Area artists, community members arrive at Hallow’s Gala event; Art contest winners announced

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Area artists, community members arrive at Hallow’s Gala event; Art contest winners announced

Area artists, community members arrive at Hallow’s Gala event; Art contest winners announced

By Kim McDarison

Artists, their guests, and members of the community assembled in a small but intimate group to participate in this year’s Hallow’s Gala event, which was sponsored by the Whitewater Arts Alliance and held in the organization’s gallery at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center in the city’s downtown.

Some 25 participants viewed art placed on display by eight area artists, enjoyed treats and listened to live music performed by “Los Bromanceros.” The two-man band is composed of area musicians Brain “Looper” Lucas, of Whitewater, and Kenny Jones, of Williams Bay. Both also are members of a band called “Brothers Quinn,” which has been showcased during the alliance’s Savory Sounds summer concert series, Hallow’s Gala co-chairpersons Ashe McDarison and Christine Hayes, who also is a member of the alliance’s board, said.

On Sunday, Jones said that the Los Bromanceros band has been in existence for about two years. He and Lucas formed as a duo, Lucas said, to “give back” to a community in Michigan. The group initially played at a relay race, Jones said. The two, making a quick calculation about past engagements, said that their performance on Sunday marked their debut in Wisconsin. The musicians described their music as “country, classic rock, and Americana, further noting their repertoire to include a diversity of music, which Jones described as “from Hank Williams to Judas Priest.”

The group performed in a costume featuring athletic wear, which was originally developed for the relay in Michigan, and has since become part of the act, Jones said. He added that as an undergraduate at UW-Madison, he played football. The athletic wear was, at that time, “team-issued gear,” he said, noting, “this is now what we wear as bromanceros.”

In keeping with the event’s Halloween theme, some participants came in costume. Counted among guests, were Dracula, a cowboy, Star Trek characters, and a two-person team comprising a 1/8 note.

On Sunday, event-goers found some 19 pieces of art, both 2D and 3D, on display, forming a collection which featured spooky and mythically oriented works from artists hailing from Delavan, Janesville, Menomonee Falls, Watertown, Waukesha and Whitewater.

During the event, several award winners were named, including Anna Curtis, Menomonee Falls, whose work titled: “The Gates of Memory,” was named Best of Show by a panel of three judges; Woody Olsen, Janesville, whose work titled: “Masked Horus,” was chosen through voting for a viewers choice award, and Taylor McDarison, whose work, titled: “Forest Spirit Lamp,” was chosen for honorable mention by the judging panel.

Ashe McDarison, who uses gender-fluid pronouns, noted that the three-member panel was composed of two anonymous judges and Lucy Couch, whom, zey said, is an area artist and a friend of the Whitewater Arts Alliance.

As awards were announced, comments provided by the judges about each piece selected also were shared.

Describing their thoughts about Gates of Memory, the judges wrote that they found the piece a “dreamy” use of surrealism using fish swimming above a cemetery. The piece, they said, “lends beauty to the macabre.”

Describing Forest Spirit Lamp, the judges found the piece to provide a “unique medium to hold a creature in,” further noting its detail.

Along with certificates, the Best of Show winner was presented with a prize of $150. The viewers choice winner received a prize of $50.

Photos from the event follow.

Whitewater Common Councilman David Stone, at right, visits with University of Wisconsin-Whitewater music students Natalie Wagemann, at left, and Elizabeth Toffel. The three were among participant Sunday to the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s Hallow’s Gala event, which featured an art exhibition, contest, treats and live music.

Hallow’s Gala co-chairperson and Whitewater Arts Alliance board member Christine Hayes, joins her husband, Glenn. The couple dressed in costume during the Hallow’s Gala event as Star Trek characters “Capt. Picard,” and “Deanna Troi.”

The musical duo of Kenny Jones, at left, and Brian “Looper” Lucas, known as “Los Bromanceros,” performs Sunday as part of the Hallow’s Gala event sponsored by the Whitewater Arts Alliance. The group was assisted with technical support and setup by Kati Hope, not pictured, of Williams Bay.

“Los Bromanceros,” member Kenny Jones, plays guitar and sings during Sunday’s Hallow’s Gala event. Jones, Williams Bay, is one of two members comprising the band. The other is Brian “Looper” Lucas, of Whitewater.

Brian “Looper” Lucas, Whitewater, plays the harmonic. He also played the guitar while on stage Sunday as part of a band called “Los Bromanceros.”

Ethan Kirkpatrick and Sarah Parker, both University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students, peruse the art during the Hallow’s Gala event.

Natalie Wagemann, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, at left, and Elizabeth Toffel, who is a sophomore, stand together to reveal their Halloween costume, which, they said, is a 1/8th note. Both are studying music.

A two-sided artwork created by Michael Joers, Janesville, greets visitors as they enter the Whitewater Arts Alliance gallery through the main doors of the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center. The piece is titled: “Polygonal Activities.” The Hallow’s Gala exhibition remained on display through Sunday and concluded with a gala, featuring art, treats, an awards ceremony and live music.

Featured artist in the Hallow’s Gala event Anna Curtis, at right, and her mother, Denise Curtis, both of Menomonie Falls, listen to music performed by Los Bromanceros.

Newly hired Whitewater Arts Alliance Administrative Coordinator Hayley Pfaff, at left, greets event participant Greg Hodapp who, dressed as “Count Dracula,” accompanied artist Woody Olsen, not pictured.

Artist Bridgett Coulter finds one of her artworks on display during the Hallow’s Gala exhibition held Sunday night. She was accompanied to the event by her husband, Chuck, not pictured.

Ashe McDarison shares xyr enthusiasm about the Hallow’s Gala event. A co-chair, zey also placed two entries into the exhibition: a tote bag, featuring a design zey made titled: “Pretty in Death,” and a display of myriad stickers zey designed for an art business owned and operated by xyr sister, Taylor McDarison, called Arttaysia, LLC.

Anna Curtis, Menomonie Falls, greets visitors as they view several of her works. She was accompanied to the Hallow’s Gala event by her mother, Denise Curtis, also of Menomonie Falls, not pictured.

Artist Woody Olsen, Janesville, shares his piece titled: “Ancient Skulls.”

Hallow’s Gala co-chair, Ashe McDarison, counts ballets before announcing the winner of the exhibition’s “viewers choice” award.

Anna Curtis, Menomonee Falls, is announced as the winner of the Best of Show award. She is flanked by Hallow’s Gala co-chairpersons Ashe McDarison, at left, and Christine Hayes. Curtis’ work, titled: “The Gates of Memory,” was chosen by a panel of three judges for the award, earning her a certificate and $150.

“The Gates of Memory,” a pen, ink, watercolor and paper-cutting piece, is named Best of Show Sunday during the Hallows Gala exhibition. The piece is by Anna Curtis of Menomonee falls.

Woody Olsen, Janesville, is announced as the winner of the viewers choice award during Sunday’s Hallow’s Gala event. He is flanked by Hallow’s Gala co-chairpersons Ashe McDarison, at left, and Christine Hayes. Viewers selected Olsen’s piece, titled: “Masked Horus,” earning the artist a certificate and a prize of $50.

“Masked Horus,” a watercolor, acrylic, enamel and pencil on canvas piece by Woody Olsen, Janesville, is selected Sunday as the viewers’ choice of the Hallow’s Gala exhibition. The full exhibition featured 19 pieces submitted for display by eight area artists.

Hallow’s Gala co-chairpersons Christine Hayes, at left, and Ashe McDarison present an honorable mention award to Taylor McDarison, Waukesha, for her piece, titled: “Forest Spirit Lamp.” Taylor McDarison was unable to attend the event.

Whitewater Arts Alliance Administrative Coordinator Hayley Pfaff welcomes guests to the Hallow’s Gala art exhibition. Sunday marked her second week on the job, she said, noting that she looks forward to meeting members of the community as they visit the gallery and participate in events. Pfaff is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she is studying general business and psychology, and is pursuing a minor in Spanish, she said.

Kim McDarison photos.

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