Paint Wisconsin Overview/Reception: Roberta’s Art Gallery, Friday, August 8, 2025, 3-4:30 p.m.
Paint Wisconsin Awards, Art Auction and 20-Year Gala: Cultural Arts Center, Friday, August 8, 2025, 5-8 p.m.
- 5:00 pm – Gallery viewing, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and piano music by Jim Olm
- 5:45 pm – 20th Anniversary Acknowledgement, Marilyn Fuerstenberg Tribute and Thank You to WHS Class of 1961, Paint Wisconsin Awards
- 6:15 pm – Appeal by WAA Board Member Dwight Watson
- 6:20 pm – Live auction of “Painting with the Whitewater Stars” pieces and WAA artwork
- 7:30 pm – Performance by “Here Comes Treble” Sweet Adeline Quartet
The Marilyn Fuerstenberg Paint Wisconsin Exhibit Reception and Whitewater Arts Alliance 20-Year Anniversary Gala Scheduled for August 8, 2025
The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) is proud to present the 1st Annual Paint Wisconsin Exhibition and to host its 20th Anniversary Gala on Friday, August 8, 2025. The Paint Wisconsin Exhibit will run from Thursday, August 7 – Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Due to the overwhelming response to the call for art and the high-caliber pieces submitted for this juried exhibition, the WAA has partnered with Roberta’s Art Gallery in the James R. Connor University Center, located on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-W) campus, to display some of the works. A list of the exhibiting artists and biographies of jurors Thomas Jewell, Frank Juarez, and Graeme Reid are available on the WAA website at https://www.whitewaterarts.org/paint-wisconsin-2025. Roberta’s Art Gallery will hold a Paint Wisconsin Overview and Reception on August 8, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Free parking will be available in UW-W Lot 12. The lot is located behind Andersen Library, near the corner of Prairie and Main Streets.
At 5:00 p.m., the program and celebration will continue in the Cultural Arts Center, home of the Whitewater Arts Alliance, located at 402 W Main Street, Whitewater. The ticket cost is “pay what you will.” The event will open with free heavy hors d’oeuvres, a beer and wine cash bar, and live piano music by Jim Olm. At 5:45 p.m., the WAA will honor former member, self-taught artist, and inspiration for the Paint Wisconsin Exhibit, Marilyn Fuerstenberg. When Marilyn passed away in June 2024, her many friends in the WAA and classmates from the Whitewater High School class of 1961 wanted to establish an event in her honor. Through their generosity and the contributions of local sponsors, the Paint Wisconsin Exhibition became a reality. The Paint Wisconsin Awards will be announced at this time.
Marilyn Fuerstenberg was instrumental in the development and growth of the WAA as she led workshops and brought renowned artists from around the country to Whitewater. Thanks to dedicated members like Marilyn, the WAA is also celebrating its 20-year anniversary on August 8. Established in 2005 by community members and local artists working together to preserve the Prairie Tillers Mural at the corner of Center Street and Whitewater Avenue, the organization strives to expand its mission to “support, promote, and develop the arts as an essential and integral part of our community.” To that end, the evening will include a live auction at 6:20 p.m. as a fundraiser. Auctioneer Jenny Gehl from Bravo Benefit Auctions will auction off the 12 pieces from the “Painting with the Whitewater Stars” event (to include pieces by Chancellor Corey King, City Manager John Weidl, and First Citizens State Bank CEO Jim Caldwell, among others), two paintings by Marilyn Fuerstenberg, two pieces by Albert Benedict, and other works. Directly following the auction, Jenny will guide a live paddle raise; all donors over a certain amount will be entered in a drawing for a gift basket valued at more than $500. The festivities will close with a performance by “Here Comes Treble” Sweet Adeline Quartet featuring Christine Hayes, Valerie Troxel, Lori Heidenreich, and Kim Taylor.
Everyone is welcome to the Cultural Arts Center for an evening of food, drink, art, and music in celebration of Marilyn Fuerstenberg, the Whitewater Arts Alliance, and community. Many thanks to our sponsors for making this event possible: Anonymous sponsors, Edge Broadband, Fort Community Credit Union, Gomez Landscaping, Harbor Homes, Jim Leaver Family, Sandy Adams, Serenity Concepts, TDS, and Triton Roofing.
Please visit the Whitewater Arts Alliance website for additional details regarding the schedule, or contact: Kim Adams, Gallery Director, Whitewater Arts Alliance
Phone: 608-201-2151
Email: wwartsalliance@gmail.com
Website: whitewaterarts.org
Gallery Hours: Thursdays-Sundays, 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Please Note: The gallery is closed outside of Gallery Exhibit Hours except for special events and is also closed when no show is currently running.
“20 Years Of Celebrating The Arts And Creating Community!”
Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the Whitewater Arts Alliance.
