The theme of Family provided a meaningful foundation for an exhibition that showcases how different artists interpret and express their personal connections to family. Like art, Family can take many forms. Family can be the people or animals with whom we share our lives, the support we give and receive, the history we carry from those who came before us, the things we long for, or the moments of connection that define us. Award-winning Arts for All Wisconsin artists from across the state were invited to express through their art what Family means to them. The artists featured in the exhibition are diverse and thoughtful in their exploration of the theme and stands as a testament to the range of skill, ingenuity, and determination of this cohort-proof that creativity knows no limits.
From the expressive, as in Malachi Schmidt’s Burrow, to the tender, as demonstrated in Katie Swanson’s Baby Doll, the idea of the family offered the artists latitude to explore personal themes and styles. Mary Louise Bixby’s, My Mom Loved Art, is playfully narrative, while Pita Daniels’s delicate painting, Family of Origin, verges on pure abstraction. For his part in the exhibition, celebrated artist, Fred Seger, committed himself to a more comprehensive project that explores the quilting and textile practice of his mother in a magnificent and highly detailed series of drawings and collages.
ABOUT ARTS FOR ALL WISCONSIN
Founded in 1985 as Very Special Arts, Arts for All Wisconsin is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the capabilities, confidence, and quality of life for children and adults with disabilities by providing programs in dance, drama, creative writing, music, and visual art. For almost 40 years, Arts for All Wisconsin has been guided by the belief that the arts are a universal and essential language that challenge people to respond to the world, look beyond themselves, and celebrate diversity by building bridges between people, across cultures, and through generations. This foundational tenet is now more important than ever, and Arts for All Wisconsin is determined to ensure that the power of the arts is accessible to people seeking equality, respect, and justice.
To learn more about Arts for All Wisconsin, please visit www.artsforallwi.org.
Image Credit: Fred Seger, Artist
