Welcome, everyone, to Midday Magazine for this January 19th, 2024.
Got ahead of myself there, Stephanie.
We welcome to the WFHR stage, our good friend, Stephanie Hartman, Executive Director,
with the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center.
Stephanie, good to have you here.
Thank you.
Thanks for having me.
It always feels like it's been too long since you've joined us.
It always does.
It's great to have you here and talk about our great Central Wisconsin Cultural Center,
and some of the great things going on over there.
But want to rewind for a second and wrap up on the holiday season a little.
Yes, I want to take the opportunity to congratulate our artists and thank the community
for supporting us.
We had over $17,000 in sales.
I know it's 5,000 more than last year.
Wow.
We were just absolutely thrilled.
When you think that 70% of that goes back to the artists as their commission,
there's some happy artists out there.
That really got me.
That really got me.
That's awesome.
Yeah, it's great.
And the community was really supportive.
So thank you to everyone that came in and shopped.
A reminder that our gift shop is open year round.
A lot of people that came for the holiday show didn't know that.
So it was good education for them.
So I made a mental note when you're on WFHR, let people know.
There is a gift shop open year round.
So I'm just thank you to everyone that supported us.
Yeah, a big shout out to this community that does such a great job
as supporting local and helping local and really supporting the arts.
Yes.
It's something that has always stood out to me and my family
since we've lived here in Rapids.
And we're going on 20 some years here.
But even when we first got here, you could see,
oh, well, they got a community theater.
Oh, they have a cultural center.
They have these things.
The arts matters to the community.
And they show it by doing those kind of things.
And supporting local artists is one of the,
I think, cooler things we get to do in this area.
Yeah, I agree.
And you know, the artists are really feeling like,
oh, you know, we're getting some support.
People are making it a point to come in and shop local.
So we had some very, very happy artists,
which always makes me happy.
Yeah, yeah, that's a win-win right there.
Exactly.
I messed up, though, Stephanie.
I wanted to start out asking, how was your New Year's?
How was your Christmas?
They go well?
Oh, good.
Good.
Very good.
It's always good to take little time with family.
And, you know, take a little break.
Good to hear it was a good one.
And it was a good one for our local artists too, apparently.
Yes, it was.
Yeah, I made them happy.
We have a new exhibit opening up.
We want to talk about that.
We do.
A spiring artist, the opening will be on February 1st
from 530 to 730.
But next week is the drop off for the artist
to bring their things in.
So you have the weekend to think about this, folks.
If you've never exhibited
with the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center,
here is your chance.
So bring your work in next week, Tuesday and Wednesday
from 10am to 5pm.
If that doesn't work in your schedule,
please just give us a call.
We will schedule time that works with you.
But this is a chance for artists ages 9 to 99,
or maybe a little older, if you happen to be,
who have yet to publicly display their art
at the Cultural Center.
So you can bring one to three pieces.
All art mediums accepted.
And we're just excited to see what we get.
We've had a couple people step in and ask some questions.
One person brought in an example and was like,
is this good enough?
And I was blown away how good it was.
So I'm really excited to see the submissions.
There's something in you and I know a little something
about this, I think, Stephanie.
When it comes to creatives being that sometimes
they're most harshest critics.
Absolutely.
And not believe, oh, is this good enough?
That's a question that almost every artist has asked somebody
at one point or something.
And it is.
I can answer it for you.
It is.
It's good enough.
It is.
I don't need to see it.
I know it is.
I promise you it is.
That's the line.
That's the bar that you have to meet up to.
Did you create something great?
Bring it to the Cultural Center.
Exactly.
Because we do still have openings for this exhibit.
Is that right?
We do.
So we'll have drop off next week.
And sometimes people say, well, that's my piece.
And I can't let it go.
That's OK.
You can market not for sale.
Or you can price it.
However, you would like knowing 30% of the sales stays
with the Cultural Center.
We'll cut you a check for 70% of the sales.
So good opportunity to make a little side money.
But if you really attach to it, we still
would love to show it and just market not for sale.
And I know that I've heard of artists in the past,
even making items because of that factor,
making items specifically for this event to sell.
Yes.
Yes, it's for them to get a start, for them to kind of get
recognized.
We've had people say, well, I do this on the side,
but my friends are encouraging me to do this.
So here's your chance.
With the rise of so many people being self-employed
and using these hobbies and turning them into jobs,
we're seeing more and more of this.
And I think even going to see more and more of this
in the Cultural Center.
And this combining of worlds, kind of.
It's a great opportunity for you, especially if you're
somebody, oh, I have an Etsy page or something.
Bring it to the yes.
Bring these items to the Cultural Center.
Have you ever met anybody that, oh, I've got too many sales?
Yeah, right.
You can always help and stuff.
And it just spreads the word about the work that you're doing.
And it's a win-win again for you, your community,
Cultural Center, and everybody wins and stuff like that.
Exactly.
And I know we have some artists frustrated
with other avenues such as Etsy because it's expensive.
So this is your opportunity to have it local.
We take care of the sales tax.
We get that question a lot.
We take care of the processing fees.
So we really try to work with the artists
to give them the best opportunity they can have.
I'm glad you brought that up.
Because I've got a lot of friends that use Etsy.
I've got a lot of music friends that you Spotify.
And these sites are great.
But they do take from the artist quite a bit.
And with the Cultural Center, not exactly the same thing.
And that's why we encourage you not only here locally,
but if you're listening to us outside of the area and everything.
Absolutely.
You've got to place like the Cultural Center
probably nearby shop local and also included to your local.
I want to try and think into the right word here.
But you want to put into your community.
I think most people want to do that.
And this is an opportunity to do that while also selling your items.
Yes.
And we do get questions.
I live in Amherst.
Absolutely, you can participate at the Cultural Center.
We say Central Wisconsin.
We have a couple artists from outside of there
that maybe have a place in the town of Rome.
And they learn about us.
They're like, oh, well, can I sell here?
Yes.
So this is a really nice opportunity.
That's a great note.
What are the details again at the event?
It is going January 30th, April 1st.
Yes, correct.
And our regular business hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Opening night is Thursday, February 1st from 530 to 730.
That is open to the public.
Every once in a while, people say, oh, I
thought that was only for the artists.
And no, that's open to the public.
So come and see what kind of show we were able to put together.
Yeah, it's going to be a lot of fun.
Do you want to talk about any of the other exhibits coming up in 2024?
Or do you want to get into classes right away?
I can mention after this exhibit is Celebrate Red, which
is an ongoing exhibit for us.
And that is the exhibit where we choose
the artwork for Cranberry Blossom Fest.
And we're working a year ahead now.
So last year, we picked the winner at the exhibit.
That is the artwork that will be used this year.
So people say, how are you going to pull that off?
Because it's how many months before.
So we got ourselves on a schedule where we're a year ahead.
So this year, we'll pick the artwork for 2025.
Cool.
So any interpretation of red, it doesn't
have to be specific to Cranberries.
It can be anything with red.
So that is our next show.
There's details on our website with drop-off and pick
updates and all of that.
Or just give us a call.
You know, what I think is really unique and cool
about this idea that you're doing the way you're doing this,
that artists are the artists that are being celebrated.
They have a chance to kind of extend that celebration,
kind of like, hey, I'm going to be featured next year
in this, and then next year happens,
and they're able to talk about it again and promote it
again and everything.
That's a win-win for everybody, too.
Yes, exactly.
Let's go.
Wins all over the place.
It is great.
It was great.
And I do want to just put a note out there.
And we'll talk again before this event happens,
but the authentic Native American art and cultural event
that's going on July 9th through August 22nd.
That's going to be a really cool event.
It is going to be really neat.
Be sure to bookmark that, everybody.
And we'll have you back before then to talk about it.
Sounds great.
We are speaking with our friend Stephanie Hartman,
executive director of the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center.
We have classes that are available
over at the Cultural Center.
And Stephanie, I'm sure that you've got your notes over there,
but I do want to make sure we make time
to talk about one in particular.
I want to see if you get to it first, though.
OK.
Where do you want to start?
Well, we have a class tomorrow that still has openings.
It's our intro to the Master's Art series that's
Yaya Kosa.
Nice to meet you.
No, I tried.
But what we do is we study an artist at each session,
and then you do a project related to and inspired
by that artist.
Oh, wow.
So tomorrow is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Our instructor is Rochelle Grossbuyer.
She's fantastic.
It's only $25 a person.
You can still register online, or just come tomorrow.
We'll be there.
The front doors will be open, and it's a two-hour project,
so it's until 12 p.m.
And Stephanie, just to touch on this,
because we like to mention these things, that $25.
You take that to the casino, right?
Yes.
Absolutely.
Of course not.
That money, when you're paying those kind of things
that goes right into the Cultural Center,
helps out the Cultural Center do the work that they do,
helps out our community.
You're investing when you do those things.
Yes.
And Rochelle is a great instructor.
Of course, we pay our instructors.
So that helps cover Rochelle's pay
and all of the supplies that you'll use for the project.
Everything is provided for you.
So you don't have to worry about, oh, I need to bring this
or this.
And there are pictures on our website of the project,
and it's really quite cool.
It really is.
It's very cool.
And Rochelle's so good.
She could even get me to do this.
She could even make me good at this.
She's very good.
We've heard and talked about her before.
And there's many people like Rochelle out there.
And as long as we're in the beginning of this conversation,
I wanted to touch on, if you are out there
and you teach something, or you're good at something
and you think you could teach it.
And there's not an avenue for it.
Or maybe there's an opening that you see that,
oh, well, there's not a class at Midstate for this.
Or there's not doing something like this
at the Cultural Center.
It's kind of a gray area.
Reach out to Stephanie and her team.
Absolutely.
We have instructors stop in all the time and say,
is this something you might be interested in?
And how do we go about this?
So we just walk them through the process.
We work with them to figure out, okay,
how many prep hours will they have?
How many teaching hours will they have?
What are the supply costs going to be?
And that's how, that's why you see the fluctuation
in the cost for classes.
People say, well, I took a class for 25,
how come this class is 70?
And when you look at the class, the hours,
the time that goes into it, it all does equal out.
But we help instructors figure out that formula.
I think they feel overwhelmed like,
well, I wouldn't even know what to ask.
Well, just come on in.
We can sit down and talk about it.
Bring any example of your work and we'll go from there.
Again, that is, that class you can find out more
by in register for it at 715-421-4598.
Or you can stop on at the Cultural Center open
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10 to 5.
Right, you can register online as well.
Oh, great, excellent.
Yeah, you can go to culturalcenterarts.com.
I see that.
Yeah, culturalcenterarts.com go there right
and you can register right from there.
We've got a two-part class coming up
at the end of the month here.
Yes.
Let's create suit bowls with Mary Mertis.
So we are helping out focus with the empty bowls event.
So students only pay $10.
They will create two bowls.
One, they will take with them.
One, we are donating to focus for their event.
So it's a two-part class because you have to, of course,
allow time for your clay to dry.
Yeah, yeah.
Then we will bisque fire it.
Then you come in on your second session and glaze it.
And then we fire it again, and you
can pick up your bowl after that.
But we are donating our instructor time.
That's why we were able to keep the costs so low.
So make sure you come and help us out.
And then we'll, together, we help out focus
on the empty bowls event, which is February 17th.
Yeah.
We love our friends over at Focus.
We're a big part of helping in bringing awareness
and attention to what they do over there.
The empty bowls event is one of our favorites
to talk about in this station.
And we'll be having them on.
I believe next week to talk about it and everything.
Oh, great.
And we're going to be touching about this class, too,
and everything.
Because this is, Steph, this is beautiful.
This is an awesome idea.
There's so many layers to something like this.
Certainly, the ones I think people can see right away.
You're helping out people in need.
You're doing some good.
Whether it's giving of your time, your art,
or your money, or whatever the case may be,
we appreciate that stuff.
The idea of younger people seeing this.
We know their brains are sponges.
We know that they learn from these things.
And how we treat each other is how they're
going to treat people as they get older.
When they see these kind of things happening,
when they see adults looking out for other adults,
strangers helping strangers, this stuff matters.
So it's a great event.
And it's a fun chance to do some creative stuff.
Like, did you do pottery and grade school?
I did not.
OK, we got to do it.
In Washington, we got two for a little bit.
It was awesome.
It was great.
And I was horrible at it.
But it was a lot of fun.
Mary could make you a great student.
She's wonderful.
Oh, that's good.
I really, I don't want to say that I will be there.
But I would really like to take this class.
This is one of those ones that just
is fun and awesome in general.
But then you add on the Focus Empty Bulls project with this.
And this even just hits home so much better.
It's really great.
And it's a great opportunity of people
are looking for something to do with their son or daughter,
or grandma and grandson.
This would be a great opportunity,
because you'll work together a little bit.
You'll all be in the same area creating your bulls.
So if you're looking for an opportunity like this,
this is a good chance.
And it's a really nice introduction to pottery.
And then you might feel more comfortable doing other things
as well.
Both good points.
That latter point and the point you mentioned
about bringing the family and the kids,
we're all looking for things to do this time of year
to get us out of the house a little bit.
And what a constructive, fun thing to be able to do.
Yes, absolutely.
You mentioned this is a two-part class.
Yes, so it'll be the first part of the class
is Monday, January 29th, 530 to 730.
And then like I said, we'll dry it, we'll fire it.
And then you come back Friday, February 9th, 530 to 730 to glaze it.
And you can register at the same website again,
culturalcenterarts.com, culturalcenterarts.com.
We've got another great class coming up in February.
Make and take the bracelets featuring bracelets this time.
Yes.
So that is a new class for us.
We actually are just getting things rolling.
We met with the instructor yesterday,
but we were so excited we put it on the website already.
So we are offering two different sessions
because you will be able to make your bracelet and earrings
and take them at the end of the class.
So February 8th from 530 to 730,
or February 23rd, 530 to 730.
You don't need both sessions.
The one session, like I said, you'll make your items
and be able to take them home with you.
And that class is only $35.
It's taught by Cindy Orzel.
She's one of our new instructors and people are loving her.
So it's great that we are able to offer that.
So there will be, if there's not already,
pictures on the website of some of the bracelets and earrings
just so you can get a sense,
or you can stop in the center.
We have them available to see.
And the registration hasn't opened yet,
but we'll be able to tell people what it does.
Absolutely.
It should be opened by the end of the day on Tuesday.
Cool, well, we'll be sure to mention
and remind everybody about it.
Perfect.
Another great class coming up in the middle of February.
Large floral collage.
This is going to be fun.
I like this one.
They even got some pictures with this one.
Yes.
Jeannie Weimuth is teaching this class.
It will be from 12 until four.
You will have a 20 by 16 canvas,
and you will create a floral collage.
Jeannie has so many supplies that it's quite fantastic,
and it will all overwhelm me.
I was going to say it.
But she will walk you through the process.
And like you said, there's really beautiful pictures
on the website of some of the examples,
but you will definitely create your own.
This isn't cookie cutter, like you have to copy
exactly what's here.
And that class will be $45.
And you will be able to take your item
once it's done drying, because we use Modge Podge at the end.
We have a minimum of three students, maximum of 10,
so that Jeannie can kind of help everyone out
at the same time.
And again, that's Friday, February 16th,
from noon until four.
Another fun event and another opportunity for you,
maybe a friend to do something together and hang out.
I know we've had a big rash of events like this,
where you and a friend go and paint together,
that kind of thing.
And here's another one of those great events like this.
Yes, really great opportunity.
It's Friday afternoon.
And again, a chance to be creative.
You do not need experience of any kind.
Jeannie will walk you through it, and all the supplies
will be at the center.
You don't have to bring anything.
Is there a cutoff time to register for this?
Or just get your registration in in the next couple of days?
And no name, we got to worry about it.
Exactly, exactly.
Once we hit 10, the class will close.
OK, good to know.
So yeah, then you definitely want
to get in that registering right away.
Right.
Get culturalcenterarts.com.
And I love all of these classes.
I love all of these instructors, and it's all wonderful.
But I've been dying to talk with you about this next one.
The intro to the master's art series.
I see Pablo Picasso here, one of my favorite artists.
Many people love his work.
This seems really fun.
This seems like an interesting one.
Yes, so this one is Saturday, February 17,
a little bit longer, nine to noon,
because it's a little bit more detailed project.
$35 a person.
All supplies provided.
And there's a picture of the project on the website.
It's really a fun, cool project.
It's a portrait project with upcycled materials
in a variety of painting and drawing techniques.
So Rochelle, again, walks you right through it.
I'm kind of one of those things, like even I can do it,
kind of thing, and I don't consider not an artist.
But nine to noon on Saturday, February 17.
So by February on Saturdays, we're going to be a little bored
if we aren't already.
So this is a good opportunity to come out
and be creative.
And again, only $35 a person.
And you'll have your project ready to take home at the end.
A real big shout out to Rochelle.
I'd love to get her on the ear and talk with her sometime.
I'd love to get to know her a little bit more.
Because we always see her name and these things.
And she does such good work and puts a lot into this community
doing these acts and these events and these classes.
This is such a fun creative exercise, too.
So many people look at Picasso's work
and enjoy it or think it's interesting or weird or whatever.
The idea of actually getting to do set a similar thing,
kind of is a fun creative exercise.
Right.
And it's really great how Rochelle does.
It was just a quick little lesson plan
for lack of a better word, excuse me.
To, you really get educated.
And then I think you feel a little more inspired
to do their work.
So neat opportunity.
You can find out more about that.
And register for it at culturalcenterarts.com.
Be sure to do that again.
The classes are beginning February 17th
or February 17th is when the classes.
I really got to get over there for that.
That's awesome.
I don't want to skip past anything.
But I do know that we're short on time.
So I do want to mention again,
that the make and take bracelet class, Friday, February 23rd,
530 to 730, keep that in mind, everybody.
And I really love this last event here.
The take a sweater, make it better.
Yes.
I want to make sure to touch on this one.
So again, the instructor is Jeannie Weymouth.
If you know Jeannie at all,
you just love her creative side
and all the cool things that she can do.
We do have the sweater at the cultural center
that you can stop and see.
It has all the different examples of all the stitches,
all these different techniques that you can use.
It's really just a very cool idea.
And she really takes it from step one all the way through.
So you don't have to have experience.
The only thing you need to do is bring a sturdy sweater,
not a light knit one, but a sweater that has weight.
And then if you have particular things
you want to incorporate,
like we have, we've had several people
like they kept the container of their grandmother's buttons.
So then they can bring them in and make a sweater
with details of stuff like that.
So if you have stuff that you want to bring, you can.
But don't be worried,
because there's tons of supplies provided
that we will help create your sweater and finish it.
This class is also $45.
Wednesday, February 28th, noon until five,
to offer you enough time to really be creative.
Our minimum for this one is four,
which we've already met,
but it will close at 10,
just so Jean you can provide enough instruction
to each person.
So register today before that one fills up.
Yeah, be sure to get it on that right away, everybody.
Stephanie, love talk with you.
Appreciate the time so much.
And really appreciate everything you and your team
put into our community.
Did we cover everything?
Did you have anything else one touch on?
I do want to mention, it's not on the website yet,
but we are doing another mosaic tray class.
We did the holiday ones.
Now we're going to do a spring one
where you can choose the butterfly design or tulips.
And that will take place in March as well.
We're gonna offer two sessions because they feel so fast.
But part one will be March 7th,
and then you would come back for part two, March 9th.
And then we're offering a second session,
March 18th with part two, March 20th.
And this will be a $60 class again taught by Cindy,
the same person who did the holiday trays,
and they were wildly popular.
So I anticipate that this will fill.
We'll, by next week, say Tuesday, Wednesday,
we'll have pictures on the website
and the registration link.
If you're interested though,
just give the cultural center a call.
I can put you on the list before the registration opens.
And how can people do that stuff?
Just give us a call at 715-421-4598.
You also can email us if you like email.
Otherwise, just call.
We're happy to take your call.
And then I do wanna mention really quickly,
we are again having our paint with the police event
with Tom Pease's musical guest.
So there isn't school on March 1st.
So if you are a grandparent
who will have your grandchild on that day,
it will be from one to 330,
and that's a really fun event.
And there'll be more details on the website soon.
And we'll be talking about that event.
It happens celebrated and get people's attention to it.
Like all of these great events and classes.
We appreciate so much stuff.
Wanna encourage people again,
go to culturalcenterarts.com
to find out more about this
and follow the cultural center and social media.
It's a great follow.
We'll talk again real soon, Stephanie.
Okay, sounds great.
And we'll have more Midday Magazine for you next week.
A big shout out to Pam Hilke,
doing the amazing work she does scheduling a week in a week
out. We appreciate you, Pam.
Have yourselves a safe good week.
And everybody, we'll talk to you soon and later
right here on WFHR.
