenced by postminimalist art movement, they both use processes that are normally asocciated with feminine craft, rather than high- or avant-guarde art. They also both are deeply engaged in the question of what it means to be a female today and how our tumultuous relationship with what we inherited from the past shapes the values we associate with "femininity" today.

Peggy Sue Dunigan previewed the exhibition for The Shepherd Express. You can see her article here.