Royal Purple

Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Alison Wisneski "Star-Dumb: Impeachment" by Lori Jae Reich

Media Credit: Alison Wisneski "They All Fall Down" by Norbert Knox

Media Credit: Alison Wisneski "All I'll Ever See" by Lori Jae Reich

Media Credit: Alison Wisneski "Chain Dragon" by Clyde Wania

Media Credit: Alison Wisneski "Sit Dog" by Clyde Wynia

Wisconsin's rich artistic heritage is often neglected. Sure, we all know of the Irvin L. Young auditorium, and we consider it an occasion when Russian Ballets or Chicago Symphony Orchestras adorn the stage; but many would be surprised to hear Irvin L. Young himself, hailing from Palmyra, was an artist of similar caliber, although of different taste.

Few know Irvin L. Young was a sculptor, inventor, engineer, and successful businessman; nor do they know he lived in Africa for several years and started a foundation to support missionary doctors; nor do they know of his sculpture garden still visible behind the now abandoned Young Engineering Co. on County Road H.

If you have missed out on all this, don't fret. The Whitewater Arts Alliance is hosting an exhibit titled "Miracles of the Spirit" at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St.

Based on the book by Don Krug and Ann Parker, the exhibit features "outsider art" done by artists living in or originating from Wisconsin.

The exhibit opened on August 1 and will conclude with a special closing ceremony tomorrow at 4 p.m. Scheduled to give a walking tour of the exhibit at the closing are Robert Mertens, UW- Whitewater's interim associate dean of the College of Arts and Communication and Michael Flanagan, director of the university's Crossman Gallery.

"Outsider Art," as it is commonly referred to, is art produced by those outside the mainstream centers of art culture and influences such as art schools, museums and galleries.

With the "Green Movement" gaining momentum fast, outsider art including recycled materials or "found objects" is becoming more and more popular. One of the featured artists, "Ringo" White, collects what others may consider garbage and creates one-of-a-kind artistic sculpture.

According to Marjorie Stoneman of the Whitewater Arts Alliance, featured artist Clyde Wynia has sold every single one of his exhibited sculptures. Wynia creates metal sculptures of dinosaur-like creatures, some greater than 11 feet in height.

The "Miracles of the Spirit" exhibit has been funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with additional funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Wisconsin Arts Board grant was matched by several sources, including a grant from the Whitewater Tourism Council, a generous gift from the Coburn Company, and other donations.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance is run completely by volunteers.

According to the "Miracles of the Spirit" Press Release, "The mission of the Whitewater Arts Alliance is to promote the visual and performing arts through an alliance of artists, individuals, educational resources, and organizations to promote creativity and diversity that will serve to educate and enrich the lives of the residents of the Whitewater community and surrounding areas."

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