Read • Play • Ponder is designed to engage people in penetrating, yet playful conversations on topics such as the arts, technology, science, health care, entertainment, and more. It serves to inspire and challenge everyone toward better living and a better world.
Christine Northrup, M.D., has called this book, “one of the most inspiring, practical, and uplifting books I have ever read. The very act of reading it with an open heart and mind will improve your health.”
Participants are invited to read this book prior to the September 24 event; however, participants may attend even if they have not read or finished the book. Paperback copies of this book are available for purchase online and at area retailers.
The evening will also feature a talk by Benjamin Zander form his appearance on TED.com. Zander is a gifted speaker with an engaging philosophy of “one buttock playing” in musical performance as well as in day-to-day life.
This series continues on the fourth Friday of each month, excluding the month of December, with a new topic, book, video, and special guests each time.
As I spoke with Pat Koessler about the upcoming student exhibition for the August BeExposed! event, I was struck by two phrases that continually came up, “Encouragement” and “building confidence”. This is what KAA has to offer to their members, students, and the community. This is how they are unique from other arts organizations around the area, offering people who may not see themselves as artists the chance to try their hand at creative endeavors.
In fact, their mission clearly states they exist to “encourage and promote art, art education, and art appreciation in the Kenosha area.” KAA offers low membership dues that give members the opportunity to display their work in both the KAA ’s Kaleidoscope Gallery and the Pollard’s Spotlight Gallery. There is also a yearly show at the Kenosha Public Museum and special events like the upcoming Black and White party in September.
Members and students range from expert to those who are looking to try an art genre for the first time. The great thing KAA offers is the opportunity for people to try art, build their confidence as artists, and plenty of encouragement from both members and teachers along the way. A few years ago I was able to take a painting class through KAA with Brigitta Richter. It was acrylics, chalk, and drawing, focusing on the seven chakras, a specialty of hers. I went in with nothing more than a faint memory of junior high art class work and came out not only enjoying myself, but with some pictures I now hang on my walls and have given to family and friends.
The classes KAA offers are less expensive than you would find through many other venues to encourage participation and keep them non-intimidating for potential students. KAA does fundraising to pay for the building and utilities, allowing those costs to stay down. Since students who are new to a genre of art often don’t have supplies or want to purchase them without trying a class first, KAA has many products on hand from donations. These products are often available either free or for a small donation.
The artists whose work will be displayed throughout Carolyn’s Coffee Connection beginning this month are people who have taken classes through KAA and the work they accomplished during those classes. This is another opportunity for the students to gain confidence and feel encouraged about what they do. To give an example, one member did a painting in class that Koessler talked her into displaying at the Kaleidoscope Gallery. Later Koessler asked if she could take the piece to show at the museum. The woman was very hesitant, but Koessler proceeded and the piece not only hung in the museum but sold extremely easily.
KAA has a membership around 110 and celebrated their 60th anniversary this year. They rely solely on volunteers, which can be challenging at times. They work with UWP and give out one scholarship each year to a budding artist and are always encouraging new members and volunteers.
If you are interested in trying your hand at any type of art I’d encourage you to check out their website and see what classes are coming up this fall. Remember, just taking a class doesn’t mean you have to commit to it or have experience. And please stop in to see the works that will be on display beginning on August 20th with this month’s BeExposed! event.
KenoshaArtAssoc@yahoo.com
(262) 654-0065 http://www.KenoshaArtAssoc.org
Kenosha Art Association has been running for 60 years, which is to be admired in its own right. However, like any organization that keeps costs low by using only volunteers, they are facing challenges. Many members are older and cannot actively volunteer; others, in the 40-60-year-old range do most of the volunteering, but they cannot hold up the organization alone.
KAA offers opportunities for artists of all ages and abilities that cannot be found just anywhere: low cost classes, opportunities to show your work, connections to other artists, encouragement and confidence. As winter approaches and we all begin to look for something to do with our long, cold days and nights, this is one opportunity to keep in mind. Whether you want to try a class, encourage your children and students to try classes, or have some experience in marketing or organization that you can bring to KAA , please consider getting involved.
Organizations such as this one keep a community vibrant and active – this is not something to ignore or let slide if you have any interest in the arts and their potential to build up a community. Whatever you have to offer, whatever you’d like to try your hand at artistically, give KAA your time and contribute to our community and its efforts to grow and develop.
You are invited to attend a meeting of Art Matters, facilitated by Mark Fraire of Wisconsin Arts Board, on Thursday, July 22 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Carolyn’s Coffee Connection, 1351 52nd Street, Kenosha, WI.
Art Matters has met monthly in 2010 as an ad-hoc group of arts and supporters of the arts of the Racine and Kenosha area. Share this information with others and encourage them to attend on Thursday evening at Carolyn’s Coffee Connection
Meeting agenda for July 22
ART MATTERS
Meeting Agenda for July 22, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Carolyn’s Coffee Connection
1351 52nd Street, Kenosha, WI
Welcoming Comments
Mark Fraire, Wisconsin Arts Board
Success stories of Art Matters
In the past seven months, the fellowship formed around Art Matters has had a positive impact on the area arts scene.
What are some of our success stories?
Opportunities
What should we become?
• A network to provide professional development and opportunities for artists
EXAMPLE: Milwaukee Artists Resource Network: http://marnonline.com
MARN’s mission is to “help all artists have sustainable careers by providing resources for professional development and create opportunities for them to connect with their audiences and each other”.
• A social network to provide entertainment, arts presentations, and food/beverages, as well as to provide a forum for discussions that are relevant to the arts in the Kenosha/Racine area
• A network that exists to create social change and build better communities through art
EXAMPLE: Leadership for a Changing World: Can the Arts Change the World. http://wagner.nyu.edu/leadership/reports/files/cantheartschangetheworld.pdf
• Other suggestions
Aspirations
What type of projects, programs, and processes would support our aspirations?
• Develop a Kenosha/Racine Arts Guide
An online guide to visual and performing artists and to arts organizations of the Kenosha/Racine area.
• Host a 2011 Tour of the Arts in Racine and Kenosha.
• Adopt a name change from Art Matters to Kenosha Racine Arts Network, aligning the group’s efforts with the already established memberships to the KRAN Website and Facebook community and better defining the collaborative atmosphere between communities and between artists that has arisen since the group’s inception in 2010.
• Continue a conversation with UW-Parkside on the $40 million expansion of its fine arts facility in order to demonstrate support and offer needs and interests of the arts community toward a center for the arts of Racine and Kenosha. (Facility is to open in Fall 2011).
• Build a case for the impact of the arts on the Kenosha/Racine area by asking each artist to track his/her hours as an artist and/or arts advocate for 30 days and submit this information to the group.
Along with the Arts Guide, this information is designed to show evidence to federal, State, and local leaders on the impact of the arts to Racine and Kenosha toward a goal of appreciation, funding and in-kind support of the arts.
• Other suggestions.
Wisconsin Art Board is coming to Kenosha to hear what matters to artists in Racine/Kenosha. This month energizing discussion about the arts is hosted by ExposeKenosha.com and Wisconsin Arts Board
When: July 22, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Visit Carolyn’s Coffee Connection, 1351 52nd St., Kenosha, on Thursday, July 22 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. as Racine and Kenosha visual and performing artists, writers, and supporters of the arts come together for discussion and developing direction toward building a better network for the arts in SW Wisconsin.
As we continue our mission of promoting arts, cultural events, creative Kenosha residents, as well as the creativity of the business owners in Downtown Kenosha and the surrounding area, ExposeKenosha.com is proud to partner with the Kenosha Lakeshore Business Improvement District (BID).
The topic for the Friday, September 24th event is the Art of Possibility, based on a passionate book of the same name by classical music conductor Benjamin Zander and his wife, Rosamund Stone Zander, executive coach and family systems therapist.
You are invited to attend a meeting of Art Matters, facilitated by Mark Fraire of 
Carolyn’s Coffee Connection
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