Racine Arts Council unveils encaustic wax art show Saturday

Racine's newest art show is based on one of the world's oldest art forms.

The Racine Arts Council is unveiling an encaustic wax art show on Saturday featuring four local artists who use melted wax to create paintings and sculptures. Artists Maggie Venn, Nirmal Raja, Jay Mollerskov and Kathleen Laybourn have pieces in the show, which has an opening reception Saturday from 6-9 p.m. at the Arts Council, 316 Sixth St.

Encaustic comes form the Greek word "enkaustikos," which means "to burn in." Encaustic painting consists of pigment mixed with beeswax and then applied with heat, which explains the title of the Arts Council's show, "Burn, Baby, Burn!" (Right: Urban Landscape by Maggie Venn.)

Mollerskov, curator of the show, said the four contributing artists show off encaustic painting's wide variety of uses. While he uses wax to create paintings that he literally sets on fire, Venn and Raja use wax to embellish collage and sculptures. Laybourn pours melted wax over life-sized dresses to create elaborate sculptures that will hang in the Arts Council gallery.

"Everyone approaches it differently," Mollerskov said. "Rather than have thematic content for the show, the medium itself is the theme."

"The pieces complement each other," he added, "but there's a nice variety."

Mollerskov said one of the surprises he discovered in putting the show together was the large number of artists between Kenosha and Milwaukee who work with encaustics. That fits with a national trend, which has seen encaustics gain in popularity after a lull dating back to the 1960s when Jasper Johns was creating his famous target paintings.

That's not to say encaustics are trendy. Some of the oldest paintings in the world were created with wax on the tombs of Egyptian mummies nearly 2,000 years ago.

"Burn, Baby, Burn!" will be at the Arts Council through the end of April. The gallery is open most days from noon to 4 p.m., or by appointment if you call the gallery at (262) 635-0261.

(Left: Encaustic painting by Jay Mollerskov)

Sandcastles (and lighthouse, elephant, etc.)

Team Squand, with their 1st Place Lighthouse

Perfect weather, perfect sand, crowds of onlookers. The Racine Arts Council's Sandcastles Festival went off without a hitch today, with almost a dozen teams competing to turn sand and water into mud... and then into sculpture.

First place was worth $300; Second won $200, Third received $100 and Fourth $50. Fourth went to Schultz Engineering's Sundial.

Then the tide comes in, and washes away all the hard work at Samuel Myers Park. Ah, there's always next time.

Second place: Super Sand Gods' circus scene with elephant

Third Place: Fungers Bunch built a castle

It all starts this way...

Maybe we can build one next year, Daddy?

Quilts on Barns (cont.)

Racine County's Quilts on Barns project continues, with another barn quilt installed, and more ready to hang. Above is the Bear Paw hung on the barn of Sherri Shaver at 12305 Braun Rd. It was painted by the First Friday Quilt club.

Black-Eyed Susan painted by Potpourri Garden Club will go up on Sara Neubauer's barn, 5553 Short Rd., probably on Aug. 24 when five are scheduled to be hung. Johnson & Son Roofing and JM Electrical are donating time and a lift to put them up.

Above are Pot Pourri club members who participated in the quilt painting. From left are Susan Ermert, Sue Hammel, Carol Uebe, Joyce Waldoch and Sharon Andersen.

Here's our story and photos of the first two barn quilts hung, on July 25.

Enthusiastic bidding at annual Chair-i-ties auction

'Something Seasonal' bench sold for $600

For six weeks, a few dozen budding Racine artists have toiled to transform dowdy donated chairs and other furniture into works of art.

Today was payday.

The Main Gallery program's annual Chair-i-ties auction took place to enthusiastic bidding under sunny skies in Monument Square this morning. Bidders chose among chairs, side tables, coffee tables -- even a brightly painted sled.

In all, the auction raised $7,850. Don't get the impression the kids didn't care how much their projects sold for, just because the money goes to fund next year's program, which is run by the city's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, in collaboration with the Racine Arts Council.

They cared, all right. Often the artists themselves held up their own project during bidding, encouraging the crowd, talking up the artwork.

Top seller was "Something Seasonal," a bench painted by Maggie Prioletta and Evan Hoffman. It went for $600. A table, "Up and Out," by Alex Weyenberg sold for $525, according to Michael Rude, projects director of the Racine Arts Council.

The Main Gallery program started 13 years ago, modeled after a similar program in Chicago. Youths 14-19 work under professional instruction for about 18 hours per week, earning $6.35 an hour. Furniture was decorated in a variety of media, from paint to ceramics to photography.

'Up and Out' table sold for $525

Mailboxes were part of silent auction, which hasn't been tallied

Sponsors needed for high school talent show

If anyone is looking for examples of youth making a difference in our community, looking no further than the Film Seeds program. Organizers Nicholas Ravnikar and his kids are doing some amazing work. Here's another example:

YESSS Presents … “Rayscene from the Streets”

Local youth have spent the past six months organizing a day-long event that will feature the artistic talents of high school students in Racine Unified School District. The youth are hoping to bring in a large audience to this event that will be held on June 7th. Prizes will be awarded to the best talent in each category.

Talented teens who want to compete can pick up an application and reserve an audition slot in the main office of their school starting March 31.

Because the event is being put on as an incentive for students to avoid truancy, performers cannot have any unexcused absences during the 4th quarter, which begins April 7. In addition, the event will promote literacy, public speaking skills, organizational skills, and the opportunity to bring youth from all backgrounds together.

The planning committee that originally comprised of five youth quickly grew to around 20, who broke down into sub-committees to handle various tasks, such as fundraising, promotions, and the day of the event, to get this event up and running.

They hope to start planning for this event much earlier next year so it can become even bigger and better. It’s a great experience for the youth of Racine to do something positive for their community.

YESSS would like to thank their sponsors and partners, who include Racine County Truancy Committee, the Racine Arts Council and the City’s Weed ‘n’ Seed Program.

The youth who are spearheading this project would like to encourage any businesses who are interested in donating gift certificates for prizes to contact the prize committee’s chair Stephanie Howard at (262) 619-4615.

YESSS would also like for the youth to start thinking about joining our committee next year or participating in the talent show.

For more information, or to schedule and interview with YESSS staff and youth, contact program director Nicholas Ravnikar at (262) 909-2221 or by email at film.seed@gmail.com. He can also be reached at the Racine Arts Council (262) 635-0261 Monday through Friday from 2-5 p.m.