News

Karolyn Alexander’s solo show of more than 100 acrylic abstracts and collage and watercolor paintings, “Art From My Heart,” will be exhibited at the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s (WAA) Cultural Arts Center (CAC), 402 West Main Street from May 2-26, Thursdays through Sundays from noon until 5 p.m.

Karolyn will host an Artist’s Reception on Sunday May 5 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the CAC.  The reception is free and open to the public.  

Karolyn is a lifelong Whitewater resident and with the encouragement of her father, the late Richard Kettwig, has had a passion for art starting in childhood. She has enjoyed mixing colors and making plain surfaces more colorful since her first box of Crayola crayons. As a youngster she experimented with creating new colors by layering one crayon color over another. The passion for color and color mixing remains today as she uses watercolor, acrylic and collage to make watercolor paper and canvas surfaces more colorful.

An early retirement from UW-Whitewater as an IT training coordinator permitted her to focus on art. In April of 2003 she began taking watercolor classes from the late Marilyn Keating at L’Atelier Art Studio in Janesville. Since then she has taken workshops with Kari Anderson, Shelby Keefe, Ratindra Das, Karen Ragus and Laura Lein-Svencner among others. In addition to watercolor, she enjoys doing collage and most recently creating acrylic abstracts. Regardless of the medium she finds delight in experimenting with and using color.

Karolyn said, “I have written a book titled ‘Watercolor Cookbook-Recipes for Mixing Delicious Color’ which includes tips on mixing watercolor paints plus over 60 full color photographs of my watercolor paintings. Many of my paintings can be viewed on my web site www.karolyn.biz. I teach adult watercolor and collage classes in Whitewater and Janesville and on occasion in other locations such as Milwaukee and Jefferson.  Color is everything!”

This exhibit of her work at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center includes watercolor, collage and acrylic paintings, with varied subject matter from representational to abstract. The abstracts are from some of the series on which she has been working. The series represented in this exhibit include Rhythm, Mark Making and Texture.

WAA President Megan Matthews said, “Karolyn’s artwork is a wonderful, colorful mix of ideas and concepts that invite us to see the world in a new way.  I encourage everyone to stop by during the show, to see the incredible talent of one of our local artists.”

The Cultural Arts Center is located on 402 West Main Street in the historic White building near the Birge Fountain. Parking is behind the building. An elevator is available for access from the parking lot entrance. 

The mission of the Whitewater Arts 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.

Photography-lovers are invited to learn and practice the fundamentals of photography at this free, four-hour, hands-on workshop sponsored by the Whitewater Arts Alliance. Join Jeff McDonald and Everett Long as they present, demonstrate, and mentor the class through hands-on practice exercises.  The workshop takes place on Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s Cultural Arts Center at 402 West Main Street in Whitewater.  The workshop is free, open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. However, in order that the WAA may better plan the workshop, those planning to attend are asked to please RSVP to jeff.mcdonald@gaelicarts.com.

Topics covered will include: camera basics such as camera controls, getting sharp images, and changing lenses; digital photography basics such as getting proper exposure, automatic and manual exposure modes, auto-focus and manual focus, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and white balance; and artistic considerations such as composition, light and shadow, depth of field, and capturing motion. Several stations with varying photographic subjects will be arranged for participants’ practice exercises.

Participants are asked to bring their camera with its user manual, charged battery, and memory card. The camera should have a manual exposure mode (where shutter speed, aperture, and ISO may be set manually) and use interchangeable lenses. Users of other types of cameras are welcome to participate but the workshop is designed for the cameras described. At least one tripod will be provided for the class to share but participants may want to bring their own tripod if they have one.

“Everett and I have conducted several Whitewater Arts Alliance photography programs over the last few years and we appreciate the positive response and feedback. The most-requested suggestion from attendees of those programs has been for us to include a hands-on component where participants bring their own cameras and get first-hand guidance on their use. The new four-hour format will allow us the time for this to be practical,” said Jeff McDonald

For award-winning photographer Everett Long, photography became an avocation and a passion after retiring from a 31-year career teaching history at UW-Whitewater.

Long said, “I’ve always had cameras, using them primarily to record family events and travels.  My principal subject matter since becoming serious about photography are what generally could be defined as nature photography, including landscapes, flowers (both representational and abstract), birds, water scenes, fall colors, as well as sunrises and sunsets, etc. A tripod is necessary for obtaining the close-up photos of flowers and other small objects in nature which I favor.  Adobe Lightroom permits me to organize, store, and edit the thousands of digital photos that I have taken over the years.”

Jeff McDonald’s photography has been recognized with awards at international photography exhibitions in the US, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Asia. His photographic interests include black and white, long exposure, landscape, architecture, street, and still-life photography.

“My objective as a fine art photographer is to produce remarkable images. Motion, unusual visual perspectives, and interesting light intrigue me, as do the found elements of a scene that challenge one to frame them into an interesting composition. In my view, fine art photography is far more about presenting the artist’s interpretation of reality than it is about presenting objective reality, as it would be for a photojournalist. To that end, I embrace the tools of the digital darkroom, the modern analogue of the chemical darkroom, applying them as little as possible but as much as necessary when they help me achieve my artistic vision,” said McDonald.

McDonald is a Whitewater Arts Alliance board member and has served as chair of its Fran Achen Photography Competition for the last four years.

Materials for participants to bring:
 – Camera with a manual mode, preferably one that uses interchangeable
lenses
 – Camera’s user manual, charged battery, memory card
 – Note-taking materials

(April 28) Over the past week, Washington Elementary School Student Council students led a schoolwide effort to collect new, adult-size socks for our nation’s servicemen and women through the organization Warmth for Warriors. With an original goal of collecting 100 pairs, our Eagle community buried us with socks! The final tally is 639 pairs of socks! Because of this overwhelming community support, we are pleased to announce that we will also be donating some of the collected socks to local veteran’s organizations. Thank you so much to our generous and compassionate Washington families as well as to others from the Whitewater community!  
Way to Go, Eagles! 

The Kettle Moraine Land Trust invites beginning and experienced birders to join in their annual Mother’s Day Bird Walk on Sunday, May 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Beulah Bog State Natural Area. The tour will be led by Jim Marrari, experienced birder; Derek Sallmann, Friends of the Mukwonago River; and Greg Rajsky, Executive Director, Kettle Moraine Land Trust.

Beulah Bog State Natural Area features upland woodlands and prairies with a trail down to an undisturbed bog featuring distinctive vegetation more typically found further north. The variety of habitats may harbor several species of birds to view and identify. Beulah Bog SNA is located north of East Troy, with parking .8 miles south of County Highway J on Stringers Bridge Road. Parking space is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.

Attendees are encouraged to bring boots for the walk in the bog (the boardwalk may be slightly under water) and binoculars and cameras. Please consider making reservations by emailing info@kmlandtrust.org or calling KMLT at 262-949-7211.

MADISON – April 25 – A University of Wisconsin System search committee looking to replace UW-Whitewater’s chancellor will conduct interviews this weekend in Chicago. The committee plans to conduct interviews in a hotel at O’Hare International Airport on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The panel will end Sunday with a meeting with a special regent committee that will ultimately pick finalists. For more from Minneapolis Star Tribune click here.

From the UW-W Chancellor Search website: “Applicants for the position are currently being reviewed and finalists will be announced the week of April 29th.” For further information on the search click here.

UW-Whitewater Theatre/Dance Department presents a spine-tingling thriller, Angel Street (Gaslight), written by Patrick Hamilton and directed by Kymberly Mellen May 1-4 at 7:30 p.m. and matinees on May 1 at 10:00 a.m. and May 5 at 2:00 p.m. in Barnett Theatre. Angel Street is one of the greatest thrillers ever written and pulls back the curtain on the suavely handsome Jack Manningham who has slowly been driving his devoted wife Bella to the edge of insanity with seemingly overt kindness and concern. Tickets are on sale: General Admission $12, Over 65 $10, Under 18 $7.50, and UW-W students with valid ID $5.50. Tickets can be purchased by calling (262) 472-2222, online at tickets.uww.edu or visiting the box office with two locations, Greenhill Center of the Arts, 950 W. Main Street or the James R. Connor University Center Ticket and Information desk, hours are M-F 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. * Be advised, this play contains themes of abuse.

The director Kymberly Mellen has this to say about what makes this play relevant today. “The play’s premise and depiction of gaslighting were powerful enough to coin a term used commonly today. If we do our job right as contemporary story-tellers, this play, set in 1880, may remind you of 2019 relationships and people you know. Perhaps you have interacted with individuals so practiced in their gaslighting techniques that you have doubted their capacity for damage until it was too late.”  

“Why here? Why now? Because there are still relationships and marriages where psychological gaslighting makes people doubt their own reality, turning the fingers of shame and blame towards themselves. Angel Street is a vigorous narrative of finding one’s own power through the unexpected efforts and kindness of strangers. It is my hope that after seeing Jack’s tactics laid bare, we will be inspired by Bella’s recovery and courage.”

The cast includes: Simon McGhee as Mr. Jack Manningham with understudy Steven Kornkven, Carlee Wuchterl as Mrs. Bella Manningham with understudy Samantha Pinchard, Sam Bochat as Detective Rough with understudy Nathan Broege, Alexa Farrell as Nancy with understudy Ivy Steege, Kory Friend as Elizabeth with understudy Jamie Love, Policeman #1 Nathan Broege, and Police # 2  Steven Kornkven. The production crew includes: Alexander Carey, stage manager; Jon Mickel, student sound designer/composer; Nicolas Sole, student lighting designer, and Megan Grove as student set designer assistant.

The cast recently participated in an intensive stage combat workshop. They worked closely with fight choreographer D.C. Wright to create dramatic fight scenes and moments of intimacy. As a cast, they studied the patterns of psychological abuse in romantic relationships to produce an accurate portrait of an abusive relationship.

“Audience can expect a night of whodunnit near-melodrama with its requisite plot reversals, surprises, near misses, and mistaken identities. But they will also be surprised by the nuanced characterizations, sensuality, and humor in the play. It should keep the audience on the edge of their seats.  The student sound designer, Jon Mickel, is composing an original score for the play,” reveals director Kym Mellen.

The Theatre/Dance Department is dedicated to producing high quality, entertaining productions showcasing the talent of theatre majors, and a variety of other students. The department is designed to give students a real-world experience; costumes, sets and lights are often designed by students, giving them the opportunity to apply their craft. Every school year faculty and students produce six shows and a smaller Summeround season. To find additional information about the department, visit their website at http://www.uww.edu/cac/theatre-dance or find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UWWTheatreDance.

The Theatre/Dance Department 2018-19 Season is sponsored by the Daily Union, 940AM/WFAW and, 1230AM/92.7FM/WCLO .

If you have a disability and desire accommodations, please advise us as early as possible. Requests are confidential. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater provides equal opportunities in employment and programming including Title IX and ADA requirements. Please contact Audra Lange (262) 472-5943 for further information.

J-Hawks invites the community to a fundraiser on Sunday, May 5 at UW-Whitewater’s Williams Center. The fundraiser includes an Adult Sprint Race (starts at 10 a.m.) to include a 500 yard swim, 13 mile bike ride and three mile run. It also includes a Child Tri (tentatively starting at 2:30 p.m.), which includes a 200 yard swim, a four mile bike ride and a one mile run. The event also features a raffle, snacks and beverages.

All proceeds help benefit the J-Hawk Aquatic Club, which offers a youth swim team and swim lessons to area children. Also, families whose children receive free school lunch do not pay the monthly fees, and families who pay a reduced school lunch fee pay only half of the monthly fees.

Registrants should sign up at: https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Whitewater/JHawkEarlybirdAdultOlympicSprintTriandChildTri

For paper registrations, people should email Cheri at j_hawkswim@charter.com. Discounts are available for UW-W students, military personnel/veterans and police/sheriff/fire personnel.