“Recycled” Art Exhibit Coming to Whitewater – Wisconsin Folk Art to be Displayed

Besides filling landfills, what can come from broken glass, old machine parts, plastic containers, bicycle wheels, pop tops, mink fur scraps, and scrap trophy metal? Many Wisconsin artists know the answer – folk art. Often called green art or recycled art, folk art is unique to each artist, and yet holds some commonality. Folk artists often use materials they have at hand or that have been discarded by others.

Art lovers and Earth lovers alike are invited to attend an exhibit profiling more than 20 Wisconsin folk artists featured in the book Miracles of the Spirit who create such art. Wisconsin Folk Art-Miracles of the Spirit will take place August 1 to September 11 at Whitewater’s Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street, in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

One of the artists featured in the book and at the exhibit is Wally Keller of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. He said, “I use a lot of old farm machinery parts plus commercial and automotive parts…valve, horse corn planter, horse harness, machine gears, sprockets, roller chain, milling machine, buckets, lots of flat wrenches for birds’ feet. I like parts with grace and form. The tricky part is taking the pieces and arranging them so they resemble something. I like making things that are one of a kind.” (Miracles of the Spirit, page 195).

Each artist is also one-of-a-kind. Some use pencil and paper, while others use recycled materials. Folk artist Mike “Ringo” White recycles debris collected on bicycle trips into folk art. Beach glass, plastic jug lids, driftwood, discarded bowling balls, and children’s sleds are only a few of the discarded materials that find their way into the inventive constructions of Milwaukee artist Mike “Ringo” White (Miracles of the Spirit, page 88). “Picking up stuff off the streets is one of my favorite things to do. I like riding my bicycle all over town and picking up whatever I can use for my artwork such as plastic bottle caps, blue glass bottles, or if I’m in the mood, I’ll pick up wood and make off with it,” said White (Miracles of the Spirit, page 89).

Art from several Wisconsin artists like Keller and White will be displayed at the Cultural Arts Center for the duration of the exhibit, including: Prophet William Blackmon, of Milwaukee; Norbert Kox, of Green Bay; Lori Reich, formerly of Green Bay; Rudy Rotter, formerly of Manitowoc; Della Wells, of Milwaukee; Guy Church, formerly of Madison; Simon Sparrow, formerly of Madison; John Sroka, formerly from Central Wisconsin; Carter Todd, formerly of Madison; Mona Webb, formerly of Madison; Ellis Nelson, of Muscoda; Hope Atkinson; and Clyde Wynia of Marshfield. Photographs of art from several other artists will also be displayed.

The exhibit will kick-off with opening ceremonies on August 1 at 6 p.m. and presentations by the authors of the book Miracles of the Spirit, Don Krug and Ann Parker, on August 2 at 2 p.m. or 6 p.m. Bob Mertens, chair of the Art Department at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Michael Flanagan, director of the University’s Crossman Gallery, will wrap up the event with closing ceremonies at 4 p.m. on September 11.

“Folk art or outsider art is a form of expression used by many untrained Wisconsin artists to enhance their environments in a non-traditional way. It is fun, it is different, and in many ways it is a ‘green’ art, because these artists often use bits and pieces of surplus items to create their art. Don Krug and Ann Parker have created a beautiful book that honors these non-traditional artists and showcases their talents,” said Dawn Hunter, member of the Whitewater Arts Alliances’ board of directors, and chair of the Miracles of the Spirit committee.

Signed copies of Miracles of the Spirit will be available for purchase at the opening ceremonies and throughout the exhibit (no credit cards accepted). Exhibit hours from August 1 to September 11 will be Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view the exhibit at other times, contact Dawn Hunter at (262) 473-2730 or hunterdawnm@charter.net. To register for the opening presentation on August 2 at 2 p.m. or 6 p.m. (space is limited), please contact Mary Kenne at mhkenne@charter.net or (262) 473-1292.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance is run by volunteers and anyone interested in volunteering to help at the exhibit should contact Mary Kenne at mhkenne@charter.net or (262) 473-1292. Up-to-date-information about the Miracles of the Spirit exhibit events is posted on www.waamiracles.org.

Exhibit organizers are currently exploring workshops that will offer "hands-on" creative opportunities for exhibit visitors, plus other expressions of folk art such as story-telling and music. More information on exhibit-related events will be posted on www.waamiracles.org.

This project was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding comes from Colburn Company, the Whitewater Tourism Council and other in-kind donors like Marlin Printing and Graphics.

A non-profit arts organization, the Whitewater Arts Alliance is made up entirely of volunteers dedicated to enriching the lives of people in the area through the arts. The mission of the Alliance is to promote the visual and performing arts through an alliance of artists, individuals, educational resources, and organizations to promote creativity and diversity that will serve to educate and enrich the lives of the residents of the Whitewater community and surrounding areas.

With the grand opening of the Cultural Arts Center in December 2007, the Alliance has had a location to host a variety of exhibits and events: an exhibit at the grand opening featuring 25 alliance artists; the Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) exhibit and workshop; the Royal Oak Productions of "Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe"; a PHOTO SPEAK exhibit; a book signing of "Andy's Moon" by Dawn Hunter; a night of storytelling by Jim Winship; a UW-Whitewater student art installation and exhibit; in May, a Whitewater School District student exhibit of “Art is Going Green”; in June, a WRAP exhibit of children’s art; and in June, a Teen art exhibit. Incorporated in 2005, the Alliance has sponsored the creation of The Prairie Tiller Mural, and has partnered with a local restaurant and deli to exhibit art and promote area artists. The Alliance also organized and sponsored the development of an arch for a lakefront park that depicts the historic scenes and structures of Whitewater, fabricated from steel.