Entries Tagged 'Racine' ↓

By Colleen Kappeler

The August Art Matters meeting was held Thursday the 26th in the Dairy Statesmen practice room at Regency Mall in Racine. The space was perfect and wonderful snacks were put out – though unfortunately we were unable to hear the barbershop quartet as they needed to leave before we got to them. However, we were treated to a DVD of the Dairy Statesmen doing their new songs and choreography – rock music. What a hoot! That’s a show you don’t want to miss if you ever have the opportunity to go!

Raymond K. Roberts was the moderator at this meeting. He, Maureen Fritchen, Jessica Zalewski, Susan Larkin and John Bloner Jr had met in between meetings to settle on an agenda, a proposed mission statement, and to decide that each month would have a new moderator so that the meetings and group remain in the hands of the public rather than one person.

First thing on the agenda was the mission statement. Currently it reads as such:

“Our mission and purpose is to implement systems that support mutually productive relationships between artistic interest and existing communities in order to strengthen the entire economy.”

Roberts made it very clear that this is a “living, breathing document” and is meant to be “adaptable and evolve” over time. However, it gives the group something to define themselves by. It also clarifies that the group is working for the good of everyone and not just to support the arts.

Roberts brought up an interesting proposal that was quickly accepted by Racine residents and could go even further if others want to take it up as well. While moving a bank office, Roberts noticed their paintings were very unattractive, when he asked, he learned they get all their art work from a generic company in California. The bank manager was excited by the prospect of having local artists hang their work on display instead, and this is a project the group could take further.

Then the meeting moved on to determining the group’s areas of operation and influence. The smaller group that met in between meetings had determined that, although there is an active reach to include Milwaukee and Waukegan, resources lie strongest in Kenosha and Racine at this point so that’s where the immediate focus will be.

As the meeting entered the main part of the agenda, where five things were listed for discussion and decision, they came to a gridlock on the idea of creating a Master Calendar for the Arts. While one person wanted to create a new site to handle all arts related activities, others stated that the visitors’ bureaus in both Kenosha and Racine are already doing this, though Racine needs to improve their site a bit. The discussion then went to KRAN which a couple group members mentioned is being overhauled and they believe could be the gateway to bridging the resources between towns. Unfortunately, Chet Griffith, legal owner of KRAN website, was not available for comment.

Finally a decision was reached that at September’s meeting, which will hopefully be held at Art Works in Kenosha (date TBD) there will be a panel for questions and discussion. Art Matters is inviting representatives from both Racine and Kenosha visitors’ bureaus as well as Chet Griffith from KRAN in order to see how to best use the resources already available to get the information out to the public. If the wheel doesn’t have to be reinvented then why do it?

Group members agreed that one thing Art Matters can do is help with the collecting of information and its distribution – making it clear and available for the public.

So September’s meeting will include:

1. A charter for the group to sign that basically allows the group to remain in possession of any domain or naming rights instead of one person owning it
2. A panel for discussion of web information
3. Further discussion on other areas that were not reached last night

Stay tuned for more information on dates and times as well as an email that will be sent to everyone who has attended past meetings, showing them the mission statement, allowing for comments, and bringing everyone up to date with detailed minutes from each previous meeting.

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.

Carolyn’s Coffee Connection
1351 52nd Street
Kenosha, WI 53140

The public is invited to the Grand Opening of the DCS Trading Co. (Bookstore), 5144 – Douglas Avenue, Racine, WI on Saturday, July 24th, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. The store is located west of the 4 Mile Road across from Pick’n Save.
Nick Cibrario, the author and artist, will read excerpts from his new manuscript, Return to Kathmandu: Murder in the Mountains, at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm (publication this fall). This novel is set in Nepal during the massacre of the royal family, allegedly by the Crown Prince in the spring of 2001. Carl Brecht , the anthropologist, returns to Kathmandu with his daughter, Kathy, to attend a convention prior to the assassination.

Nick will also have a Book Signing of his four novels at $12.00 each plus tax and an Art Exhibit of his paintings and sculptures at reduced prices. Those purchasing his work will receive a free copy of A Visit to India by Mary Ann Lackovich, poet and photographer. Cibrario wrote the following article.

When I received a message from Cindy Johnson on my answering machine inviting me to spend the day at her bookstore, I was Continue reading →

Saturday, March 27 from 11:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Racine Business Center.

The art show includes over 13 local artists displaying their art along with vintage art galleries open to the public. The studios are located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Racine Business Center, 1405 16th Street, Racine, WI. Refreshments on site.

The artists’ and galleries open to the public for the Spring Art Show are:

• Jerry Belland
• Steve Brondino
• Maureen Fritchen
• Greg Helding
• Brad Lee
• Tony Macias
• Jan McLaughlin
• Marge Meyer
• Sally Miller
• Mary Mollerskov
• Susan Sorensen
• Roberta Williams
• Dale’s Upstairs Gallery
• Gallerie G

The Bathroom No.5 (A Good Place to Read) has been released. Click HERE to download this Issue.

The Bathroom publishes writing and visual art as freely downloadable PDF webzines on a rolling basis.

Authors retain all rights to work that appears in The Bathroom, although readers should feel free (as in speech) to circulate copies of the magazine digitally or in print freely (as in beer).

The magazine has a tendency to favor irreverent work that may or may not display an emphasis on epistemological, cognitive and/or ontological concerns.

Nicholas Michael Ravnikar serves as designer, editor and publisher of the zine, which is produced in Racine, WI.

Message from BONK!

BONK! will be a year old this October.

Please come celebrate with us.  We happen to have a crazy-great line up and the event will be outrageous.

*note: this BONK! falls on the third Saturday, rather than the fourth (as usual) due to scheduling problems).

Our line up:

writer— Daniel Borzutzky

poet—K. Silem Mohammad (click to see a great video of him reading)

musician—Brent Mitchell

The writers this month are irreverent, weird, creepy and, most of all, hilarious.  Daniel comes to us from Chicago and K. Silem all the way from Oregon.  And, if you don’t know Brent Mitchell, he’s a local musicain that is just unbelievably excellent.  He played the first BONK!, so we wanted to have him bring in our second year as well.  To see a video of Brent playing at BONK!, go to the videos tab above and scroll almost to the bottom of the page.

Happy Birthday to you all for supporting BONK! that it might survive this long and can’t wait to see you on Oct 16th at 6pm.