Last night it was my joy to attend the ArtRoots Arts Mixer at The Branch on Washington Avenue in Uptown Racine. This eclectic and exciting event showcased some of the many artists and arts groups that work so hard in our area bringing culture, beauty and music to Southeastern Wisconsin.

Nick Ramsey of Family Power Music served as the intrepid Master of Ceremonies and his casual style and welcoming presence made even the most introverted among us feel at ease.

The diverse group of artists in attendance ranged from sculptors, painters and graphic designers to singers, photographers and muralists. Also present were many who identified themselves as “mere” supporters of the arts; the most valuable resource to any artist.

Kristina Campbell, owner of The Branch, and our gracious hostess for the evening was especially eloquent when describing her goal of bringing more art to the Uptown area. Murals, galleries, and programs for youth are on her radar and her can-do attitude and infectious enthusiasm were both a pleasure to witness and an inspiration to behold. If you are an Instagram-er, please check out #artforuptown to support her efforts.

So many artistic pursuits are solitary in nature, so it was really great to meet and greet and put faces to the names so often read in the news and in local arts publications. Each of us were able to introduce ourselves and speak briefly about our work or our passions. This offered a wonderful impetus to engage folks in conversation who you may not have approached without some insight into their work and interests. As the ever loquacious Nick Ramsey said “If you don’t meet at least five new people tonight, you just ain’t trying!”

For those of us interested in exploring new works and meeting new folks, there are a few events coming up.

The Southeastern Wisconsin Artist’s Resource Fair will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2018 from 10:00 am to 02:00 pm  at Wustum Museum of Fine Arts at 2519 Northwestern Avenue Racine, Wisconsin 53404. Information will be available about funding opportunities, exhibitions, residencies, fellowships, networking, memberships, art classes, and studio rentals. Also, a great resource for art enthusiasts.

 16th St. Studios is proud to announce this year’s 20th anniversary of their annual Art Studios Open House @ the Racine Business Center, 1405 16th St. in Racine. This event is Saturday, December 1st from 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m and is free and open to the public. The 16th St. Studios is the creative home 50 visual artists working in media ranging from painting, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media and more.

And as a Kenosha girl, it is my duty to let you know about some great events taking place at your friendly neighbor to the south. At the new Kenosha Creative Space, local artist Marc Travanti will be holding a show entitled “Round Trip” entailing his artistic journey from Kenosha to New York City and back again. Marc’s show opens on Saturday November 10th with an opening reception from 4-6P.M. and runs through December 5th. Kenosha Creative Space is located at 624-57th Street in downtown Kenosha.

And as always, a shout-out to my home base, the Racine Arts Council, located at 409-6th Street in downtown Racine. A new show entitled “Infinite Hues” featuring the beautiful watercolors of Sujit Sudhi opens with a reception on Friday November 2 from 6-9 P.M. and runs through Christmas. Sujit Sudhi is an international artist and teacher whose paintings capture the myriad beauty of the world around us. One of the perks of working at the Racine Arts Council is the beautiful surroundings in which we are privileged to work. Don’t you wish the walls of your office were adorned with beautiful and inspiring art?!

So get out there and support the arts in our communities. Your life will be enriched, your home will be more beautiful and you will meet the most interesting and alive people ever! Take a chance!