Welcome, everybody, to Midday Magazine for this Friday, April 18th, 2025.
Have your host, James, who is with you.
And right now we're joining our great friend, Stephanie Hartman, executive director of
Central Wisconsin Cultural Center.
Steph, good to see you.
How you been?
Good to see you too, James.
I'm great.
How about you?
Doing well.
And really do appreciate the time.
And certainly everything you and your staff put into this community, all the culture that
you bring and all the different events and stuff that bring into this area.
We have a lot of fun talking about and certainly attending.
And I want to kick off right there with you with a new exhibit that you're bringing into
the area.
Yes, we had our opening last night and it was very successful.
We had over 75 people.
And the exhibit is called Unraveling.
So it's a creative, fiber arts exhibit.
We partnered with the Heart of Wisconsin rug hooking guild.
And they have the majority of the pieces in the exhibit.
And it's really kind of a fascinating art.
I didn't know a lot about it.
And their pieces can be as small as, say, six inch round up to, I mean, they cover an
entire wall.
So it's really fascinating to see how they can bring the colors together.
The exhibit turned out beautifully, kudos to our installation committee.
They did a great job setting it up.
And we have 23 artists total in the exhibit.
So it's definitely something to see.
Stop by and visit us and take a look.
It's such a unique form of art.
It is.
It's also one of those ones, and I hear this from artists.
It can be inspiring.
Yes.
Excuse me.
It's one of these arts that can get you a kind of light of fire under you and get you
want to do art itself.
Yes.
And they actually did a demonstration last night.
And everyone was kind of picking on me a little bit and they're like, hey, I think you
could do this.
You could set up the pattern and you can, you know, bring the hook through and pull the
pieces through.
And I know it takes a long time to perfect it.
And I can tell you these pieces are perfected.
So I'm sure my piece would not be in the exhibit, but it is something that I looked at and
thought, now there is something that, you know, like anyone could try.
Yes.
And that's, that's to me, I think, one of the cool things about this and a lot of the
art that you'll see at the Cultural Center.
The idea of seeing it being inspired and joined the piece.
And then it kind of like being, well, you know, maybe I want to try that or something.
And whether it's something that is presented in an exhibit or not, all art is good.
Yes.
And all art is good to do.
Exactly.
And that's why we offer the array of classes that we offer for, you know, beginning
artists all the way through very accomplished artists, but just to get people to try.
And it's, it's amazing how people, they kind of get addicted a little bit.
Yeah.
You know, we've been doing some mosaic classes and a lot of those students who I had
it to Hobby Lobby, they're going to buy their own glass, they're going to do their own
projects.
And it is inspiring to watch that.
And it gives people a nice outlet.
You know, we're in pretty trying times socially and it's a good way to just kind of relax.
Yeah.
It's a great point.
So glad you brought that up.
It's one of the things that I find the best about art is the release it is.
Again, this is why I say there is no good or bad art.
It's all great because of what it does for the artist and what it can do for people.
It's a really win-win kind of thing.
There is all kinds of different art there as well with this exhibit.
There's 2D and 3D fiber art and I wanted to mention that.
This is also free admission.
It's open to the public.
It is.
And the exhibit is going to be going on for a while, 530 to 730, it looks like.
So the opening was 530 to 730?
Oh, sorry.
It was the opening.
Yes.
Yes.
No problem.
But we are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
So you can come anytime during those hours.
We also have had a couple of tour groups that requested to come through.
So we do make appointments outside of business hours.
And you know, we're so busy.
We have staff there a lot more than just our business hours.
So if you want to come and see the exhibit or you have friends coming from out of town
that want to see the exhibit, let us know.
We can work with you and you know, set up an appointment.
You can come on in and visit.
We're going to give you the information on how you can reach the Central Wisconsin Cultural
Center before wrap up today.
I did want to mention one other thing about this exhibit.
I don't think we get to touch on this very often that people can purchase exhibit items
that they see and be able to pick them up later in July.
I think that is a really unique ability right there.
Look at this stuff out.
It is really cool.
The idea that you like a piece that much, which you're going to find pieces you like that
much, being able to bring it into your home.
Everybody likes having nice art or nice things on their wall, but not everybody can have such
unique, original items like we do in this area thanks to events like this.
Absolutely.
And because that's the rug hooking gild, there are quite a few pieces not for sale.
I think they get a little attached to their work, which I can't blame them.
No, no.
You put that many hours in.
But there are pieces for sale and then we have a gift shop full of art that people can
purchase.
The one piece that has already sold is our signature piece for this exhibit and it's
a really awesome tree that is made from optic cables and it's awesome and it was actually made
from cables from a chairlift if you can imagine that from a scale and it's a beautiful piece
but it already was purchased.
But you got to come and see it before it goes to its home because it's going up north.
I got to check that out because somebody is lucky they got it before I did because I
am a sucker for trees and tree art and everything.
Oh, so you have to come see it.
I got to see that.
That is really cool.
And we encourage you to see it.
The exhibit is open right now for you.
Go ahead and check it out at the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center and again, we'll get
into the details and a little bit more later as far as how to contact Stephanie if you're
curious about more.
I wanted to talk a little bit about the upcoming call for art as well.
And this is one of my favorite segments we do talking about things.
We've known this for a while, Stephanie, and this is one of those ones that I appreciate
that you guys do.
Sure.
So our next exhibit is something we've never done before and we're really excited about
it.
It's called The Art of the Book.
So any art, any medium that has been inspired by a published book.
Mmm.
Okay.
It's a little different than when I expected.
Okay.
I'm sorry.
Okay.
And people have all these ideas already and they're like, well, would that work?
It's inspired by a book, so absolutely.
So we're going to see fiber arts.
We're going to see ceramics.
We're going to see everything.
I'm pretty sure.
So I'm really excited.
In the call for art, we ask for delivery of the items on July 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
So folks, you have a lot of time.
You can think and get your piece ready.
We will ask for your title of the artwork and then the book title and the author.
And then just your materials used, so your medium and then a brief description.
Like how does your art piece relate to the book that you listed?
So you know, we have visions of how cool this can be with maybe a photo of the book itself
and then the artwork and then a little description from the artist.
So we're really excited.
And our hope is to get it out to the schools as well so that students can work the month
of June and bring things to us the first part of July.
And we can have a really nice exhibit with all different pieces.
And it's a good way to find out what book you should read next because it obviously inspired
a piece of artwork.
So we're excited.
It's interesting.
We didn't do this on purpose, but like all good things they happen, you know, just
organically.
Right.
And I, Terry Johnson and I were talking about the United Way and their great book Give
Away and the importance of literacy for all young ages.
And then I was just talking with Senator Testin about the importance he read to kids recently
in the importance of that.
Oh, yeah, I saw that in his newsletter.
And here we are again where this isn't necessarily strictly about, you know, getting kids
to read or something like that.
But the promotion of literature, the promotion of books is a part of this, you know, a fun
side part of this and everything, which I think is just, you know, unique and cool.
And the more we do that, the better we get people more engaged, not just with reading,
but with the art world and thinking differently about what they can do to make an art project,
just even general, just, you know, really thinking outside of the, not just a box, though,
the whole entire, every shape.
Right.
It's really cool.
It's a very unique idea.
Yeah.
I'm really excited about it.
We're going to have some workshops during the exhibit as well where people can, you
know, kind of be inspired by our project that is related to a book.
And we have some new books in our gift shop as well written by a local family.
And the illustrations are just awesome.
So it's illustrated by the sister, the brother does the writing and then the mom helps
publish.
It's just great.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
It's really cool.
And so we hope to do some projects off of that as well.
Hmm.
I'm very excited by this.
It's very cool.
Like all of the events we talk about with the Cultural Center, I, I do focus certainly
with the job that we're doing right now, the promoting these events and getting people,
the community to attend them and stuff, but I can't help the artist in me.
I can't help thinking about how every one of these things, when you're attending these
and whether you're giving your attention in your time or your finances to these artists,
you're funding the arts in Wisconsin.
You are helping something that is vitally important in this state, which helps the, when
you fund the arts, that helps the economy of Wisconsin, which helps your taxes and
et cetera, et cetera.
The domino effect that is this is, is not lost on me and I'm certainly not in most of
our audience.
I appreciate that and appreciate being able to talk about these things because that is
just fun to talk about.
That's really cool event.
And Stephanie, people could still be a part of this.
Absolutely.
So like I said, the call for art will be out on our website next week.
You can call the center if you would like an entry form as well.
And the drop off will be July 1st, 2nd and 3rd and then we'll have our opening night
July 10th and the exhibit will last through August 28th and then we'll have folks pick
up their art the first week of September.
I know my mind is immediately, I'm trying to do my job and my mind is immediately thinking
of different things that I could do and I'm not even an artist.
I can't imagine what you guys are going to come up with out there.
We're looking forward to seeing it.
We're speaking with Stephanie Hartman from the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center and
Steph, you mentioned this earlier.
I did want to touch on classes a little bit.
Yes.
I appreciate this is one of the major reasons why I love and have always loved supporting
the Cultural Center.
It's a great thing to be able to bring art to our community.
It's a wonderful thing to support the arts and artists in this community where we have
so many amazing, unique and different artists.
But the idea of offering classes to people and hey, do you want to be an artist?
Because I believe this with my whole heart, every single person out there is a creative.
Yes.
Absolutely.
There's creativity in them.
Everybody has a wonderful imagination.
It's just sometimes you're using in different avenues.
I have a lot of friends that are in the construction business and that are mechanics.
They are just as creative as me in this radio job or acting.
Absolutely.
They got to use the problem solving and all these things just as much.
These classes I think really help people realize that.
Yes.
It's a really good start for folks or it's kind of become their passion as well.
Like I said, it is for all levels so they pick on me again because I say, well, I can't
do that.
But I really could.
And I have taken classes and you can do it.
But yes, we offer an array of classes.
We have drawing 101 coming up on Wednesday, April 23rd, 9 to 11 30.
That's with Bonnie Dine and Bonnie is a well-known figure in the community for her art.
So pretty awesome to be taught by Bonnie.
We do have a couple spots left in that.
Bonnie is also teaching a Mosaic Garden Art piece for your yard, which is really beautiful.
We have two sessions, session two is already full, session one has two openings.
And again, if you use our website, all of these classes are listed.
There's a link to register.
If you're more comfortable call the center, leave a message or talk to one of the volunteers
and get registered.
And the Garden Art one is a couple days because you have to place your glass and then actually
that one will be done that day, I believe.
So that's a really good opportunity.
Wow, yeah.
And then we're also doing a Mosaic window with Bonnie Dine.
Now this is a lot more of an intense class.
You meet at least four times and then you will pour epoxy to finish your window.
They're not grouting.
I think there's an option for grouting, but they've kind of gone to epoxy as well, which
is a clearer and really gives the window a neat shine.
I imagine.
Yeah, we have examples in the cultural center.
So if you want to stop in, our classroom is filled with windows.
And that will be like, like I said, multiple session class.
We have one spot left.
So if you're interested, give us a call.
We are also doing wait lists for all these classes so that when we have enough interest,
we try to open another class.
Then for Mother's Day, we're doing something different.
We're doing a mommy and me watermelon bracelet class.
Oh my gosh, that's awesome.
Great work.
Oh.
So grandma's aunts, moms, bring your little with you and you can make matching bracelets.
If you want to bring two kiddos with you, that's absolutely an option.
And that will be on Saturday, May 3rd in the morning.
So a great start to me.
And then you have your little matching bracelets for Thursday.
My heart's definitely.
I can't take it.
Oh, that's so beautiful.
That's awesome.
And we worked really hard to keep this class reasonably priced.
So it's only $30 for the pair to come and make their bracelets.
And if you want to bring an additional child, there's just a small charge for the beads.
So put that in your calendar, find a little to come with you.
And again, you can register online or if you're more comfortable, give us a call.
So we also are doing a painting with wool with Jeannie Weymeth.
If you know Jeannie, she's also a well-known artist in the community.
This class just filled last night at the opening, two people registered.
So now we're full.
However, if you have an interest in this class, Jeannie makes it so fun.
Give us a call and we've already started another wait list and we'll open another session
of that one.
And then our last super fun class that is scheduled right now is Funky Mosaic Outdoor
Side Tables.
Oh, my God.
I love the title.
Oh, I love that title.
And there's pictures on our website.
You have the option of either a black table, a pink table or there's like orange yellow color.
You will come and lay your glass.
Then we have an open studio time for you to finish.
Then you will grout and then you'll come back in and clean up.
This is with Cindy Orzel.
If you know Cindy, you know you're going to have a good time, she's a great instructor.
And that is in June, like middle part of June is basically June 16 through the 20th.
And again, you can register online or give us a call.
I appreciate that.
I'm sorry, Stephanie.
What was the name of that one again?
I forgot.
What was it named?
Funky Mosaic Outdoor Side Table.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you for humoring me.
Oh, that is a great title.
Great classes.
Great things to have available.
Two real quick notes.
One, really appreciate you guys going above and beyond.
And even when a class is closed, taking in names to see if, hey, should we have another
class in everything?
Absolutely.
That's great for the teacher, the community, for the cultural center, for everybody.
I think that's really cool.
And that everybody does that kind of thing.
So I really know that.
That's all the more reason that even if you do think a class is full, reach out, let
them know, get on that waiting list so that they know, oh, this is really popular.
We should have another class, another version of this.
Absolutely.
Let's tell the second session of Funky Mosaic Side Table came about as we did a day session.
We had a couple of people asking, would you ever run that at night?
So this session is at night.
The one that I talked about in May, oh, this one's during the day, I'm sorry.
The other one was at night.
So let us know what you're looking for.
A lot of folks will say, oh, I can't come during the day, I work, but me and my friend
would come at night and we can do that as well.
And keep in mind with this, any of these classes that we told you about everybody, some
of these classes were originated by listeners, by community members and everything.
Hey, do you think people would like a class like this?
And they send it to Stephanie and the team and see and you work things out.
So if you have, if you teach something or you good at something or you want to share
something with the community, here's a great outlet to do that.
Absolutely.
Just give us a call.
We'd love to talk to you.
We do pay our instructors.
A lot of people think our instructors are volunteer, but that's not fair.
They're giving their time.
So we do pay our instructors for prep time and teaching time.
So reach out to us.
We'd love to talk with you.
And we'll give you the information on how to do that in just a moment because one of
the wrap up here with Stephanie and mentioning the gift shop and always encouraging people
to check that out.
Absolutely.
And we've really, really beefed up our gift shop for this opening and because it's spring
and it's Mother's Day and it's Father's Day.
So we have some really great items.
We have a lot of ceramic work.
We have beautiful wind chimes that one of our artists did.
We have woodworking.
We have jewelry.
We have candles of all kind.
Don't forget that we sell local honey and honey sticks and those types of things.
So it's really something to check out.
The gift shop looks great right now.
Heather, my coworker has done a great job getting it set up.
So if you have some time, stop in.
And again, if you can't come during our business hours, let us know.
We're happy to set up something for you.
Again above and beyond.
That's very cool.
You guys do that.
And when I always remind artists out there, if you are interested in maybe getting your
items in the gift shop or something, reach out to Stephanie and see if that's something
that can be worked out.
Encourage you to do that, everyone.
And as we just got a minute here, Stephanie, I did want to mention just a couple of other
quick things.
You know we can't get together and I don't mention Pete Rebellion for them.
Absolutely.
I'm going to do that every time we get together.
As long as they're performing over there, which they are, it's free emission two to
four.
And they perform every other week, every the first and third thing, first and third Thursday
of the month from two to four.
So they were there yesterday, making a ruckus, they're hilarious, they had a good audience
yesterday too.
So that was great.
Good, good to hear.
If you have not heard them before and if you haven't heard Pete Rebellion, one of the
biggest things I encourage you to do is check that out.
Every show is amazing and unique and different and Pete is one of the best I've seen at what
he does.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
There's the writer share program every second Wednesday of the month as well.
It's a free admission event from one to three again every second Wednesday, right to
remind all of our writers out there, my fellow writers out there of that one.
And of course, artist coffee, where you can enjoy coffee, great people and good conversation.
When is that one against that?
That is the last Thursday of the month.
So that'll be next week.
When we start at nine o'clock, go tell about 10, 30 or 11, we had record breaking attendance
last month.
We had 23 people.
Right.
So we're like, oh my gosh, we got to get more chairs.
But it's great.
And each artist, you don't have to speak.
I mean, we're not going to put you on the spot, but it is nice to meet the artist, find
out what they do.
Sometimes they bring a piece of work that they're working on.
They might be asking advice, you know, what do you think of these colors?
Should I add more here or there?
But it's really a neat gathering to watch artists use each other as experts.
Yeah.
It's very fun.
It's one of my favorite things to do is talking with artists and not just artists that
are also writers or actors or anything like that.
I love talking to people in different fields.
Yes.
I find it not only inspirational, but the ideas that just come up when you're talking to
people and different that work on different art pieces or something that the creativity
that that can give you and lead into and it's there's not everybody that always can relate
to what you're feeling or going through.
Like just as an example, you know, if you've got writers block, you talk to just about
anybody about that and they may not be able to relate, but you talk to another artist
whether they're a writer or not, chances are they get what you're going through.
They can understand it.
And sometimes there's just some comfort and something good about that.
They can help you have some grace with you and your art and the process.
Along with all, again, creative ideas and different things that can come from those sessions.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
And we actually, when they get together, they're kind of funny because they feed off each
other a little bit and a couple of months ago, an artist said, I don't have anything to
share.
I'm just kind of stuck, not inspired, blah, blah, blah, and sat through the meeting and
she's like, I feel more inspired and when she came back the next month, she had a piece
she had been working on.
Fantastic.
So that was really great.
It's good to hear.
Stephanie, if people have follow up questions, would like to know more about what we talked
about today.
How can they reach you?
Okay.
The website is a great resource.
We try to keep it as up-to-date as possible, things changed by the minute.
But that is culturalcenterarts.com.
So you can find all your information there.
You can register for classes.
Nothing else.
Just find our phone number on that site if you don't remember it from me reciting it
in a little bit and give us a call.
And the phone number is 715-421-4598.
If we're not there, just leave a message.
I return all the messages.
You can also email us if you would like to do that.
And that is cwccatculturalcenterarts.com.
And encourage you to follow them on social media, everybody, and share the post that they
make on your page.
You just don't know who might see it.
Otherwise, we'll talk again real soon, Stephanie.
Thanks for the time.
Thank you for having me.
Big thank you to Pam Hilke and the amazing work she does on this show week and a week
out.
We appreciate her, all of our guests, and all of you for listening.
We'll be back with more coming up right here at WFHR, locally grown radio.
