Features FROM THE DIRECTOR WRAP and the Wisconsin Idea, call for new WRAP artists, and general updates PERMANENT COLLECTION FEATURE "Swiss Alps" by Frank H Engebretson NEW TEAM MEMBER Please join us in welcoming our wonderful new student assistant, Nina Stemwedel! REGIONAL COORDINATOR SPOTLIGHT Tom Cabezas and the Platteville WRAP AG HALL EXHIBITION A select few of WRAP State Award Winners are featured on campus at ECALS NEW! CALL FOR ARTISTS Exhibition opportunities in Wisconsin EWA & STATE DAY PHOTOS |
FROM THE DIRECTOR
The Wisconsin Regional Art Program has been helping Wisconsin artists develop and share their abilities for more than 75 years. We encourage you to create new work, develop skills and share your work with people in your community, gain recognition and expert feedback and perhaps most importantly, connect with like-minded people! Our small but resourceful team is here to maintain, promote and grow the program. As ever, WRAP strives to engage artistic communities around Wisconsin, and we regularly plan outreach events to this end. Just last week, I spoke to group at Monona Meadows about WRAP and the Wisconsin Idea. A critical component of our program is support and circulation of this Idea, one of the longest and deepest traditions surrounding the University of Wisconsin. It signifies a general principle: that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Synonymous with Wisconsin for more than a century, this principle has become the guiding philosophy of university outreach efforts in Wisconsin and throughout the world. WRAP artists put it into action, sharing work that represents cultures and communities around the state. Looking ahead, we will be continuing to seek opportunities for growth, and we would like to call upon you, our current participants. Do you know artists that work alone that would enjoy | camaraderie with other artists? Invite them to join in the next WRAP you attend. Interested in a WRAP in your area? We are seeking new leaders in under-served areas. If you are looking for answers on the WRAP program or the next workshop, visit Go.wisc.edu/WRAP or call Alli or Liese. In other news, our team has changed! Our vibrancy comes from being housed in Continuing Studies on the UW-Madison campus, and with this comes a new student assistant each year. Meet Nina Stemwedel in our spotlight below. Alli Timmins remains our Program Assistant and is available by phone or email. Liese Pfeifer remains our WRAP Director. We continue to work closely with the nonprofit 501.3c Wisconsin Regional Artists Association who also just experienced a team change. We would like to extend a fond farewell to Cheryl Breunig, Editor of Contour Notes. Cheryl helped our office immensely through her attention to detail and amazing computer skills. Thank you for the long hours and hard work you put into encouraging artist’s creative growth and sharing your passion for art! Our team wishes her the best. Liese Pfeifer Questions or comments? E-mail liese.pfeifer@wisc.edu |
Frank H. Engebretson By Nina Stemwedel WRAP recently hung a piece from our Permanent Collection in the North wing of the 7th floor of 21 N. Park Street, our home base. The piece, entitled “Swiss Alps”, was done by artist Frank H. Engebretson. Frank was born in 1882 on a farm near Gratiot, Wisconsin, to a family of Norwegian birth. In his adult life he lived with his wife and three children in rural Brodhead. He began his work as a house painter, quickly moving on to large scale murals decorating the sides of barns across Southern Wisconsin. His first barn mural was painted in 1914 for his neighbor, a man named Jacob Winn. Engebretson had no artistic training, but when asked to merely paint the barn, he expressed boredom and dissatisfaction with regular house painting jobs: “I wouldn’t mind painting barns if I could paint pictures on them. I don’t see much sense in having barns all look alike. A barn could just as well come to life and have some individuality.” His neighbor agreed to give him creative liberty, Engebretson painted a splashy advertisement depicting grazing Holstein cows, and thus his career as an artist was born! He became well-known in Wisconsin for his vivid murals depicting cheerful landscapes, and was even featured in the Times of London, the Prairie Farmer, Country Gentleman, and a 1942 issue of Life Magazine. Engebretson also did murals on interior walls, such as this image of a bridge from the home of the Condon family. “Swiss Alps” is representative of his later body of work, commissioned by Swiss farmers hoping his nostalgic style could recall the countryside of their homeland. |
Welcome, Nina!
Photo taken by Jon Yoon, 10/20/2017. | Nina Stemwedel, our new student assistant, joined the WRAP team in September 2017. She is in her senior year at UW-Madison, expecting to graduate in May with a double major in Art History and Italian, as well as two certificates in Classics and European Studies. She spent her Spring 2017 semester studying abroad in Bologna, Italy, and hopes to return to Italy to pursue an MA after taking a few years to work in the arts field here in the U.S. Outside of school and work, her interests include fantasy novels, cooking, astrology, Italian film, and petting puppies. She has been known to complete entire academic projects about witches, and write mythologically inspired comedic short stories about her friends. |
Tom Cabezas and the Platteville WRAP
Tom Cabezas, our fantastic Regional Coordinator in Platteville, has been producing and selling his work across the country through art galleries and shows for more than twenty years. He is a wood-worker and mixed media artist, designing and building unique quality furniture. Tom earned a Masters of Fine Art in sculpture from UW-Madison. He strives to create work that does not place form over function or vice versa, but instead strives to create a harmonious balance of the two. His work has been shown nation-wide and has won numerous awards. Tom brings a wealth of experience to lifelong learners through his Continuing Education ceramics courses. He is an active artist, and as ever, continues to be highly involved in the arts community. He is currently the Manager and Curator at the Harry and Laura Nohr Gallery on the UW-Platteville campus. The gallery provides high quality cultural and educational opportunities in the visual arts, free of charge, to the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and the people of Platteville and the Southwestern Wisconsin region. Tom is currently overseeing the 2017 WRAP exhibition at the Nohr Gallery. This year is his second experience with coordinating a WRAP exhibition. Before this he has been the juror and workshop artist for two WRAP exhibitions. Of the program, he says "I have always enjoyed the enthusiasm and creative spirit of the participating artist and impressed with the quality of work. It is a great opportunity for the artists and the community to share in this event. I personally enjoy meeting the artists and watching the progression of their work over the years." Some of the works from the current WRAP exhibit are pictured here: Lynn Verger's untitled mixed media work is 48" X 30" is an abstract composition that utilizes both a loose expressionistic style while staying in a structured geometric composition exuding an organize and dynamic energy. The overall scale and secondary contours of this piece communicate enough to draw you in and keep you there to interact with the subtleties of the piece. William Schuele's Wisconsin Wreckage: The Walker Winter 2010 to 2018 is a 60" X 39" oil on canvas. It is well executed and of an ambitious scale that give the work good presence. The composition is dynamic and well contained in the subdued colors and patterns. Sharon Stauffer's work, Hold On There is the larger of three small scale mixed media works at 6" X 9". She expertly combines her drawing skills with the use of a subtle collage technique. The work achieves an intimate and formal appeal with its overall composition. Katie Schutte is new to the area and uses traditional techniques of crochet and contemporary style of using pigments to produce dynamic and unique works. Memory IX is acrylic on paper with hand stitching and crocheted fibers. Tom formerly directed the Rountree Gallery, one of our WRAP centers, which used to be funded by the City of Platteville. The city was recently faced with a financial crisis that led to significant cuts to the 2017 budget across departments, unfortunately including the entire operating budget for the Rountree Gallery. It is now in the midst of transitioning into an independent non-profit 501c3 community based volunteer promoter of the arts in the region, and is being led by Nancy Collins, who was a part of the board before the transition to non-profit. Much of the current support is offered by Friends of the Gallery (FOG). They have provided volunteers for programming and everyday operations, scholarships for young artists, and awards to encourage artist of all ages. These FOG members make up the volunteers who now run the gallery. Coming back from near death, Rountree Gallery continues to be dedicated to actively promoting the creation, appreciation, and education of visual arts in the Platteville community and surrounding area. It strives to make art accessible to the public by hosting quality exhibits, by acquiring and preserving the permanent collection and arts resource library, and by offering educational opportunities to all ages. Tom tells us the gallery "will continue to host WRAP after this year. They have access to a beautiful new display area and plan on using it for 2018. The community in Platteville did an amazing job of maintaining the Rountree organization in the midst of severe budget cuts and loss of space and I see them being around for quite a while." "Untitled" by Lynn Verger | Selected pieces by Tom Cabezas. "Memory IX" by Katie Schutte "Hold On There" by Sharon Stauffer "Wisconsin Wreckage: The Walker Winter 2010 to 2018" by William Schuele |
Featuring Artworks from WRAP's 2017 State Conference
This year’s Ag Hall foyer exhibition features:
Facing south, artists and work are listed in order from left to right. Check out the online image gallery! Three other WRAP pieces are hanging elsewhere in Ag Hall.
| "Oasis" by Gail McCoy ![]() "Elemental Forms, Arches National Park" by Jill Jensen |
New! Call for Artists
Do you know of any other call for artists? Let us know in the comments below (or email allison.timmins@wisc.edu) so we can spread the word. Information on art exhibitions and events is also welcome. Thank you for helping us encourage artists to grow and show their work!
Bucky on Parade Madison, WI Entry Deadline: November 10, 2017 Artists whose designs are selected will decorate fiberglass statues of Bucky and receive a stipend to cover materials and time. Next spring the Bucky statues will be placed in various locations throughout the Madison area as a community art project. Afterwards they’ll be auctioned off to raise funds for local non-profit organizations. More information at www.buckyonparade.com/artists. Spring Art Tour 2018 Mount Horeb, WI Entry Deadline: November 15, 2017 Artists who live/show artwork within a radius of about 20 miles of the Mount Horeb area are invited to apply. If in doubt whether your area is included please contact Tamlyn (608-767-1281 or tamlyn@chorus.net). Click here to download the application PDF. 5th Annual Juried Art & Science Exhibit & Fundraiser 2018 Call for Artists Monroe, WI Entry Deadline: November 15, 2017 An open call for artwork for our fifth annual juried art and science exhibition, fundraiser, and membership event entitled Seasons of the Sugar River—nature of water. This exhibition seeks to showcase the scenic landscapes of the Sugar River Watershed from the headwaters region in western Dane County to the lower basin where the river confluences with the Pecatonica River in Northern Illinois. A popular feature of the exhibition is the array of science exhibits geared for children and adults that explore and illustrate the geography of our watershed and the role of our natural and cultural landscapes in influencing water quality. With this year's sub-theme — nature of water—we invite artists to explore all aspects and forms of water. As an important life force, it sustains us, refreshes us, inspires us from its microscopic parts to its ability soothe us with its calming meandering and pastoral vistas or to change the landscape with its raw power. More information at https://www.driftlessareaartists.org/calls-for-art/ UW-Madison Continuing Studies Art Gallery Madison, WI Entry Deadline: November 20, 2017 Apply online Are you a painter, photographer, or artist who works in a two-dimensional medium? Would you like your work to have a wider audience? We exhibit original art from Wisconsin artists on a two-month, rotating basis here on the 7th floor of 21 N. Park St. Questions? Contact the Continuing Studies art committee CSArtShow@dcs.wisc.edu. Arti Gras Call For Artists Green Bay, Wisconsin Entry Deadline: November 27, 2017 The Arti Gras art fair is limited to 100 exhibitors comprised of invited and juried fine artists. Arti Gras also features artist demonstrations, performing arts, and children’s art activities. Great care is taken to choose jurors whose experience and reputation qualify them to select artists and craftspersons who produce the finest contemporary work. More information at http://mosaicartsinc.org/artigras/ | Racine Art Museum Call for Artists Racine, WI These shows feature and embrace the talent and creativity within our community and surrounding areas. Watercolor Wisconsin 2017 December 10, 2017 – April 21, 2018 Entry Deadline: Saturday, September 30 RAM Artist Fellowship 2018 Presented by the Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation Entry Deadline: now through January 12, 2018. The Art of AdORNAMENTS December 8–30, 2017 Entry Deadline: Sunday, December 3 RAM's 9th Annual International PEEPS® Art Competition Prospectus available mid-December EcoSquared Art Show Call For Artists Madison, WI Entry Deadline: December 21st, 2017 A juried exhibition of small works with upcycled materials by local artists. You are invited to submit your art into this multi-media art show. More information at www.hatcharthouse.com Call for Art: Broken Hearts 2018 Show DePere, WI Entry Deadline: Dec. 24 artlessBastard, a gallery in DePere, Wisconsin is calling for 2D & 3D works of art, in all mediums – except performance art or film – for their Broken Hearts 2018 Show. Themes of work may include abandoned love, found love, young love, timeless love, shattered hearts, love that hurts or love that heals, art that captures the relationships between people, places, or things, etc. All works ready for display on a gallery wall, pedestal or floor will be considered. There will be a special selection of student work also included in this exhibit. Please visit https://www.artlessbastard.com/call-for-art for more info or email casey@artlessbastard.com Juried Call for Entries Stevens Point Sculpture Park Stevens Point, WI Deadline: February 1, 2018 Juried Call for public sculpture, Stevens Point Sculpture Park is a dynamic 20 acres sculpture park. Open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset with maintained trails through forest and woodland. The sculpture park is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.900 2nd Street North, Stevens Point, WI 54481 Contact information: pointsculpturepark@hotmail.com for further information regarding the call for entries URL: http://bit.ly/SPSP18 VSA Wisconsin Call for Art Madison, WI Entry Deadline: February 14, 2018 Wisconsin artists with disabilities are invited to submit up to 2 works of art to VSA Wisconsin's annual Call for Art. Each artist will have artwork displayed at the VSA Gallery. Adult and young adult works will be for sale. Submissions are also reviewed by a jury of arts professionals who will select thirteen artworks to receive awards. For more information, click here. |
Connect with WRAP! Website: go.wisc.edu/WRAP Facebook: facebook.com/WisconsinRegionalArts Liese Pfeifer, Director liese.pfeifer@wisc.edu Alli Timmins, Program Associate allison.timmins@wisc.edu |
2018 Annual Art Exhibition: Aug 17-Sep 22, 2018
Art Drop Off at Pyle Center: TBD, approximately Aug 3-4
All Details Posted on the WRAP Website by Jun 5, 2018
Check go.wisc.edu/WRAPconference for up-to-date information