The Pewaukee Area Arts Council and the Oconomowoc Arts Center Host One Vision: A Fusion of Art, Poetry and Dance in Lake Country

The Pewaukee Area Arts Council proudly sponsors the third year of “One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country,” bringing together 8 pairs of artists and poets, as well as the new element of interpretive dance this year, in partnership with To the Pointe Performing Arts (Hartland). Please join us at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center (641 E Forest Street, Oconomowoc) for a fine art exhibit, poetry reading and dance performance. Our artists, poets and dancers will be unveiling the final results of a summer-long collaboration. A reception with live music and refreshments will also be part of the evening’s event. Our special musical guest this year will be local musician and composer Chip Cruz (www.myspace.com/chipcruz). This performance is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a preview and meeting with the artists, poets and dancers.

Called “ekphrastic” (that is, art or poetry inspired by other creative mediums), the project’s goal is for the artists and poets to interact with each other to create a new expression of art or poetry from that experience. Poets and artists will spend the summer viewing/reading each other’s work as they got to know each other and how the creative process works in each of their respective mediums. From this exploration, a poet could write a new poem to a piece of artwork, the artist create a new piece inspired by a poem, or the two could craft a whole new expression of art and poetry. This year we have the exciting new element of interpretive dance to add an extra layer of creativity. Dances will be choreographed for select pairs.

“Working toward a creative vision that incorporates many different genres and sources of inspiration has been so fulfilling for our participants,” says Cristina Norcross, co-editor of the project.

Sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council, this is the third year for the program, which had a successful debut in 2009 at the The Raven Gallery in Pewaukee and an expanded show in 2010 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center. One Vision continues to give many area artists and poets the opportunity to participate, and to bring awareness of the diversity of the arts to the community as part of PAAC’s ongoing mission.

"Adding the element of dance brings a new dimension to the project," says co-editor Liz Rhodebeck. "We can't wait to see the results of this collaboration."

Artists participating in this year’s project are: Anne Raskopf, Albin Erhart, Melissa Schoechert, Judith Reidy, Dara Chappie, Dint Sweitzer, Heidi Hallett and Susan Foley. Poets participating are: Mary Jo Balistreri, Khristian Kay, Cristina Norcross, Anjie Kokan, Fred Kreutz, Liz Rhodebeck, Janet Leahy, Paula Schulz and Judy Wucherer. Co-editors Liz Rhodebeck and Cristina Norcross are coordinating the project with the assistance of Art Advisor Dint Sweitzer and Dance Choreographer Nina Gaydos-Fedak.

An outgrowth of the project has been the production of limited edition note cards featuring the artwork and accompanying poem of each pair; sets will be available for purchase the evening of the reception. All profit from the sale of the notecards will support PAAC’s programs and outreach in the community.

Both the artwork and poetry will be on exhibition to the public at the OAC (www.oasd.k12.wi.us/page.cfm?p=96) through November 20, 2011.

*This year's project funded in part by the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin through a grant from the Arts Waukesha Fund.

For more information, visit www.pewaukeearts.org or contact co-editors Liz Rhodebeck (262-695-2761) or Cristina Norcross (Bookndz@yahoo.com).