The Wisconsin Regional Artist Association (WRAA) is excited to announce our sponsorship of  the 2014 Bridging Generations Youth Art Exhibit will be held at the Clinton Public Library in Clinton, WI. 

The Bridging Generations artwork will be created by ninety-five Clinton Elementary School students.  We will celebrate  with an open house on May 3, 2014 through the school’s Evening with Art program.  The exhibit will then move to the Clinton Public Library where it will be on display from May 12 through May 23.

The Bridging Generations Exhibit gives young people an opportunity to exhibit their art in a supportive environment and encourages them to develop a lifelong love of art.  Since its inception in 2004, when the WRAA celebrated its 50 year anniversary, these events have been held in Prairie du Sac, Milton, Mineral Point,  Verona, as well as at the Middleton Public Library and the Children’s Museum in Madison. 

In 2013 it was first held in Clinton, WI which will be the site again this year.  Last year’s event was held in conjunction with the Clinton Public Library 100 Year Celebration.  It provided a wonderful opportunity for eighty-five Clinton Elementary School 4th grade artists to share their work.  A couple of those proud artists are shown above.

The WRAA is seeking award donations to support Bridging Generations events and to give awards to the Bridging Generations exhibitors.  Awards play a vital part in imparting a feeling of accomplishment to our budding young artists.  If you’re interesting in contributing to this program, please mail award donations to:

Margie Devereaux
WRAA Awards Chair – Bridging Generations
125 N Hamilton St Unit 1403
Madison WI 53703

Please make checks payable to WRAA and indicate that your donation is for Bridging Generations.  Also, be sure to include complete name, address and contact information as well as organization or business name if applicable.

We are hoping in the future to expand this program to additional locations so that more your artists can get this opportunity.

Thank you for supporting Bridging Generations and our young artists!

Sponsored by the Tomah Art Guild and the UW-Madison Department of Liberal Studies and the Arts, artists are invited to submit entries to participate in this year's  Tomah WRAP exhibit and workshop.  Entry forms are due April 4th for this exhibition at the Area Community Theatre and Cultural Arts Center

Entry Blank Due: Friday, April 4, 2014
Make check payable to sponsor: TOMAH ARTS GUILD (TAG)
Artwork due: Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 1-5 pm
Workshop: Saturday, May 10, 2014, 9 am-3 pm
Place: Community Theater Building, 907 Kilbourn Ave., Tomah, WI 54660
Coordinator: Ginny Schuld, W12658 Charcoal Rd., Hixton, WI 54635, (715) 963-3200,  
Email: poodlpad@centurytel.net

Like all WRAP's this art exhibit is self-juried and open to all self-defined non-professional artists in Wisconsin with all work juried by a professional artist.  Winners of state awards will have their work eligible for the State WRAP Exhibition and will be invited to participate in the annual Wisconsin Regional Arts Association (WRAA) state conference held each September. (The 2014 exhibition will be on display August-September at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau). 

The Tomah WRAP exhibition will culminate in a one-day workshop on Saturday, May 10th. The workshop is free to all exhibiting artists.  Guests may attend for a modest $5.00 fee.  Contact WRAP Coordinator Ginny Schuld (see above) with questions.

Sponsored by the Waukesha Creative Arts League (WCAL) and the UW-Madison Department of Liberal Studies and the Arts, artists are invited to submit entries to participate in this year's Waukesha/Oconomowoc WRAP exhibit and workshop.  Entry forms are due March 26th for this exhibition at the Oconomowoc Arts Center.  Here are all the specifics:

Entry Blank Due: Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Sponsor: WAUKESHA CREATIVE ARTS LEAGUE (WCAL)
Artwork due: Saturday, April 12, 2014, 10am-noon (limit 2 pieces per artist)
Workshop: Saturday, May 17, 2014, 9am-3:30pm
Place: Oconomowoc Arts Center, 641 E. Forest St., Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Make check payable to sponsor: WAUKESHA CREATIVE ARTS LEAGUE (WCAL)
Coordinator: Kathleen Hosch, 467 E. Red Pine Circle, Dousman, WI 53118, 262-965-3101, khosch@wi.rr.com

Like all WRAP's this art exhibit open to all self-defined amateur artists in Wisconsin with all work juried by a professional artist.  Winners of state awards will have their work eligible for the State WRAP Exhibition and will be invited to participate in the annual Wisconsin Regional Arts Association (WRAA) state conference held each September (The 2014 exhibition will be on display August-September at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau). 

The Waukesha/Oconomowoc WRAP exhibition will culminate in a one-day workshop on Saturday, May 17th when artist Michael Santini will present about his creative process and how is sculptures and paintings are related in his art making.  The workshop is free to all exhibiting artists.  Guests may attend for a modest $5.00 fee.  Contact WRAP Coordinator Kathleen Hosch (see above) with questions.

Michael Santini calls himself  a Modern Medievalist.  Michael is an artist who works in 2d and 3d, and he is a Master Pattern Maker and designer.  He says of his own art:

My artwork is an allegorical portrayal of the constant spiritual and worldly struggle of good versus evil. Subtle and profound symbolism, through my inspiration from the Bible,  depicts this concept.  As in reality, the elements and characters in my work exist within a constant yet ever changing boundary, rearranging themselves in each new piece.  This is a framework of juxtapositions where repetition and position continuously respond and evaluate the essence of life.  Aspect of contemplation, choice and accountability or political  and religious strife and consistent themes.  Other compositions struggle with our proclivity to sin and the encroachment of legalism.  The resolutions of these conflicts are found in the absolute love, hope and assurance I have in my life.

Mark your calendar and plan a visit to two current WRAP Exhibitions.

The Madison area WRAP is now has almost 100 works on display at the Pyle Center (702 Langdon St, Madison).  It is a fabulous exhibition, well worth a visit.  The exhibit will be on display until April 12th.  Like all WRAPs there will be a closing workshop the same day where artist and show juror Leslee Nelson will talk about her art and the artists that inspire her fabulous fiber art works.  The workshop is free to all exhibiting artists.  Guests may attend for a modest $5.00 fee.  Contact Vina Yang if you would like to attend:  608-798-1005, vyang@aol.com.

The Monroe WRAP at the Monroe Art Center (1315 11th Street, Monroe, WI ) will be available for viewing as of March 21st until May 2nd.  Plan to attend an opening reception for the exhibition Friday, March 21, 2014, 5-7pm!

This is the 27th consecutive year, the Monroe Arts Center has presented the Wisconsin Regional Arts Program (WRAP) Exhibit.  Co-sponsored by the Monroe Arts Center and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Liberal Studies and the Arts, this exhibit is comprised of artwork entered in the 2014 WRAP Competition in Monroe. 

This year's Guest Judge and Lecturer is artist Barbara Kohl-Spiro.  If you are in the area you can plant to attend the Artist Workshop Day: Saturday, May 3, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. The  workshop is free to all exhibiting artists.  Guests may attend for a modest $5.00 fee. Contact the Monroe Art Center with any questions:  608.325.5700 or 888.596.1249

The State Award Winners selected from these and other 2014 WRAP Competitions held throughout the state of Wisconsin will be on display in August and September 2014, at which time additional awards and prizes will be given.

To see what other WRAP opportunities are coming up check out the over 20 annual exhibit opportunities for Wisconsin's lay artists on the WRAP website here:  http://continuingstudies.wisc.edu/art/wisconsin-regional-art-program/wrap-schedule.htm#monroe

Get your creative juices flowing and create a one of a kind 3.5 x 2.5 inch TINY TREASURE.    For the fifth year in a row, the Wisconsin Regional Artist Association (WRAA) invites artists from everywhere in the world to participate in an exhibition/fundraiser of miniature works of art.   Create art, compete for awards and participate in the WRAA Buy-It-Now fundraiser.

WRAA is an organization devoted to providing opportunities for Wisconsin artists who  make art for the joy of creative growth and who do not receive the majority of their income from their art.  The organization collaborates with the Wisconsin Regional Arts Program (WRAP) to offer over 20 exhibit/workshops around the state as well as sponsoring youth art exhibitions, and produce art publications for its members.  The proceeds from the Tiny Treasure fundraiser benefits the  WRAA’s Publication Fund.  The WRAA Publication Fund helps support the color catalog for the Wisconsin Regional Art Program’s statewide exhibit each September, the WRAA newsletter Contour Notes, and the Tiny Treasures WRAP Pocket Calendar..

Entered art pieces must be original, appropriate for all ages and not entered in previous years.  No decorated kits are acceptable.  It’s a TINY treasure because the size must be exactly 2 ½” x 3 ½”, be unmatted and unframed.  Depth of piece not to exceed 1”.  These works are the same size as modern trading sports cards.

ARTWORK submitted starting March 1 and must be RECEIVED BY JULY 11, 2014

This competition is open to adults and teens at least 14 years old (calculate age as of July 11, 2014).  Each Tiny Treasure entry costs $10.00.  You do NOT need to be a WRAA member to participate.  There are cash awards:  1st Place $100, 2nd Place $75 and 3rd Place $50. 


You may enter as many Tiny Treasures as you’d like – submit $10 and a separate ID label for each one.  Tiny Treasure entries from prior years can not be submitted again.   WRAA members, a registration form can be found in Contour Notes, or it can be downloaded from  the WRAA website at http://www.wraawrap.com

The 2014 Tiny Treasure  exhibit will be in Wausau as a part of the Wisconsin Regional Art Program ( WRAP) State Conference activities. 

Also new this year is the ability to donate your unsold Tiny Treasures to WRAA to be gifted to a nonprofit organization.  Since Wausau is the location for this year’s WRAP State Day, the WVAA (Wisconsin Valley Art Association) has agreed to coordinate donations to local area non-profits including the Neighborhood Place as well as a Women's Shelter.  So rather than sticking your Tiny Treasure in a closet if it is not sold, you can share your creative work with the shelter and bring smiles to a lot of women.  All you need to do is check the box on the Entry Form when you enter to indicate your intention.

All entries will be exhibited virtually on-line at www.wraawrap.com (You can see the 2013 exhibition there now) and the entire Tiny Treasures exhibit will be on display physical in Wausau at the Marathon County Public Library in August and September 2014.

Awards recipients will be recognized as a part of the Wisconsin Regional Art state conference activities the weekend of September 26-27.

Not only are there cash prizes for the top 3 Tiny Treasures, but there are additional  honorary awards:  12 Tiny Treasures will be featured in WRAA’s Timely Treasures 2015 pocket calendar that lists  the schedule for all of the WRAP exhibit/workshops for the year.

Winners will be notified by phone after July 20, 2014.

You can also choose to donate your Tiny Treasure to the WRAA Buy-It-Now fundraiser, or you may include it in the exhibition and competition and mark it Not For Sale (NFS).

You don’t have to be a WRAA member to participate - although new members are always welcome.  

Why not have a Tiny Treasure’s party to enjoy making them together with your friends!  Professional and nonprofessional artists are welcome to participate. 

As mentioned above,  in addition to the physical exhibition in Wausau all Tiny Treasures are posted as part of a virtual exhibition online at www.wraawrap.com.              
If you donate your piece to the fundraiser to be sold, they are available to potential buyers for $25.  The Tiny Treasures included in the Buy-It-Now Fundraiser  will be available for sale online starting July 28 and ending August 15, 2014.

If your Tiny Treasure doesn’t sell, and you are willing to donate it, it will be matted and donated to a worthy non-profit organization.  In 2014 the WRAA will gift unsold donated works to Wausau’s Neighborhood Shelter in hope of sharing a little something beautiful to a worthy organization doing good work.

 

FOR AN ENTRY FORM AND MORE DETAILS, VISIT www.wraawrap.com and  click on Activities. 

Join us and  participate in WRAA’s fundraiser and enjoy the camaraderie and opportunities that WRAA has to offer.   Check out WRAA’s website, www.wraawrap.com to see entries from past years and
get more information on how Buy-it-Now works.
 
Questions? Contact Sherry Ackerman, WRAA Board Member, &
Tiny Treasures Coordinator,  Email is sherrycackerman@gmail.com Phone is 608 445-2517
 

 
TINY TREASURES EXHIBIT
AUGUST 7 - SEPTEMBER 26, 2014
WAUSAU’S DOWNTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY
 
AWARDS for Tiny Treasures
SEPTEMBER 27, 2014
During luncheon at Jefferson Street Inn, 201 Jefferson Street, Wausau, WI
 
Hope to see you there!