
Pictures courtesy of Franco Tarsitano
This is the first in a series of interviews with people in Kenosha who may not necessarily be artists, but through their life experience, actions, and their dedicated work ethic make this a better place for the artist community.
Ray Forgianni, a life long resident of Kenosha, and his wife Carole, keep so busy that you sometimes wonder if they’ve been cloned.
Ray, one of the founders the Harbor Market, AHA! Kenosha (it’s current president), as well as, being actively involved with the Kenosha Community Foundation Arts Fund, Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, The Greater Milwaukee Cultural Alliance and the Kenosha Cigar Club (there is an art to rolling a good cigar), his interest in urban design makes Ray a very sought after person to work with.
Franco: You have degrees that seem quite unrelated…
I also believe that no matter what your means, your education, your faith, your nationality, your gender, your race, (you get the idea), no matter who you are, you have an appreciation for beauty. We owe it to ourselves as individuals, as a society and as a community to make where we work, live and play, a beautiful place.
Franco: Do you have any artistic abilities?
Franco: When did the idea of HarborMarket all get started? And Why?
It was one of my habits as City Planner to recreate in Kenosha something positive that I experience somewhere else. At the same time, others were interested in the same thing. Farmer markets seem to be a national phenomenon much like coffee houses. One other person in particular, Curzio Caravati, who was selling at a local market and was unsatisfied with its quality, was also interested in markets.
Curzio complained to the mayor. As a result, the mayor agreed to see the city do something unique as a part of HarborPark. I called together an ad hoc group of people that I thought would be instrumental for creating a farmers’ market. I guess I sought out the right people because the committee that was created by the Common Council and appointed by the Mayor were the same people.
After several years of running as a City committee, we formed a not for profit corporation and we successfully made the transfer over from the City. We were created in 2004 and became a corporation in 2007. The committee is largely the same people. It is a hard working group that loves to have fun. They have passion and very creative.
Franco: With the variety of vendors; how are they chosen?
Franco: I think that most of the fun for me is actually just hanging out there, which you would in a European markets….a place to run into friends, socialize, snack…
Franco: I’ve seen kids on leashes…
Franco: And your booth specialty?
Franco: This isn’t that knife throwing act you had years ago where you spun Carole on the wheel and popped the balloons…
Franco: Uncle Ray, we may have to do a follow-up interview because we didn’t discuss AHA! Kenosha, and particularly since Tamara Merfeld will be leaving her position as Executive Director. So, part two…with a glass of wine . . .








1 comment so far ↓
Ray’s my hero…no, really! He’s a forward thinker and a skilled leader, a combo that has served our Community for many years! And he’s a fun-guy…sort of like the mushrooms he sells at the market. (and he takes teasing pretty well.) Great interview of a terrific man!
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