(WHITEWATER – May 28) The Wisconsin Regional Artists Association will be sponsoring the WRAP exhibit that features the works of non-professional Wisconsin artists at Whitewater’s Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street, from June 2 through June 22.
Artists from Wisconsin will be exhibiting art in a variety of media including 3 D and photography. Artists and art-advocates alike are invited to view the exhibit free of charge. The exhibit will run Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m. beginning June 2 and running through June 22. An opening reception will be held Sunday, June 9 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. A workshop on Saturday, June 22, runs from 9:30 a.m. to approximately 2:30 p.m., and anyone can attend the workshop for a $5 registration fee (exhibiting artists can attend for free). To register, please contact Joyce Follis at 262-473-2360.
The Wisconsin Regional Art Program was established to encourage Wisconsin citizens with a serious interest in art – people who make art purely for the love of it, rather than for fame and fortune. The purpose of WRAP is to encourage nonprofessional artists to develop their abilities. The Wisconsin Regional Art Program consists of many artist workshop/exhibits who meet throughout the year statewide. Each one has a different artist demonstration or slide lecture and a different judge to lead the afternoon critique. Artists may enter as many Wisconsin Regional Art Workshops as they like.
Artists winning a State Exhibit Award are eligible to compete for monetary awards at the WRAA State Day in Madison. In order to enter the State Exhibit you must be a member of the Wisconsin Regional Arts Program – you can join the organization at any time before the state exhibit by going to wraawrap.com and click on the tab to register.
The first Rural Art Exhibit was held at the Memorial Union during Farm and Home Week in 1940. Under the guidance of John Stuart Curry, the exhibit grew rapidly, expanding from 30 nonprofessional artists in 1940 to over 100 by 1947. The energy and enthusiasm of Curry’s successor, Aaron Bohrod, the WRAP directors, James Schwalbach and Ken Kuemmerlein, and the help of the Wisconsin Rural Artists Association have continued to make the exhibition and workshops cornerstones of activity for nonprofessional artists throughout the state.
WRAP is developed and administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Liberal Studies and the Arts. WRAP exhibits and workshops began in 1940 to encourage the creative growth of non-professional artists from rural areas.
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.
