IN THE NEWS

Arts Education

• WWSP expands reach - Station boosts power to 30,000 watts
  Stevens Point Daily Journal
  “The student-run radio station at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is reaching a larger audience thanks to a new transmitter. WWSP-90FM boosted its power from 11,500 watts to 30,000 watts by replacing its outdated transmitter, which was almost 20 years old, with a new directional Nautel V-10 transmitter. This expanded the station's coverage area dramatically to the east, west and south. It also improved the reception for listeners in the station's original coverage area.”
• Guess what’s hot this summer? School! - Vacation allows some to catch up, others to get ahead
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “Believe it or not, walking the halls of local high schools this summer are students not forced to make up courses they flunked in the spring, but ones who maybe — just maybe — want to be there.  And not just because they want to learn how to drive. They’re taking classes so they can have more time for elective offerings and Advanced Placement classes during the regular school year, or maybe pick up an internship, or even graduate early.” 
• New faces, new places
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “Concordia University, Mequon, named Christian Himsel director of the Rincker Memorial Library and David Borst dean of the School of Business and Legal Studies. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design named Anthony J. Nowak dean of students, Jennifer Crandall associate dean of students and Rebecca Balistreri director of college advising.”

Community Arts

• Building a new career by hand
  La Crosse Tribune
  ONALASKA, Wis. — “After 33 years of working in architectural design, Joyce Diveley thinks it may be time to give it up for a different kind of architecture. So welcome to the potting shed. Yes, it’s located in the garden and surrounded by shade plants, but this potting shed, designed by Diveley and built by her husband Mike, serves a different purpose entirely. This is where she makes pots ... and dishes, wall hangings, vases and figural pieces. She didn’t know she was beginning her next career when she attended a clay camp at Behind the Brewery Gallery in 2000. She just thought it would be fun to plunge her hands into clay and build something. 'I was hooked instantly.' Then, she just couldn’t stop building — pots and bowls and vases and utensil holders. Pretty soon, her house couldn’t hold everything she was making and she started selling them at art fairs. That’s no easy task because everything she makes is heavy and breakable, so transportation is no easy feat. Just ask husband Mike.”
• Youth Group Cleans Up The Streets, Paints Over Graffiti - Members Work To Give Their Art A Good Name
  WISN-TV Milwaukee
  MILWAUKEE – “A group of young people spent part of their Saturday getting rid of graffiti. The group called True Skool, Inc. hosted the graffiti cleanup. The participants didn’t just wipe out the vandalism; they covered it up with artwork and murals.  Members said the idea is to change tagging into something positive.”
• Neighbors applauding your achievements - 11-year-old wins art contest
  Appleton Post Crescent
  “Robin Bain, 11, of Kaukauna is the winner in the 11-14 age category of 'This is MY Children's' art contest sponsored by Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.  Children ages 3 to 18 were invited to submit artwork and stories describing what their children's hospital looked like. The contest is part of a marketing campaign to celebrate the hospital's west tower expansion, which will open in spring. Bain included pictures of a heart and building blocks in her drawing to represent the love and support her sister received during her hospital stay. 'To me, Children's Hospital is great,' Robin said. 'Without them, I might not have my sister, who I love with all my heart.' Each winner receives a weekend stay for four in Wisconsin Dells. Winning artwork entries can be viewed at www.thisismychildrens.org.”
• No fest? That’s a big loss
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “A big blow to the AfricanAmerican community last week was the announcement that African World Festival would be canceled due to financial woes.  Seeing how every other minority group will celebrate its heritage through festivals this summer, it seems strange that the largest minority group is not represented. Ever since I was 5, my grandmother would take me and my sister to Afro Fest so that 'we could get an understanding of our other side,' as she would say. I remember connecting to my roots through food, music, clothing and congregation. It felt as if I was in a new world where people smiled all the time.”

Folk Arts/Folklife

• McWilliams passes Portage Theatres to another family, ending an 81-year tradition
  Portage Daily Register
  “The creativity of sneaking into a drive-in theater has always been appreciated by John McWilliams. There were the trunk riders, the fence jumpers, the blanket covering something in the back. It was the thrill of the catch that made it so exciting working there. And just to up the ante in the cat-and-mouse game, McWilliams set traps like heading over to talk to the car's driver for a long period of time, knowing there were people in the trunk. 'There was always activity. There was always the thrill of catching people sneaking in who think they made it,' he said. 'And we knew they were in the trunk. The car would come in and it would be almost dragging in the back.'”
• Polish pride abounds at Pulaski Polka Days - 'You just go out there, do what you do, and have fun doing it'
  Green Bay Press Gazette
  “Perhaps if Ted Thompson and Brett Favre shared a polka dance together, all the turmoil currently plaguing the Green Bay Packers would be resolved. After all, there's a genuine air of contentment that follows everyone who flocks to the dance floor at Pulaski Polka Days. And even if they don't actually know what they're doing … man, if they don't sell that they're the greatest polka dancers in the world with their enthusiasm. 'I've been doing it all my life. Polka just makes you feel good,' said Judy Larscheid, a longtime volunteer with Polka Days. 'And everyone is friends out on the floor. The dancing, you stop, and then someone else grabs you. It's like a homecoming. You'll see people you graduated with. It's easy to see why everyone enjoys themselves.'"
• Sunlight and softball was Sovereign on Sunday
  Oshkosh Northwestern
  “Sunlight was sovereign on Sunday for the end of the 41st annual Sovereign State Days in the village of Winneconne. The annual village festival began in 1967 when the residents seceded from the state as a mock protest for being left off the official state map.”
• New statues are today's mane event  - Chinese city giving lions to Milwaukee to promote trade and cultural ties
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “Milwaukee’s Zeidler Municipal Building will be protected by an ancient form of security. Ningbo, China, has donated two stone lions for the entrance to the Zeidler Munincipal Building, 841 N. Broadway. This male lion protects the building. Two carved stone lions now are standing guard outside the building’s front door, a symbol of the city’s efforts to build trade ties with China. The lions are a gift from the fast-growing Chinese city of Ningbo. Although Ningbo is not technically a sister city of Milwaukee, officials from the two cities signed an agreement two years ago to promote friendly business and cultural exchanges.”

Literary

• Book dedicated to FLPL
  Beaver Dam Daily Citizen
  FOX LAKE — “A very special book has been dedicated to the Fox Lake Public Library from the American Legion Post 521 of Fox Lake with best wishes from the author Charlie Plumb. Plumb, the author, would appear on the surface to have no connection with Fox Lake. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and went on to fly F-4 Phantom jets on 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam. On his 75th mission, with only five days before he was to return home, Plumb was shot down, captured, tortured and imprisoned in an 8 by 5 foot cell.”

Media Arts

• Warren Gerds column: Film tax incentives reach Green Bay
  Green Bay Press Gazette
  “Results from Wisconsin film incentives will enliven Green Bay in coming months with the making of the $2.5-million science-fiction movie Nephilim. What are the incentives? Basically, they're in a tax-credit plan that took effect Jan. 1. That quickly led to Public Enemies, a major studio movie starring Johnny Depp, to be filmed in part in a variety of locations in Wisconsin. Nephilim, made by an independent company, will be shot starting Sept. 8 in Milwaukee, followed by three more weeks of shooting in the Green Bay area.”

Performing Arts

Music

• The show goes on: After uncertainty, Concert in the Park draws crowd
  Portage Daily Register
  “Strings, brass and drums filled the summer air with classical music Saturday night as the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performed for the 16th time in Pauquette Park as part of Portage's annual Concert in the Park. The event is sponsored by the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce and was in some danger of not continuing because of funding. The concert costs $15,000, even after the group agreed to keep the price the same as last year. Major funding comes from a chunk of tourism taxes collected from hotel stays and distributed through the city — $6,000 this year — and sponsorships the Chamber sells for tables at the event.”
• Singing from personal experience - Acoustic Fest performer 'more nervous at these small gigs'
  Manitowoc Herald Times
  MANITOWOC — "I' didn't see this coming, but I'll take it, I suppose,' Rebecca Markvart sang Saturday about her struggle with multiple sclerosis during the 13th Annual Acoustic Fest at Washington Park. Markvart wrote the song 'Road of Discovery' in November 2007, she said. 'I was having issues with my MS at the time when I wrote the song, and I think that is what inspired me to write it,' Markvart said. The majority of the songs on her album are in some way involved with her MS struggles, Markvart said. She said was diagnosed with MS in 1996.”
• Blue Stars 10th in first regional finals
  La Crosse Tribune
  “The La Crosse Blue Stars had their highest finish at a regional championship Saturday since returning to the world class division three years ago. The Blue Stars placed 10th at the DCI Southwestern Championships at the Alamodome in San Antonio, after taking second place in preliminaries to claim one of the last four spots in the finals. They are trying to become a top 12 finalist at the Drum Corps International World Championships for the first time since 1979. The La Crosse corps had a season-high 81.975 in preliminaries, finishing runnerup to the Blue Knights of Denver, who were first with 83.225 points. The Blue Stars scored 80.695 in the finals to place ahead of the Glassmen of Toledo, with 79.95 points and Crossmen of San Antonio with 77.275 points.”
• Rock Fest leaves fans wanting more
  Eau Claire Leader-Telegram
  CADOTT – “Despite some wet weather and an increased emphasis on younger bands this year, many Rock Fest attendees say they'll return for another year of live rock 'n' roll in west-central Wisconsin. Joel Kemp brought his son to Rock Fest for the first time this year. Kemp, 45, of Cottage Grove, Minn., said the switch to more modern music is expanding the appeal of Rock Fest. 'It's more of his music than my music,' he said. 'But I love it.' This was Kemp's 10th consecutive Rock Fest.”

Theater

• Theaters deliver at Wisconsin Dells - Wilcox magic show, ‘Footloose’ serve up family fun, but landlocked Tommy Bartlett show falls flat
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “Wisconsin Dells - There is no truth to the rumor that Rick Wilcox is responsible for Lake Delton disappearing last month. But he does make his wife, Suzan, vanish and reappear six nights a week here. A bowling ball, doves and a Lamborghini are also conjured up by the Brookfield native. Hmmm. Maybe he could do something about Lake Delton. Rick and Suzan Wilcox operate their own 550-seat magic theater here, where they perform a smooth 90-minute show that defines the concept of family entertainment.”
• Off the Wall Theatre’s ‘Frogs’ is riveting experience
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “More than 30 years after its premiere in a Yale swimming pool, and four years after a surprisingly short run on Broadway, Stephen Sondheim’s The Frogs has finally hopped into town for a brief stay on one of the smallest lily pads in Milwaukee theater: Dale Gutzman’s Off the Wall Theatre. Off the Wall has never been afraid to leap in when others are afraid to get wet. How lucky for us, because the result this time is a big and satisfying splash of a musical with first-rate production values, solid performances from the entire cast and some brilliant choreography. Billed as having been 'freely adapted' by Burt Shevelove and then 'even more freely adapted' by Nathan Lane from Aristophanes' play of the same name, 'Frogs' tells the story of Dionysos' journey to the underworld with his slave, Xanthias.”

WHEN YOU GO

Visual Arts/Museums

• Kara Patterson column: Town of Vinland artist creates works of art suitable for floating
  Appleton Post Crescent
  July 24 – September 7, Reception August 2
  “Artist and traveler Bill Aubrey intends for one of his favorite original works of art to get wet as often as possible.  He's paddled the 18-foot-long cedar strip kayak, 'The Sea Wolf,' four times on Lake Winnebago. The kayak, with a wolf's-head carving on its bow, is one of several watercraft that the Town of Vinland artist has built. 'They're designed and built for a week-long trip,' said Aubrey, 47, a full-time architect who carves wood, completes pen-and-ink work on wood, sketches and photographs nature scenes in his spare time. 'Most people would say, "I wouldn't dare put them in the water," but I actually think it looks better in the water because you get the water glistening off the deck.' Aubrey's art exhibit, 'Going With the Grain,' will be on display Thursday through Sept. 7 at Wild Apple Glass Studio & Gallery in Menasha, 210 Main St. An artist's reception is open to the public from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 2.”
• Tallman Festival offers history, arts and crafts
  Beloit daily News
  August 3
  JANESVILLE – “The buzz word this summer in light of higher costs for gasoline is 'staycations.' Among the staycation sites in Rock County is the Lincoln-Tallman Restorations in Janesville. Open seven days a week, June through September for guided tours, is the beautifully preserved Italianate Tallman family home, barn, the Helen Jeffris Museum and Wilson King Stone House. The historic landmarks have stood the test of time with help from the City of Janesville, the owner of the site, and the Rock County Historical Society, which handles operations. And coming up Aug. 3 is one of the special events held on the premises this summer: The '52nd Annual Tallman Festival of Music and Arts.'"

Arts Education

• Country band is next for SNC series
  Green Bay Press-Gazette
  July 22
  DE PERE — “Nashville Pipeline will perform at the second concert of the 'Knights on the Fox' summer outdoor concert series Tuesday on campus. Admission is free. Picnicking starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the concert from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Wisconsin band's numbers range from from Montgomery Gentry's 'Hillbilly Shoes' to Travis Tritt's 'Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde.'"
• Students take on the challenge of 'Seussical Jr.'
  Manitowoc Herald Times
  July 23 – 25
  MANITOWOC — “For Bill Hansen, seeing 23 students eager to learn at 7:30 a.m. on a summer weekday came as a bit of a shock. As technical director of Seussical Jr., Hansen welcomed his class of fifth through 10th graders half an hour early to their first rehearsal. He wasn't sure how far their enthusiasm would last with a piece that choreography director Deanne Stokes said they were 'crazy' to choose as the first show.”
• Carving a niche - In a world of technology, Patrick Burke goes against the grain by training in Italy and creating exquisite wood sculptures
  Manitowoc Herald Times
  July 26 – 27
  “For Patrick Burke, the most nerve-wracking part of the past year wasn't spending thousands of hours painstakingly crafting exquisite wood sculptures. Nor was it learning a new language, adapting to another culture or weathering a winter in the Alps of northern Italy, where he trained. The toughest part was standing in the baggage claim area at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago two weeks ago, anxiously wondering if he'd ever again see some of his latest creations — not to mention dozens of his specialized tools — after the airline lost his luggage.”

Community Arts

• Audition notices for area productions From the Journal Sentinel
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  Various Sites & Dates
• Green Bay talent show is Tuesday
  Green Bay Press-Gazette
  July 22
  “Green Bay's annual 'City Wide Talent Show' is 6 p.m. Tuesday at East River Van Beaver Park, 800 John St. Admission is free. Participants were selected at preliminary shows held throughout the city's 36 parks. Acts include singing, skits, dancing and musical instrument performances.”
• Join the Conversation About Increased State Investment in the Arts
  The Daily Kenoshan
  July 23
  “FREE community meeting and luncheon, Wednesday, July 23, 12-1:30 pm Kenosha Public Museum, Daimler-Chrysler Hall. AHA! (Arts and Humanities Alliance!) Kenosha is co-hosting a community meeting to discuss increased funding for the arts and arts education in the Kenosha/Racine region and across Wisconsin, on Wednesday, July 23, 12–1:30 pm, at the Kenosha Public Museum. Artists, arts organization leaders, elected officials, business people, educators and any other community members who care about Kenosha, Racine and Wisconsin’s future are invited to this informal catered lunch, networking opportunity and information-sharing meeting. Registration is required. Those interested in attending may register by contacting Tamara Merfeld –  at tmerfeld@ahakenosha.org.”
• Singer offers touch of Italy in Egg Harbor
  Green Bay Press-Gazette
  July 24 & 31
  EGG HARBOR — “San Francisco vocalist Lauren Carley is featured in performances at Liberty Square this summer. She is accompanied on piano by Chris Salerno, director of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Seven of Carley's appearances are part of an Italian dinner series, with Carley singing Italian folk and popular music, American-Italian songs and arias from Italian opera that have been converted to jazz. The remaining dinner performances are at 6 p.m. July 24, 31, Aug. 3 and 14. Tickets are $75, and reservations (required) are available at (920) 868-4800, Ext. 105.”
• Mishicot RiverFest begins Thursday
  Manitowoc Herald Times
  July 27
  MISHICOT — “The 11th annual RiverFest, a benefit festival for Mishicot's community service groups, will be held Thursday through Sunday along the Mishicot River in the village park. Carnival rides, food and music will be available each day. Features include fireworks at dusk on Thursday, the Mishicot Car Club Show at 10 a.m. Saturday and a parade at 11:30 a.m. July 27.”

Folk Arts/Folklife

• Perspective - Stepping back in time
  Beloit Daily News
  Saturdays & Sundays
  “British novelist L.P. Hartley said, 'The past is a foreign country: They do things differently there.' Sometimes, the past does seem like a foreign country, with its lack of modern convention and technology. With that in mind, groups like the Friends of the Beckman Mill were created and have done a fine job of restoration, maintenance and education over the years in an effort to connect the past to the present. Today, the Beckman Mill, the cooperage, gift shop/creamery and the gardens - all located at the Beckman Mill County Park - are a sight to behold. People can take advantage of what the park has to offer every Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. when tours are given at the mill. The first Saturday of each month, mill demonstrations also are given showing how corn and other crops were ground at the grist mill owned and operated by the Beckman family. Special events, like the old-fashioned Ice Cream Social coming up 1-4 p.m. Sunday, July 20 also are held there. Of course, that means this Sunday, there will be ice cream, cake, rootbeer floats and other beverages at the park and picnic shelter. Live music will be provided by the Mill Band. Those who wish to bring a picnic lunch, also may do so and enjoy the scenic grounds of the park and pond. Cornmeal grinding demonstrations will be given at the mill and those who attend also can visit the cooperage and hear the unique dulcimer music provided by Dick and Val Dunagan from noon until 1 p.m.”
• Saving a dying art: The Kimono
  La Crosse Tribune
  Opening July 24 – August 30, Reception July 25
  “Richard Fuller has been on a mission to save a dying art — the art of the kimono. Eight years ago, Fuller bought a Japanese wedding kimono as a piece of hanging art and started reading books about the traditional loose dressing gowns worn by Japanese women. He discovered through his conversations with Japanese people that very few artisans were making the garments anymore. Fuller said kimono buying and selling became his hobby because he didn’t want to see the art disappear. 'Kimonos are not worn much at all, and the artisans making them are dying off,' Fuller said. 'It truly is a fading art.' Fuller said people now are attracted to the kimonos for the arts sake, and they want to buy something unique. He will bring 25 kimonos for an exhibition, 'The Art of the Kimono,' starting Thursday and on display through Aug. 30 at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse. A reception will be held Friday.”

Literary

• Author, small-business retailer to speak at Downtown Racine Corp. event
  Racine Journal Times
  July 30
  RACINE — “'Retailing in Tough Times' will be the topic when Downtown Racine Corp. brings in author and Madison small-business retailer Carol Schroeder for a speaking engagement. Schroeder is co-owner of Orange Tree Imports in Madison and author of 'Specialty Shop Retailing; Everything You Need to Know to Run Your Own Store.' The book is now in its third edition. She will speak at 5:30 p.m. July 30 at Uncorkt, 240 Main St., with refreshments provided by Uncorkt. In her talk here, Schroeder will address topics such as e-mail marketing, surviving competition from Wal-Mart and smart ways to increase sales and boost profits. The presentation is open to the public. The cost to attend is $10 for DRC members and $15 for nonmembers. Seating is limited and reservations are required by July 23. Call the DRC office at (262) 634-6002. Here are some excerpts from a recent conversation with Schroeder, who has been running Orange Tree Imports with her husband, Dean, for 33 years.”

Media Arts

• Early '60s chic: the way we wore it in Milwaukee
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  July 27
  “Slicked-back hair and button-down shirts, pinched-in waists and bouffant skirts — and, over and around it all, a glamorous but lethal haze of cigarette smoke. Two-button suits were gaining popularity with businessmen in 1961. For women, the Chesterfield walking suit (left), made in Milwaukee by Junior House, and Christian Dior's divided skirt had numerous fans.  This is early '60s Madison Avenue as conjured up by 'Mad Men,' the drama that returns to basic cable next week with 16 brand-new Emmy nominations for its first season, including for best drama.”

Performing Arts

Music

• Fandom of the opera: Rising talents, diversity fill the seats and win over new fans to Opera in the Park
  Wisconsin State Journal
  July 26
  “When more than 12,000 people roll into Garner Park Saturday, armed with picnic baskets and an appetite for operatic fare, they'll be sharing in Madison Opera's seventh annual Opera in the Park. It's an event, to be sure, and a tradition. But at the heart of Opera in the Park is a celebration of the spectacular human voice -- and the musicianship of four singers handpicked for the occasion. This year they include tenor Bryan Hymel, a rising star on the global stage; young sensation Kendall Gladen, mezzo-soprano; Melody Moore, a multiple award-winning soprano; and critically acclaimed baritone Luis Ledesma.”

Presenting

• The Hold Steady, The Loved Ones
  The Isthmus
  July 21
  “The Hold Steady was born out of some loose talk in my Boreum Hill apartment in 2002. I had moved to Brooklyn about two years earlier. I was thirty-one years old, and the other dudes were about my same age. Our concept was to start a straight rock band, with low aspirations. Just local shows, no touring, and most likely no real records. We practiced for a while and then played our first show in January 2003 at North Six, in Williamsburg. I was surprised at how many people showed up. The show went well. It reminded us, all veterans of hard luck bands, that music can be fun.” 
• Tedesco’s band returns to Phipps
  Hudson Star-Observer
  August 16
  “Vic Tedesco and the Classic Big Band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at The Phipps Center for the Arts, along with vocalist Debbie Bigelow and the vocal quartet the Nostalgics. Tedesco’s big band has been a regional favorite for years and returns to The Phipps for its 15th annual performance. Tedesco has opened for the Count Basie Band, Patty Page, Pat Boone, Myron Floren and many other national performers. His band regularly performs at A Taste of Minnesota.”

Theater

• Music Theatre frolics in frothy 'Forum' in De Pere
  Green Bay Press Gazette
  July 22 – 27
  DE PERE — “At the height of hilarity, two male Roman slaves from 75 A.D. sing about beauty. One assures the other, who's dressed in a virginal white woman's gown and must pass himself off as dead, that he/she is lovely. The 'lovely' one glows — and believes. Such goofiness abounds in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which is being given a strong, spunky production by Music Theatre of St. Norbert College. The spice in this sassy musical by Burt Shevelove, Larry Gelbart and Stephen Sondheim starts at the top.”
• Flashback: Peninsula Players Theatre will mark its 73rd anniversary Friday
  Green Bay Press Gazette
  July 25
  “Flashback: Peninsula Players Theatre will mark its 73rd anniversary Friday with a reading of two scenes from the company's first play, Noel Coward's Hay Fever. The presentation will be held at 4:30 p.m. in Fish Creek Park, and is part of the town of Gibraltar's sesquicentennial celebration. The original performance was held behind Bonnie Brook Motel, today part of Fish Creek Park. The theater went on to become the foundation for Door County's healthy arts scene. The 30-minute program by Tom Monsion, Maggie Carney, Erica Elam and Alan Kopischke of the professional company will be followed by a question-and-answer session.”
• 'Grease' to open July 25 at Theatre on Bay
  Green Bay Press-Gazette
  July 25 – August 4
  MARINETTE — “Theatre on the Bay will present the musical Grease in eight performances at the University of Wisconsin-Marinette's Herbert L. Williams Theatre starting Friday. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday to July 28 and Aug. 1 to 4. Tickets are $11. The number for tickets is (715) 735-4313). Directed by Doug Larche, Grease is a parody of an Elvis Presley movie set at a reunion of a high school class of 1959. The age-neutral features Jim Vincent as Danny, the class rake, and Alicia Hnatuk as Sandy, the class Madonna.”
   

IN THE NEWS

Visual Arts/Museums

• Restricted Deductions Stifle Art Donations
  The Chronicle of Philanthropy
  “Museum directors say that federal restrictions on tax deductions for gifts of art made over time, called fractional gifts, have caused a drop in donations, reports The Wall Street Journal.”

• Couple’s backyard catches pro painter’s eye
  River Falls Journal
  “What started as a patch of ground that couldn’t grow grass turned into a shade garden beautiful enough to be featured in two magazines and to capture the attention of professional area artist Ann Tristani.”

Arts Education

• Students create art with an aerosol can
  La Crosse Tribune
  “Graffiti has given spray paint a bad reputation recently in La Crosse, but Central High School art teacher Mai Chang Vue is trying to show students — and the community — that it can be used to create art. During Spray Paint Art, a four-day summer school class offered through the La Crosse School District, teens learned the techniques needed to create their designs on canvas using an aerosol can. They worked on their designs behind Central High School, and they looked just like the spray-paint artists making news in certain art circles. 'I love it,' said Mykala Miller, 14, who will be a freshman this fall at Central. 'It’s fun to try new things and see what you can do with the things you have.' Miller used several bright colors of spray paint, wood and parts of cut-up cups to create a city skyline that descends into a galaxy full of planets. She worked on the project with Amanda Bjorkman, 16, and Ashleigh Bye, 14.”

• School of the Arts
  WJFW TV-12
  RHINELANDER – “Do you have an interest in photography, maybe writing or music? If so, then the School of the Arts is for you. Believe it or not, these are not professional wood carvers, but at the School of the Arts at James Williams Middle School, in Rhinelander, these students are all tapping into their previously unknown carving skills. Student Sarah Danke says, 'My hand hurts!' Then she laughs and adds, 'No, I think it's fun. It's a little frustrating at first.' If sharp objects and a potentially sore hand isn't up your alley, maybe learning about theatre makeup is. School of the Arts Director Miranda McClenaghan says, 'You can learn to play Dulsimer the same day you can learn to take digital photographs.' The more than 300 students at the School of the Arts are taking everything from theatre to photography to painting. But at the end of the week they walk away with much more than a picture. Painting student Marsha Newkirk says, 'Life is nothing without art, whether it's music or writing, it's the joy of our life.' Danke adds, 'It's an outlet for students.'"

• Students to take on remodeling project
  Wisconsin Dells Events
  “Technical education students at Wisconsin Dells High School could be remodeling the basement of one of the district's teachers this year instead of constructing an entire house for course credit. The Dells School District Building and Grounds Committee Tuesday discussed the possibility of having 12 building trade students remodel high school teacher's Frank Fedie's basement, performing electrical, plumbing, framing and drywall work. Administrator Chuck Whitsell said the project could consist of creating a family room out of an unfinished basement, complete with office space and bar. 'I think a project like this could be beneficial for the kids,' Whitsell said.”

• Ukulele maker gives gift of music
  Eau Claire Leader Telegram
  MENOMONIE – “A UW-Stout graduate recently showed six students to build what he hopes will become family heirlooms. Over the past 50 years, Kazukiyo 'Jiggs' Kuboyama, a 1957 graduate in industrial arts, has taught several hundred people how to make a ukulele. 'When people make their own ukulele they treasure it,' said Kuboyama, 79. 'Each one has a plate with the name of the person who made it and the date. I have always had an interest in teaching people to make things. I like to see people take care of their ukulele. If they treasure it maybe later it will become an heirloom.'"

• Ukulele U: UW-Stout alum returns conduct unique workshop
   The Dunn County News
  “When one thinks of Hawaii, what comes immediately to mine are pineapple, Kona coffee, surfing, tiny bubbles — and of course, ukuleles. This small, melodious, guitar-like instrument means 'the gift that came here' in Hawaiian, a meaning that is appropriate in many ways. This ukulele gift came here to Menomonie recently in the form of Kazukiyo 'Jiggs' Kuboyama, a 1957 alumnus of UW-Stout who is now a world-renowned ukulele maker. He was invited back to Menomonie as a visiting artist for the 2008 Lake Menomin Art Institute this summer.”

• MPS Sees Influx of New Teachers
  WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio
  “Milwaukee Public Schools need teachers in the areas of math, science, and special education. To help find qualified people, the district enlisted the help of The New Teachers Project. It establishes crash-courses for potential teachers, so they don’t first need to earn education degrees. The training program here kicked off a few weeks ago and is called Milwaukee Teaching Fellows. Stephen Lange is only 24-years-old, but he’s already decided it’s time for a career change. He graduated from UW Whitewater with a degree in geology and environmental science and then got a job as a data analyst. On the side, he taught music. He says that combination was an eye-opening experience.”

Community Arts

• Fair park director would be new post
  Watertown Daily Times
  JEFFERSON – “The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors will be asked at its Aug. 12 meeting to approve the hiring of Paul Novitzke of Wauwatosa as county fair park director. The salary range for the newly created position is $61,524 to $79,107, plus benefits. The park is currently under the immediate direction of the Jefferson County Fair Committee, Administrative Secretary Gail Zastrow and Superintendent Roger Kylmanen. The park director's position would give more strength to the county's fair park marketing efforts, with the hope that the facility would no longer be a burden to taxpayers within three years.”

Folk Arts/Folklife

• Spread of graffiti reported after shop allowed mural - Walker’s Point business ordered to remove art
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “A mural on a commercial building in Walker’s Point has reignited the perpetual debate over what is art, what is an illegal sign or graffiti and what impact such murals have on a neighborhood. The mural went up, with the building owner’s permission, July 12-13 on the front of La Michoacana, an ice cream business at 717 S. 2nd St. Since then, nearby businesses and residents have reported a number of graffiti 'tags,' or spray-painted signatures, on their walls, said Todd Weiler, spokesman for the Department of Neighborhood Services.”

Literary

• Moe: The Progressive is still surviving at (almost) 100
  Wisconsin State Journal
  “It has been nearly three decades since I spent a morning in the Downtown Madison offices of The Progressive magazine, interviewing its feisty editor, Erwin Knoll, about the magazine's controversial 'H-bomb Secret' story and asking a more fundamental question. That question, in fact, was used as the headline when my piece ran in Milwaukee Magazine: 'Can The Progressive Survive?' Monday morning I was back in the offices of The Progressive, which answers that earlier question. The Progressive is still around, and still raising hell with its commentary and investigations championing human rights and individual liberties.”

• Audio: Poet Kay Ryan On Words, Writing
  All Things Considered, NPR
  “Last week, the Library of Congress appointed Kay Ryan to be the nation's next poet laureate. Ryan, who will take the position in the fall, shares a pair of poems and talks to host Andrea Seabrook about her approach to words and writing.”

Media Arts

• When details are picture perfect - More than 500 competed in annual snapshot contest
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “A moment caught in a dewdrop. Two sisters in a rare collaboration. A life story held in a pair of hands. These were among the winners in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 2008 Snapshot Contest. The contest drew more than 500 entries capturing everything from Milwaukee trees in winter to Memorial Day parades.”

• Milwaukee Film seeks to revive city’s film festival
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “A newly formed group is starting up a new annual international film festival in Milwaukee. The group, Milwaukee Film, announced Tuesday that it will hold a series of events and screenings this fall, and promised to hold a film festival in 2009. These efforts will likely supplant the Milwaukee International Film Festival, which was founded in 2002 but foundered this year after a dispute over funding and financing. The new organization has hired former Milwaukee International Film Festival staff for the same jobs they held with the original festival: Jonathan Jackson, artistic director; Kyle Heller, operations director; and T.J. Fackelman, program coordinator.”

Performing Arts

Dance

• Local Dancers Receive Honors at National Irish Dance Competition
  WauwatoseNOW.com
  “Five dancers from Trinity Academy of Irish Dance received top placements at the North American Irish Dance Championships, held July 2-6, 2008, in Nashville, Tenn. These dancers are: Emily Wilke, 8th; Michael Fehrenbach, 6th; Meaghan Kenfield, 17th; Marissa Wurster, 27th; and Kelly Dalton, 29th.  Emily Wilke, a Franklin Elementary student, has been dancing for only two years, but qualifies to compete in regional and national competitions. This recent triumph of 8th place against 91 competitors brought the following comment from instructor, Laura McNamara, 'Her outstanding placement at this year's National's is just the beginning of a very bright future for this talented young dancer.' Wilke recently placed 28th at the 2007 Mid-America Irish Dance Championships.”

Music

• Family-owned Nolte Organ Building makes instruments from scratch
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “The pipe organ was seven years in the making. It’s a $100,000 work of art, born from years of planning and months of construction. It’s made from walnut and maple, copper and aluminum tubing, with wooden pipes as gorgeous as the finest handmade furniture. There’s just one problem left for the men who built this beauty that now sits in the corner of the workshop, ready to play, down at Milwaukee-based Nolte Organ Building.”

• Classical Music and Dance Briefing - Florentine Opera names season’s studio artists
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  “The Florentine Opera Company has named its roster of 'studio artists' for the 2008-’09 season. They are soprano Greer Davis-Brown, of Chicago; mezzo Colleen E. Brooks, of Cincinnati; tenor Rafael Luquis, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico; and baritone Todd von Felker, of Chicago. The singers will have a full season of employment as artists-in-residence under this development program, designed to cultivate talented singers early in their careers. They will sing supporting roles in the Florentine’s main stage productions and participate in its educational efforts. They will also sing studio concerts and at donor functions. A training component includes master classes and coaching with visiting artists and master teachers.”

Other

• Guiding Principles and Practices for Lobbying by Nonprofits
  Americans for the Arts
  “Earlier this month, the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) released newly developed Smart and Ethical Principles and Practices for Public Interest Lobbying. The four principles and 17 practices serve as benchmarking tools that nonprofits can use to assess their current lobbying activities and set goals for their future lobbying efforts. A group of nonprofit leaders worked for 18 months to develop the principles and practices in response to the need for nonprofits to claim public interest lobbying as an honorable and effective strategy for advancing their missions. The full list of principles and practices can be found at http://www.clpi.org.”

• Charity Fund Raisers Should Focus on the Basics
  Blog: Give and Take, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
  “Charities spend considerable time pursuing foundation grants and searching for non-traditional gifts through planned and corporate giving. But Sean Stannard-Stockton, who works for an investment management company in Burlingame, Calif., says charities often ignore the low-hanging fruit — donations from individuals.”

WHEN YOU GO

Visual Arts/Museums

• Flesh. Metal. Ink. @ Walker’s Point Center for the Arts
  Vital Source Magazine
  August 1
  “An exhibit glorifying the adornment of the human body, the effect of the psyche and pain. Curated by Luckystar Studio. 'After working together for nearly a decade curating literally hundreds of exhibits we've developed a very unique working style. We have different taste and don't always like the same things. What we do agree on is dispensing immediately with the obvious; the cookie-cutter group show and dig deep for the sublime; for the unusual; building textures and juxtapositions. With Flesh.Metal.Ink. We wanted to exhibit beauty and pain through the work of some great talent.' Walker’s Point Center for the Arts / 911 W National Avenue / Milwaukee WI 53204 http://www.wpca-milwaukee.org.” 

• Northern National Art Competition Opens  Submitted: 07/22/2008
  WJFW TV-12
  July 23 – September 30
  RHINELANDER – “The art gallery at Nicolet College in Rhinelander is opening its doors tonight for the 21st annual Northern National Art Competition. 87 pieces of artwork were chosen for this exhibit out of 700 applicants. The Art Gallery Director at Nicolet says this art show features a variety of 'the best of the best' 2-dimensional pieces, including some that may be controversial. Katherine Ralph, the Art Gallery Director at Nicolet, says 'It's a way to see beautiful things that are being done across the nation and ideas that people are trying to express through this particular means.'" 

• GALLERY NIGHT: Milwaukee
  July 25
  Sunset Scavenger @ Paper Boat Gallery
  “Paper Boat is pleased to be showing the varied work of artist, filmmaker, and photographer Bill Daniel. 'Sunset Scavenger' will feature a variety of wall based work, based around Daniel's most recent romance with houseboat culture. There will be mural-sized Xerox blow-ups which are a way to turn the imagery into wheat-pasteable graffiti, and some new digital murals, as well as some traditional b/w photography. A special screening of Daniel's documentary film Who Is Bozo Texino will be shown at 9:00 p.m. (in the backyard, weather permitting).”  

• Also...
  Kenneth Brown Ransley: A Female portraitist @ Portrait Society Gallery
  July 25
  “Little was known about the portfolio of paintings and drawings that Kathy Ippolite, owner of Riverview Antiques in Milwaukee, had found in her closet after her husband died. She Googled the artist’s name and found one reference to a K.B. Ransley on the Internet. Unsure whether KB was a male or female, an essay stated that a Mrs. K.B. Ransley had spent time in St. Augustine, Florida, at an art colony in the 1930s. But many of the portraits were signed Kenneth, indicating that the artist was a man.”

• GALLERY NIGHT: WPCA Annual Members Show @ Walker’s Point Center for the Arts
  July 25
  “WPCA's Annual Member’s Show is one of their most exciting exhibitions every year. This salon style show provides a unique opportunity for artists at different points in their careers, working in a wide range of media and styles to exhibit together, showing the depth and breadth of contemporary art making in Wisconsin. This is one of the most unique, largest and surprising displays of art and artists presented each year in the Milwaukee area. This year sixty members are participating in the exhibition!”
• GALLERY NIGHT: New Intersections @ MIAD
  July 25
  “New Intersections: Form and Meaning in Design expands perceptions of product design through an innovative curatorial approach inspired by Daniel Pink's bestseller 'A Whole New Mind.' The exhibition opens with a reception on Friday, July 25, 5 - 9 p.m. as part of Gallery Night at Wisconsinís only independent, four-year college of art and design.”
• GALLERY NIGHT: Cuba-Viva Fidel photos by Jimmy Fishbein @ InterContinental Milwaukee
  July 25
  “This summer Gallery Night Event will Feature the Photography, Cuisine, Music and Dancing of Cuba. There is a fascination with Cuba in this country, Europe, and all over the world. Having survived all these decades --almost 50 years--under Fidel Castro, everyone wants to get a glimpse of the dramatic, unspoiled corners of a country that has traditionally been in isolation.”

• Audio: The Works of George McCormick, Sr.
  Lake Effect, WUWM
  Through July 27
  “George McCormick is a Milwaukee-based artist. The exhibit Journey from the Secular to the Spiritual: Works by George McCormick Sr., opens May 28th at the Charles Allis Museum in Milwaukee.”

• Turn the Pages Slowly @ Haggerty Museum of Art
  Vital Source Magazine
  August  22 – December 07
  “This exhibition, drawn primarily from the Haggerty's permanent collection, features rare books and manuscripts from the 14th through the 20th centuries. Focusing on devotional texts, the exhibition includes a 19th century Koran, medieval Books of Hours, and antiphonals (choral books). Individual leaves from French, English and Italian breviaries, Bibles and Books of Hours are highlighted, as well. The exhibition also includes facsimiles of medieval Haggadot. Haggarty Museum of Art / Marquette University / 13th & Clybourn Streets / 414-288-1669 http://www.mu.edu/haggerty.” 

Arts Education

• Museum to host rail historian
  Wausau Daily Herald
  August 3
  “Tom Burg of Merrill will discuss steam locomotive photos from the Roy Campbell Collection at 1:30 pm. Aug. 3, at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum at Franklin and 12th streets in Wausau. During this free talk, Burg — a railroad historian and publisher of books featuring Campbell’s photography — will focus on Campbell’s images of trains that served the Upper Midwest. Books will be available for purchase, and a book signing will follow Burg’s talk.”

Community Arts

• Weekend Happenings
  Living Lake Country
  Various Sites & Dates

• Community Calendar
  WausatosaNOW.com
  Various Sites & Dates

Folk Arts/Folklife

• WAUPUN: Waupun readies for polka, waltz
  Beaver Dam Daily Citizen
  July 24
  “Third in the Concerts in the Park series, the Syl Groeschl Band will perform in Dodge Park from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The band will perform polkas, waltzes, German music, big band, country and soft rock. The concert is free to the public and any donations will be distributed to art departments in Waupun area schools. In the event of rain, the concert will take place in city hall.” 

• Luau offers lesson in culture, wellness
  Wausau Daily Herald
  July 26
  TOWN OF MERRILL — “An event this weekend offers families the chance to get a better understanding of Hawaiian culture and get some helpful wellness tips at the same time. The 'Happy 25th Birthday Nia' Luau held Saturday is a celebration of a Hawaiian dance form, and families can join in the fun, organizer Wendie Martell-Williams said. The event will be held at the Circle of Joy Wellness Center.”

• Local Resident to Present Lecture at Midwest Quilt Expo in Madison
  MuskegoNOW.com
  September 11 – 13
  “Margie Posbrig, a resident of Muskego, will present a lecture titled 'Stabilizers and Toppings for Embroiders and Quilters' at Quilt Expo in Madison. Quilt Expo lectures are presented by notable quilting authorities, and offer attendees an opportunity to see new ideas and learn helpful techniques. Quilt Expo is presented by Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) and Nancy Zieman Productions, and will be held 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 11-13 in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. A 10-category quilt contest is the keystone of the event and represents the artistic expressions of quilters from all across the country. There also will be special quilt exhibits.”

Literary Arts

• Announcing the teams competing at the National Poetry Slam 2008 in Madison
  The Isthmus
  August 3 - 5
  Hundreds of spoken work performers from around the United States, along with a handful from Canada and Europe, are in the midst of preparations for this year’s National Poetry Slam, which be held in Madison over the first week of August. Competing in teams of four or five members apiece, each will take the stage and give their best through a series of bouts at the competition. Altogether they will comprise 76 teams, the final selection of which was announced last Friday by the national organizers Poetry Slam Incorporated. 'After a year of "Win and You’re In" bouts, SlamMaster conferences and a rack of other requirements filled in order to get their teams to the National Poetry Slam,' declares the group, 'we finally have a list of competitors!!!'”

Media Arts

• Draining of Lake Delton to be shown July 30
  Wisconsin Dells Events
  July 30
  “Local photographer Phillip White will present his video of The Draining of Lake Delton at 7:30 on Wednesday, July 30 at the Kilbourn Public Library. His spectacular footage of the June 9 breach taken from Bowman Road is a highlight of the film. White will provide copies of the DVD for a minimum donation of $10. Money from sales and donations will be divided between the Fromm and Pekar families, whose homes were lost in the flood. The Stewards of the Dells of the Wisconsin River will hold a short business meeting at 7 p.m. at the library before the 40-minute show. The public is invited.”

Performing Arts

Dance

• Dancemakers to be part of show at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  July 25 & 26
  “Each summer, accomplished dancers from all over the country converge on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to participate in the dance department’s summer intensives for graduate students. They always showcase their new dances at Dancemakers concerts at UWM. Students are so numerous that the school will put on two separate Dancemakers programs Friday and Saturday.”

Music

• Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra's Concert on the Square
  The Isthmus
  July 23
  "'String Fusion,' with string trio Time for Three. Concerts on the Square will celebrate its 25th season in 2008! The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, led by Maestro Andrew Sewell, will perform six consecutive Wednesday evenings beginning at 7:00 p.m.”

• Tonight's Concert Band program
  La Crosse Tribune
  July 23
  “The La Crosse Concert Band presents its 'Musical Jewels in July' concert at 7:30 p.m. today in Riverside Park. The free concert is directed by Alex Vaver. Here’s what you will hear.”

• Behind the scenes: La Crosse Concert Band to bring 100-year-old song back to life
  La Crosse Tribune
  “The La Crosse Concert Band will celebrate a little bit of La Crosse history Wednesday at its weekly concert in Riverside Park. The band will play 'The La Crosse Saengerfest,' a piece written by La Crosse composer Oscar Frey, on the same day of its world premiere 100 years ago. The piano score was lost and rediscovered several years ago and was brought to the attention of Steve Bina, former long-time Logan High School band teacher and antique collector. Bina wanted to bring the piece back to life and contacted Jeff Krauklis, a composer and trumpeter in the La Crosse Concert Band. Krauklis received a venture grant from the La Crosse Public Education Foundation to rearrange the work in May 1994.”

• Davina Sowers’ does the blues her way
  La Crosse Tribune
  July 25
  “Blame it on the old Victrola her adoptive father had in the house. Something about that old-time Americana sensibility just seemed to seep into Davina Sowers’ voice. 'I got to hear a lot of older songs, and I breathed music,' said Sowers, who along with her band, The Vagabonds, will perform at the Prairie Dog Blues Festival at 7 p.m. Friday. 'My mother was a folk singer,' she said, so Sowers was also raised on a lot of Melanie and Simon and Garfunkle music. 'I was 6 years old and I was singing, “‘I am a rock, I am an island.’” 'I got to hear a lot of older songs that we would sing as a family. That had somewhat to do with it.'”

• Check out The Clovis Mann Band at Nighthawks
  La Crosse Tribune
  July 26
  “Check out one of Madison’s premiere classic rock and blues jam bands Saturday, July 26, when The Clovis Mann Band plays at 10 p.m. at Nighthawks. The power trio plays songs about love, life and struggle, combining blues, rock and jam music. They are Stosh Jonjak on bass, Ethan Noordyk on drums and percussion and Daniel Walkner on guitar, vocals, slide and harmonica. In the course of the evening, you may hear Johnny Cash’s 'Folsom Prison,' The Temptations’ 'Treat Her Like a Lady,' or an original.”

• Swing band swings into Witwen
  Sauk Prairie Eagle
  July 26
  “Witwen Concerts at the Campground continues its season with the Madison Chapter of the New Horizons Swing Band on July 26 at the Witwen campgrounds in Witwen. The New Horizons will perform music of the 1930s and 1940s. The group was formed after senior citizens were invited to come to the Ward-Brodt Music Mall for coffee and to try out any band instrument. Two weeks after the event a 16-member band held its first meeting according to a press release submitted by the Concerts at the Campground committee.” 

• Forward Music Fest announces second wave of artists
  dane101
  September 19 & 20
  “Yesterday the Forward Music Fest, a citywide music festival taking place throughout Madison September 19 and 20, unveiled more, but not all, of the artists that will be coming. The current announcement adds more than 40 acts to an already ambitious line-up with even more waiting in the wings. The list is below. Wristbands are on sale now for $25 and a limited number of VIP badges are still available for a $10 upgrade. VIP badges allow a very limited number of individuals guaranteed access to shows of their choice. Wristbands can be ordered at the Forward Music Fest 2008 website.”

Theater

• Opera ala Carte . . .
  Blog: Art and Creativity in Kenosha
  July 24, 25, 26, 31, August 1 - 3
  “SEWPA (SouthEast Wisconsin Performing Arts), a non-profit organization fostering the Fine Arts through education, outreach, and performance, is currently running their summer Opera ala Carte program. Now, in its fourth season, Opera ala Carte is vocal program designed to give school age through college students the opportunity to perform scenes from various operas on stage to a wide range of audiences.”